Hello everyone, just joined after lurking for awhile. Lots of great discussion on this board so I thought I'd join. I live in Stillwater, OK and I'm a junior at the real OSU. There are NO, I repeat NO cigar shops in this whole town. How hard would it be to start up a small local cigar shop here? Anyone with ideas please help me decide whether it's worth it or not. I think it's a great market with lots of potential. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by ostate711:
Hello everyone, just joined after lurking for awhile. Lots of great discussion on this board so I thought I'd join. I live in Stillwater, OK and I'm a junior at the real OSU. There are NO, I repeat NO cigar shops in this whole town. How hard would it be to start up a small local cigar shop here? Anyone with ideas please help me decide whether it's worth it or not. I think it's a great market with lots of potential. Thanks

Actually the real OSU is in Columbus Ohio.

Just some stats for you:
Ohio State founded in 1870, Ok. State founded in 1890

Ohio State Enrollment: 50,000 students, Ok. State Enrollment: 26,000 students

Ohio State NCAA Football Championships: 7, Ok State: 0

I'm a huge Michigan fan and alum so it may surprise you that I am defending the honor of the buckeyes. However, by challenging the integrity of our biggest rival, you are also challenging the integrity of the wolverines!

Any college town is a good bet.If your correct in saying there are no shops in town,well thats like taking candy from a baby!I've seen shops start college cigar clubs and they do very well...Dave

It is an "iffy" time to get started in the tobacco industry. With the trend being more and more states enacting smoking bans, it is questionable how that will affect the local cigar markets (even though the industry as a whole is doing well). Additionally, with all the competition from the internet shops, it is difficult to make margins on cigars unless you are an established dealer with a loyal clientele. While owning a cigar shop may sound fun (and it does to me as well ) it could be a risky business if you are overestimating your market. If you do decide to go forward, do the research and create a solid business plan before jumping in head first.

My 2 cents.

I'm n o businessman but do enjoy a good smoke. What are the laws in OK, do they allow smoking indoors? Is there a ban in the works? You may have a bankable commodity if you establish a smooking venue before any ban is imposed. Here in CT we used to have "class 3 licenses" where patrons could bring their own and watch entertainment, often a coffee house type atmosphere. (Am I showing my age!)If you offer something with atmosphere I tink you can't go wrong, but correct, have a business plan and stick to it. Good Luck

Not sure how it would work. I leave near a major college town and there are two shops. I suppose they do well on game days and on weekends, but the other side of it is that many college students do not have the disposable income to put into cigars (the bars eat up a lot of that, I am sure).

Start up costs for a shop is high and getting accounts with major manufacturers are slow going in terms of getting the best-selling premiums.