We recently connected with Nikki Neal and have shared our conversation below.

Nikki, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

One of the biggest things Corporate America gets wrong in our industry is the lack of personalization and authenticity in event experiences. Too often, corporations focus solely on efficiency and scale, treating events like a one-size-fits-all assembly line. This approach overlooks the importance of crafting meaningful, customized experiences that truly engage and resonate with clients or attendees.

An anecdote that illustrates this was when we collaborated with a major corporate client who initially insisted on a standardized event package. They wanted to roll out the same formulaic cigar and cocktail setup across multiple cities, without considering regional tastes or the unique preferences of their attendees. We pushed back, suggesting that we incorporate customized elements—like locally inspired cocktails, tailored cigar pairings, and unique entertainment experiences that reflected the culture of each location. After some resistance, they agreed, and the result was a series of events that not only exceeded expectations but left a lasting impression on their clients.

This matters because in our industry, it’s the details and the human touch that make all the difference. When corporations treat events as transactional instead of experiential, they miss the opportunity to create deeper connections, build loyalty, and ultimately enhance their brand’s image. We’ve found that the more personal the experience, the more impactful the outcome. This is why at Eleveight Cigar Events, we prioritize customizing every aspect of our events to deliver something truly special.

Nikki, 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?

At Eleveight Cigar Events, our story begins with a passion for creating experiences that resonate deeply with people. After 20 years of working for other companies in the industry, building their brands and programs, my husband Jay and I realized there was an opportunity to create something bigger, something more personalized. We knew we could provide a stronger, more customized product by stepping out on our own, and that’s how Eleveight was born—rooted in years of experience but with a fresh, innovative vision.

Our journey into cigar events started in the middle of the pandemic, a time when the world of live events came to a halt. Starting then was a huge risk, but we believed in what we were offering—hand-rolled cigars crafted by master rollers and luxury experiences tailored to each client. We’ve since expanded to include not only premium cigar services but also DIY trucker hat bars by Onesie Crew Creative, a men’s fedora line, and personalized gifting options. Each of our services is designed to elevate events and create lasting memories.

We solve the problem of generic, cookie-cutter corporate events. Clients want something personal, engaging, and different, and that’s exactly what we provide. Whether it’s pairing cigars with a fine dining experience or offering fully tailored gifting options, we help elevate events and leave a lasting impression on guests.

What sets us apart is our dedication to customization. Every event is crafted specifically for the client, with no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether working with major brands like Ferrari, the LA Chargers, or the San Francisco 49ers, or curating intimate weddings and private parties, we bring a level of detail, authenticity, and luxury that’s hard to find elsewhere.

I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve built Eleveight from the ground up, despite launching during a global pandemic. And beyond our success with big-name brands, I’m proud of the personal connection we maintain with each client. We pour care into every detail to ensure each event is something truly special.

For anyone new to our brand, we want you to know that Eleveight offers more than just events—we provide unforgettable, luxurious experiences. From premium cigar rolling services to custom hat bars and personalized gifting, we’re here to bring your vision to life.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

At Eleveight Cigar Events, we don’t manufacture in the traditional sense, but we do craft and curate products that are highly customized and unique. For our cigar experiences, we work directly with master cigar rollers who hand-roll premium cigars on-site at our events. The process of bringing these master rollers together took time, as we wanted to ensure we worked with the best in the industry, people who truly understood the craft and could deliver the elevated experience we promise our clients.

For our custom trucker hats, which are produced under Onesie Crew Creative, we initially had to source high-quality vendors who could manufacture hats that met our standards. It was important that the hats were durable, comfortable, and customizable. Finding the right vendor took some trial and error. We worked with several manufacturers, refining our designs and patchwork options, before finding partners who could deliver the quality and flexibility we needed for our clients’ bespoke designs. This includes options like specialty patches and opening up collaborations, such as a men’s fedora line.

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned along the way is the importance of communication with manufacturers. Clear specifications, open dialogue, and feedback loops are essential to getting the product right. Another key lesson is patience—refining a product takes time, and sometimes you need to go through multiple iterations before landing on the perfect result.

Ultimately, our focus has always been on creating high-quality, personalized products, whether it’s a hand-rolled cigar or a custom trucker hat. This attention to detail is what sets Eleveight apart and keeps our clients coming back for more.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that everything needed to be done perfectly and in-house for the business to be successful. In the early stages of Eleveight Cigar Events, I was very hands-on, convinced that managing every little detail myself was the only way to ensure things went smoothly. I thought that in order to deliver the best experience for our clients, I had to control every aspect, from the planning to the execution, without delegating or outsourcing.

The backstory to this was rooted in my experience working for other companies, where I often saw small mistakes lead to big problems, and I wanted to avoid that at all costs. However, as we started working with larger brands and scaling up our events, it became clear that doing everything myself wasn’t sustainable. I was stretched thin, and it started to impact both the quality of the events and my ability to grow the business.

The turning point came when we landed major clients like NetJets. I realized that to keep up with the demand and still deliver a premium, customized experience, I had to trust others—whether that meant hiring skilled staff, outsourcing specific tasks, or finding reliable partners who could handle some of the logistics and production. Once I let go of the need to do it all myself, it not only relieved stress but also allowed the business to thrive.

This experience taught me that perfection isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about building the right team and finding partners you trust. By unlearning this lesson, I was able to focus on the bigger picture and elevate Eleveight to a new level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eleveightevents.con
• Instagram: Eleveight.cigar.events
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/eleveight.cigar.events?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

  https://www.instagram.com/onesiecrew.hat.studio?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

  https://www.instagram.com/eleveight.social.club?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Image Credits

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