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by gregory
on Fri May 18, 2007 9:03 am |
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Quote: http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2556510.ece
Luminar to fight smoking ban with sex toys and scent
By Karen Attwood
Published: 18 May 2007
The nightclub operator Luminar is making preparations for the upcoming smoking ban in England with plans such as pumping rose scent through its clubs and selling sex toys in its vending machines.
After the introduction of the ban in Scotland and Wales, the stench of beer and sweat was no longer masked by smoke, and the company had to come up with ways to mask it.
The chief executive Stephen Thomas said Luminar, which operates Oceana, Liquid and Lava & Ignite brands across 120 venues, had decided to pump in smells through the air-conditioning system. "We are using rose at the moment but we think we can find something better and we are testing other ones to see which works best," he said.
Luminar has invested £50,000 per venue in creating or improving outdoor areas, such as patios and roof terraces, for when the country goes smoke-free in July. It also recently signed a deal with the retailer Ann Summers to introduce sex toys into its cigarette vending machines, which currently generate £400,000 in sales a year and are expected to take a hit from smokers trying to give up in the wake of the ban.
Luminar reported a 5 per cent rise in annual sales yesterday to £204m and a dip in pre-tax profits to £41.5m from £45.6m after the sale of its late-night live music venues Chicago Rock Cafés and Jumpin' Jaks at the end of last year.
Current like-for-like sales are strong, up 7 per cent in the first 10 weeks of the year.
Mr Thomas said the company had suffered in the first half of the year due to the hot summer and the World Cup, which meant customers went to the pub instead of clubbing. It was also affected by the shake-up in the licencing laws, which saw more people drinking late at their local. But Luminar said that after this initial dip, people are returning to nightclubs as the novelty of late drinking at the local pub |
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gregory
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 270
Location: America...I think?
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by linkup
on Fri May 18, 2007 9:10 am |
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| The UK is full of sick freaks! That's why they need cameras on every street and in every business! |
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linkup
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Joined: Oct 01, 2005
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by gilster
on Fri May 18, 2007 10:35 am |
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gilster
Smokers Rights Activist
Joined: Apr 19, 2006
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by linkup
on Fri May 18, 2007 3:42 pm |
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| They can pump scents up own their arses for all I care,and add a Gerbil or two! |
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linkup
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by linkup
on Fri May 18, 2007 3:49 pm |
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Oh,and BTW,the scents better be approved by the AHA,ALA,AARP,etc or the bar owners will be sued for any death of any patron who smelled the scent of death!
A 15 year lab scent study is appropriate at the cost of 50 billion US dollars.LOL! |
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linkup
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