Tips On Running a Cigar Bar For Parties

Hello all,

I recently had a bit of an entrepreneurial epiphany today that combines a hobby I am passionate about with my major in school. I would like to cater cigars at parties and events. Just like people have martini bars for hire at social events, I thought it would be pretty cool to start a cigar bar in the same niche. I realize I need to obtain a license for the retail of tobacco in bulk which I am already on top of. I live in Canada and definitely have the right demographic around me.

So I turn to you fellow smokers and retailers. I am a youngin in the cigar world and though I have sufficient knowledge of cigars and the way the industry works, I was hoping some of you more experienced could help me out and share some information. It would be much appreciated.

Happy Smokin' EH?

[Ferrari5180]

Good luck with your endeavors fellow Canadian.

[MortonMilo]

Genius idea, wish there was a cigar catering company around my area!

[GWN]

Depending which province you live in, you may be limited to outdoor affairs. I'd say golf tournaments may be a niche you may consider exploring.

[shilala]

Congratulations on your new venture, Ryan!!!
What kind of information would you like the guys to share?
I immediately thought "In God we Trust, all others pay cash", but I didn't know if that's the sort of thing you're after.

[G G]

Originally Posted by shilala

"In God we Trust, all others pay cash"

Scott is smart.

[captain53]

Originally Posted by ggainey

Scott is smart.

Yep that is good advice.

I don't know too much about Canadian Weddings but I have been to a couple of mega $ weddings that had cigar bars/rollers and they were a big hit.

In Florida and especially Tampa and Miami you can hire a gentleman of cuban decent to handroll cigars for guests at parties. It is very entertaining for guests.

[Kreth]

Seems like you'd run afoul of indoor smoking bans. Do the Canadian laws allow for temporary smoking licenses?
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[Bax]

I've had a couple friends include a cigar roller at thier wedding. Might be another venue to check out. They may not let you smoke them right there, but it's a cool take home gift IMHO!

Thanks for the comments so far guys. I'm taking all this into account. I'm really liking the golf tournament idea. I'm thinking that could generate a lot of good business. I have looked into laws and such today and I would have to be outdoors unless it is residential. But that's ok, we're Canadian, we always deal with the cold. Keep the ideas coming fellas. They are all appreciated.

[maninblack]

This would be a dream job if not for those damn smoking bans.

[Razorhog]

Wow, what a brave idea. I think the live rolling would be a big hit at parties. You'd always want to consider your audience and choose price points to match. Also, it would be awesome to coordinate with the catering/beverage service company to make up a menu of which cigars pair up with certain food and drinks. A lot of people that buy cigars at events do it on a whim, and they might end up buying a cigar that is out of their league. My suggestion would be to arrange the cigars in sections according to strength. Each section might then be sorted according to price.