Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Dumas.
Carolyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The mobile cigar lounge concept came to me as I was researching other mobile businesses in preparation for my retirement from the City of Raleigh after decades of years of service. I didn’t want to retire without something to do, and I didn’t want a brick-and-mortar business. Some of my family members and friends enjoy RVing; I love to travel and began smoking cigars about 18 years ago. It was important that I do something I really enjoyed in retirement, so I began formulating my business plan about five years ago into what is now Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The past five years have been an adventure. It was great taking the time to create the vision I had for the business. It took about three years to locate the vehicle that I wanted. I traveled to Ohio, Florida, Virginia, etc., looking at many limo buses. I had specific interior amenities that I wanted and luckily found the vehicle right here in Raleigh. I established the business in 2018 and officially launched in November 0f 2019. Booking began to come in fairly quickly… until… March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. All of a sudden, I had six bookings cancel and no business at all in 2020. Needless to say, COVID has been my biggest struggle. I’ve had to concentrate more on the cigar retail side versus offering the specialty service that the mobile lounge is.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve had 18 years to learn a lot about the essence of cigars. Being a tobacconist is such an exciting job. New brands of cigars are launched yearly and it is fun trying out the new brands. Being a woman-owned business allows me the opportunity to connect with other women who might be interested in cigars but may have been afraid to ask or intimidated a little. Also, I find it easy to talk to the men as well that may be just starting their cigar experience. There is so much to know, size, shape, flavor, body, strength. You have to find what suits your individual palate, much like a fine wine. Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge creates an elegant and relaxing experience for our clients. Being mobile sets us apart from other lounges–We bring the cigar lounge experience to you!
What are your plans for the future?
We have such a unique service to offer. We are looking forward to growing our business revenue in 2021 and beyond. Adding additional service vehicles and franchising are in our future plans.
Pricing:
- Bon Vie Package: 4-hours for $800 (motorcoach only)
- Gold Package: 4-hours for $1,000 (motorcoach and patio w/ complimentary 25 boutique cigars)
- Platinum Package: 4-hours for $1,200 (motorcoach and patio w/ complimentary 25 premium cigars)
Contact Info:
- Email: bonviemcl@gmail.com
- Website: https://bonviemobilecigarlounge.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonviemcl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BonVieMCL
Image Credits
Carolyn Dumas, Donnell Perry Photography
E. V. Hill
August 3, 2021 at 2:19 am
So very proud of you, Carolyn! Congratulations!