DD CigarsKelehear Dickerson and Brandon Dowdy

What would you say before the doors open?

•Have you been to the new Fresh Market yet? Yes? My friend and I just opened up a business right beside it. After you’ve picked up your jack at Harvard's, and your wife is still shopping at Fresh Market stop by and get yourself a high end cigar at Double D’s Cigars!

The Team

•Who is on your team?• Kelehear Dickerson• Brandon Dowdy•What skills could other people provide to supplement your abilities?

• We need hardworking, trustworthy employees who have some experience in retail and knowledge of fine cigars

The Problems

•What problems exist that your business solves?

• There are no cigar shops on this side of Aiken that offer the wide selection and knowledge of fine cigars that we possess

The Solution

•How do you solve the problems?• We are the largest cigar shop on the southside of Aiken and we offer a wide selection of foreign and domestic cigars. We top it off with a knowledgeable staff and a cigar rolling bar

The Technology

•What technology will you use and for what? 

• We will use a Facebook acount to spread the word and tell about deals and such

• We will also put an ad in the paper, due to us trying to appeal to an older audience

Business Model

•Answer how will you make money and how much will you charge?

• We will charge full retail and after successfully establishing ourselves and our cliental we will have a slight markup because we offer the best selection and service

Marketing Plans

•How will you sell your services to people? 

• We plan on people stopping by while their wives are shopping, after they pick up some alcohol

from Harvard’s, stopping by after a stressful day at work, or when they

know they have an event coming up like a golf tournament or a

mans night out.

Competition

•Who is the competition and why are you better?

• Our only competition would be Marcello’s and Pipe Dreams.

• While these two stores may offer a decent selection, we have a superior staff and selection of cigars

Current Status/Milestones

•What have we got so far?•What dates do we want to hit?• We are in the process of getting inventory for our store.

• We would like to be able to open by May 25, in time for memorial day weekend.

Financing Goals•Do we need money to start this?  How much?  Do we need to raise it?

• Cigars- $10,000 • Furnishings- Chairs & sofa- $2,500 Humidors-

$2,300 Ashtrays- $75 • Inventory (Lighters, cutters, humidors) - Humidors-

$1,000 Lighters $250 Cutters $500 Ashtrays $200

• Total- $16,825 Rent- $1,500 per month Deposit- $5,000

• This is a venture taken on by older people who have saved for a while and now they would like to not go into debt, so it comes out of their savings. No loans. No credit.