1982
Established “Daniel Marshall”
My dream was to create and sell my designs to the most prestigious luxury gift houses of the world. My challenge (rare in this field for an American artist) was to create and market to the classic European gift houses.
Introduced rare and precious wood cigar and cigarette cases to Dunhill and Cartier. I was asked by Dunhill NY to build the Dunhill humidors for the U.S. market.
Established our workshop in Costa Mesa and hired talented craftsmen skilled in cabinetry and painting.
1983
Dunhill London recognized our quality and we built an entire collection of humidors in 12 sizes for Dunhill USA, Harrods of London and Nat Sherman.
Became the exclusive supplier of Dunhill humidors in all Dunhill USA stores for the next 11 years.
Designed and crafted a precious wood and metal cigarette case collection for Cartier-Paris.
Met with Pierre Cardin in Paris and designed a cigarette case for his Maxim’s de Paris hotel.
1984
Built jewelry box collections for Tiffany, Asprey of London, Fred and Dunhill.
1985
Created DM desk collections for Dunhill and Gumps.
Designed for Bijan a one-of-a-kind alligator-covered 250-cigar humidor that was finished on the inside like the interior of a Rolls Royce in Walnut Burl. Bijan sold this for $125,000. I sold it to him for $4,000. One of our most expensive lessons.
1986
Created DM flatware chests for Tiffany and Gumps.
Custom fitted flatware chests for Tom and Nicole Cruise and Georges Marciano.
Made a special humidor for George Burns and received a thank you letter.
1987
Created DM home collection of clocks, coasters, serving trays and waste bins for Tiffany and Gumps.
1988
Created casino boxes and tissue boxes for Dunhill and others.
Designed burl business card cases for Neiman Marcus, Dunhill and others.
1989
Designed a collection of humidors, jewelry boxes and card cases for His Royal Highness King Hassan II of Morocco.
1990
Created decanter boxes, picture frames and miniature jewelry box for Tiffany’s gift catalog.
Developed with Tiffany’s special design department the Sony 10th Anniversary Walkman packaging in a DM burl wood, suede-lined box (250 pieces) to be given out to top musical personalities such as Barbara Streisand, Herbie Hancock and Michael Jackson.
1991
Crafted and inlayed in 18kt gold the Royal Crest of Prince Rainier of Monaco on four macassar ebony tissue boxes for each of his four palaces in France.
Created tissue box for President Ronald Reagan.
Opened Lane Crawford of Hong Kong department store with our collection of humidors, desk collections, clocks and jewelry boxes.
Cocobolo pipe tobacco humidor featured in MGM’s feature film “Shattered” with Tom Berringer.
1992
Cigar Aficionado forever changed our business and the landscape of the cigar business this year.
We participated in Cigar Aficionado’s first “Big Smoke Event” and we began our nationwide exposure and marketing efforts at these popular events.
Began to create and place full-page ads in Cigar Aficionado.
Opened Hong Kong distribution of humidors at David Tang’s “Cohiba Divan” at the Mandarin Hotel establishing a very successful relationship.
1993
Shifted production to exclusively make DM branded products due the advent of Cigar Aficionado and the intense demand for our quality and designs.
Informed Dunhill that we no longer had production time allowed to make their collection.
Launched and registered the new brand “Ambiente by Daniel Marshall” collection of entry level humidors that will develop into a top selling brand.
Humidors received mention and coverage on CNBC’s Steals and Deals (May 20,1993) and on CBS’s This Morning With Harry Smith (November 30, 1993).
1994
Created a small leather goods collection of travel humidors, cigar holders and wallets in collaboration with the Gianni Versace factory in Italy.
1995
Created DM glass-topped humidors in three sizes.
Developed in Florence, Italy the DM sterling silver collection of humidors and accessories.
Developed in Italy DM branded Briar wood cigar accessories.
1995-1996
Traveled to Dominican Republic and began to age quality tobacco and develop the packaging for the DM-branded cigar collection.
Created for Hennessy Cognac of France 800 DM-branded humidors. This cross-promotion increased DM’s exposure into new markets and countries, as Hennessy is placed in fine liquor establishments worldwide. They also gave us top billing in their print ads and editorial mention in Playboy magazine and others.
Our beveled glass humidor appeared on CNN’s Money Line (April 29,1996).
Created a full page ad for Cigar Aficionado titled “Beauty, Function, Magic” that lists 46 of some of our well-known collectors of our humidors and fans of our cigars.
Obtained permission to use their names for this layout displaying our cigars and humidors.
Arnold Schwarzenegger asked us to make him 10 boxes of DM cigars with his name printed in gold on each cigar, for his old friend Franco Columbu to take with him to Sardinia and give to the Governor.
1997
Was awarded a “Best Buy” rating on our Ambiente brand of humidors in Cigar Aficionado’s humidor review.
Developed the “Daniel Marshall On Location” ad campaign highlighting our designs which was photographed at our well known clients’ home and office locations.
Arnold Schwarzenegger published in Cigar Aficionado (May 1997).
Launched the DM cigar collection in Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australian markets.
1998
Was awarded favorable ratings (two 89 points) in Cigar Aficionado on DM Cigars.
Launched the DM Red Label Cigar.
Introduced the DM No.2 cigar with a Cameroon wrapper.
1999
Commissioned by Arnold Schwarzenegger to design and craft a limited series of humidors and jewelry boxes to commemorate the completion of Arnold’s movie, End of Days.
Each piece from this collection was hand-finished in an elegant black lacquer to set off a stunning gold plate painted with the End of Days motif. Each humidor and jewelry box was inscribed in gold “Love Arnold” and was filled with our DM Black Label Cigar with each cigar bearing Arnold’s name and the name of his movie. Each humidor came with a booklet describing the humidor and the story of why it was created.
These 37 humidors and 16 jewelry boxes were given by Arnold to many interesting people.
We also made 15 cabinets of DM Churchills with the End of Days motif mounted on the sliding top cover. Inside each cigar was printed in gold with Arnold and the movie’s name.
1999
Launched a new cigar shape called the DM Perfecto, a figurado-shaped cigar with a Connecticut shade wrapper.
Designed and introduced the DM Series 1999 cigar humidor in Vavona Burl, specially designed for the sophisticated smoker complete with all the extras.
Designed a collection of humidors with a military theme incorporating authentic parts from aircraft, ships, tanks and armament into the design.
DM Highlights
Created a internationally-recognized brand name known to represent quality.
Created a logo that is known and identified with our name that symbolizes quality.
Developed and created DM brand extension of cigars that have achieved consistently high ratings.
Created for and became the exclusive supplier of Dunhill humidors for all Dunhill USA Stores for over 11 years.
Attracted and earned the confidence, trust and business of some of the world’s most influential individuals and prestigious firms.
Obtained product placement of humidors in various films such as: Shattered, Double Cross and Meet Joe Black.
Developed the “Daniel Marshall On Location” ad campaign highlighting our designs photographed at our well-known clients’ home and office locations.
Arnold Schwarzenegger published in Cigar Aficionado (May 1997)
Brenda Vaccaro Future
Charlie Sheen Future
Joan Van Ark Future
Cross-promotion wiith Hennessy Cognac of France
Editorials in cigar and mainstream publications and other forms of media including:
- Numerous books on cigars
- Various lifestyle magazines
- Various newspapers
- Men’s Journal’s Buyers Guide
- CNBC – Steals and Deals
- CNN – Money Line
- CNBC – This Morning With Harry Smith
