Submitted PhotoMichael Jetter and Tim Harris have worked together to bring cigars to downtown Valdosta for almost four years with Stogies Downtown. 

VALDOSTA — Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy and everyone does it a little differently.

Some open online stores, while others open brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Some go all in and invest their lives into a new venture, while others start a new business as something to do on the side.

Regardless of the type, entrepreneurs help drive the local economy.

Tim Harris, owner of Stogies Downtown, opened the cigar shop New Year’s Eve 2014, said Michael Jetter, managing partner of Stogies.

The space had once been the Golden Leaf Tobacco Shop, and had been closed for more than a year, Jetter said.

Harris decided to lease the space after looking into it, and decided to open up Stogies.

Harris and Jetter work together on strategy and future planning, but Jetter manages the day-to-day operations of the store.

Jetter became involved in the business early, he said.

He and Harris have been friends for years, and Jetter was looking for something to do.

“I started the physical inventory of it and putting the store together in late October and early November,” he said.

Jetter said he enjoys helping Harris run the business.

“For me, it’s been really good,” he said. “I’m not a young guy anymore. I was at a point in my life and I was looking for something to do, and as I got into the later part of my working years, this has given me a really big challenge. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Jetter had no experience in tobacco, but said he enjoys cigars. He has a background in management, customer service, marketing, advertisement, business coaching and sales.

“I didn’t have any retail experience to speak of, and certainly nothing like this,” he said. “It was a matter of learning how to put together a store. I had to merchandise everything and set up the point of sale system, get familiar with all the various cigar representatives.”

Since, Jetter has become a certified tobacconist by the Tobacconist University.

“Basically, it’s an online certification,” he said. “It’s available for retailers and the general public to expand their knowledge on the history, the varied types of tobacco, the growing region and the aging process.

“The reason I did that was for my own education, and also to help educate my customers. To help them understand premium tobacco better and all the complexities that it has.”

Now that the business has been open for almost four years, Jetter is looking to expand the store’s wares by introducing something a number of customers have requested: premium pipe tobacco.

“Last year, I started to research and talk to people about different pipes and pipe tobacco,” he said. “And while we don’t have a lot of room, we do have a display case for pipes, pipe tobacco and pipe accessories.”

Premium cigar tobacco and premium pipe tobacco are completely different from what you find in a cigarette, he said.

As for advice for opening a new business, Jetter said to ensure the new business is well capitalized.

“One of the biggest issues of small businesses — one of the biggest reasons businesses fail out — is they don’t have enough capital,” he said. “They spend all their money building out the business and then don’t have the money to operate while they build the business up. My other advice is to have a solid business plan.”

Stogies Downtown, 101 S. Patterson St., Suite A, noon-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (229) 242-4427 or visit stogiesdowntown.com.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.