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52TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2009toconvincepeopletobuymyproducttobringingmyangelstoshowsandhavingourboothswarmed.x1dLikemostentrepreneurswhofndthemselvesrealizingtheverygoaltheyenvisionedPhillipswassoongrapplingwiththechallengesthatsuccessbrings.x1cIdidnx19tpreparemyselappropriatelyx1dshesays.x1cIdidnx19thaveinvestorsoralineocreditoreventherightsetup.IwasdoingeverythingmyselwithaewriendsIx19daskedtohelpme.x1dOverthepastewyearsHeav-enlyhassux1eredthroughallotheritesopassagethatgrow-ingcompaniesdoincludingdix2cultymeetingdemandandaqualitycontrolissuethattookallherattentiontoresolve.x1cIwasliterallypull-ingmyhairoutx1dsaysPhil-lipswhosecigarsaremadeintheDominicanRepublic.x1cEvenateryouimplementstepstofxityouhaveXnumberocigarsstoredandXnumberinthefeldandnowayoknowingwhichcigarsouttherehavetheproblemsoittakesawhiletoworkthroughtheflter.x1dTroughthesehiccupsandhitchesPhillipsperseveredocusingalloherenergyandtimeonthebusinessx14otentothedetrimentoherhealth.x1cIhadthewingsondayandnightx1dshesays.x1cAndeverydimeImadewentbackintothebusiness.Itwasexcitingandwonderulbutitwasalsoexhausting.x1dBymid-2008Phillipswasinthehospital.x1cIhadanirregularheartbeatuzzyvisionandwasbasicallyoutoitx1dshesaysrecountinganearlyweeklonghos-pitalstay.x1cWhenIlookbackatpicturesomyselromjustbeorethatIcanseethatIwasreallysux1ering.x1dWhileherhealthscareandresultingsemi-hiatusromthebusinesstorecu-peratecouldhavebeendevastatingorthegrowingcompanyPhillipsbroughthercustomaryenthusiasmtobearinfndingortuneinhermisortune.x1cItwasscarybutitalsoputthingsintoperspec-tivex1dshesays.x1cIwasabletotakeastepbackandrestructurebringinginnewpeopleandmovingorwardwithnewpackaging.Ithinkitallhappenedorareason.x1dx1eodayHeavenlyCigarhasanewcontrollerandCFOwhohandlesbusi-nessmanagementandhumanresourcesreeingPhillipsortheproductinno-vationandmarketingtaskssheexcelsat.TecompanyrecentlymovedintoitsnewNaplesFla.acilitywhichdoubleditsdistributioncenterx19soperatingspaceandreleasedits2009CalendareachmonthowhicheaturesaHeavenlyCigarangelina1920s-stylepinupgirlposeHeatherisAugust.AndHeavenlyiscelebratingits10thanniver-sarywithspecialreleasesoitsmostpopularx3avors.x1cWetookaproactiveapproachto2009embracingthemottoorchangeinAmericax1dsaysPhillips.x1cTatchangestartedoruswithanewworkingenvironmentandourcorpo-ratestrategyor2009isbasedonfndingwaystoexpediteprocessesandimprovecustomerservice.x1dWhatothergoalsdoesshehaveorthecomingyearTerun-inwithchemi-calsthatsenthertothehospitalseemstohavereignitedapassionorgettingbacktonature.x1cIx19vealwayslovedtheideaodoingalineonaturalcigarsx1dsaysPhil-lips.x1cIwouldlovetohaveithappenthisyear.x1dtOBx1cTheoutletbusinessshoulddoverywellinarecessionaryworld.Peoplewhowouldnottypicallyshopforthebestpricehavetodojustthat.x1d