When David Sley began the arduous task of building an independent tobacco company over a decade ago, there was little reason anyone would have thought it would succeed. Regulatory, cultural and political headwinds were seemingly endless — which probably accounts for the 12 years it took him to finally bring a cigarette to market.
Recently, I was lucky enough to catch up with David Sley and learn more about what drove him to start Hestia, a cigarette company, in a world run by decidedly hostile political and cultural forces. Most importantly, we were able to discuss what his seemingly Quixotic effort to take on “big tobacco” can teach us about creativity.
Learn more about Hestia at hestiatobacco.com.
An artisanal cigarette in 2024?