cigaremperor's website

By Nolan Phelps: Full-stack developer and SEO specialist with 20+ years’ experience building and optimizing high-performance websites for clients across multiple industries.

Cigar Emperor; Performance-First Rebuild for a Global Retailer

FunkPd rebuilt the digital foundation for Cigar Emperor, Thailand’s reference point for premium, legally imported hand-rolled cigars. Operated by Dr. Matthew T. Nekvapil, Cigar Emperor holds exclusive status as the country’s only fully licensed importer, distributor, and club host for New World cigars, with brands like Condega and Kafie 1901, plus a purpose-built Bangkok cigar lounge and VIP humidor.

Thai law prohibits online tobacco sales. Site design must build authority, not act as a sales funnel.

The business depends on credibility, regulatory compliance, and direct client relationships; not e-commerce features or newsletter signups. This unique constraint shaped every technical and design decision.

Technical Rescue and Speed Remediation

FunkPd started with a site speed fix. The old site was slow, bloated, and full of obsolete plugins. Within days, FunkPd stripped bloat, compressed assets, and fixed caching, dropping median load times from over eight seconds to under two. The site became usable for mobile visitors and Google indexation.

Owner-Controlled, Compliant Infrastructure

The full Details Package followed, a minimal, owner-editable WordPress build with all DNS, content, and admin access under client control. FunkPd migrated all assets out of agency lock-in and restructured the site for legal import compliance. Structured data and schema now highlight the business’s exclusive status and product provenance.

Key search signals target buyers and partners looking for Bangkok cigar shop SEO, local SEO, and regional queries. No e-comm modules, no price lists, and no lead magnets; only what is legal and effective for the sector.

SEO and Webmaster Support

Over the next year, FunkPd managed ongoing webmaster duties and rolled out targeted SEO campaigns suited to regulatory boundaries. Site health, Google indexation, and authority for “cigar lounge Bangkok” and “exclusive cigar importer” are now continuously maintained.

  • Monthly technical sweeps keep uptime and compliance tight.
  • Longform content focuses on provenance, regulatory changes, and club events.

Everything is built for owner independence and rapid adjustment as Thai law or Google changes.

Results and Strategic Value

The site now anchors Cigar Emperor’s market leadership as Thailand’s authority on legal, premium cigars and Bangkok cigar lounge experiences. Digital channels send verified buyers straight to direct message or shop visits, no friction, no legal risk.

FunkPd demonstrates an ability to deliver high-integrity, owner-controlled web systems for regulated, high-trust businesses, where generic e-commerce tactics simply do not apply.

See the business at Cigar Emperor. For FunkPd’s approach and other packages, see the process, Essentials, GOFP, or Refactor.