10 TOBACCO BUSINESS | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER | 22 We’ve reached the end of yet another year, and though you’re probably expecting this letter from the editor to be about the upcoming holidays, it’s not. When I write “’Tis the season,” I’m referring to a season of growth and prosperity. This is the time of year when we start taking a look at our businesses and also reflecting on the year that has passed. How well did we do? How far have we come from where we were on January 1 to where we are as we’re ending the year? What targets did we miss and what goals did we actually accomplish? ’Tis the season to figure out where we are and where we want to go next year. If there were a theme to this issue, I believe it would be growth. In business, if you’re not growing, you’re failing to some degree. The problem with growth is that it’s hard to achieve and even harder to maintain. The best entertainers, professionals and business owners always have growth on their mind. They’re willing to reinvent themselves or try something new if it means it extends their reach or could take their business and products to the next level. Most successful businesses want to grow, and if you’re reading Tobacco Business, I believe it’s a safe bet that you want to grow your business as well as your career. The good news is that there are plenty of different ways to grow your business today: You can release a new product. You can collaborate with someone you admire. You can focus on a side hustle, or you can turn a passion into a thriving business. This issue is filled with the stories of entrepreneurs who launched a tobacco business after some defining life moment. Erik Espinosa, who is featured on the cover of this issue, excelled as a sales representative but came to realize that no amount of success led to the job security he wanted. So he took his knowledge of cigars and went on to launch his own cigar brand, Espinosa Premium Cigars. He’s found quite a bit of success as a brand owner, even making headlines this year by teaming up with celebrity chef Guy Fieri on a premium cigar release that has become one his company’s most popular products yet. Another story follows Enrique Seijas, who convinced his father to start his own cigar brand soon after he retired from a prominent factory in the Dominican Republic. Even after his father completely retired from the cigar business, Enrique picked up the mantle and created an impressive cigar brand that continues to grow. You’ll also be both entertained and informed by the story of Yvette and Yvonne Rodriguez, twins of Afro-Cuban descent who created their own boutique brand, Tres Lindas Cubanas, and have been able to generate 11 different streams of income from their tobacco business. Why do stories like this matter? Business stories often center around profit. Someone comes up with a product idea, and it makes them lots of money. Someone becomes an influencer or celebrity, and they build a business empire around their newfound fame. That isn’t the case for many tobacco businesses. We all know that the tobacco industry—and, more specifically, the cigar industry—is full of family owned companies. Making a profit isn’t as easy as one would think with a tobacco product like a cigar, but the industry continues to grow and thrive. You see it with each press release and at the various trade shows each year. So why start a cigar brand or work in an industry that is so challenging to succeed in? The answer to that question can be found in the stories you’ll read in this issue. As we wrap up another year, let’s keep growth and opportunity in mind. How can we grow our businesses and improve ourselves in 2023? Just as there are many different reasons to start a tobacco business, one can also expect a variety of different benefits from taking on the challenge. I hope 2022was good to you and your business and that the new year will be just as prosperous! TB W ED I TOR ’ S LETTER VOL25 NO6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 PRESIDENT Jason Carignan MANAGING DIRECTOR Ben Stimpson SENIOR EDITOR AND DIGITAL DIRECTOR Antoine D. Reid ART DIRECTOR Harrison Brackett COPY EDITOR Stephanie Banfield CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Briant and Storm Boen TOTAL PRODUCT EXPO TRADE SHOWDIRECTOR Ellie Hansen TMG SALES MANAGER Dawn Conger DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Brian Rodak TRADE SHOWOPERATIONS & LOGISTICS MANAGER Scott Gibson SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachel Esteffe TMG SALES ASSOCIATE Carly Gegorek TOBACCOBUSINESS MAGAZINE 5449 Endeavour Ct #1712, Moorpark, CA 93021 A DIVISION OF KRETEK INTERNATIONAL, INC. CHAIRMAN Hugh Cassar PRESIDENT AND CEO Sean Cassar CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Don Gormly Tobacco Business is published bimonthly at 5449 Endeavour Ct #1712, Moorpark, CA 93021. Printed in USA. Copyright 2022 by TBI, LLC. Subscription rate is $45.00/year. Send paid subscriptions to Tobacco Business at same address as mentioned above. For reprint information, contact Ben Stimpson at 919.412.7380. Copying: Permission is granted with users of the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. To photocopy any ar ticle, with the exception of those for which separate copyright ownership is indicated on the first page of the ar ticle, provide a base fee of $1.25/copy. Tobacco Business International is a registered trademark of TBI, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tobacco Business, 5449 Endeavour Ct , Moorpark, CA 93021. TIS THE SEASON THE TEAM Antoine D. Reid, Senior Editor, antoinereid@tobaccobusiness.com TOBACCOBUSINESS.COM TOBACCO BUSINESS
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