We had the good fortune of connecting with James Sims and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, why did you pursue a creative career?
Becoming a cigar roller was birthed out of the idea of owning a cigar lounge. I reached out to Brickhaus3 (a business/career coaching firm) to discuss my plans of opening a cigar lounge in centralTexas. I had retired from the United States Army and was working for the University of Texas in San Antonio. However, I had a burning desire to launch a business. After my first initial meeting with my coach, I expanded my idea of owning a cigar lounge to a number of options that birthed Red’s Smoke Shop – a mobile cigar service business enhancing events by providing onsite cigar hand rolling and cigar concierge bar services.

At the time, I had no idea how I would learn how to roll a cigar. However, I loved the idea! I began watching Youtube videos, reading books and magazines, and attending classes. Then finally I humbled myself to realize the best way to master cigar hand rolling, I would need to become an apprentice. I located a master Cuban cigar roller and my journey began.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I would love for the world to know our motto is Create. Educate. Serve! The Red’s Smoke Shop team believes we are doing more than creating cigars with our business. We are on a mission to enhance events via our cigar service which leads to beautiful memorable experiences for our clients and their guests. We educate those interested in cigars, the art of cigar rolling, and entreprenuership. We encourage individuals interested in becoming a cigar roller to reach out to us and take our classes. We value cigar education and have created cigar rolling 101 classes in addition to other cigar classes. As we focus on creating and educating, we make time to serve! We work with a minimum of 10 non-profit organizzations to assist them with enhancing their events or fundraising. It’s one way we can giveback and contribute to our community.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I tell my coach (CJ Sims) who is now my business & life partner that I would not be at this level if it wasn’t for her support and strategy! In addition, my Master trainer, Reynaldo, who I remain in contact with, my clients, family, and friends who have continued to support us on this wonderful journey. I am and forever will be grateful to all of these individuals who believed and supported me as I mastered the art of cigar rolling.

Website: www.redssmokeshop.com

Instagram: redssmokeshop

Facebook: The Red Team (redssmokeshop)

Youtube: redssmokeshop

Other: Tik Tok – redssmokeshop

Image Credits
Brickhaus3

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