I’d love to pick the brains of Roderick and Nigel… I live in the States, and have recently become interested in snuffmaking as a business. Problem is, I’m the only person I know who buys snuff. I live in LA, and every time I go to grab one of the (delightful) tins of Silver Dollar, those little tins seem to have been untouched since my last visit. Do you guys make a living doing it? If so, how? I’m thinking about investing in a grinder, toying around with recipes. Any advice you have would be much appreciated. Thankee 
I think if you make something good you’ll be set. Send out samples and see if people demand more. I really think Nigel hit on something good and therefore Abraxas will be around for some time. Roderick too. Went from nothing to something big in no time. But I say he’s a marketing genius to boot. I think he could sell used toilet paper and be successful!
Yeah, but as a snuffmaker in the states, there is no way to get around all the red tape involved to produce.
Aie, the laws over here for commercial tobacco production are a bit difficult to navigate. However, if you’re looking for a loophole, I know that I lot of homebrewers can make a living by making “artisan blends” and selling them at farmers markets or other similar venues. You’d have to find out what the maximum amount you can sell without needing a commercial license would be. Much more viable as a hobby in my opinion; but hey, if you ever want a nose to test your blends on, let me know!
It’s certainly possible, but starting a snuff company is like starting any business - the financial rewards are a long way down the line. The point at which you no longer need to hold another job down only comes after a great deal of hard work, during which time you will need to hold down that day job to keep the wolf from the door. It’s a pretty trying process and you need to be a 100% committed, but could you do it? Yes, if you make great snuff, or better still a range of them, you could make a living after a great deal of graft. Develop the product and test it out on the members here would be the best starting point in my view. Cheers, Nigel
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Nigel, Thanks very much for your advice. Yeah, I’m still a long ways away from turning a potential hobby into a source of income. I want to start blending soon, just for fun at first… Snuffinclown, I’ll be glad to send some your way as soon as I make a batch I’m not ashamed of
This is the land of opportunity ,I for see a future of snuff sale in the USA, With in the next ten years snuff will be as common as Pepsi or Coco -Cola .Snuff has always done well in depression times and times of war… IF YOU BUILD THEY WILL COME
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@insect an if you’ve got the drive and the passion to blend and sell your own snuff, I’d be glad to support you. It would be really great to see a larger variety of American snuff. Obviously this is a long term thing, and something you’re merely considering, but in the meantime enjoy your snuff, and try mixing different snuffs together too. I’d imagine that’s good practice.
The person you need to talk to is JAAP BES… Our very own “snuffmiller” from Holland!
in my opinion it seems like the trick is to start by offering something no one else offers. The hardest part seems to be getting people to try it in the first place. I’ve thought if I ever make snuff I’d try to do a custom thing and offer really strange snuffs. What do I know though.
@bob perhaps you could break into the market with a Sardine and Horseradish snuff… I’d try it…
Not sure about the horseradish but a grilled sardine snuff sounds lovely.
Potential flavors: “New Car” “Hospital” “Airport Lavatory” “Neglected Refrigerator” “Urinary Tract Infection”
The best piece of advice I can offer is, buy an industrial coffee grinder and make sure it’s a burr grinder. With a burr grinder you can vary the size of particle which is important when you start blending tobaccos. Sales in the USA are forecast to grow faster then any other section of the Tobacco industry. Having said that there have been a number of failures in the last few years, which could be down to quality or poor marketing, who knows. In my case I have been remarkably lucky and most of my customers are true friends. Without them we are nothing, remember that and you’ll do well.
Roderick, Your snuff is humblingly, fabulously good. Thanks for the hint here. If I can ever make a blend like Natural Toast (oh-so-delightful) I’d rest on my laurels forever… I’m going to be trying many different kinds of snuff…I realize that I need to be a connoisseur before I’m a manufacturer. And, just to let you know, today I ordered 6 tins of snuff from Toque direct.
@Rodrick – My deepest appologies for leaving you out as a reference! How rude can one get?
@insectman You said you live in LA? Is that LA as in Louisiana or LA as in Los Angeles?
…Develop the product and test it out on the members here would be the best staring point…
I’ll volunteer my services as a test dummy. 
Considering the amounts i have purchased, i’m pretty sure i could make a living not buying snuff.
@insectman You said you live in LA? Is that LA as in Louisiana or LA as in Los Angeles?
That would be Los Angeles. Hmmm…that was unclear of me, sorry.
not sure if this is of any help at all to you. But it seems like that there is a link on here someplace of some fella that sells tobacco seeds of all types. My pc went belly up and it was bookmarked on it. NOW??? at any rate, if you can, grow your own. IF NOT…may I suggest…I live not far from WESTON MISSOURI, Not too far from kansas city mo. THERE they have 2 or 3 tobacco warehouses. I contacted them last yr when toying with making my own…They were very very nice and helpful when i called and emailed me back and said “SURE” we will sell to you. Now the big thing, is Burley what you are looking for? That other thing I mentioned, guy who sold the seeds had bulk deals of gozillions of seeds for $25…they say tobacco seeds are very tiny. If you find that link here, maybe the owner this site here can help you find it. then you can ask them for the kind of tobacco you need to grow…I hear it is a bugger though. hope this helps. Let us know if you need any guinea pigs…'I’m your huckleberry!"