Becoming A Tobacconist.

[uberam3rica]

ive been tossing around the idea of becoming a tobacconist. i love tobacco in every form but chew(and possibly snuff but i havent tried it yet), so becoming a tobacconist would be something i enjoy. i think i have a good knowledge of tobacco. not great but definitely above the average person. when i started smoking a pipe i researched everything i could find,and i picked the brain of the people on the forum.if i saw someone talking about something i didnt know i looked it up. now im sure many people have done this, but as soon as i know something i want to know, it there pretty much for good. i have an excellent memory, but its selective, like selective hearing i remember pretty much only what i want to remember. tobacco is something that interests me and something i enjoy greatly. basically id like to know how one becomes a tobacconist.like schools that offer programs, do you have to do an apprenticeship, everything about becoming one.so kevin your input here would be greatly appreciated

 

[judcole]

I would guess that a good way to start would be to find a job in a good B&M - or even a good e-commerce only shop.

 

[uberam3rica]

well i know the teach it some how. i remember kevin saying hes working on his masters for it

 

[pstlpkr]

I believe this is where Kevin is studying:

Tobacconist University.org

 

[rickpal14]

Tobaconnist University
uberam3rica... I think this is what you are looking for.... good luck!!

 

[lonestar]

I think your options are

A. Have lots of money, and use that to open the store of your dreams.

B. Find a job at a reputable tobacconist and spend years learning the trade.

 

[rickpal14]

damn L............. beat me by 30 seconds!!!! LOL

 

[rickpal14]

<br />

 

[spartan]

Yes what they said....
No one is going to listen to a teenage tobacconist. Even if you do SOMEHOW get certified.
Find a job in a toby shop and mop their dirty floors and make sure thier glass cabinets are spotless.
Grunt work first. Good Luck! I would do the same if ONLY there were any job openings around me. I will keep looking. ::

 

[uberam3rica]

its not set in stone. i also want to be a baker, i love to bake, but i hate mornings and bakers work mornings. i also love cooking, but working on the line seems very stressful. i went to a culinary program for half the day when i was in high school and i loved it, but we werent a busy restaurant. so i dont know. im thinking i might give being a tobacconist a try, my mother would absolutely hate it, but i could really care less about what she likes and dislikes

 

[uberam3rica]

Grunt work first

well ya you gotta start at the bottom

 

[ace57]

Join the service, become a baker see the world get a few years under Your belt and then see what You would like to do with Your life.

The service will train You in being a baker and You will get paid.

 

[loborx]

To be a baker you have to be an early riser (no pun intended). When I was in college I worked in the Student Union bakery. It was interesting and you will build some upper body strength working that dough. But, I had to be there at 4 a.m. and the walk across the frozen campus on a dark winter morning was a chilling experience. Regarding being a tobacconist, I agree with the folks on here. See if you can get a job at a local "real" tobacconist - skip the smokeshop/headshop/tattoo/piercing parlors. Do the work nobody else wants to do in there and be a knowledge sponge.

Good luck! ::

 

[ace57]

My Gals a baker, She works from 3pm to 3am Mon. to Thur. and 3pm to 6am on Fri.

 

[seanz]

Bakers, Butchers are a misunderstood breed. you need to be a early bird and have a thick skin, as the humour can be a tad harsh . I like the idea of being a tobacconist and learning the art/skill of blending our glorious leaf. though for me it involves a plane ticket and visa's but i wish you well in what ever you choose to do. :D

P.S butchery is one of the oldest professions and if you love meat and dont mind a wee bit of blood its a great trade :wink:

Not biased at all

 

[uberam3rica]

Join the service

sorry i know youre an ex-marine but i dont want to be in the army.

To be a baker you have to be an early riser

ya thats the only problem.i love baking, hate mornings.im a night person

dont mind a wee bit of blood

i dont mind butchery. i had to cut up chickens in my culinary class in school
theres a new smokeshop opening up not too far from me, its gonna be a bigger store so they will have at least cigars. hopefully pipe tobacco.i shop apply for a job there. theyre still building the store right now. the problem is other then the store being built, all the smoke shops sell just cigarettes, roll your own, cigars, and the glass pipe people use for weed.im not saying i expect to be a certified tobacconist right off the bat, just that i want to get into the field. i love tobacco, and its a dying art.id like to help keep the trade alive

 

[cortezattic]

I say, "Go for it!" It may be true that no old codger is gonna take your advice seriously -- at first, at any rate; but the earlier you start the better off you will be. I seem to recall that G.L. Pease got his start at a local B&M while he was still in school. Look at him now: three BMW's in the driveway, a sexy chick on each arm, and a $300/month condom bill.
I think Russ Ouellette got his start under similar circumstances -- mostly tweaking existing blends on customer request. Now he's big time with a national reputation and invites to create custom blends. He started The Fusion Lab at Pipes&Cigars.com which may help you decide if you have any talent for the blending profession. Give it a whirl!
But hurry, this shit's gonna be illegal soon. :rofl:

 

[tobakenist]

In my young days most tobaccanist's were also barbers, hows your hair cutting technique ?

 

[markw4mms]

Back in the '70's when I started smoking a pie, I hung out around our local Tinderbox. I became friends with the manager, and soon became a part time employee. It was a great experience learning about all the different pipe tobaccos and cigars. My friend was a great enthusiast of the leaf, and was a great teacher. After about a year there, he wound up relocating back to California, and I became the manager of the store. I stayed in that position until I myself had to move away. I enjoyed the job so much that after moving to Atlanta I went to work at one of the Tinderbox stores there. By the time the no smoking in malls rules came around and pretty much shut all of them down, I was working a 3 different stores. I would still love to be in "the business", but the closest real tobacco shop is about 50 miles away, and isn't worth the commute for me. Bottom line, if you think you'd enjoy it, I say go for it! The old saying is true, if you do what you love, you'll never "work" a day in your life. Good luck to you, my friend.

 

[uberam3rica]

hows your hair cutting technique ?

not good