Blue Smoke ATL

Robin Blue:

This is Robin Blue with Blue Smoke ATL, and you’re watching Cigar Conversations hosted by Seãn Johnson.

Seãn Johnson:

Hey everybody, this is Seãn Johnson with Cigar Conversations, and I’m here at the PCA 2021, and I’m here with the beautiful Robin James AKA Blue Smoke ATL.

Robin Blue:

Yes.

Seãn Johnson:

Now, let me ask you a question? The pokers, blue’s my favorite color, so it got pulled in, and you actually reached out to me through LinkedIn.

Robin Blue:

Yes.

Seãn Johnson:

And let me tell you something, we’ve had a wild run and it’s not even over yet, but enough about me and how we met. Now, will you do me a favor? Tell me about your pokers because this is not just any poker. When we spoke I told you, “Yeah, I’ve seen them, I’m a guy’s guy, I want something that is manly.” And she actually went ahead and asked me questions about myself, what I’m into, she that I had a show, Cigar Conversations, but I found out after getting my poker why. Now, speak on that?

Robin Blue:

Well, I think a lot of men are thinking that cigar pokers are mainly for women, and men are my target audience, and so what I feel like if I can come up with a poker that really pulls at your heartstrings, I got you. So for you, I know that you do Cigar Conversation, I know that you’re always on the mic, I know that you’re really creating kind of the Robb Report of the business. So, if I can come up with something like that, I know that I got you. So, that’s what I did for you, is to come up with putting your logo on the poker, putting a microphone on your poker, putting a dollar bill on your poker, trying to find the things that really pull at your heart strings, and that’s what I tried to create with your poker.

Seãn Johnson:

So, I can always go ahead and buy a poker from you for my cigar, but your niche is actually the custom piece that you get. So, it was so beautiful, my poker was so beautiful it got stolen.

Robin Blue:

So, if you have his poker, bring it back, especially the one with the sterling silver cigar on it.

Seãn Johnson:

Now you just told them that, they’re not going to bring it back because now they know the value besides being sentimental. You’re not just doing this, but one of the things that you also do, you’re actually getting ready to do a collaboration with a lot of cigar manufacturers. Just like you can do your own personal piece, you can do a personal piece whether it be with Perdomo, Hiram & Solomon, Boveda, you actually go ahead and create these custom pieces, and that’s one of the reasons why you never got into the game so early, because everybody was doing it. And with you being a creative person, you finally figured out that niche and said, “Listen, I’m going to go out and do custom pieces and take it to that level.” Speak on that for me?

Robin Blue:

Well, I mean, there’s two streams that I’m trying to focus on. I’m trying to focus on working with retailers because I think retailers are trying to really differentiate themselves by offering accessories that are really uniquely theirs with having their logo and having unique products, and also cigar brands, especially boutique cigar brands, they really want to offer different things. So, I’m looking out for cigar brands, cigar brands if you’re out there, call me and so I can create something specifically for you.

Seãn Johnson:

Now, the next thing is you never went into actually the bracelets.

Robin Blue:

Yeah, people have been asking me since the beginning to make bracelets and I didn’t really want to get into jewelry because I thought the jewelry was an oversaturated market. But what I wanted to do, people asked me would I create a poker set? So, poker and jewelry. So, let me just show you. Since I’m at a Mason booth, let me just show you, here is a Mason poker and here is the matching bracelet.

Seãn Johnson:

Wow.

Robin Blue:

So, it really kind of offers something a little bit different for your Masonic person. And then also, if you want to look at this one here, this is a poker and then the matching bracelet. So, it really offers some different options for people who are really into social media and want to offer some different options that are out there, and really your fashion icons that are out there, influencers.

Seãn Johnson:

Now also, you actually have a warranty behind your products.

Robin Blue:

Yeah, I give a year warranty. My thing is I stand behind my product, so I’m not afraid to give a year warranty. If anything happens, I’ll fix it or replace it.

Seãn Johnson:

All right, I mean, that alone shows that you’re not just being a fly by night sort of business. Definitely, oh, I love this blue. I love this.

Robin Blue:

And my favorite color is blue, if you can tell, so Seãn and I definitely got that in common, as well as Hiram & Solomon, so it’s all about the blue at this booth for sure.

Seãn Johnson:

Yeah, I mean, take a look. Blue, blue, Hiram & Solomon blue.

Robin Blue:

Exactly.

Seãn Johnson:

Let me ask you, what do you have in the works? What’s the next thing that you have going on that you feel comfortable telling me? I don’t think I’m going to get anything right now, you’re holding it close to your heart.

Robin Blue:

I don’t think you’re going to get anything, but I will say that I’m a creative person, so I don’t know that I can share, but stay tuned, it’s coming.

Seãn Johnson:

All right, now we need to stay tuned by following you, how do we find you?

Robin Blue:

Well, everything blue, so Blue Smoke ATL for my Twitter, my Instagram, my website, everything is Blue Smoke ATL.

Seãn Johnson:

All right, so I’ll be posting some of her pictures, some of her stuff on my website and my social media as well. So, Blue Smoke ATL, and for some reason you can’t find it, come to Cigar Conversations and on the social media page, and you will see her stuff, follow the tag, takes you right back to her. Robin, it’s been a pleasure, thank you. And until next time, have great Cigar Conversations.

Thank you for watching another episode of our Cigar Conversations. For more information or to comment on previous shows, visit us at cigarconversations.com, or if you’d like to appear on a future show or advertise with the Cigar Conversations, send us an email request at ads@cigarconversations.com.