(upbeat lively music)
2
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,630
- There's a story inside every smoke shop,
3
00:00:33,630 --> 00:00:36,243
with every cigar and with every person.
4
00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:39,750
Come be a part of the
cigar lifestyle at Boveda.
5
00:00:40,770 --> 00:00:42,690
This is Box Press.
6
00:00:42,690 --> 00:00:43,950
- Let's be honest.
7
00:00:43,950 --> 00:00:47,940
When we met last night at the Bar LUCA
8
00:00:47,940 --> 00:00:52,080
in the hotel where we're
all staying for the PCA
9
00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,680
where this is this your
first experience at PCA?
10
00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,230
- No, I was here a long time ago.
11
00:00:58,230 --> 00:01:00,360
We came last year just to network.
12
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:01,950
This is our first year exhibiting.
13
00:01:01,950 --> 00:01:02,820
- Okay.
14
00:01:02,820 --> 00:01:06,390
So go around and tell us who you are
15
00:01:06,390 --> 00:01:08,310
and then we're gonna get into the story
16
00:01:08,310 --> 00:01:10,330
of what you told me last night about
17
00:01:11,344 --> 00:01:14,370
this upstart cigar company
outta Green Bay, Wisconsin.
18
00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:16,170
- Sure, start us off?
19
00:01:16,170 --> 00:01:17,870
- Yeah, my name's Keith Archiquette.
20
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:20,910
What, I mean, what would you like to know?
21
00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:23,760
- So we don't have to get super deep.
22
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,340
So what do you, what, what's
your role with Lovely,
23
00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:28,680
or how did you get
involved with this group?
24
00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,003
- We are all three owners.
25
00:01:31,410 --> 00:01:34,200
The operation as it stands
right now is a three-
26
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,233
ownership operation and one salesperson.
27
00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:41,250
We got involved just
because we had an idea
28
00:01:41,250 --> 00:01:44,160
and we all have individual skill sets
29
00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,190
in our professional
lives coming into Lovely.
30
00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:49,140
And what I do for Lovely
31
00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:51,030
as the same thing I do
professionally is I'm a
32
00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:53,040
media and content creator and I-
33
00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:54,360
- That's why you're so attracted
34
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,520
to Matt [Adams] and his technology.
35
00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,500
- The setup here is very,
yeah, it's very good.
36
00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:00,540
I do local, local commercials
37
00:02:00,540 --> 00:02:01,950
in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area.
38
00:02:01,950 --> 00:02:04,350
I also graphic design in the
Green Bay, Wisconsin, area,
39
00:02:04,350 --> 00:02:05,760
do websites,
40
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,790
voiceover work, just the
whole gamut of media.
41
00:02:08,790 --> 00:02:10,740
So yes, that is what I bring to the table
42
00:02:10,740 --> 00:02:13,110
for Lovely as well as a salesperson.
43
00:02:13,110 --> 00:02:15,930
- That's awesome, Dylan
[Masse], what's your story?
44
00:02:15,930 --> 00:02:19,590
- So, I've got a background
in private aviation.
45
00:02:19,590 --> 00:02:21,420
I own a company that I
don't know if you know
46
00:02:21,420 --> 00:02:24,480
what a FBO is? A fixed-base
operator. Essentially
47
00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,520
we handle private jets,
that type of thing.
48
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,940
So I've got experience running a business,
49
00:02:29,940 --> 00:02:31,710
managing people, that type of stuff,
50
00:02:31,710 --> 00:02:34,890
making sure things get
done, A to B, you know,
51
00:02:34,890 --> 00:02:36,150
keep these two in line,
52
00:02:36,150 --> 00:02:38,220
you know, that type of stuff.
53
00:02:38,220 --> 00:02:39,990
- His nine-to-five definitely spills over
54
00:02:39,990 --> 00:02:41,640
into his secondary.
55
00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:43,800
So a little bit more behind the scenes.
56
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,530
The three of us, we're all
friends, well beforehand,
57
00:02:46,530 --> 00:02:48,450
we all love cigars.
58
00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:51,240
You know, we'd smoke cigars
a few times a year together.
59
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,180
And, you know, it was
just one of those things
60
00:02:54,180 --> 00:02:55,920
where it kind of made sense.
61
00:02:55,920 --> 00:02:58,200
You know, our business
meetings don't feel like work.
62
00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,330
We just, it's just getting
together with a couple friends.
63
00:03:00,330 --> 00:03:02,554
I look forward to them,
honestly, you know,
64
00:03:02,554 --> 00:03:05,160
a little break from the
wife and kid, you know, but-
65
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:05,993
- That sounds fun.
66
00:03:05,993 --> 00:03:08,580
So we've got the creative
side, the technical side.
67
00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:10,890
We've got the operations side.
68
00:03:10,890 --> 00:03:12,720
And Mike [Gehm], tell
us about what you do.
69
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:13,553
- Bring it home.
70
00:03:13,553 --> 00:03:14,520
- Bring it home, all right.
71
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,880
So I used to, I had opened a
cigar shop up in Green Bay,
72
00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,590
16, 17 years ago.
73
00:03:19,590 --> 00:03:22,260
And that's kind of where
I really found the passion
74
00:03:22,260 --> 00:03:25,080
and the drive to be part of the industry.
75
00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:26,670
I got out of the cigar shop,
76
00:03:26,670 --> 00:03:28,590
just was going in a different
direction than I didn't want
77
00:03:28,590 --> 00:03:30,450
to be in, but always had the idea
78
00:03:30,450 --> 00:03:32,880
of bringing a brand to life.
79
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,210
You know, love the history
of our area, love all
80
00:03:36,210 --> 00:03:37,350
of the different things that,
81
00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:38,340
you know, this industry brings.
82
00:03:38,340 --> 00:03:42,030
So to me it's just, it's
a fascinating industry.
83
00:03:42,030 --> 00:03:44,070
And, you know, a few years
after leaving the cigar shop,
84
00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:45,900
it was like, all right, we had this idea
85
00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:47,310
and wanted to explore it.
86
00:03:47,310 --> 00:03:48,750
And we were talking, you know, all three
87
00:03:48,750 --> 00:03:50,190
of us were really talking about this
88
00:03:50,190 --> 00:03:53,100
and found this old brand and
was like, you know, what could
89
00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:53,933
we do to-
90
00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:54,766
- So that's the Lovely brand.
91
00:03:54,766 --> 00:03:56,130
And it dates back to-
92
00:03:56,130 --> 00:03:57,382
- Late 1800s.
93
00:03:57,382 --> 00:03:59,040
18, we have a box in our booth
94
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,200
that's like 1886, I think.
95
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:02,880
It's a little hard to
read, because the, I mean,
96
00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,100
it's 125 years old or so.
97
00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:08,610
- So you launched your,
this is your first release
98
00:04:08,610 --> 00:04:10,230
and this was last year?
99
00:04:10,230 --> 00:04:12,000
- In August, September of last year
100
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:12,840
is when we started selling.
101
00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:14,610
- So '23, '22.
102
00:04:14,610 --> 00:04:15,443
- Yes.
103
00:04:15,443 --> 00:04:16,650
- Okay, how's it going?
104
00:04:16,650 --> 00:04:19,290
- It's going great, we're
in what, 30 some odd shops-
105
00:04:19,290 --> 00:04:22,620
- As of last night, 14
states and 33 shops.
106
00:04:22,620 --> 00:04:23,453
- That's awesome.
107
00:04:23,453 --> 00:04:26,160
- In nine-ish months of having product.
108
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:27,990
- Yeah, that's awesome, good.
109
00:04:27,990 --> 00:04:30,750
So we, I'm just lighting up
110
00:04:30,750 --> 00:04:32,460
for the first time this Lovely cigar.
111
00:04:32,460 --> 00:04:35,130
Tell me about this particular cigar.
112
00:04:35,130 --> 00:04:39,510
What's it made of and the
story behind this release.
113
00:04:39,510 --> 00:04:41,430
- So it's a Ecuadorian Habano wrapper,
114
00:04:41,430 --> 00:04:43,110
San Andrés Mexican binder,
115
00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:45,302
all Nicaraguan fillers from Jalapa
116
00:04:45,302 --> 00:04:47,670
Condega, Estelí, and Ometepe.
117
00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:51,150
So we originally, you know, we weren't
118
00:04:51,150 --> 00:04:53,250
like overly concerned with like, we need
119
00:04:53,250 --> 00:04:55,290
to have this tobacco, or we
need to have this tobacco.
120
00:04:55,290 --> 00:04:57,600
It was more like, we want to
have a really good experience
121
00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,250
for the end user.
122
00:04:59,250 --> 00:05:00,083
So, you know, we said to
Carlos [Sanchez] at Tacasa,
123
00:05:00,083 --> 00:05:00,916
we're like,
124
00:05:03,030 --> 00:05:04,470
Hey, this is what we're looking for.
125
00:05:04,470 --> 00:05:07,530
We want to have a complex,
nuanced cigar, something
126
00:05:07,530 --> 00:05:10,890
that's going to keep people,
you know, interested,
127
00:05:10,890 --> 00:05:11,850
but we don't want something
128
00:05:11,850 --> 00:05:12,900
that's gonna burn out your palate.
129
00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:14,730
So that was really what we started with.
130
00:05:14,730 --> 00:05:18,330
We said, we like Nicaraguan
tobacco, so start there.
131
00:05:18,330 --> 00:05:21,780
And you, we were gonna
go out there pre-COVID.
132
00:05:21,780 --> 00:05:24,330
We had flights booked, COVID hit,
133
00:05:24,330 --> 00:05:26,970
and like, we're like, oh, we can still go.
134
00:05:26,970 --> 00:05:28,560
And then that was like two days
135
00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:29,850
before they canceled the flights.
136
00:05:29,850 --> 00:05:31,453
So no, we didn't go.
137
00:05:31,453 --> 00:05:32,317
- Almost got stuck in Nicaragua.
138
00:05:32,317 --> 00:05:33,390
- We almost got stuck in Nicaragua,
139
00:05:33,390 --> 00:05:35,370
which would've been just awful.
140
00:05:35,370 --> 00:05:38,160
But, you know, so we went back
and forth with the samples
141
00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,500
and, you know, we had to go
through that entire process
142
00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:42,150
until we finally landed on the cigar.
143
00:05:42,150 --> 00:05:45,000
And it was like the next
day we're like, I just want
144
00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,800
to smoke another one of those cigars.
145
00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,410
So it wasn't necessarily like, we need
146
00:05:49,410 --> 00:05:52,200
to have X amount of
Ligero, so on and so forth.
147
00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,600
You know, it was more like,
what's the full experience
148
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,370
that we want to give to people.
149
00:05:56,370 --> 00:06:00,030
- I remember when we, so
the idea of the, of a cigar,
150
00:06:00,030 --> 00:06:01,620
I mean, making a cigar line,
151
00:06:01,620 --> 00:06:04,740
I think in the industry it
sounds like everyone does that,
152
00:06:04,740 --> 00:06:07,770
but like in Green Bay,
Wisconsin, if you say,
153
00:06:07,770 --> 00:06:10,440
I wanna start a business, and
that's kind of what it was.
154
00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:11,910
It was sitting at a picnic
table, having a cigar.
155
00:06:11,910 --> 00:06:13,910
We were six feet apart at the time even.
156
00:06:14,998 --> 00:06:17,220
and I proposed, I'm like,
157
00:06:17,220 --> 00:06:19,380
this year I wanna start another business,
158
00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:23,220
another just another revenue
stream for my family.
159
00:06:23,220 --> 00:06:24,360
Mike goes, you know,
160
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,760
I've been thinking about getting
back in the cigar industry.
161
00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,760
And then he goes, we
should get a cigar line.
162
00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,890
And that just sounds like,
as I say it out loud,
163
00:06:31,890 --> 00:06:34,500
and maybe this is from
just where I'm from,
164
00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:37,020
but when you say, yeah,
let's start a cigar company.
165
00:06:37,020 --> 00:06:39,720
Like that just sounds like a ridiculous-
166
00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:40,553
- Pipe dream?
167
00:06:40,553 --> 00:06:41,690
- Pipe it's a dreamer's dream.
168
00:06:41,690 --> 00:06:42,635
- No pun intended.
169
00:06:42,635 --> 00:06:43,860
- It's a dreamer's dream.
170
00:06:43,860 --> 00:06:46,680
And so, and we were doing
this in COVID, right?
171
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,010
So when you say we just wanna,
172
00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:51,300
we wanna land on an experience.
173
00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:52,860
It's very true.
174
00:06:52,860 --> 00:06:54,750
Me, Mike and Dylan smoke,
175
00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:58,530
we prefer different cigars,
vastly different cigars.
176
00:06:58,530 --> 00:07:01,260
And so I remember writing
down, I remember Mike said,
177
00:07:01,260 --> 00:07:04,494
let's write down what we want in a cigar.
178
00:07:04,494 --> 00:07:08,610
and where I was at in my cigar journey
179
00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:10,260
at that time, I was like, well, I want one
180
00:07:10,260 --> 00:07:11,580
that the draw is perfect.
181
00:07:11,580 --> 00:07:14,580
Like I work really hard,
like my nine-to-five,
182
00:07:14,580 --> 00:07:15,690
I work really hard.
183
00:07:15,690 --> 00:07:16,560
- This is a great draw.
184
00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,260
- And I don't wanna work
when I have a cigar.
185
00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:21,150
I want it to be a smoke factory,
186
00:07:21,150 --> 00:07:22,113
which you can see as I say that-
187
00:07:22,113 --> 00:07:23,820
- Yeah, big mouth full of smoke.
188
00:07:23,820 --> 00:07:24,653
- Smoke's coming up.
189
00:07:24,653 --> 00:07:27,531
And I want pepper in the head.
190
00:07:27,531 --> 00:07:28,740
And so I wrote those
191
00:07:28,740 --> 00:07:31,290
and as a couple years later now,
192
00:07:31,290 --> 00:07:33,630
and we have product and it's selling.
193
00:07:33,630 --> 00:07:35,070
I tell people that
194
00:07:35,070 --> 00:07:38,370
because I made the cigar I wanted, right?
195
00:07:38,370 --> 00:07:40,740
And Mike had different stipulations.
196
00:07:40,740 --> 00:07:42,150
Dylan had different ones.
197
00:07:42,150 --> 00:07:43,740
And so we were working in COVID back
198
00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:46,440
and forth with factories
down in Nicaragua,
199
00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,420
a couple different factories
sending us samples.
200
00:07:48,420 --> 00:07:50,550
Try this, I think I landed it here and me,
201
00:07:50,550 --> 00:07:52,650
and we would just be sitting
there on with the dossier
202
00:07:52,650 --> 00:07:55,980
and be like, no, you did
not land it with like,
203
00:07:55,980 --> 00:07:56,979
there was some where we were just like,
204
00:07:56,979 --> 00:07:58,863
ah, no, I can't do that. .
205
00:07:58,863 --> 00:08:00,510
- Yeah I mean, it's a fine
art to land on something.
206
00:08:00,510 --> 00:08:02,820
- And it's not because of a lack of skill.
207
00:08:02,820 --> 00:08:04,740
Our craftsmanship on the factory's hands,
208
00:08:04,740 --> 00:08:07,440
it's just, we were looking for something
209
00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,420
that checked the box for all of us.
210
00:08:09,420 --> 00:08:12,930
And if one of us was
like, I don't know, ugh.
211
00:08:12,930 --> 00:08:15,330
So when we had this, when
we finally landed months
212
00:08:15,330 --> 00:08:17,490
and months after sending
samples in, saying,
213
00:08:17,490 --> 00:08:19,350
we like this on this one,
we like that on that one.
214
00:08:19,350 --> 00:08:20,820
Can we, after doing that,
215
00:08:20,820 --> 00:08:22,980
and we got this one, the Elegante,
216
00:08:22,980 --> 00:08:25,020
it was only labeled X2.
217
00:08:25,020 --> 00:08:25,853
Right?
218
00:08:25,853 --> 00:08:27,330
So that's why we called the Elegante X2,
219
00:08:27,330 --> 00:08:29,370
the Ain't They Lovely, we landed on it.
220
00:08:29,370 --> 00:08:30,630
I remember smoking it,
221
00:08:30,630 --> 00:08:33,540
and we were just sitting
back and it was silent.
222
00:08:33,540 --> 00:08:34,740
And it was the first time it was silent
223
00:08:34,740 --> 00:08:37,680
when we were trying recipes.
224
00:08:37,680 --> 00:08:39,307
We looked over and I'm like,
225
00:08:39,307 --> 00:08:42,240
"There's nothing wrong
with this one, is there?"
226
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,760
No, and like Mike said, the next day,
227
00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,500
I remember the text message being like,
228
00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:48,090
I want another X2.
229
00:08:48,090 --> 00:08:49,353
Like, that's the one and we knew-
230
00:08:49,353 --> 00:08:50,880
- That was all I wanted was-
231
00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,553
- We knew that because we landed on that,
232
00:08:53,553 --> 00:08:54,810
we were onto something.
233
00:08:54,810 --> 00:08:55,830
And I say onto something
234
00:08:55,830 --> 00:08:58,350
because again, vastly different likes
235
00:08:58,350 --> 00:09:00,630
in cigars, vastly different.
236
00:09:00,630 --> 00:09:03,210
My go-to is vastly different
than the other ones.
237
00:09:03,210 --> 00:09:07,590
But somehow we stumbled upon one
238
00:09:07,590 --> 00:09:10,380
that checked the box for everyone.
239
00:09:10,380 --> 00:09:13,620
And I think that that
is a lot more difficult
240
00:09:13,620 --> 00:09:15,120
as everyone has their preferences.
241
00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:16,836
A lot more difficult
than you just said, yeah,
242
00:09:16,836 --> 00:09:19,260
we got a blend we liked and it was good.
243
00:09:19,260 --> 00:09:20,910
We move forward.
244
00:09:20,910 --> 00:09:23,940
- Yeah, this is really accessible.
245
00:09:23,940 --> 00:09:28,940
I'm, I was talking last
night to Mark [Williams],
246
00:09:29,265 --> 00:09:32,610
a gentleman that the
proprietor of Stogies on Grand
247
00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:35,507
in St. Paul, and I mentioned
248
00:09:35,507 --> 00:09:37,620
that I had run into you in the lobby
249
00:09:37,620 --> 00:09:38,820
of the hotel and we got talking.
250
00:09:38,820 --> 00:09:40,857
- I saw him right before
you or right after you.
251
00:09:40,857 --> 00:09:42,630
- But his comment to me was, he goes,
252
00:09:42,630 --> 00:09:46,200
I'm getting hit up by
cigar reps, distributors
253
00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,540
on a daily basis that
come in and spend time
254
00:09:48,540 --> 00:09:51,180
in his store and manage an assortment.
255
00:09:51,180 --> 00:09:52,383
And you have one cigar,
256
00:09:53,550 --> 00:09:58,350
and this quest to stand up a company
257
00:09:58,350 --> 00:10:02,100
and to sustain through the development
258
00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:05,310
of the company to a point
where you have a product,
259
00:10:05,310 --> 00:10:08,820
you've fabricated a cigar that
260
00:10:08,820 --> 00:10:10,140
is really accessible
261
00:10:10,140 --> 00:10:12,630
and people are, I'm presuming
262
00:10:12,630 --> 00:10:14,880
you're getting great
feedback on the cigar.
263
00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:16,350
It is a "Lovely" cigar.
264
00:10:16,350 --> 00:10:17,310
It's the Ele-
265
00:10:17,310 --> 00:10:19,429
- Elegante X2.
266
00:10:19,429 --> 00:10:20,610
- Elegante X2.
267
00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:25,610
It's their first release
from August of 2022.
268
00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:26,730
What's next?
269
00:10:26,730 --> 00:10:28,320
Will there be another cigar?
270
00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:29,490
- So we're actually releasing our
271
00:10:29,490 --> 00:10:30,940
second line here at the show.
272
00:10:32,490 --> 00:10:33,600
I know, crazy.
273
00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:34,687
- Tune in tomorrow.
274
00:10:34,687 --> 00:10:35,550
(group laughs)
275
00:10:35,550 --> 00:10:37,371
- It's very similar.
276
00:10:37,371 --> 00:10:38,910
I shouldn't say very similar,
277
00:10:38,910 --> 00:10:41,370
but it's, it has the same similar profile.
278
00:10:41,370 --> 00:10:43,440
So we still have an
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper,
279
00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,120
we have a Sumatran binder.
280
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:46,530
It's still all Nicaraguan fillers,
281
00:10:46,530 --> 00:10:48,450
but they're changed up a little bit.
282
00:10:48,450 --> 00:10:50,430
So you're gonna get a lot
of the same experience,
283
00:10:50,430 --> 00:10:52,920
but there's gonna be a
distinct different flavor.
284
00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,020
And that's gonna be more of our core line.
285
00:10:55,020 --> 00:10:56,460
- We don't wanna depart too far
286
00:10:56,460 --> 00:10:58,530
and have somebody try both of our cigars
287
00:10:58,530 --> 00:11:00,420
and get confused about what we're doing.
288
00:11:00,420 --> 00:11:01,800
- Same size?
289
00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,410
- No, so this is a 6x52.
290
00:11:04,410 --> 00:11:07,860
We have a Churchill coming out, 6.5x48,
291
00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:11,610
A Robusto 5x50, and
then a Corona 5 5/8x46.
292
00:11:11,610 --> 00:11:12,930
- So at the end of the day,
293
00:11:12,930 --> 00:11:14,940
you'll have four cigars-
294
00:11:14,940 --> 00:11:15,990
- Four facings.
295
00:11:15,990 --> 00:11:17,490
- Four facings.
296
00:11:17,490 --> 00:11:20,400
- So we have four facings, but cigar three
297
00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,740
and four are already completed
298
00:11:22,740 --> 00:11:24,780
and becoming ready for deployment.
299
00:11:24,780 --> 00:11:27,960
So this time next year
we'll have a lot more.
300
00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,030
- So you've overcome the one-hit wonder?
301
00:11:30,030 --> 00:11:31,297
- Yes.
302
00:11:31,297 --> 00:11:32,670
- Well, I mean, the idea
was really like, all right,
303
00:11:32,670 --> 00:11:35,370
so like we talked about,
you know, how do we do this?
304
00:11:35,370 --> 00:11:36,750
How do we start getting in the industry?
305
00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:39,270
And I had some contacts from, you know,
306
00:11:39,270 --> 00:11:40,800
being, you know, owner of a shop.
307
00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:41,850
And that's kinda how we started.
308
00:11:41,850 --> 00:11:43,830
And it was like, so what do we do?
309
00:11:43,830 --> 00:11:45,660
So we thought, let's start small.
310
00:11:45,660 --> 00:11:46,980
Let's just see if we can get
311
00:11:46,980 --> 00:11:48,150
some legs under this thing.
312
00:11:48,150 --> 00:11:49,380
- Let's see if we can just do it.
313
00:11:49,380 --> 00:11:50,430
- Yeah, can we do it?
314
00:11:50,430 --> 00:11:52,020
How hard is it gonna be?
315
00:11:52,020 --> 00:11:53,220
And if it's successful,
316
00:11:53,220 --> 00:11:55,440
then we're going to go and, you know,
317
00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,840
our plan was like, where we're at today,
318
00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,220
we thought we would be in two years,
319
00:11:59,220 --> 00:12:00,640
and it's only been nine months or so.
320
00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,120
- Well, and it's obvious
that you're having fun.
321
00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:03,990
- Absolutely.
322
00:12:03,990 --> 00:12:08,990
And it's obvious that your
bond between these friends,
323
00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,240
this history that you have together,
324
00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,700
the expertise that you
each bring to the table.
325
00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,700
I mean, it's fun, I was
talking to you last night about
326
00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:22,240
why we get so excited about new cigar
327
00:12:23,220 --> 00:12:25,890
labels, new cigar brands.
328
00:12:25,890 --> 00:12:28,080
It's because we were new once.
329
00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:33,080
Our owners 26 years ago,
they weren't in the show,
330
00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,370
whatever it was called at the time,
331
00:12:35,370 --> 00:12:36,840
whatever acronym it was called at the
332
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,790
time, they weren't inside.
333
00:12:38,790 --> 00:12:40,770
They were standing outside
with their backpacks
334
00:12:40,770 --> 00:12:45,270
with these samples that they
had made of this new technology
335
00:12:45,270 --> 00:12:47,970
2-way precise humidity control.
336
00:12:47,970 --> 00:12:51,060
And they were asking people
that were walking in the door,
337
00:12:51,060 --> 00:12:53,520
are you a buyer or are you a seller?
338
00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,860
And that's where the relationships began.
339
00:12:55,860 --> 00:13:00,030
And the Fuentes took them seriously
340
00:13:00,030 --> 00:13:03,450
on the first conversation
and developed a relationship.
341
00:13:03,450 --> 00:13:08,250
And they were, they have
consistently packed a number
342
00:13:08,250 --> 00:13:11,250
of their lines with the what's
now called a Boveda pack.
343
00:13:11,250 --> 00:13:14,844
It was called the Humidipak at the time.
344
00:13:14,844 --> 00:13:18,150
So we love the upstart story.
345
00:13:18,150 --> 00:13:21,840
We love the trying to get
involved and be helpful
346
00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:22,673
in the beginning.
347
00:13:22,673 --> 00:13:25,530
So I'm sure there's a group
348
00:13:25,530 --> 00:13:27,330
of salespeople on the
other side of this wall
349
00:13:27,330 --> 00:13:29,820
that are gonna want to talk
to you about the container
350
00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:31,080
that we have in Nicaragua
351
00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,870
and the packs that are
available to put in your boxes.
352
00:13:33,870 --> 00:13:36,540
And give you a chance to
try those and test those
353
00:13:36,540 --> 00:13:38,130
and see if it appeals to you.
354
00:13:38,130 --> 00:13:39,870
We'd love to keep these babies fresh
355
00:13:39,870 --> 00:13:42,870
because when they get to Las Vegas
356
00:13:42,870 --> 00:13:46,320
or wherever they end up going,
they're subject to a lot
357
00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,140
of stress with the
fluctuations in the humidity
358
00:13:49,140 --> 00:13:51,630
and the temperature
and the jostling about.
359
00:13:51,630 --> 00:13:54,750
So we want to deliver the
best quality product we can
360
00:13:54,750 --> 00:13:55,830
to the end consumer.
361
00:13:55,830 --> 00:13:57,868
I know you guys want to too, so,
362
00:13:57,868 --> 00:13:59,580
that's my sales pitch.
363
00:13:59,580 --> 00:14:00,570
- And it's a good one.
364
00:14:00,570 --> 00:14:03,210
And like I told you, prior
to us pressing record,
365
00:14:03,210 --> 00:14:07,500
I cannot even think of this,
366
00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:10,533
of the cigar industry
without you guys, you know,
367
00:14:11,595 --> 00:14:15,690
you are a staple within this large room,
368
00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:18,360
but with, I mean, it's impossible for me
369
00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:20,790
to see this cigar
industry now without you.
370
00:14:20,790 --> 00:14:21,667
- Well, thank you.
371
00:14:21,667 --> 00:14:24,240
- It's a incredible honor
372
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,423
and a privilege to have a
minute to speak with you.
373
00:14:27,423 --> 00:14:30,420
- Yeah, and it's a privilege
for us to get you on our
374
00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:33,030
socials and we'll give you some snippets
375
00:14:33,030 --> 00:14:34,920
that you can use on your social,
376
00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,470
hopefully help you promote your brand.
377
00:14:37,470 --> 00:14:39,616
- And I think like, if
we're gonna do like we're
378
00:14:39,616 --> 00:14:43,020
segment by segment, I think
it really is important
379
00:14:43,020 --> 00:14:45,900
that people understand
that our brand is a,
380
00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:47,910
we aren't just a cigar company.
381
00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:49,740
Like, and that's weird to say, like,
382
00:14:49,740 --> 00:14:51,340
well, what else are you selling?
383
00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:53,943
We're selling history.
384
00:14:55,230 --> 00:14:57,480
Our company, and people
don't realize this about
385
00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:58,650
Green Bay, Wisconsin, almost everyone,
386
00:14:58,650 --> 00:15:01,020
you say Green Bay, you say
Green Bay Packers got it.
387
00:15:01,020 --> 00:15:02,310
And that's it.
388
00:15:02,310 --> 00:15:03,143
- Yeah.
389
00:15:03,143 --> 00:15:05,040
- He brings up the Green
Bay Packers, he's dealing
390
00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:06,372
with a Minnesota-based company.
391
00:15:06,372 --> 00:15:08,570
- It's, well, hey, it is what it is.
392
00:15:08,570 --> 00:15:09,600
You know, it's cheese, right.
393
00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,160
You know, Wisconsin's all about cheese.
394
00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:11,993
- Oh, yeah.
395
00:15:11,993 --> 00:15:14,070
- You know that we're a
big manufacturer of paper.
396
00:15:14,070 --> 00:15:15,420
- How many championships, yeah.
397
00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:17,430
- But here, people don't realize that
398
00:15:17,430 --> 00:15:19,560
before all of those things,
before the Green Bay Packers,
399
00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,830
from 1921, before the cheese was prevalent
400
00:15:22,830 --> 00:15:25,200
in the Dairy State, before paper,
401
00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,580
we were making paper companies
402
00:15:26,580 --> 00:15:28,950
and biggest paper
distributor in the world,
403
00:15:28,950 --> 00:15:32,430
Green Bay was actually built
on the backs of tobacco.
404
00:15:32,430 --> 00:15:33,270
And no one realizes it.
405
00:15:33,270 --> 00:15:34,103
- I never knew that.
406
00:15:34,103 --> 00:15:35,460
- No one knows that, right?
407
00:15:35,460 --> 00:15:38,070
So I love my city,
408
00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:39,924
I love the 920, I love the dirt I'm on.
409
00:15:39,924 --> 00:15:44,070
My cigar's an ode, it's
a love letter to my city.
410
00:15:44,070 --> 00:15:47,076
Now, how are we such
tobacconists back then, right?
411
00:15:47,076 --> 00:15:49,380
We have a river called the Fox River,
412
00:15:49,380 --> 00:15:51,090
and that connects to Lake Michigan,
413
00:15:51,090 --> 00:15:52,800
which all the lakes connect
414
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,440
and they'll get you all the
way out to the Atlantic Ocean.
415
00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,120
So sailors would come to Green Bay,
416
00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,460
they would dock momentarily,
they'd refill on a handful
417
00:15:59,460 --> 00:16:02,190
of things, some toiletries, some liquor
418
00:16:02,190 --> 00:16:04,263
and cigars/tobacco.
419
00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,080
Before Wisconsin was known
as a Cranberry State.
420
00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,460
People don't realize that,
that we are the largest
421
00:16:08,460 --> 00:16:09,720
cranberry state.
422
00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:11,640
There were tobacco fields.
423
00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,240
Now this, could you say this,
this was made the 1800s.
424
00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:16,770
Right, the Ain't They Lovely?
425
00:16:16,770 --> 00:16:19,410
Well, there were so many
brands in the 1800s,
426
00:16:19,410 --> 00:16:21,180
1900s, just rolling
427
00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:24,960
and selling to the sailors
that came in just for a minute
428
00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:26,550
to load up and send up.
429
00:16:26,550 --> 00:16:29,670
Now, when the Depression
hit, Cuban embargo hit,
430
00:16:29,670 --> 00:16:32,220
when shipping became a
little less prominent
431
00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:34,140
to get your products to-and-fro,
432
00:16:34,140 --> 00:16:35,730
the tobacco industry in Green Bay kind
433
00:16:35,730 --> 00:16:38,430
of just dwindled away
and disappeared, poof.
434
00:16:38,430 --> 00:16:40,530
But our museum, the
Neville Museum in Green Bay
435
00:16:40,530 --> 00:16:43,800
has so much history on the rollers,
436
00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:45,660
The brands in Green Bay.
437
00:16:45,660 --> 00:16:49,650
And we were doing this, you
know, we all just were like,
438
00:16:49,650 --> 00:16:52,380
people gotta know that,
that's American history.
439
00:16:52,380 --> 00:16:54,600
That's not history for
our city that we love,
440
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,370
but that's American history.
441
00:16:56,370 --> 00:16:58,350
So our second line
that's coming out, well,
442
00:16:58,350 --> 00:17:00,810
the Ain't They Lovely was sold
443
00:17:00,810 --> 00:17:01,950
in the 1800s, 1900s.
444
00:17:01,950 --> 00:17:05,010
We have a box from the original
ones back then, our next
445
00:17:05,010 --> 00:17:06,960
line's called the Number 162.
446
00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,650
Now, other people don't
also know that there was
447
00:17:10,650 --> 00:17:12,000
Union workers.
448
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:12,900
- Union number-
449
00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,850
- Union number 162, which became one
450
00:17:14,850 --> 00:17:16,830
of the biggest unions in the country,
451
00:17:16,830 --> 00:17:18,750
started in downtown Green Bay.
452
00:17:18,750 --> 00:17:21,360
And they started as cigar rollers.
453
00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:25,396
So we, as an ode to that union that
454
00:17:25,396 --> 00:17:29,040
made Green Bay, built Green Bay,
455
00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,710
our everyday line's
gonna be called the 162.
456
00:17:31,710 --> 00:17:33,570
And as we, as I keep saying every,
457
00:17:33,570 --> 00:17:36,090
we have a third one and a
fourth, ready to deploy.
458
00:17:36,090 --> 00:17:38,640
They're all based on old brands
459
00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,440
that were rolled in the 1800s,
460
00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,870
old brands that were rolled in the 1900s.
461
00:17:42,870 --> 00:17:44,880
Cigars that were sold for a nickel.
462
00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,324
You know, and as a person from Green Bay,
463
00:17:48,324 --> 00:17:51,510
I love Green Bay, like you love,
464
00:17:51,510 --> 00:17:53,842
- I am thoroughly convinced
that you love Green Bay.
465
00:17:53,842 --> 00:17:55,440
- Right.
466
00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,347
But, I we should take a
little bit of pride in where
467
00:17:57,347 --> 00:17:58,180
we're from.
468
00:17:58,180 --> 00:17:59,400
- Yeah, it's a great community.
469
00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:04,200
So it's a new line that has
deep roots in the history
470
00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,059
of the tobacco industry in Wisconsin.
471
00:18:07,059 --> 00:18:09,990
It's Keith, it's Mike, and it's Dylan
472
00:18:09,990 --> 00:18:11,353
from Lovely Cigars.
473
00:18:11,353 --> 00:18:13,470
- And one of the biggest
things that I would like
474
00:18:13,470 --> 00:18:15,900
to just say it, you know, it
sounds like we're wrapping up a
475
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:17,880
little, is, you know,
we really want to have
476
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:19,470
a good experience for people.
477
00:18:19,470 --> 00:18:21,780
So we talk about, you
know, we want you to enjoy
478
00:18:21,780 --> 00:18:24,990
where you are, enjoy who you're
with and enjoy every moment.
479
00:18:24,990 --> 00:18:26,460
And that's really what it's about, right?
480
00:18:26,460 --> 00:18:29,010
Being present in the moment
with the people you're with.
481
00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:31,320
And cigars kind of level
that playing field.
482
00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,930
So really that's what we
want to convey to people.
483
00:18:33,930 --> 00:18:35,220
That's what we want people
484
00:18:35,220 --> 00:18:36,510
to experience when they have our cigars.
485
00:18:36,510 --> 00:18:37,650
- What a lovely idea.
486
00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:39,240
- I mean, there you go.
487
00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,790
- The company was was
built on a pipe dream
488
00:18:41,790 --> 00:18:44,430
on a picnic table, right, with friends.
489
00:18:44,430 --> 00:18:45,330
- Yeah it's awesome.
490
00:18:45,330 --> 00:18:48,600
- So we want that experience of dream.
491
00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:49,830
- Well, we're, I'm glad we're able
492
00:18:49,830 --> 00:18:51,630
to capture this for history's sake.
493
00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:53,100
We're getting connected to you
494
00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:56,190
before the business explodes for you.
495
00:18:56,190 --> 00:18:59,610
It's Lovely Cigars outta
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
496
00:18:59,610 --> 00:19:02,100
It's Keith, Mike, and Dylan.
497
00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:06,300
And I gotta tell you, for
a stick that I had not had,
498
00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:08,490
I had, you gave me one
last night, which I gave
499
00:19:08,490 --> 00:19:10,110
to Kate [Holste] and she loved it.
500
00:19:10,110 --> 00:19:12,780
I'm happy to light this
up, it's very accessible.
501
00:19:12,780 --> 00:19:14,823
It's a really delicious start.
502
00:19:15,660 --> 00:19:17,160
I wish you guys the very best.
503
00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,460
And if we can be helpful
to you, we're gonna try
504
00:19:20,460 --> 00:19:25,170
to keep them fresh and
deliver like your passion.
505
00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:28,620
We're all about helping
people enjoy their passions.
506
00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:31,380
So keeping them fresh is a big deal,
507
00:19:31,380 --> 00:19:32,790
especially when we're in Vegas
508
00:19:32,790 --> 00:19:35,430
where it's 11% relative
humidity today and stuff.
509
00:19:35,430 --> 00:19:37,835
I want to thank you all for joining us.
510
00:19:37,835 --> 00:19:38,668
We're gonna look forward
511
00:19:38,668 --> 00:19:40,293
to watching your story unfold.
512
00:19:41,617 --> 00:19:44,367
(romantic music)