Episode 193: 2026 Retail Roundtable

James and Jimmy welcome Trey Mac Shipley from Aladino Cigars to the program. This show is a little bit different as we talk conspiracy theories! Are we living in a simulation? Are there aliens? Are they from another planet or another dimension? This is a fun episode that shouldn't be missed!

The conversation revolves around the retail side of the business this week as Simply Stogies Podcast welcomes Dwight Adkins and Paul Wood from Fat Ash Cigar in Ashland, KY; Brian Bolen from Smoldering Cigar in Livermore, IA; and Jimmy Dailing from The Drawing Room in Davenport, IA. The panel discusses import numbers, foot traffic, and overall sales. Is the cigar business booming? What are the outliers? How have the customer spending habits changed in the last 5yrs? How has cigar pricing affected that? Where will the industry be in 3yrs? We dive into all of this and much more!

Jimmy and James talk about Daniel Lance behind his back! The duo discuss their recent conversation with Daniel Lance from Domain Cigars. How does technology affect both the retailer and the consumer? Who sees it? Are cigar reps relevant given the adoption of certain technologies? Why isn't every cigar company adopting new technologies? What's the deal with limited editions? PLUS: Simply Stogies has a food reviewer? God help us all.

James and Jimmy welcome Daniel Lance of Domain Cigars to the show. The trio discuss Daniel's 20yrs in the industry and his background before jumping into the industry full time. Daniel tells us how he chose Nicaragua over Kansas and how he would like to see more cigar companies utilize technology to make things easier on the B&Ms. Daniel gives us his raw and uncensored opinions on limited editions, rare tobacco, and much more.

Jimmy and James talk about Pedro Gomez behind his back. The duo discuss their recent conversation with Pedro Gomez, the Global Brand Ambassador for Drew Estate. From Pedro's humble beginnings as a saddle maker in Nicaragua, to his time in Iowa as a college student, to how he worked his way up through the factory the pair discuss how this has led to Pedro being one of the most positive people in the industry. They also talk about Pedro's mentor, his uncle for whom he was named after, and how his answer differed from others in the industry when asked the same question. This eventually led to a discussion of "Is Drew Estate boutique?" and "What is boutique?" and "Does it even matter?"

James and Jimmy sit down with Pedro Gomez, the Global Brand Ambassador for Drew Estate. Pedro talks about coming to the US from Nicaragua and leaving saddle-making and everything he knew behind, to go to school in Iowa. Pedro discusses what drives him, his work ethic, his mentor, and the culture at Drew Estate. We also have a great discussion of why Drew Estate events are better described as experiences, what people can look forward to at a DE event, and much more.   You can sign up to earn Drew Estate Rewards at www.de30rewards.com Stay on top of events and the latest Drew Estate news https://drewestate.com  

Jimmy and James recap their recent conversation with Dray and Zack of HDA Cigars. Jimmy asks some questions, James critiques Jimmy's questions, and Jimmy gives James a hard time. Also, they're both big fans of Dray and Zack. What makes them friends? Why aren't Jimmy and James as close as Dray and Zack? Is there an "Iowa Connection?" Plus much more!

James and Jimmy welcome both Andre and Zack from HDA Cigars to the program. Dre tells us how he got into cigars, how he met up with Zack, and how the two came to form HDA Cigars. The duo discuss the move to the Rojas Factory, what went into the move, and how they worked to keep the recipes the same. We discuss their latest limited edition, The Sentinel, before diving into their next limited edition, the 11:11. The 11:11 is collab with Team SAPO where part of the proceeds go to help veterans in need. The two talk about working with lounges, mentors in the industry, and much more!

Jimmy and James discuss their recent discussion with Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Cigars. The duo talk about how long it took to get Sebastien on the show, the chemistry between James and Sebastien, and what it takes to make a sale. The two also react to Sebastien not caring what other people think when it comes to making cigars. Of course, we touch on Sebastien's love for his community in Honduras.

James and Jimmy welcome Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Cigars to the program. After several years, Sebastien sits down and has a frank conversation about what it means to be a "boutique" cigar manufacturer, why he hates the word boutique, and how he got into the industry. We discuss his love of Honduras, the factory, and working with others in the industry.