Tobacco Business

[ 58 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MARCH / APRIL | 21 ] the growth of the company. In the span of the past year, Humi-Smart has been forced to move into a new office space and also expand its warehouse space to accommodate the growing demand as cigar consumption increases with the pandemic. During the past year, Humi-Smart has also leveraged its social media accounts to increase brand awareness. Instagram, Facebook and appearances on different podcasts have all helped the new business to gain traction in new markets outside of the U.S., including Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Asia and Australia. Humi-Smart has also managed to get its products on Amazon, eBay, and in Walmart, as well as several smaller online retailers. How retailers, manufacturers and consumers can use Humi-Smart packs to maintain the quality of their cigars is simple: Add a Humi-Smart pack in with your product in an airtight container, such as a humidor or jar, and the pack immediately begins to control the humidity level of that container to the benefit of your products. This is accomplished by each pack’s ability to control the humidity level by either adding or removing moisture to achieve the relative humidity (RH) level noted on the pack. The contents of each Humi-Smart pack do all of the hard work. Within each package is a highly proficient humidity buffering agent that is individually processed and combined with an all-natural plant fiber immersed in a solution that is blended with different types of organic polymers that is then dried to an exact moisture content that produces a stabilized humidity level as noted on the pack. Each Humi-Smart pack also comes with a humidity indicator card that is included with the packs. When the card turns from its pinkish color to blue, it’s time to replace the pack. “Again, we wanted to be different, so we designed our product in a way so you’re not forced to open your humidor or jar to check your pack,” says Berken. “The humidity indicator card is another simple way of knowing when it’s time to swap your pack for a new fresh Humi- Smart pack.” For those that prefer to check the pack rather than rely on the card, it’s easy to figure out when it’s time to change the pack. If the pack feels firm or bumpy, it’s time to change it out for a new pack. When asked what makes Humi-Smart different from other products that deal with two-way humidity control, Berken provided a laundry list of the product’s highlights: it’s all natural, it’s plant-based, and it’s earth-friendly. Humi-Smart contains no preservatives or corrosive salts, and Humi-Smart packs will not spill or leak. Berken also added that Humi-Smart is stable, accurate in its control of humidity, experiences fewer fluctuations than other products, and that it will not change the flavor of premium cigars that are stored with it. Expanding into Greener Markets Humi-Smart’s two-way humidity control packs can also be used for nontobacco products, including cannabis, musical instruments, food and documents, expanding its utility and potential customer base. Today, about 99 percent of Humi-Smart’s sales come from the tobacco and cannabis markets. While most of the company’s attention and push are in these two markets, it’s keeping the door open to other markets and opportunities that will help Humi-Smart expand its reach. “Based on our admitted limited knowledge of the unique markets, we started with cigars and tobacco,” says Berken. “We knew we could change the RH percent performance of the packs by altering the formula, so we knew we would expand quickly into new markets as needed, if needed. Within several weeks, we had customers calling, emailing and contacting us through social media asking—and at times demanding—for expansion. We continue to partner with new groups and develop new product offerings, especially within the cannabis industry, because of the explosive growth due to continuously changing federal regulations.” Meeting demands and scaling Humi-Smart has been done either by luck or through extreme dedication, Berken explains. The company and its team are constantly looking for more expansion opportunities and considering new partnerships that will increase both brand awareness and Humi-Smart’s sales volume by creating loyal customers who will also become returning customers. Because Humi-Smart is a relatively new company, its team is continuously working on product quality, product esthetics and new products to help fuel its growth. Humi-Smart's two-way humidity packs can help preserve the quality of tobacco products, such as cigars. An included indicator card helps notify you when it's time to replace the pack.