Business opportunity?

[MiniSid]

First of all, thanks to everyone who keeps this forum going - I'd still be smoking Bali Shag if it wasn't for you guys. Which I've been off now for a couple of months, and feeling so much better for it.

So here's my question - as a musician in Los Angeles who plays gigs around the city most nights of the week, I'm constantly getting asked about my Riva 510. I'm also constantly broke cos giggin don't pay what it used to! So, and you might be able to see where I'm going with this, I figured why not try to sell e-cigs? Just have a bunch of them with me at every gig, and make a little cash on each one I sell.

So, does anyone have any advice for me - maybe someone who's already selling e-cigs and wants to expand their business to L.A. (I'm also tech-savvy and can build websites). Or maybe someone can suggest a good wholesaler I could do business with?

I hope you guys can help me - apart from wanting to make a little dough, I also feel that this is a series of products and a scene I would be proud to represent.

 

[Newbz]

First of all, thanks to everyone who keeps this forum going - I'd still be smoking Bali Shag if you wasn't for you guys. Which I've been off now for a couple of months, and feeling so much better for it.

So here's my question - as a musician in Los Angeles who plays gigs around the city most nights of the week, I'm constantly getting asked about my Riva 510. I'm also constantly broke cos giggin don't pay what it used to! So, and you might be able to see where I'm going with this, I figured why not try to sell e-cigs? Just have a bunch of them with me at every gig, and make a little cash on each one I sell.

So, does anyone have any advice for me - maybe someone who's already selling e-cigs and wants to expand their business to L.A. (I'm also tech-savvy and can build websites). Or maybe someone can suggest a good wholesaler I could do business with?

I hope you guys can help me - apart from wanting to make a little dough, I also feel that this is a series of products and a scene I would be proud to represent.

I think there's all kinds of places you can get wholesale pricing from.
Just remember, the sale is the easy part. Dinkin' with warranty issues, delivery logistics, unreasonable people, processing orders, carrying cash, etc...is just the start of being in business as well. You've likely thought of all of that, and if doesn't turn you off to the idea, best of luck with your new endeavor.
It seems to me that most of the online retailers have a link for wholesale inquiries.

 

[dormouse]

Only if you're sure you want to deal with customer support too. And make sure they get instructions and a list of links to good parts suppliers and good juice vendors, and hopefully some appropriate nicotine level carts (and some will want menthol) and some spare juice?

 

[MiniSid]

Thanks for the advice guys. You both mention customer support - point well taken. I guess I'm gonna have to give the bigger picture some serious thought. Still, I do think that it's something well worth doing, if only on a small scale. Thanks again.

 

[No Brag]

MiniSid,
My thoughts on this would be. Since this would be a side line to what you are already doing, start small. This will let you find out what it is going to be like without tieing up a lot of money. If that works go bigger. When you get up to your own business and on line I will expect at least 10% off of all purchaces because I helped get you started.

 

[mlinky]

Maybe start out selling disposables? Cheap and no CS issues. Do any of the online companies have some sort of referral program? You could sell the disposables for $10, and include a card that shows them where to get something a bit more permanent.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

I highly suggest that you come up with a good, realistic business plan before you get started. Your initial investment could quite possibly be thousands of dollars, even if you start small. Most of the wholesalers are in China, so you have to take some other things into consideration; how long it takes to ship from China, having orders get stuck in Customs, dealing with Chinese holidays which usually oppose American holidays, keeping up with the supply and demand of your customer base, changes in the laws regarding e-cigs and of course, the ongoing battle with the FDA.

I'm not trying to discourage you, so please don't take this the wrong way. Even our currently established vendors have these problems to deal with. Just make sure that you do a TON of research and get a realistic picture of what it would take. Then consider carefully if this is something you really want to do and are willing to risk the money to do it.