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Looks real to me.
Lorillard Inc. : Lorillard, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Results and Acquisition of blu ecigs | 4-Traders
Wonders if Johnson Creek Smoke juice will continue to make their cartos.
Also wonder if this is the result of the Hon Lik patent, and their stated intent to sue Blu for infringement.
Lorillard Inc. : Lorillard, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Results and Acquisition of blu ecigs | 4-Traders
Wonders if Johnson Creek Smoke juice will continue to make their cartos.
Also wonder if this is the result of the Hon Lik patent, and their stated intent to sue Blu for infringement.
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Looks legit to me too ! blu ecigs the leading electronic cigarette company acquired by Lorillard - MarketWatch
WSJ report
Here it comes ! we all knew that Big tobacco would join the frey , now it has happened.
Funny right after Hon Lik got his patent in the USA under Dragonite , Blu gets bought ????
WSJ report
Here it comes ! we all knew that Big tobacco would join the frey , now it has happened.
Funny right after Hon Lik got his patent in the USA under Dragonite , Blu gets bought ????
it sounds legit. i'm not sure how i feel about it. actually, i know how i feel about it, whether it pans out or not.
i'm really paranoid about tobacco companies busting into this industry, and i hope it leads to only good things. i would hate for the ownership to mess with manufacturing and legislation of pvs in general just because tobacco companies are investing. i know we share a lot of common interest with tobacco companies, and it is better than pharmaceutical companies making the same moves. but to me this may lead to further ostracization and heavy taxes imposed, plus further assimilation with "tobacco products".
i'm really paranoid about tobacco companies busting into this industry, and i hope it leads to only good things. i would hate for the ownership to mess with manufacturing and legislation of pvs in general just because tobacco companies are investing. i know we share a lot of common interest with tobacco companies, and it is better than pharmaceutical companies making the same moves. but to me this may lead to further ostracization and heavy taxes imposed, plus further assimilation with "tobacco products".
"blu ecigs is the market leader in providing innovative technology for an improved consumer experience that enhances the enjoyment and social aspect of e-cigarettes"
Innovative technology! Lmao
Innovative technology! Lmao
This is a Bad Thing, if you are a small vendor. Big Tobacco will lobby for regulations that favor larger companies and make it impossible for small operators to compete. That's how it always works.
This is a bad thing for everybody, I think.
From Lorillard's Wikipedia:
"In December 2010, a Boston jury returned a $151 million dollar verdict against Lorillard Tobacco Company for giving out free samples of cigarettes to children in urban housing projects.[8] The plaintiff, Marie Evans, was nine when she first received these samples, according to documents filed by her attorneys. She died of lung cancer before trial.[9]"
I have no trust in any tobacco company to make anything good in this world.
From Lorillard's Wikipedia:
"In December 2010, a Boston jury returned a $151 million dollar verdict against Lorillard Tobacco Company for giving out free samples of cigarettes to children in urban housing projects.[8] The plaintiff, Marie Evans, was nine when she first received these samples, according to documents filed by her attorneys. She died of lung cancer before trial.[9]"
I have no trust in any tobacco company to make anything good in this world.
How is this good? Just think about all the .... they put in regular cigarettes. Who does the CEO think he is to think they wontt do this with liquid. Plus they will start bullying smaller vendors. This is the beginning of the end of "safe" vaping as we know it. Dammit!
It's going to get very interesting. A few things we can expect:
1. PVs will NEVER be banned in the USA now.
2. The term "e-cig" will never go away now.
3. Small companies should be frightened. If Lorillard is in, Reynolds and Philip Morris can't be far behind.
4. This community will still be searching for mods and decent e-liquid, but it's going to get harder and harder to find.
1. PVs will NEVER be banned in the USA now.
2. The term "e-cig" will never go away now.
3. Small companies should be frightened. If Lorillard is in, Reynolds and Philip Morris can't be far behind.
4. This community will still be searching for mods and decent e-liquid, but it's going to get harder and harder to find.
See I would say the one up side would be the availability of hardware like good atomizers in stores when you vantt wait for mail.
I can also see some good sides, like the fact that e-cigs will become mainstream faster so it will become more accepted socially, it might help the regulation process and like you said it will be a "normal" product...
...but all this at a cost.
The industry will be driven by nasty liars that have only their pocket book at heart (do I need to prove my point?) - while right now the independent vendors are working hard to give us the best products because they have their customers at heart.
Big tobacco will probably put bad carcinogenic stuff in the juice and the e-cig will simply become another cancer stick with a modern twist.
Some mom and pops shops will close their doors because of the monetary power of the big companies, their bullying, lobbying, and plain and simple competition to which the small vendors won't be able to fight against.
I see this transaction as a black cloud coming this way...
I live in the Richmond area and Philip Morris has already started advertising on the radio for e-cig testers. They have a consumer opinion center that does all kinds of studies and pay the participants.
Terrible news. I'm generally the type who tries to see the bright side of things and I can't think of any possitive outcomes.
I had a feeling this was going to happen eventually (better than getting them banned I suppose).
Now we'll just have to wait and see how long it takes them to squash the little guys, jack up all the prices, and ultimately add a bunch of toxins and poisons to the liquids.
Hope all the mod makers have their patent applications in......
I had a feeling this was going to happen eventually (better than getting them banned I suppose).
Now we'll just have to wait and see how long it takes them to squash the little guys, jack up all the prices, and ultimately add a bunch of toxins and poisons to the liquids.
Hope all the mod makers have their patent applications in......
Well, I'm sure you can guess who else is worried about this.... NRT makers.
The whole "juice quality" thing gets more interesting too. And the distribution channels available from BT... wow. So, it's not like we don't see disposables and/or a few models in tobacco shops now. But with at least two BT companies looking at it (probably at least 3) we'll see more options, IMO. The smaller companies may be squeezed out, but it will take some time. IDK.
I'm betting on proprietary hardware. Do you think they will keep standard connectors? I really hope they do, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Anyway, I'd rather not have to mail-order everything anyway. High-prices are not attractive though, so IDK how this will pan out. And when it comes to e-juice quality, I'd rather have a USA based company making all if it. Not that BT has a great track record, but who knows, they may keep it simple (or even have the resources to make it better/purer IF THEY WANT TO).
And their congressional clout and experience with the FDA will solve a lot of issues. What if BT-e-juice was purer? What if it was also at a reasonable cost? THAT would scare the heck out of NRT makers and e-cig competitors alike.
The whole "juice quality" thing gets more interesting too. And the distribution channels available from BT... wow. So, it's not like we don't see disposables and/or a few models in tobacco shops now. But with at least two BT companies looking at it (probably at least 3) we'll see more options, IMO. The smaller companies may be squeezed out, but it will take some time. IDK.
I'm betting on proprietary hardware. Do you think they will keep standard connectors? I really hope they do, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Anyway, I'd rather not have to mail-order everything anyway. High-prices are not attractive though, so IDK how this will pan out. And when it comes to e-juice quality, I'd rather have a USA based company making all if it. Not that BT has a great track record, but who knows, they may keep it simple (or even have the resources to make it better/purer IF THEY WANT TO).
And their congressional clout and experience with the FDA will solve a lot of issues. What if BT-e-juice was purer? What if it was also at a reasonable cost? THAT would scare the heck out of NRT makers and e-cig competitors alike.
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I agree with a lot of this, but who trusts BT? No one knows, of course, but it's not far fetched to predict that they follow suit with an attempt to get rid of all non-tobacco flavors (except menthol, of course) because their current customers would be happy with tobacco flavors. If they can get that legislated, a lot of us will be forced to DIY (I do anyway, but that's not the point). And in the process, they squeeze out the small companies that have been so valuable to the community up to this point.
I just don't trust them to make a better, more pure product. Nicotine alone isn't addictive enough to work with their business model.
Their goal is to keep the customers they currently have. Sure, they have the money to develop a true Marlboro or Camel flavored e-liquid, and that will make their current customer base happy to switch, but how many chemicals will they have to add?
Change is in the air... I wish I could be optimistic about this...
As long as I can get 306 atties and 100mg liquid, I'll be set. I can find anything else I need to continue with business as usual for my own habits, but I would hate to see new vapers miss out on all we've learned.
Oh, and I have to add that I'm shocked that this isn't a bigger deal to more people. This is HUGE people!
This IS most definitely huge news.
This the the biggest news to hit this forum since the FDA court case decision.
And where this will lead is a fascinating and scary subject.
Threads on this particular subforum lead to all sorts of uniformed speculation though.
The E-Cigarette News subforums are where the people who have been dealing with these issue for years are chiming in...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/media-general-news/290817-lorillard-purchases-blu-e-cigs.html
I suggest all interested parties check out the above thread.
The heavyweights are weighing in over there.
This is the post that most represents my feelings on this issue, but who really knows where this will lead...
OK, here is my gut impression on this.
Cigarette sales are decline. Cigarette customers are treated like animals. The ANTZ are still trying to ban menthol (Newport is Lorillard's #1 brand.) The FDA is (on paper) open to reduced harm alternatives.
E-cigarette market is growing by leaps and bounds. 5 years on the U.S. market with no reports of significant illness or injury by a standard e-cigarette and the ANTZ haven't been able to show them to be a danger nor stop smokers from switching, in spite of their dire warnings. The market has taken hold in spite of everything. One U.S. company (blu) is already available in most markets and recently broke ground with major retailer and other brands are popping up right beside them on store shelves. Tobacco companies already have a huge source of nicotine at their disposal.
Tobacco companies would be stupid not to jump on that gravy train and even more stupid to then start changing things - if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I'd call whomever made the decision at Lorillard a genius except a true genius would have developed their own device using their brand name recognition as soon as the FDA was beaten in court by Sottera! LOL!
Tobacco companies would be foolish to make e-cigarettes undesirable to customers. If anything, they'll have a ton of money to make them even better, so customers are happy and don't want to quit using them. They could eventually enjoy the status liquor holds in this country as a socially acceptable drug. E-cigarettes don't cause them to lose any business if smokers switch from their cigarettes to their e-cigarettes rather than NRTs. E-cigarettes would help them RETAIN customers. So, rather than a threat, if I was Lorillard, I'd see them as an asset. E-cigarettes are possibly their best chance at a marketable, socially acceptable, FDA-approved tobacco harm reduction product. Why ruin that??
Therefore, it will benefit them to fight the ridiculous laws against e-cigarettes, pour funding into safety/health research, do marketing research to find out what the customers want in a device (when the other big 2 jump in, the fight for market dominance should initiate a battle to be the best - something new to the industry as cigarettes didn't really complete based on performance) and there is a chance to thumb their nose at the FDA and ANTZ.
I don't really see a downside here. All of the concerns of BT turning e-cigarettes into useless pieces of junk and encouraging over regulation by the FDA just make no sense from a business standpoint. One thing we all know is that BT is all about making money! If all of the dire predictions come true about what BT would do to the e-cigarettes, people would just end up buying more from boutique companies and ignore the mass-marketed BT junk - which means BT loses money. If BT manages to eliminate the boutique companies through draconian regulations, then people would stop buying e-cigarettes (because they would suck) and the market is dead and they (BT) are back to square one - declining cigarette markets and people buying NRT instead. Seriously, what would be the point?
The only thing that makes sense from a business standpoint (ie. making money) is to make their product desired by the public and you don't achieve that by sabotaging both your product quality and supporting draconian regulations of your product! You do that by fighting government over-regulation that reduces your product's market appeal, continually making improvements to your product and increasing consumer confidence by implementing and publicizing your self-imposed strict manufacturing and handling process standards and responsible labeling.
My only concern is that BT is as smart as I am about business and I'm not even really that smart, so there is a good chance they are. LOL!
Think about it - when Toshiba started selling DVD players in 1996, VCR companies didn't start making their own crappy DVD players hoping people would just go back to buying their VCRs! Innovation and progress is a speeding train and smart companies know you either jump on or get flattened.
That's my take and I sure hope I'm right!
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