DD Cigars Kelehear Dickerson and Brandon Dowdy What

DD Cigars Kelehear 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.