When I originally wrote “Drags To Riches”, my piece on EZ-Splitz, I openly asked the creator to step forward and share the history on this ingenious product. These simple-yet-life-changing keychain blunt cutters have made their way into every convience store in my Metro area and coincidentally all of my friends’ pockets. Being the type of person who likes to buy instant lottery tickets and watches infomercials, I was extremely curious to learn who coined the radical idea that was about to save every greenskeeper time, frustration and a stale blunt…or three.

Kindly, the good folk at EZ-Splitz reached out to TSS and granted my wish.

Read as Scooby, the one of the minds behind the EZ-Splitz, tells how he and his small team of ambitious entrepreneurs have taken their product from a leafy revelation to a product that has made it’s way onto shelves in each of the fifty states. For a company that specializes in blunt products, the people at EZ-Splitz are pretty damn sharp.

TSS: What’s going on?

Scooby: How you doin’ B?

TSS: Good. Good. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the people and let them know your position you hold with EZ-Splitz?

Scooby: I go by Scooby. That’s a nickname. I‘m pretty much in sales and help in development. I came up with the idea, as far as developing it from another product that was out.

TSS: I’m gonna’ get more into the background of the product in a minute. But before I do that, why don’t you let everybody that’s reading this know exactly what EZ-Spltz are and what you’re doing for your customers.

Scooby: Okay Well, EZ-Splitz are cigar cutters that are used to make your own blunt wraps out of cigars. It’s basically a key-chain accessory that you slide a blunt, …er cigar through. It cuts it open down the middle, so that you can create your own blunt wrap for the use of better tobacco.

TSS: How long have y’all been making them?

Scooby: EZ-Spltz have been around since May maybe.

TSS: So, it’s relatively new then?

Scooby: Yeah, relatively new. It’s been around since right before the summer.

TSS: I’m from Detroit and I’ve seen EZ-Splitz all over the place. My boys all got ‘em. My friend’s dad actually has one on his keychain. So, obviously it’s something a lot of people want. My main man actually said that he was the one who invented them and he wants the credit. I’m sure you probably get all the time. So why don’t you tell us how the idea actually did come about?

Scooby: The idea actually came about from a rapper who was around a few years ago. But the design was totally different though. First of all, it was a lanyard piece that went around your neck. It was a piece of plastic with a storage space in it for it your tobacco. There was also a place where you put your lighter. On the side, there was a tube that you slide your cigar through that would cut it open. It was a completely other product & that was about three years ago. A friend brought the old one, we saw it and developed the idea and came out with the EZ-Split.

Looking at the idea, we took it and streamlined into something that would be more beneficial in size and carrying it around. A lot of people don’t want to wear something that big around their neck, so we cut it down to make it a keychain accessory. Ours was a keychain, which is very small and very compact. I do believe because the first one was made for the cigarillos and his first one was for the blunt. They didn’t even have cigarillos at the time. Ours was for the cigarillos.

TSS: It doesn’t surprise me at all that a rapper developed this. I wrote about how I was envious of the person who came up the product, so I’m curious, who was the rapper who came up the idea?

Scooby: The cigar cutter itself?

TSS: Well, the original idea. I mean, it’s like the American Dream to be sitting back with some blunts and think, “Man, I got this great idea…” and then turn it into a profit right quick, you know?

Scooby: To be honest with you, what happened was, it was a totally different design and we actually came up with the design for ours before we even knew about the other one. It was kind of odd. We were actually talking about doing the cigar cutters themselves and making it a keychain accessory. Then a friend brought in the other one. I’m not exactly sure the name of the rapper. But his was totally different than the one we had and we went ahead proceeded with ours.

TSS: Did you have a business background or were you like “Hey, this is it right here.”?

Scooby: No, actually, we were doing other products at the time. I came up with the idea for this product. We were doing other products as far as the clear papers. We were manufacturing clear rolling papers and we were responsible for the exclusive distribution for the aLedas in the United States, the first clear rolling papers. We went on and did our line, which we still do. That’s an idea I came up with, thinking of new, inventive products that would sell in that same market. The roll-your-own market. Since I came up with the EZ-Split, we just went ahead and produced it. After my idea, the rest of the company came in and actually manufactured and made it.

TSS: You’ve said, and I’ve seen on the website, that the patent is only pending. I don’t know much about patents, but how are you allowed to sell a product when the patent is pending?

Scooby: Actually, there are plenty of products where the patent is still pending. Patent pending mean that you have the rights to the patent pending first, and it was applied for first by you, so therefore your patent is pending. Once you pay the rest of whatever it is they require, you get the full patent.

TSS: So nobody else can jump on the idea?

Scooby: Basically, you reserve it. You have that time frame where you can go for that full patent. So since it’s pending, no one else can go apply for that patent.

TSS: You schooling me over here and I got a business degree. How much does a single EZ-Splitter cost to make?

Scooby: Uhm, manufacturing costs, I really can’t disclose how much it would cost per piece to make, you know? But, I can tell you that we do offer private labels for the EZ-Splitz and that’s something we’re doing that people are real interested in. If you’re a rapper or entertainer and you need another marketing tool, what we do is actually put your own logo on the product itself, so you can use it as a marketing tool for your product and company distribution.

TSS: That’s dope. So, you can have a Lil’ Wayne EZ-Splitz or what not?

Scooby: Exactly and that’s the goal of it.

TSS: You guys been making a profit on that specifically?

Scooby: Yea, it’s fairly new, but a lot of people are liking that. I mean, it’s a product that once you use it once, you’re gonna’ keep it. You know, your friend’s dad has one…it’s a product you’re gonna’ keep on your keychain, and every time you use your keys you look at it. It’s a great marketing tool, even better than a lighter, because you look at it every time you use it.

TSS: I loose lighters every three days. These are on your keychains forever. That really is a good idea.

Scooby: Exactly.

TSS: Without getting into any details, as far as money’s concerned, you guys are a fairly lucrative business over there? You’re doing your thing, right?

Scooby: Yea, we sell a lot of EZ-Splitz. I can say we do sell a lot of EZ-Splitz. I mean, we wouldn’t be in business to go into red.

TSS: For sure. When I posted the piece originally, a lot of people hadn’t heard of them before. So what other markets are you in and what’s your basis for choosing where to go?

Scooby: Actually, I do believe at this point we’re in all of the fifty states. Every state form Hawaii to the Virgin Islands, to Puerto Rico to Florida, all the way to New York. All over the country. I don’t think there are too many markets we haven’t infiltrated. Wherever they sell cigarillos or blunts is our market. Big cities to small towns.

TSS: How do you go about finding out where they specifically where they sell those?

Scooby: Well, through different distribution means, as far as wholesalers. You talk to the wholesalers, who sell the product, and they sell cigarillos, then the EZ-Splitz will do well in that area. So the people that are actually selling the cigars are the people who are purchasing the EZ-Splitz and go into the distribution mediums.

TSS: Alright. This question, it might not be applicable, but I know here in MI you’re not allowed to sell things that are weed-oriented. Like bongs are “tobacco pipes” and what not. Is that the case for your product?

Scooby: It’s a “cigar cutter.” Some cigar cutters cut the tips off the cigars; ours is used to cut the cigar open. They sell blunt-wraps, and this is way to make your own blunt-wrap. So if you like them and you like to roll your own cigars, this is an idea for you because you may not like the tobacco that comes in the cigars. You may just need the wrapper.

TSS: That’s a good way to go around that, if you have to go around that. I’m sure lots of people use it for that very reason (Laughs).

Scooby: (Laughs) Exactly.

TSS: I was looking at your website and you obviously know your demographics pretty well because you’re doing a promo deal with DJ Warrior and his Cali Untouchables DJs, and their popular Western Hospitality mixtape series. How did that relationship come about?

Scooby: One of the partners is affiliated with the Cali Untouchable DJs, DJ Warrior and Rebellion Records. This is a sub-culture of Hip-Hop. It’s something that’s taking over Hip-Hop and people are into the whole roll-your-own market right now. They use it for the cigars and cigarillos so it’s just a perfect fit for people in that business. They need to market to other people that are dong the same thing and that’s something they promote. It’s a logo on something you’ll smoke. It’s like putting a Camel on a blank cigarette.

TSS: It’s mutually beneficial.

Scooby: Exactly.

TSS: You got any other plans to do things like that, with rappers or DJs? Obviously, you’re doing custom labels, but you got any specific names you’re working with?

Scooby: We do have some in the works right now, some I can’t mention until we have the deal completed. There are some major artists who are approaching their labels and clothing companies that are interesting in using these for tags on their clothing. It’s another Hip-Hop thing, ya’ know. They’re putting them on their tags. It’ll be another promo item that won’t cost them that much, but it’ll help market their product.

TSS: That’s a good idea. You talking about on a zipper or something like that?

Scooby: Yeah, you put it on a zipper, on a hangtag in a shirt. Some people have hangtags on the bottom of a shirt. Definitely zippers on a jacket. Even the drawstrings on a hoodie.

TSS: I could see that popping off real big. Alright, I know you make ‘em and push ‘em, but do you use EZ-Splitz personally?

Scooby: Do I use EZ-Splitz? Yes, I do use EZ-Splitz (Laughs). I can say I am a user of the EZ-Split. It’s the easiest way to cut a cigar.

TSS: What’s your cigar of choice: blunt or cigarillo?

Scooby: I prefer the cigarillos, because it’s less paper. If I need more paper, than I’ll just get better tobacco, instead.

TSS: (Laughs). Right. What’s your favorite type of tobacco to fill ‘em up?

Scooby: (Laughs) Ohhhh, I like all kinds of tobacco, man. Across the board. I’m a big tobacco smoker. I prefer to roll my own. I like to feel Cuban.

For more info, visit www.ezsplitz.com.

Previously Posted — “Drags To Riches”