Our Story
Built by a cigar retailer, for cigar retailers.
It Started with a Passion
My fascination with computers started at a young age. My parents got me a Dell in the 7th grade and I immediately started taking it apart, learning how it worked, and figuring out how to make it faster. I was hooked. In high school I took my first programming class. After that, Purdue University for a Bachelor’s in Computer Technology. Right out of college in 2002, I landed my dream job at Lockheed Martin, and later earned a Master’s in Systems Engineering.
After 12 years, I realized corporate life wasn’t for me. I was ready to build something of my own.
Building SMoKE Cigar Lounge
My next venture was SMoKE Cigar Lounge. I pitched the idea to a few friends who believed in and fully supported the dream. With their investment and a generous amount of manual labor from my best friend Joe, we built the lounge from the ground up.
Then, the week before opening, Joe asked: “Where’s our POS?”
The one thing I had done my entire career — software — I had completely overlooked. I spent time researching, calling other retailers, getting opinions on the best POS systems. I couldn’t find anyone who loved the system they were using.
The Accidental POS
I had zero intention of writing my own system. I knew the amount of work involved. So I wrote something very basic, just to get us by until the next IPCPR trade show where I could shop for a real POS.
At the trade show, I went to every POS booth. I couldn’t find the right system for the right price. That’s when I knew — it was time to develop what I had into something real. Something user-friendly and sustainable. Something that could grow with my business and meet all the needs of a tobacco retailer.
From One Store to an Industry
A few years later, a fellow store owner heard about my system and asked about it. After a few conversations and after seeing how this product had transformed my day-to-day operations, I gave it to him for free as a trial — a way to understand the needs of other stores and fine-tune the software.
That was the beginning of TORO.
The First & Only POS Built for Tobacco Retail
Every quirk, every odd situation, every industry-specific challenge that we encounter at the store level — TORO handles it. No generic software company would ever build a custom POS specifically for the tobacco industry. The demand simply doesn’t justify it for them. But it’s all I do.
The Journey
My Promise
I can’t promise to solve every single need you have in your store, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you bring me something new. I work directly with all of my customers to meet and exceed their needs. If you come up with an idea we don’t have, I’ll build it into future versions.
This is a POS written by a cigar retailer for cigar retailers. I wanted to stop wasting time on all the extra tasks of running a store and the nuances of our industry. Now I help others do the same.
— Kosta, Founder of TORO
Ready to see what TORO can do for your shop?