Dear loyal subscribers,
We hope this email finds you well. We're excited to announce the release of our latest podcast episode, where Andres Sanchez discusses the cigar industry with Nick Fusco, founder of El Mago Cigars.
In this episode, Sanchez and Fusco cover a range of topics, including the evolution of the cigar industry, El Mago's unique blend of artistry and quality, and marketing strategies for a small cigar brand.
Fusco's passion for cigars and his drive to create something unique are highlighted throughout the episode. He talks about the backstory behind El Mago Cigars and how he pays homage to his grandparents through his brand. He also shares his journey and provides valuable insight into starting a cigar brand, emphasizing the importance of hard work and patience.
Sanchez prompts Fusco to share tips on starting a brand and notes the importance of persistence when building a brand from scratch. They discuss the challenges of marketing cigars, and Fusco provides insight into how he has managed to grow Elmago through events and word of mouth.
Overall, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in cigars, entrepreneurship, and marketing. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it.
Thank you for being so supportive, and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review.
Sincerely,
The Virtual Ventures Podcast Team
Episode Key Topics
Topic 1: Perception of cigars before new designs and colors
- Andres Sanchez reflects on how cigars were perceived as boring.
Topic 2: Artistry and success of the guest's cigar brand
- Guest is credited with bringing a new perspective to the industry.
- Art Deco cigar is highlighted as a product that emphasizes the artistry behind cigars.
- Success attributed to business acumen and brand-building strategies.
Topic 3: Elmago Cigars
- Company created by Nick Fusco in honor of his grandparents who passed away in the Surfside building collapse in Miami.
- Started selling to the public in 2022 and now in over 70 different retail shops in eight different states.
- Brand dedicated to grandparents and everything has backstory related to them.
- Name Elmago is a combination of the first two letters of grandparents' names, Maria and Gonzalo.
Topic 4: Marketing and creation process of cigars
- Marketing doesn't have to rely on a large budget and paid advertising.
- The success of a product can come through hard work and getting in front of people.
- The product has to be great for success to happen.
- Creation process of a cigar is unknown to some people.
Topic 5: Nick Fusco's approach to starting a business
- Advises having passion and drive to make it work.
- Don't look too much into what others say about your business.
- Don't have high expectations, focus on the work that needs to go into it.
- Takes time, but success is achievable with hard work and patience.
Topic 6: Importance of eye-catching packaging and well-rounded blends
- Nick Fusco emphasizes that eye-catching packaging and great-tasting cigars are key components in attracting and retaining customers.
- Created Miami art deco packaging to complement grandparents' life story.
- Offers a range of blends to cater to different palettes.
Topic 7: Promotion of cigar brands and business approach
- Promoting a product on social media platforms like Instagram, Google, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok is not allowed.
- All growth has to be organic by word of mouth or events at cigar lounges and shops.
- Nick Fusco enjoys the face-to-face aspect of the business.
- The cigar business requires a certain amount of capital and investing in high quantities to keep costs low since it's a volume-based business.
- Nick believes it's a worthwhile investment in himself.
Topic 8: Finding balance when starting a company
- Andres Sanchez emphasizes the importance of finding a balance when starting a company.
- Setting unrealistic expectations due to social media can lead to complacency and disappointment.
- Upcoming plans for Emago, including the release of new blends.
Episode Q&A
1. Who is the guest on this episode and what is their background in the cigar industry?
The guest on this episode is Nick Fusco, who started the Elmago Cigars brand in honor of his grandparents who introduced him to cigars.
2. What makes Elmago Cigars unique?
Elmago Cigars is unique due to its vibrant and unique Miami art deco packaging, range of blends, and the backstory related to Nick's grandparents.
3. How did Nick start Elmago Cigars?
Nick started Elmago Cigars after the passing of his grandparents in the Surfside building collapse in Miami. He was inspired to create a cigar brand in honor of them.
4. How has Elmago Cigars performed in different markets?
Elmago Cigars has performed well in different markets, even better in some cases than in Miami. One person in Lawrence, KS, even wants exclusive rights to sell Elmago in their shop.
5. What are some tips for starting a cigar brand?
Nick Fusco shared that having passion, drive, and a willingness to put in hard work and time is essential for starting a successful cigar brand. Persistence is also important, and marketing through word of mouth and events at cigar lounges and shops is crucial since social media advertising is not allowed.
6. What is the legal situation with marketing cigars, and how does this impact the industry?
Marketing for cigars is limited legally due to being viewed similarly to cigarettes. The only legal form of marketing is through magazines such as Cigar Aficionado, which charges high fees for advertising.
7. What is the creation process of a cigar, and what makes it unique?
The creation process of a cigar involves a handcrafted process that Nick Fusco finds fascinating. The flavors of a cigar can be balanced through the blending of different types of tobacco leaves.
8. How did Nick Fusco balance his product development with his branding strategies for Elmago Cigars?
Nick Fusco worked to create a well-rounded and unique brand by focusing on both eye-catching packaging and great-tasting cigars. He also offers a range of blends to cater to different tastes.
9. What are some of the upcoming plans for Elmago Cigars?
The upcoming plans for Elmago Cigars include the release of new blends.
10. What advice does Andres Sanchez give on finding a balance when starting a company?
Andres Sanchez advises finding a balance between listening to others and following your own ideas, as well as avoiding setting unrealistic expectations based on social media's "fake reality" of overnight success.
Speaker Bio: Nick Fusco is a cigar entrepreneur who has spent the last two years learning the ins and outs of the industry. He knows that selling cigars is not like any other business and it takes a lot of groundwork. There are restrictions on marketing in this industry, forcing entrepreneurs to get creative in their approach. Nick has learned more in the past two years than he ever thought possible and is excited to continue growing in this unique and challenging industry.
