Quality Importers Acquires Stinky Ashtrays

[JohnS]

The famous Stinky Ashtray was founded in 2004. Quality Importers have just bought out the company, but they have been the official distibutor of the product since 2011. Below are more details on the acquisition and an image of the original Stinky Ashtray design from 2004.

July 9, 2024 - Charlie Minato

Quality Importers Acquires Stinky Ashtrays

Quality Importers Trading Co. has announced that it has acquired Stinky Cigar, the company behind the popular Stinky ashtrays.

Practically, the deal is unlikely to mean much for both retailers and consumers; Quality Importers has been the distributor of Stinky products since January 2011.

“My wife and I have agreed to sell the Stinky Cigar brand to Quality Importers Trading Company for several reasons. Over the last 13 years, Quality Importers has grown the brand and distribution far beyond our expectations,” said Bill Salviano, founder of Stinky Cigar, in a press release. “I will continue to promote the brand and contribute to the engineering and design services to further position the Stinky Cigar portfolio for the future. We are sincerely grateful to the Quality Importers staff for their diligent efforts and commitment to producing Stinky Cigar branded products to the high standards it has become known for.”

Salviano says his wife gave him the nickname of “Stinky.”

The idea behind the ashtray started with a deep silver-plated bowl. He thought that the bowl’s depth would be great for cigar ashes, but there was nowhere to rest the cigars. In 2004, he began working on modifying the bowl, first by using bent coins as stirrups. Others suggested that he make ashtrays for them, so he soon began working on prototypes. The first Stinky ashtrays went on sale later that year.

That original model is still on sale today. The stainless steel ashtray has a very deep bowl—which makes it great for storing lots of cigar ash and also keeping the ash from being blown out by wind—and four cigar stirrups. The company has added other versions in various colors, floor-standing models, larger ashtrays, smaller ashtrays and more.

“I started QI in 2000 with one model humidor which is still being sold today,” said Michael Giordano, ceo of Quality Importers. “Stinky started his company with one model ashtray, which is still sold today. The companies share a common history and mission of providing top-quality cigar accessories to the worldwide premium cigar trade at a reasonable price, so it was a natural evolution to go from exclusively distributing the Stinky Cigar brand to owning it.”

The deal closed on July 1.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/quality-importers-acquires-stinky-ashtrays/440644/

[anacostiakat]

Still have mine I purchased when they came out!  

[MrFolgers]

Love my stinky... its not the most visually pleasing but the depth of the bowl is great.

[El Presidente]

That cigar ashtray has been our deck staple since the beginning. 

[GP012]

Was it Quality Importers who bought Palio years back and phased out USA blade production, or are they just the distributor?

[El Presidente]

15 hours ago, GP012 said:

Was it Quality Importers who bought Palio years back and phased out USA blade production, or are they just the distributor?

Same group. 

........You wouldn't think they could screw up an ashtray. 

Given my experience with the group...it is highly possible 

[targa88]

14 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Same group. 

........You wouldn't think they could screw up an ashtray. 

Given my experience with the group...it is highly possible 

The did the same thing with Xikar products  = cutters and punch quality has gone downhill. Warranty process has become a nightmare...