I used to date an Accountant who worked for Alfred Dunhill.
Once a year there would be a staff sale.
Staff (plus a guest) could buy items at cost.
I was (at the time) one of the smartest men in the office - I was wearing £1,000 suits that we had bought for £100.
So, when (at the time) you paid £1,000 for your Dunhill suit, £900 of that was markup.
I still have the Humidor we paid £200 for in the sale, and a nice Dunhill lighter.
View attachment 258254
View attachment 258255
The more observant amongst you will have noticed that the humidor is devoid of cigars.
The irony that I cannot afford to fill it, is not lost on me.
As an aside.
The metal, two-cigar holder on the right in the humidor is worth about £5.
It was given to me as a gift by a young uniformed officer, when she came to me on 'attachment' to the office for a week. This would be the early 90s.
She was very young, very young in service and also (as it happens) gay. Not quite sure how or why, but after the week with me - she felt confident enough to 'come out' to her colleagues, friends and family and to 'openly' life her life. Unexpected and as underserving as it was, this cigar holder was just a token of her thanks
I am pleased, that in my lifetime, I have seen such matters become almost a 'non-issue' - and for that I am glad.
That £5 cigar holder is the most precious thing I own.
