Anyone live near an ecig shop?

[TrippH]

hi, I live in Little Rock and was thinking of putting in an ecig shop. Since the closest thing I have ever seen to one is a Smoke 51 kiosk I have just general ideas of how to make it work and be profitable.
Most likely I would offer 808 and ego kits since those seem to be all that work, lol.. Some juices and accessories. I don't think that alone would sustain a brick and mortar store so was thinkin maybe a tobacco store (that idea I hate) or a head shop. This is all in addition to hydroponics which is another forum, lol.. But, I think it would do well here.
Im just askin people to tell me about they're local ecig store.. Products? Prices? Other products? Don't worry I'm not gonna sell on the net. That's just too overcrowded. Any input would be awesome!!!

 

[daisybuttercup]

Hello. I am just now posting for the first time. I have been lurking around for about a week, watching the videos and trying to absorb all the info. There is so much to this! I would love a store that I could actually walk into. While I do enjoy the convenience of shopping on the internet for many things, I would prefer to see this product in person before making the initial investment of $70-$80. It would also help A LOT to talk to an expert in person who knows the details about each product, and maybe even test a few out before making my decision. The only thing I would worry about for you, is there might not be enough demand (yet) to make a profit or even sustain yourself. You could charge a little more, like most stores do, but if you could sell other products, like you mentioned, I think it would be helpful. I do think vaping is gaining momentum in popularity right now, and if you can get in at the bottom and brand yourself in the beginning, who knows? You could be the next Starbucks!

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

Le Cig is kind of near me, maybe an hour away in...Dequeen? Or Dekalb? I forget lol but they're products are also in the local cigarette shop. I must say, for brick and mortar, they''re very fairly priced. $9.99 for a 5 pack of KR808D-1 prefilled cartos, n o where near the rip-offs I keep hearing about! Debated opening a shop or selling myself but I have no idea where to start

 

[TrippH]

Thanks cowgirl.. Lecig is in Arkansas? Or just a branch? I may drive down there tomorrow! If you look around at buying mass kits and juice it's really cheap! You could really do well on each sale without 10,000% mark up like in the mall and you could make more off the juice than anything. Fox16 did a report on them the other night. Can you imagine the curiosity that stirred? I think an ad in the democrat and you would be crawlin with folks! I'm not gonna put ALL my pods in that basket though and am trying to figure out what else to offer? I have the capital... Just need a game plan

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I wish I had some local places especially if they allowed sampling I wouldnt end up with any lousy juice If we had one around here I'd certainly frequent it as long as prices weren't to much higher then online(costs more to run a storefront I know, so I'm willing to pay a little more for the local convenience as long as its not to much more.

Sounds like a headshop type setup would be best if you dont want to deal with tobacco products

 

[Liv2Ski]

hi, I live in Little Rock and was thinking of putting in an ecig shop. Since the closest thing I have ever seen to one is a Smoke 51 kiosk I have just general ideas of how to make it work and be profitable.
Most likely I would offer 808 and ego kits since those seem to be all that work, lol.. Some juices and accessories. I don't think that alone would sustain a brick and mortar store so was thinkin maybe a tobacco store (that idea I hate) or a head shop. This is all in addition to hydroponics which is another forum, lol.. But, I think it would do well here.
Im just askin people to tell me about they're local ecig store.. Products? Prices? Other products? Don't worry I'm not gonna sell on the net. That's just too overcrowded. Any input would be awesome!!!

Check out vermont vapors. They sell on the web but have a cool brick & morter store in Castelton VT. I drove up a few weeks ago and it was really cool. Pics are posted on their site. They sell Joy hardware and have a few 510's loaded with sample flavors that they regulary rotate. I brought my eGo and empty carts and tried about 8 different juices. Walked out with 90ml's of juice and a few 5ml sample bottles. The store is about 1000 sq ft, with places to sit and vape. They offer Green Mountain coffee and Moxies soda. Great concept and they seem to be doing well and they did not have anyother product except for those associated w/vaping. I think they should sell some cool T-Shirts.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Check out vermont vapors. They sell on the web but have a cool brick & morter store in Castelton VT. I drove up a few weeks ago and it was really cool. Pics are posted on their site. They sell Joy hardware and have a few 510's loaded with sample flavors that they regulary rotate. I brought my eGo and empty carts and tried about 8 different juices. Walked out with 90ml's of juice and a few 5ml sample bottles. The store is about 1000 sq ft, with places to sit and vape. They offer Green Mountain coffee and Moxies soda. Great concept and they seem to be doing well and they did not have anyother product except for those associated w/vaping. I think they should sell some cool T-Shirts.

How are the prices on juices there? I wish I knew about them a bit earlier I would of rode up there, have to wait for spring I guess.

 

[Liv2Ski]

TR1000 - Prices are very reasonable $20 buck for 30 ML bottles. Good thing is you walk out knowing you like everything you just purchased. Take a ride the colors are really nice right now.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

I have to order a new set of tires after my last trip upstate dont think my current rear tire will make there and back. Driving the truck up would probably cost me 150ml worth of juice

 

[DocWyatt]

My initial thought is that your market would mostly be Newbies and some repeat business. The reason is simple: A retail store may have a hard time competing with online on price. Therefore, it seems to me that "experienced" ecig users would order their supplies online.

But that is a similar challenge that almost all retail stores face with the advent of the internet and retail stores are surviving, so who knows. I think this is something to think about when doing the math on profitability.

If I only had to pay a few dollars more and drive down the street to get supplies - I would do it. If the markup had to be dramatically higher - then i would order online.

Someone pointed out that the Ecig business model is very similar to razor blades - they sell the starter kit (the razor) then you have to buy blades - forever.

On the flip side - a retail outlet that carried these type of ecigs would certainly be doing the public a huge favor.

 

[Liv2Ski]

I hear that. I spend a lot of time in VT skiing and will pass their store each weekend this winter. The thing that sucks is they open after I pass by and close before I roll back through!!! They are less than a mile off RT4 about 6 miles over NY boarder. Maybe talk somebody w/a more ecconomical ride into going to see the leaves w/the real reason being a stop at VV

 

[DocWyatt]

Actually, now that I saw the post about Vermont Vapors I think it is possible to compete perhaps - if you have brick and mortar AND sell online. That way maybe leverage enough to keep the retail cost reasonable. I don't own a retail store, so someone else might be able to give better insight into this than I.

One last thought - if I were considering opening a retail outlet i would research the FDA case thoroughly and evaluate what the outcome may be. If they banned ecigs it would certainly rain on the parade after a major expenditure of opening a store.

 

[acidrayne280]

Theres a kiosk in the mall, but they don't sell the crap e-cigs. They have 901, 510, and ego starter kits, juice ($7=15ml). Not sure if they had spare parts for sale, but they let me sample the different juice before i bought from them, which was a definite plus. If you did happen to start a store and did samples, you would probably get mad repeat customers.

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

Le Cig is their own brand, they branch out to local places, like the tobacco shop, on top of their own shop and online. I remember going in to the tobacco shop and they had just got a shipment from Le Cig and had a set price list from them too on how much everything should be. As I said, the prices were a lot more reasonable than I thought and if I was still on the KR808D-1 kick I'd be buying them locally, permanently.

 

[Willriker]

You guys ar elucky. My wife went to the mall recently, and found a kiosk which was selling eGo's, and Joye510's along with a wide assortment of 100%PG fluids.

And... well... lets just say they wanted 26 dollars for a 510 atomizer. such a rip off.

 

[TrippH]

$26 for an atty!!??!! Why would anyone start vaping at that price? I wonder what they charge for a kit? I just want to make enough to support myself and the business. Not gouge people. My only fear is that people would gouge me for information then go home and order from the net to save a few. That's why I think u need other stuff. I don't really wanna compete with these guys on the net who are already established. Not unless I found something new to offer. So, I'm just curious apout other ma and pa type places.. Like what else they sel

 

[marinemom]

At our State Fair they had a booth that was selling disposables of some off brand I had never heard of. I walked up and asked if they carried any juice and the guy looked and me and said you don't need that - just buy these disposables. He thought I was crazy. What is crazy is he was selling quite a few of the disposables.

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

Damn I worked the Fair this year, I work in the Agricultural building...which happens to be on the Fairgrounds (boo). Why didn't I buy disposables to sell?!

 

[Liv2Ski]

$26 for an atty!!??!! Why would anyone start vaping at that price? I wonder what they charge for a kit? I just want to make enough to support myself and the business. Not gouge people. My only fear is that people would gouge me for information then go home and order from the net to save a few. That's why I think u need other stuff. I don't really wanna compete with these guys on the net who are already established. Not unless I found something new to offer. So, I'm just curious apout other ma and pa type places.. Like what else they sel

Here ya go -- A vape bar! No smoking allowed only vaping. A few big screens, cheap beer and drinks and a mix your own e-juice bar. You could sell hardware, atty's, batteries, mods etc. a drinking crowd would buy all sorts of stuff. I was already thinking about that since in NY we have a smoking ban in ALL bars.

 

[Willriker]

$26 for an atty!!??!! Why would anyone start vaping at that price? I wonder what they charge for a kit? I just want to make enough to support myself and the business. Not gouge people. My only fear is that people would gouge me for information then go home and order from the net to save a few. That's why I think u need other stuff. I don't really wanna compete with these guys on the net who are already established. Not unless I found something new to offer. So, I'm just curious apout other ma and pa type places.. Like what else they sel

thats the game every retailer, nonmanufacturer, plays. I didnt hold it against him. Dont hate the playa, hate the game.

If you were to go into retail for these items, you'll have to do the same thing. Ok, abey not ht big of a mark up. Perhaps 12-14 dollars for an atomizer would be a bit more palletable for most people at a retail store. 26 dollars was just far too much for me to spend, despite needing a couple more atomizers.