We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Billie “Bowtie” King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Billie “Bowtie” below.

Hi Billie “Bowtie”, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

In the world of business, taking risks can be a daunting endeavor. For me, the owner of a cigar brand, the decision to step outside the conventional advertising box was a gamble that could have easily gone awry. In 2009, I made a bold choice to infuse a high fashion aesthetic into my brand’s imagery, a stark departure from the typical cigar brand advertisements that all seemed to blend together. At first, the response was less than favorable, with my audience expressing confusion and uncertainty about the new direction. The resounding sentiment was, “I don’t understand what you are doing.” However, I refused to yield to doubt and continued to experiment, relentlessly pushing the boundaries of my brand’s image. I embarked on a creative journey, which eventually culminated into a photoshoot inspired by Peter Lindbergh’s iconic “White Shirts” photograph but imbued with my unique Bowtie twist.

The turning point came in 2017 when I unveiled these distinctive images to the public. It was as if the stars had aligned perfectly. When my eldest son took one look at the images and said, “They look like BOW TIE CIGAR ads,” that was the moment of revelation. It was the moment when he knew he had broken through the barriers of conformity and created a brand with a signature look. In the fiercely competitive world of lifestyle brands, such recognition is a rarity that many aspire to achieve for years.

Win, lose, or draw, my cigar brand had forged a path that was unmistakably its own. It was a testament to the power of believing in oneself, taking calculated risks, and daring to stand out from the crowd. My journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship and the rewards that come to those who bet on themselves, even in the face of initial uncertainty. My story serves as an inspiration to others, encouraging them to trust their instincts and carve their unique path to success in the world of business.

Billie “Bowtie”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Billie “Bowtie” King and i own bow tie cigar co. From North Chicago, IL., BOW TIE CIGAR was conceived and born in St. Louis, MO., in 2006. Having been denied by 73 different cigar companies over the first year and a half, the 74th was a charm! Starting out as a private label, the brand was born; 4 blends…21 total sizes. After a successful run, that relationship ended and a new one emerged, thanks to Sam Leccia, owner of Leccia tobacco. Today, all BOW TIE CIGARS are hand-rolled in the Dominican Republic, by the same family that produces Casa Cuevas cigars, and many others. What an awesome blessing this is! A special thanks goes out to the Cuevas family, for believing in the man, even when times have been uncertain. Currently, BOW TIE CIGAR has four signature blends. These are: PLATINUM LABEL BOW TIE, COPPER LABEL BOW TIE AND 314 RED LABEL BOW TIE (St. Louis deserved a namesake signature blend, as they have been so very supportive, over the years.) and COUTURE WHITE LABEL BOW TIE.

All cigars are premium hand-rolled, using only the finest long filler tobaccos. Each cigar is also tested, using a draw machine, to ensure proper construction. Quality is manufactured into each, and every cigar produced.

Having earned degrees in mechanical engineering and physics from both Howard and Xavier of University of Louisiana respectively, I began voraciously studying every aspect of the cigar & fashion industries in 2008. The goal being to understand the thought process that goes into developing brands heavily reliant on quality products and visual perceptions, for creating a successful brand. In addition, the process cycle utilized by large fashion houses for releasing content and products was studied, and elements applied to our approach.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

• The Tanning of America: Steve Stoute
• Think and Grow Rich: Napoleon Hill
• Any video posted by Dame Dash speaking about business and strategy.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

At the very onset of this cigar journey and having absolutely no contacts or relationships within the industry, I had to cold call manufacturers. From the early Summer of 2006 until the fall of 2007 I made hundreds of phone calls. Many of which were to the same manufacturers multiple times. I was told “NO” by 73 companies during this span. The 74th manufacturer gave me a meeting, said “YES” and I had a private label deal.

Contact Info:

• Website: bowtiecigar.com
• Instagram: @bowtiecigars
• Facebook: bowtiecigar
• Linkedin: bowtiecigars
• Twitter: bowtiecigars
• Youtube: bowtiecigar
• Other: I am bowtiecigar on every platform.

Image Credits
Photographers: Bowtie, Wesley Law, Andre Everett, Andra Wishom