Sarasota Herald-Tribune
2 Sarasota men walk into a cigar bar — and go on to create a top-selling Tommy Bahama brand
28
Dec
Dec
Island Lifestyle Importers was born, quite appropriately, in a cigar bar, when two strangers with radically different backgrounds struck up a conversation about their shared passion for well-aged, premium cigars. Rick Louis, now the firm’s CEO, is a self-described “serial entrepreneur” with a financial business background. Ryan Frailing, vice president, worked for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office — a seasoned deputy with patrol, civil and undercover narcotics experience.
“But he was born to be an entrepreneur,” Louis said of his business partner.
Both are serious connoisseurs, or “leather-tongues” as they are known, who are always searching for the next great cigar.
