Becoming a supplier?

[roxics]

I know I'm totally new here and so far I can tell that this is an awesome one stop community for wanting to know everything about e-cigs. I'm just getting into it myself but I have a ton of question and will continue reading the forum and searching through posts to dig up info. But that said I've got a ton of questions soaring through my head.

As I've been looking around all of these dealers and suppliers websites I've been noticing a lot of similar stuff. It seems like everyone is selling the same equipment and everyone seems to be out of stock or back ordered. I've also noticed a lot of these kits are the same stuff in the same cardboard magnetic flap boxes with different designs and names. This only leads me to believe that these suppliers are getting their stuff from the same or similar manufacturer.

So I guess my question is, who is the manufacturer and how does someone get in on becoming a supplier?

Beyond that, while I've noticed that a lot of these suppliers are selling the same kind of stuff, there are a few who are selling something slightly different like Blu or Vapor4Life or Green Cigarette.

I'm most interested in the Vapor4Life model with the two pieces since this seems to be the easiest route for nontechnical consumers who might not want to deal with manually refilling.

Professionally I am a video shooter/editor that works for a web/design company. I have a lot of ideas and know a lot of talented people.

I'm interesting in learning as much as possible about this stuff and perhaps becoming a supplier myself. I think I can add an interesting spin on things with a well designed website, quality instruction videos, high quality photos and hopefully decent prices on top of great customer support.
But the product has to be there. I don't want to sell something that is junk either.

But those are all just ideas. At first I need to keep reading and learning as much as possible. Like I said I'm most interested in the Vapor4Life model with the two piece systems of battery+cartomizer. I'd like to know if this model (the equipment itself) is something they built and designed themselves or if this is a common model that others are selling as well. If so, who is the manufacturer?

I hope I'm not breaking any rules asking this, especially being a beginner myself. I certainly don't want to take any business away from Vapor4Life. By next week I'll be one of their customers myself. Plus these ideas of mine might just be ideas. They might never come to fruition. But I think this is a growing market and it seems to me that their model is the most likely to succeed in the mainstream. Especially in real stores and not just online sales. There are a lot of people like my mom who might love something like this but don't use the internet and would probably be hesitant at buying something like this if she couldn't just walk into a store to buy this stuff.

P.S. Is the word "Cartomizer" owned by Vapor4Life or is it a generic word they want others to be using as well for similar products?

Thank you so much.

 

[roxics]

Just a quick correction. When I said "Green Cigarette" I meant greensmoke.com, who seems kind of overpriced.

 

[Fedor]

I don't know much about 2 pieces. If you are looking at 3 pc type, you won't go wrong with Smoore (www.absolutelyecigs.com)

They have the best ecigs imo. There are news that they will be coming out with cartomisers that will fit their current 3 piece model. This will be exceptional compatibility not seen before.

 

[Beer Man]

I enjoyed your honesty and have had the same thoughts myself. I could place an order from China and resell for a profit here. This is an oversimplified view however. Weigh your risk vs. gains and see if it may work out for you. Everyone seems to be searching for the next greatest bargain.

 

[Travis798]

I know I'm totally new here and so far I can tell that this is an awesome one stop community for wanting to know everything about e-cigs. I'm just getting into it myself but I have a ton of question and will continue reading the forum and searching through posts to dig up info. But that said I've got a ton of questions soaring through my head.

As I've been looking around all of these dealers and suppliers websites I've been noticing a lot of similar stuff. It seems like everyone is selling the same equipment and everyone seems to be out of stock or back ordered. I've also noticed a lot of these kits are the same stuff in the same cardboard magnetic flap boxes with different designs and names. This only leads me to believe that these suppliers are getting their stuff from the same or similar manufacturer.

So I guess my question is, who is the manufacturer and how does someone get in on becoming a supplier?

Beyond that, while I've noticed that a lot of these suppliers are selling the same kind of stuff, there are a few who are selling something slightly different like Blu or Vapor4Life or Green Cigarette.

I'm most interested in the Vapor4Life model with the two pieces since this seems to be the easiest route for nontechnical consumers who might not want to deal with manually refilling.

Professionally I am a video shooter/editor that works for a web/design company. I have a lot of ideas and know a lot of talented people.

I'm interesting in learning as much as possible about this stuff and perhaps becoming a supplier myself. I think I can add an interesting spin on things with a well designed website, quality instruction videos, high quality photos and hopefully decent prices on top of great customer support.
But the product has to be there. I don't want to sell something that is junk either.

But those are all just ideas. At first I need to keep reading and learning as much as possible. Like I said I'm most interested in the Vapor4Life model with the two piece systems of battery+cartomizer. I'd like to know if this model (the equipment itself) is something they built and designed themselves or if this is a common model that others are selling as well. If so, who is the manufacturer?

I hope I'm not breaking any rules asking this, especially being a beginner myself. I certainly don't want to take any business away from Vapor4Life. By next week I'll be one of their customers myself. Plus these ideas of mine might just be ideas. They might never come to fruition. But I think this is a growing market and it seems to me that their model is the most likely to succeed in the mainstream. Especially in real stores and not just online sales. There are a lot of people like my mom who might love something like this but don't use the internet and would probably be hesitant at buying something like this if she couldn't just walk into a store to buy this stuff.

P.S. Is the word "Cartomizer" owned by Vapor4Life or is it a generic word they want others to be using as well for similar products?

Thank you so much.

To answer a couple of your questions, I don't know anything about becoming a supplier and I don't know anything about vaper4life, however I believe their 2 piece is the KR808D-1. You can find it with other suppliers as well.

The word cartomizer, afaik, is a generic term used to identify any cartridge that is a combination of cartridge/atomizer.

 

[roxics]

I don't know much about 2 pieces. If you are looking at 3 pc type, you won't go wrong with Smoore ()

They have the best ecigs imo. There are news that they will be coming out with cartomisers that will fit their current 3 piece model. This will be exceptional compatibility not seen before.

Hmm interesting. I took a look around their site and although they say they are a manufacturer they appear to be more of a reseller themselves. Perhaps I'm wrong though and need to dig some more.

I enjoyed your honesty and have had the same thoughts myself. I could place an order from China and resell for a profit here. This is an oversimplified view however. Weigh your risk vs. gains and see if it may work out for you. Everyone seems to be searching for the next greatest bargain.

Thank you. I think you're right. To be honest I think my goal would be to go more after the people who are less likely to come to a forum like this. Starting locally. Which is not to say I wouldn't do web sales. But like you said there are a lot of people here who are real connoisseurs and really get into the nuts and bolts of it, so they're always looking for the best bargain and the absolute best stuff.

I'm interested in finding a quality product with a simple and easy approach for the less tech savvy smoker. Easy two piece solution without any refilling or cleaning. But quality vapor with colorful, stylish and decently priced units. Not as pricey as some of these shopping mall e-cigs that go for over $100, but not as cheap and crappy as some of these other things found in stores.

To answer a couple of your questions, I don't know anything about becoming a supplier and I don't know anything about vaper4life, however I believe their 2 piece is the KR808D-1. You can find it with other suppliers as well.

The word cartomizer, afaik, is a generic term used to identify any cartridge that is a combination of cartridge/atomizer.

Thank you for the info. After doing some searching between originally writing this and now, I've discovered the same info. But I still haven't found the source (the manufacturer) who originally makes these products for companies like VaporNine and Vapor4Life.

 

[Kent C]

So I guess my question is, who is the manufacturer and how does someone get in on becoming a supplier? ...

I'm most interested in the Vapor4Life model with the two pieces since this seems to be the easiest route for nontechnical consumers who might not want to deal with manually refilling. ...

I certainly don't want to take any business away from Vapor4Life. ...

But I think this is a growing market and it seems to me that their model is the most likely to succeed in the mainstream..

Sounds like the model you want to sell is the ones that Vapor4Life sells and if it's true that you certainly don't want to take any business away from Vapor4Life, then you should probably chose a different model or not go into business, because part of that would be, most certainly, trying to take away from their business. You'd be in direct competition with them. You do understand that, right? Or am I missing something?

 

[Harlequin]

Given your professional background and resources, have you considered putting together a customized promotional package that could be marketed to extant suppliers? The general state of e-cig web/video presentation is typically pretty amateurish at this stage ...

 

[Fedor]

Hmm interesting. I took a look around their site and although they say they are a manufacturer they appear to be more of a reseller themselves. Perhaps I'm wrong though and need to dig some more.

Definitely the manufacturer. They have documentation in the About Us page but i know it don't mean much. I have done enough homework to know this and have also exposed many posers in the past.

 

[roxics]

Sounds like the model you want to sell is the ones that Vapor4Life sells and if it's true that you certainly don't want to take any business away from Vapor4Life, then you should probably chose a different model or not go into business, because part of that would be, most certainly, trying to take away from their business. You'd be in direct competition with them. You do understand that, right? Or am I missing something?

Not necessarily. Depends on the market. If my goal is to try and focus more on my local market then that isn't direct competition. Just like you could say that two corner stores are in competition with each other because they both sell similar stuff, except one is in Maine and the other California. Obviously though I know there would be some competition in the web sales. I've already found out they aren't the only ones selling a two piece system. But my idea is to promote websales more through local marketing (flyers, word of mouth, ect).

 

[roxics]

Given your professional background and resources, have you considered putting together a customized promotional package that could be marketed to extant suppliers? The general state of e-cig web/video presentation is typically pretty amateurish at this stage ...

That's a possibility, except I've got other ideas for products themselves. I don't want to be limited by only doing promotional stuff for other companies. My goal isn't just to make money here. I kind of have a vision.

 

[roxics]

Definitely the manufacturer. They have documentation in the About Us page but i know it don't mean much. I have done enough homework to know this and have also exposed many posers in the past.

I guess I'll have to check in on them when they have their two piece system worked out.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

OP I am just going to give you a little helpful advice...some "tough love"

There are 100's of new member posts asking the same thing you are asking in one way shape or form....Yes you most likely would have more chance in your local area than here on ECF only because it seems (especially recently) suppliers are popping out the .... here.

yes the kr808D-1 is the model you seem to be looking for you can google it or research it here maybe even clicking on the link in my sig block.

IMO You really need to be a consumer about more and learn the ins and outs of vaping in general and ECF is the place.

I have always said this...if you have to ask... then you may not be ready to jump in quite
yet. do some leg work. try different models out. find out what its about.

I may be repeating myself, but it would be more beneficial for you to get some more notches under your belt.

for example alot of the established resellers here were members for some time before jumping into the biz.

another FYI V4L is definately not the only company that sells the 2pc model.... here on ECF or out in public

 

[oldtechno]

O.P.;

If I was a zillionair I'd have my own made. That might be a problem though, ion batteries require hightech machinery to make. Juice (sooner or later) will be regulated with very strick guidlines.

Plus, China makes most e-cigs...and those guys work for a quarter an hour--it would near impossible to undercut their price.

 

[roxics]

OP I am just going to give you a little helpful advice...some "tough love"

There are 100's of new member posts asking the same thing you are asking in one way shape or form....Yes you most likely would have more chance in your local area than here on ECF only because it seems (especially recently) suppliers are popping out the .... here.

yes the kr808D-1 is the model you seem to be looking for you can google it or research it here maybe even clicking on the link in my sig block.

IMO You really need to be a consumer about more and learn the ins and outs of vaping in general and ECF is the place.

I have always said this...if you have to ask... then you may not be ready to jump in quite
yet. do some leg work. try different models out. find out what its about.

I may be repeating myself, but it would be more beneficial for you to get some more notches under your belt.

for example alot of the established resellers here were members for some time before jumping into the biz.

another FYI V4L is definately not the only company that sells the 2pc model.... here on ECF or out in public

I don't know if I would call that tough love so much as common sense. I am definitely doing as much research as possible. I'm also sure you guys have probably heard all of this before. While there may also be a ton of people selling this stuff out there online and elsewhere, this is still a really new market. Just in talking to smokers I know in person, a good 90% of them have never even heard of an e-cigarette. Which shows me there is a still a huge market for it. Even with all the others that are selling already. Obviously they aren't penetrating all the markets. Why should I wait around for them to do that when I can jump in now on the ground floor and start doing this myself? The longer I wait the harder it will be. Especially when you know that eventually big tobacco is going to get in on it.

I'm not going to be one of those guys that just jumps in and starts reselling without using the product myself and experimenting. But that said I don't believe that I am required to have a certain number of posts under my belt here on this forum before I can get into business doing this myself. This forum, as great as it seems to be, is not the be-all-end-all of all e-cigarette business everywhere.

No offense to any of you guys (because you all do seem great) but at the same time I don't think I really need to wait around for senior members of this forum to give me approval before I start doing this myself.

I'll buy some of the products that are out there right now and try them out and see how they are. But I don't need to spend hundred of dollars on products I'm not interested in, when instead I could use that money to buy units for resale. Especially when I'm not interested in these three piece units. Once I build some capital I could start experimenting more with those kinds of things.

Like I said this is just an idea and I don't mean to be offensive. I certainly would love to everyones respect. But one thing I've learned in life is that it's not always the most tech savvy or fanboy person of a given product niche who ends up making a killing in that given market. It's usually the person who comes along (maybe not even knowing a whole ton about the product at first) who has the right business and marketing sense that is the one making money hand over fist in that market.

Plus I think there is still a ton of room for new resellers.

 

[roxics]

O.P.;

If I was a zillionair I'd have my own made. That might be a problem though, ion batteries require hightech machinery to make. Juice (sooner or later) will be regulated with very strick guidlines.

Plus, China makes most e-cigs...and those guys work for a quarter an hour--it would near impossible to undercut their price.

But you've got to start somewhere right? Everybody does. I've got ideas for some of my own products as well. Some really cool stuff. But I'm just an average guy. I don't have a ton of capital. But what you do is start reselling these Chinese e-cigs like everyone else is doing. Then you start turning some profit. Then after a while you build enough profit to start investing into R&D on new products no one else has.

This is why it's a great time to get in on this, because everyone is basically reselling and customizing what they are reselling. No one is really coming up with proprietary products no one else is allowed to sell. The only situation where that might not be the case is in the flavors.

I know some people are coming down on me for being a newbie and even talking about getting in on this myself. But what separates some people from most is that a handful of those people will actually go out and do it, whereas others will just think about it and never do it. I know this from my indie filmmaking passion. I've seen a lot of indie filmmakers talk about making a feature film and even writing one. But most don't actually go out there and do it. They just talk about it and use any number of excuses to stop themselves from doing. Whereas I went out and shot my first feature film and even made my money back on what it cost me to make it.

You don't need to be the most savvy person in a given market to start making money in it and eventually really good products. You just need to start doing it. Sometimes the most savvy people are also the laziest. As much as they may know about a product they'll always be the consumer and never the seller because they're lazy or they don't want to take chances or they don't have enough business sense to know how to do it.

For all I'm saying I could end up being one of the failures eventually. But it's worth a shot anyway. Coronal Sanders tried a ton of business ventures before he finally hit the mark with Kentucky Fried Chicken. But he never gave up and did eventually hit his mark.

All that said I don't want to sell people a piece of junk, so I'm doing my research and I'm going to try a few products and do some custom work. But like I said before I don't think I need to have a certain number of posts here and the approval of certain senior members before going forward. That's just silly.