Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Rodriguez.
Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I had my first cigar when I was 19, celebrating after landing a good job. What started as a small moment of enjoyment quickly became a ritual — I’d buy a cigar every time I got paid, and I kept that tradition going for years.
Fast forward a decade, and I found myself working at a cigar shop. That’s where my real education began. I learned the ins and outs of the industry and worked my way up through various roles — from store manager to sales representative — before finally stepping into my dream role as the owner of my own cigar brand.
My father was a big part of that journey. He saw how passionate I was about cigars and asked me one day, “Why don’t you have your own brand?” That question changed everything. Not long after, my dad and I took a trip to Nicaragua, where we developed two blends that would become the foundation of Ohana Cigars — a family-founded brand born from passion, perseverance, and love for the craft.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a rough road. When I first started, I was working out of a factory that was far too big for a small, new company like mine. I designed my cigar boxes to be thick and sturdy — they only held ten cigars, but the weight and style made them expensive to produce. As a small startup without much capital, that was a tough hurdle to overcome.
Fast forward to today, and things look very different. The business has grown, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Right now, there are likely 100% tariffs being placed on Nicaragua, which certainly presents a new challenge. But I don’t see it as a setback — just another obstacle to push through on the journey forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The thing I am most proud of is the fact I did not start out with millions of dollars. I started off with a very conservative amount, You start at a great disadvantage when you dont have capital for marketing and advertising. I tell anyone that asks me about starting their own brand, if I can do it, anyone can. Always believe in yourself and what you are doing. Dont listen to people tell you that you cant.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The thing I’m most proud of is that I didn’t start out with millions of dollars. I began with a very modest amount, building my brand one step at a time. Starting a business without the backing of big capital, marketing budgets, or advertising resources puts you at a real disadvantage — but it also teaches you resilience, creativity, and the value of hard work.
Whenever someone asks me about starting their own brand, I always tell them the same thing: if I can do it, anyone can. Believe in yourself, believe in what you’re doing, and don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t. Determination and self-belief can take you further than money ever could
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohananuicigars.com
- Instagram: Ohana_cigars
- Facebook: Ohana Cigars, Lefthand Cigars
