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EPC Cigar Company co-founder Lissette Perez-Carrillo on how taxes and regulations are preventing her from growing her family’s cigar company.
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-- -- cigars aren't just a hobby for our next guest there and nearly fifty year old family business.
Does that Perez Carrillo left her career as a -- here to start it would take cigar company with her father brother and she joins us now to talk about -- regulations and taxes.
Other encroaching on the cigar industry was that thank you so much for being with us what -- five million cigars per year your family's business puts out.
How are regulations and taxes preventing you from taken -- to the next level.
Well unfortunately these -- of regulations are.
Imposing serious burns on small companies like my my own and with forty cents cigar at importation and then depending on the different -- that we're spending our cigars to.
Other tax in positions.
Of two I believe 85%.
In some of the states are creating quite a problem for us and the uncertainty of the future as one of their main preoccupations that we have at this point obviously our profit margins are being.
Jeopardized by this type of taxation and yes -- -- is obviously something that we have to consider and our and our growth is there.
-- a time when.
Supporters -- everywhere Arnold Schwarzenegger are right cigar aficionado comes out Marvin Shanken goes unwinds cigars -- cigar bars all over the city.
And I feel like it's not as prevalent anymore is it because that they're becoming more expensive -- that much harder to get.
Well actually -- just -- NATO is that our at our factory in Miami about I believe it was about 155060.
Years ago.
And he was an avid cigar smoker that I still think -- -- -- are now.
But I'm.
It's not so much -- -- yes the smoking bans obviously are creating problems whereas before you -- go to you know I'm not just sit outside and have a cigar.
Some states are are imposing on smoking bans even -- directly outside of traditional places where.
Cigars.
-- would be able to go and smoke cigars so -- that's a consideration.
And -- there was a big -- in the cigar industry about fifteen to twenty years of all.
And some of these and taxation and regulations -- have created.
Some kind of threat to -- growth of the business and obviously other economic conditions I mean it is a luxury item.
But -- we're seeing a good comeback and it's it's a very fun business and there's a lot of cigar lovers out.
There are certainly idea and is at least for Americans -- cigars are basically the -- to get right the Dominican cigar is the best you can let's do.
Unless they -- they lift this in a you know this contraband.
Issue with Cuba because people -- well you know it.
Part -- ignored the Cuban -- I think it's it's prohibited.
Nature and a lot of the -- Dominican Republic is very similar to that in Cuba.
So and yes I believe the best cigars desire from the tobacco growing and Dominican Republic and Hekerob line and Dora and Ecuador though that's the main sources of our.
Cigars and the best -- there's been -- world will be in Dominican Republic which is where we have our.
Our factory so -- -- think fed you know Cuban cigars are are very very good cigars as well but.
I'm I'm very proud of where we're making -- cigars and you should be lives at risk thank you for being with us.
Thank you for having me it's -- to -- it back.
