Episode 174 - Gia of @charmcitycigars

You're listening to the only place on the internet that offers the perfect blend of high-quality premium cigars and cryptocurrency news and commentary. Welcome to cigars and crypto. Now here's your host, Invest New York. Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this episode of cigars and crypto. You know who it is. You should point to all of me. Tell you I am so happy to have my

is. It's popping. I get that right. But I noticed that you have a lot of facial products and beauty products on your page and that kind of I'm going to pick my interest. And then you and I had an opportunity to have a discussion and you told me about it. So now I want you to tell my guests about it. But before we get there, Gia,

tell me about yourself. How did you get into the cigar world? A little bit about me. I've been smoking for about let's say eight years now. I know it looked pretty young. But yes, I was spoken for about eight years. I worked in tobacco retail. I was also briefly learned a lot of knowledge about the industry and I started brainstorming on ways that I could like

you know, Baltimore into the cigar industry as well as promote my brand that I have found it in 2018. I'm the creative director, creative founder, all that good stuff for Charm City cigars. I am from Baltimore, Born and Raised. And the main thing that I want to push behind is, you know, house tobacco released to self care. For me, I use it a lot to on

one, but I also recognize how, you know, you're able to connect behind the leaf with so many people, whether it's just in Baltimore or the DMV area or even outside of the DMV area, especially, you know, when you go south and people are like, oh, you're primarily in like Baltimore. But as far as Baltimore is concerned with this brand. That's amazing. And I love how you

specify the difference between Maryland and Baltimore. Because a lot of people don't get that Baltimore is its own unique entity with its own culture. It's own delicious food. It's own beautiful people. Shout out to my friend Chris easy from Baltimore. Love you, Chris. You know, I said, I linked you in a Chris up on Twitter a little while ago. So I'm hoping that you all are

able to chop it up and hit up some of those great lounges in Baltimore and smoke well and smoke easy. So thank you. No problem. So what is it about cigars that you like so much for you to be smoking for eight years and for you to have worked in a tobacco retail establishment. There's something about it that really resonates with you. And I'm trying to

get that out of you. What is it about tobacco and specifically premium cigars that really picture interest? So to be more specific, my family does have a bit of a history with not just tobacco smoking, but also tobacco farming. So early on, I learned a lot about tobacco and, you know, how to care for and those kinds of things, as well as learning how to get

into, they spend in my palate with different shades and different blends and, you know, learning what the construction of a cigar is and, you know, learning like what I really like to smoke. Because, you know, a lot of people think, oh, it's the size or, you know, it's the popular brand or the, you know, the things that have labels versus someone's house blend that may not

have a label. I had a deep curiosity early on watching family members smoke cigars and I was trying to think, you know, how can I get in? You know, my knowledge of wood and I was like, you know, I'm not going to be able to do that. I love, does it cost a lot of money? Like, what do you need to, you know, become a cigar

smoker? And I just jumped in after being a carriage by a family member. My dad to be exact and I realized that I didn't just like smoke and cigars. I was curious to know where they actually come from. As in the things that I was spending my money on, getting to learn about, you know, how the cigar came to be so great. And, you know, is

there a better cigar from my last experience? That I had working in the tobacco retail. It kind of like expanded my interest a lot because I got to meet faces behind the brands. And, you know, while I was working, I was having a lot of fun. And I realized that this was like one of the few things that it feel like work to me. So I

really tried to figure out how I could, you know, build that so to speak for myself and possibly even others. Beautiful story. You know, a lot of people come into this space and they have their own reasons and everyone's path is different. But they always converge on a love of the leaf. And it's so great to hear about how your passion extends so deep, not just

within you, but in your family as well. And I love how you're so aware of the differences between blends and that it's not necessarily so important for you to have the most expensive cigar or the largest cigar or the one with the biggest name brand to enjoy the experience of cigar smoking. So shout out to you. That's off to you. I appreciate that. Thank you. No

problem. So okay, let's get into something a little bit fun for me. Okay. Now, on your page, I was looking at some facial facial, you know, care stuff, you know, and I was saying, you know, I may be 47, but I think I can get cute. You know, I say, so I may have to pull up on your website and start browsing around and see what

you got out there. But tell my listeners how you got into and why you got into skin care products and beauty products as a part of the Charm City cigar experience. So it's really simple. Upon me, while it's a cigar lounge, as I always get carted at the register, people are always, you know, asking, oh, are you old enough to be here? How old are you?

You look really young. So as I started smoking more and, you know, actually being out in public smoking, where, you know, some, depending where you are, the ventilation could be great. Or, you know, if it's too many people, it could be really smoky. So I thought of realizing that, you know, my hair was smelling like the guards even after I was finished with it. My clothes,

my car, you know, that kind of thing. So I started looking into how I could like preserve my skin as well as fight the odor. Because, you know, I don't want to stop smoking. Well, I'm not going to stop smoking. So I was like, I got to figure this out. I started mixing up products specifically for like your face. But then I gradually went to like,

how can I use this? So like, for instance, I have an oil that can be used all over. I have soap that can be used all over. Things that encourage you to, you know, kind of like shed those discousels as well as like washing the tobacco away. And it has the same effects when you're skin, your teeth, your hair, such as brinkles or just dryness. You

know, those are things that when you're smoking every day, you may not be as conscious to, you know, maintaining that moisture. But it's really important, especially the order we get to, you know, protect your skin. The people yourself hydrated moisturize and all that stuff. Totally agree. You know, a lot of people don't realize that the skin is the largest organ. In the body. And it stops

pollutants and irritants from entering your system. It is the source of beauty that people see. But it serves a very valuable purpose. And I love how you put the two and two together with the cigar smoke. The shitty ventilation in some of these. I'm not going to call no names out. But we been to a couple of. You know, you walk out some and like, I

didn't have any of these. I just stay where you come from with that, you know. And as a man, I think the. The thing that really resonates with me about your product is. I have a beard. And even though I wash my face normally, I'm bald and I can cut my hair. When I smoke the cigar, that smell will stay in my beard for a very

long time. Right. And in my mustache. And I find that I'm always looking for different things to. And I kind of not just clean or cleanse my skin, but also moisturize and nurture my beard so that I don't carry that smell with me. My friends listening today. So laughing me because at one point I was talking about beard butter. You know, into that business a while

ago. But I'm glad that you have these products. So that men and women cigar smoker, non cigar smoker or non smokers can all have something that they can use to keep. Most of our eyes protect and hydrate their skin. So tell me about your product lineup. What do you sell? So everything is all natural. Um, there's pretty much. Um, something for everyone. You do, if you

are a male, the head facial hair, we definitely can help you get your beer right with your start and over or you're trying to fill in a patch. Well, you just want to find a product that you know. What it needs to do. We have something for that. We have oils as well as beer blend, which essentially is like beer butter by one to make it,

you know, more funky and creative. So I've changed it to blend. We have three cents for that. For women, we have your body oils. Not so to speak for just women's use, but you know, that's more of a. Women's supporters, the oils as well as the soaps. We also have toothpaste, which that's my favorite product. I use that. Probably about three times a day. Okay. Um,

I think that it's the item that I tend to talk about the most because I want people to recognize that. Just because you've been using a toothpaste for so long. Such as your, you know, your favorite you go to doesn't always mean this good for a lot of times. You know, I'm not going to be able to do that. We use products not just on our

teeth, but our skin that has ingredients that we may not even be able to pronounce. And that was one of the things I wanted to make sure that I. Stayed away from using all raw natural ingredients, which is pretty much why I sell online because I'm able to regulate the temperature. So to speak. Even down to when I'm mailing these items out, make sure you know

nothing melted or stained or you know, just depleting from the time I pack it. So when it reads. I really want to go back to the two days for a second. Yeah. Um, the reason why I pretty much decided to include that because I felt like it was sent me apart from most of your lifestyle brands. Um, because even though I talk a lot about being

a lifestyle brand, you don't have to base, but with this two days, I'm able to feel a difference after I've not only even, you know, I want to be able to do it. But it's essentially giving you that deep clean as if you maybe just left the dental office. Um, I know it probably sounds corny, but in the reviews that I get back, people tend to

say the same thing. So I just want to put it all down to charge city cigars. Does have its own two faces all natural and it comes in two cents. Kepp of it is very nice. Okay. That's what's up. That's what's up. All right. So let's talk about the toothpaste. Okay. Okay. Not many people do that. Not many people come up with their own toothpaste. So

without giving away, uh, giving away any of your, your secret sauce, right. Tell me about the toothpaste. What kind of toothpaste is. So, um, it's green in color. It is again, mentee sent it. And I will say that the base is a bentonite clay base. Okay. The look that I'm going to show you. People who may not be familiar with bentonite clay, it's an old product

that's for natural, uh, ingredients that's being used for ages. Uh, it's pretty much detoxifying your gums and your teeth. Um, you, you're a person like me that, you know, you, you worry about, oh, can I still taste or. You know, is there still tobacco there? If you smoked, and it's been hours, you know, I consciously lost in my teeth. And since I'm, um, launched this product.

And use it. I've noticed a difference in, uh, how long that tastes as smoke lingers in my mouth. Okay. That's the move. All right. And, uh, just any rollout that we have coming up, specifically the cigar roll and the bears. Um, that's something I'm getting ready to pretty much promote now on social media. We're on Twitter, Facebook, as well as Instagram. You can follow us one

there. But um, aside from the products, I will be pushing out the service for cigar roll for public and private events. That's what's up. That's what's up into it. Okay. I like that. Um, I like that. Right. All right. So look, give me the website again. One more time. That's charmcitycigars.com. You heard it. Pull up. Get some bento night clay toothpaste. Get to teetie gums right.

Whether that funky breath. Make sure you get some. What did you call it? Fear blend. Yeah. Get you some beer. Blame, you know, I mean. So just be able to be on fleek. I know I'm old. So that fleek is old. But hey, it is what it is. Make sure you visit. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. Go to her online. CharmcityCigars.com.

Check her out. Her name is Gia. Her products are amazing. Now, Gia, let's get to the fun part of this. What you should move today. Well, I actually have not smoke today yet. What city sit around in front of me is that I'm about to wrap. Okay. All right. All right. We bought some rent. Um, just to give you a little background. I have four blends

that I've worked on pretty much just to go on the entire COVID-19 leading up to now. So I now consider myself a blender because I select these items and, you know, don't what makes as well with others. Perfect. And I'm so to speak. So right now I'm about to wrap a cigar for myself. I will smoke like literally after I smoke. And this is, um, I

have four blends. Like I said, this is number three. Okay. So are there plans to sell your cigars online or only at the events that you're going to be doing? We're going to start off doing events, but eventually yes, we will, we will be able to expand and offer them both online and possibly in local locations for sale. I'm going to hold you today. You know,

we're working on it. I'm going to hold you to that. Yes. I will drive down the bolts more and find a retail that has it just so I could go back on Twitter and flex and say, guess what I got. So tell me what your favorite cigar is other than the ones that you roll. Okay. Um, I have more than one favorite. So I'll just, I'll

just shout out some names. Um, I'll keep this up. So you can even tell me if you've had them probably had, because you, I see your post on Twitter, you're into some exact looks like me. Indie, Indie. Uh, I will say that the killer be. Mm. Uh, cigar that I can't stay away from when I go out and purchase the guys. Um, shout out to black

label. That's a killer too. Boy strong full body. That's exactly what I go for. Um, Hmm. Okay. Um, okay. Shout out to Jewish state. Yeah. That's like, that's probably like one of the more. Popular flavors for people, but it gives you that feeling that you're looking for. Um, I think it's, it has an it burns well. It has a great. Um, tastes that's not, you know,

too sweet. But you still can get that. As I like to say that harsh tobacco flavor that you're looking for when you're real smoke or like it's all there. Right. Um, I smoked the lot 23, a lot. Hmm. Okay. Hmm. Okay. I don't feel lighter. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Got me. Okay. Um, as far as like Cubans, I feel like I pay so many. Yeah. This

is part of the thing. I was like a short story. Like when I was working at a tobacco store here, but more. I had access to smoke, you know, things that were there, but a lot of times to bring my own. And one time somehow I damaged a one second that I had with me. Hmm. And I repaired it. Door my shift. And that's when I

knew like I could possibly roll cigars. Because I was like, well, that wasn't as hard as I thought. Yeah. Those are pretty much favorites or popular. Go to use when I go out and buy cigars. The all but the Cuban course. Okay. Okay. I. I will invite you to come back. I will invite you to try something for me. I know you said that the only

flavor cigar that you will smoke is a sweet chain. Right. Have you ever had the upsetter by foundation cigars? I don't think I've had the upsetter. Okay. When you get a chance, the next time you hit a shop, grab the upsetter, the Django, it's a robusto. It's a, in few ways. I use what you're making space. So it's not sweet per se like the cap is

not sweet. But it's like an aromatic. Kind of like pipe tobacco, but more premium long leaf than pipe tobacco. It's a very interesting experience. If you can't find it, let me know. And I've seen you some. But the last time I was involved with more, I know Mina had some. Shout out to Mina. So if you get a chance, pull up at meaners, see if she

has them. If she doesn't DM me and I'll see you five. Okay. Got you. No, I haven't tried that yet. So I'm no very eager to try. Yeah, I got you. So probably. So before we wrap up one more time, give folks your Twitter, Instagram handles your website address. I want everyone to be able to pile into your website and go buy stuff to follow us

on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and that's charm city cigars on all social media. Charms city cigars. I want to take a moment to thank you so much for accepting my invitation. Thank you so much for teaching me and my listeners about you, charm city cigars. Thank you for sharing your story, your experiences, and your love of the leaf with me and all my listeners. I appreciate you.

And I want to thank you for allowing me to be featured and talk about my brand on my baby as I like to say. I know you told me that you are very familiar with Baltimore and its cigars. So I'm very, very happy to be able to promote not only just my brand, but Baltimore and the cigar culture. And I want to thank everybody who is

going to listen. Thank you for listening. And I hope to connect with everybody. Count on it. You have a good night. Okay. Thank you. You do sing. Thank you.