Business opportunity? Opinions appreciated

[scfaster]

As you guys know I am enthusiastic about the e-cigs. I love less analogs, eventually cheaper, better all around. I am also an entrepreneur.

We just got the smoking ban in our state. I have been watching and asking bartenders, and a lot of people have been spotted using the e-cigs in the bars. I am in a fairly rural area, and to my knowledge there is no one within 50 miles that has e-cigs or juice for sale.

I can handle the LLC, FeIN, sales tax, a small investment, and all of that. Are there special things/pitfalls that I need to look into for distributing e-cigs and juices to bars/stores/gas stations in WI?

I spent the afternoon pouring over state statutes for the DOR, excise taxes, and on and on. I can't find anything that says that I am any different than a guy reselling gum or bobbles. My business plan is fine tuned. What I don't understand is why isn't anyone selling them? Am I really that far ahead of the curve? (Hard to believe)

Thank you for your thoughts and opinions!

 

[PaulCincy]

Hello and Welcome....Only would like to advise you that in your case, it might be better to contact one of the suppliers listed here to see if you can "franchaise" off them...Just a thought...I do not think you will be getting too much here in the Newbie section...
Again, Welcome and Enjoy the Adventure...

 

[radicaljd]

As you guys know I am enthusiastic about the e-cigs. I love less analogs, eventually cheaper, better all around. I am also an entrepreneur.

We just got the smoking ban in our state. I have been watching and asking bartenders, and a lot of people have been spotted using the e-cigs in the bars. I am in a fairly rural area, and to my knowledge there is no one within 50 miles that has e-cigs or juice for sale.

I can handle the LLC, FeIN, sales tax, a small investment, and all of that. Are there special things/pitfalls that I need to look into for distributing e-cigs and juices to bars/stores/gas stations in WI?

I spent the afternoon pouring over state statutes for the DOR, excise taxes, and on and on. I can't find anything that says that I am any different than a guy reselling gum or bobbles. My business plan is fine tuned. What I don't understand is why isn't anyone selling them? Am I really that far ahead of the curve? (Hard to believe)

Thank you for your thoughts and opinions!

Perhaps someday we will be seeing e-juice machines in bars where there were formerly cigarette machines.

 

[scfaster]

Perhaps someday we will be seeing e-juice machines in bars where there were formerly cigarette machines.

Cool idea JD! Hmmmm...

 

[DC2]

My personal opinion is that a lot of people are waiting for the court decision.

 

[scfaster]

Court decision? That might do it..

 

[steakneggs]

We have people selling them in our malls, a few bars, smoke shops, etc...

I don't think it sticks because most of them are pretty crappy. E Health Cigarettes, some Green Smokes but the local mall (vaping in the mall, movies?!! Crazy!) sells RN4081's and PCC for them. They sell them as two peice units and sell the cartos for $3 a pop.

They seem to work really well, my wife has one.

No one has gotten into selling the good ones that people here seem to like, KR's, 510's, eGos, Juice etc.... Not sure why, but I think this area would see a better reception to eCigs if someone did...

 

[cozzicon]

As you guys know I am enthusiastic about the e-cigs. I love less analogs, eventually cheaper, better all around. I am also an entrepreneur.

We just got the smoking ban in our state. I have been watching and asking bartenders, and a lot of people have been spotted using the e-cigs in the bars. I am in a fairly rural area, and to my knowledge there is no one within 50 miles that has e-cigs or juice for sale.

I can handle the LLC, FeIN, sales tax, a small investment, and all of that. Are there special things/pitfalls that I need to look into for distributing e-cigs and juices to bars/stores/gas stations in WI?

I spent the afternoon pouring over state statutes for the DOR, excise taxes, and on and on. I can't find anything that says that I am any different than a guy reselling gum or bobbles. My business plan is fine tuned. What I don't understand is why isn't anyone selling them? Am I really that far ahead of the curve? (Hard to believe)

Thank you for your thoughts and opinions!

Hi SC,

Well I had been considering the same thing. My advantage in it is that I'm an IT based engineer (so putting up a really nice store or community is easy) and my girlfriend is a Chef... and vapes. So we had thought about making specialty juices and selling on the net.

I have at this time taken a pass on it. The main problem is I want to know upfront what the barriers to entry will be *legally*. And what standards the juice will have to meet.

Now, if I had a large amount of money or had gotten into it 2 years ago- I might take a different view. Right now the barrier to entry seems to be regulations that might put me out of business in the short term.

That's my take....

 

[scfaster]

This is a great community. Thank you guys for your opinions!

Paul brings up a good point, that yes I will want to hook up with a distributor or two and sell their juice. That limits my liability and permit problems mixing my own.

JD brought an interesting idea with juice machines. As of June 20 this year you can't sell cigs in a machine in WI anymore. I'd bet there are a few surplus machines laying around cheap.

I did not know about the court case or petition. I did sign the petition, and I will say that it is one of the most moving petitions that I have ever seen. The oposition groups are probably funded by tobacco and big pharma, and they are money over what matters. I can't imagine an objective person not being for the e-cigs after reading the petition.

Steak N Eggs ( is that a juice flavor yet?) brings up a good point on people getting turned off by the junky kits and big buck mall kiosks. My plan included Joye 510s and premium juice, and probably some tasting parties to get people to give a better way a try. I have sold stuff around here before and people know that what I sell is better that average with a sound price..

Cozzi you bring up some good stuff too. I figured I'd start with 5-10 locations and see what happens. If I'm out in 60 days, I am only down a G or so with the LLC and all. Part of it was not having much to invest, part of it was only having a toe in the water when Big Brother comes for our vapes. ( Tho it wouldn't hurt to have a stash. I recall what happened to gun prices after the assault rifle ban..)

Like Cozz I have some background and can make a web store pretty easy. One of my many talents is that of webmaster. I run a portal site with seasonal blogs and about 70 sites that I host. I have done quite a few stores including most of the big names and the Magento too. A store isn't a problem.

The Big Brother and the liability are the parts that I am sweating. I have had a half dozen or so real business opportunities in the past two years that I had to pass on because the government wanted to permit-hump me so bad. I'd be shocked if this was different, or different for long.

Thank you all for your input, ideas and opinions. They are greatly appreciated and you all had great stuff. Thank you!

 

[Poeia]

I think you are that far ahead of the curve. Even in large cities there are not enormous numbers of vapers. While there are a few suppliers who have bricks and mortar store, even for them the bulk of the business is online.