Guidance Needed

[MV22]

To answer your question directly, you will need to find your own supplier(s). Here is a pretty good link from a well known supplier in the US on high level activities to open a new vape shop - How to Open a Vape Shop - Step by Step Instructions . I think you will just have to do some google searching to find a good supplier based on the type of store you open. Here is a link to a site that describes what you need to consider when choosing a supplier - Top Vape Distributors in the US - eCig One . I would also make sure you have a really good lawyer lined up to help you. You probably also will want to join one of the vaping associations to try to make industry contacts such as the American Vaping Association or the Vapor Technology Association. This is probably not a place to do that kind of research, it would be similar to going to AutoTrader.com and asking about opening a car dealership. Wrong audience. Good luck.

Morning Max Power...your feedback is very helpful. Thank you

 

[Max Power]

Morning Max Power...your feedback is very helpful. Thank you

No problem, for what it is worth, 2 new vape shops just opened up within 5 miles of my house. Problem is they all carry the same stuff, mostly disposables / pods, CBD and glassware. Unfortunately I am a dinosaur who doesn't care about any of that stuff. Good luck.

 

[MV22]

Considering US gov and BT are intent on burying the upstart vape industry once and for all...

...Opening a vape shop after many went belly-up in the last couple years is not a wise business decision.

It would be much wiser to open up...

a) a store that sells all the alternative (w-ee-d and CBD)

or

b) the tried and true liquor store

Morning Show Me Twice...I've received much feedback on not opening a vape shop at this time which surprisingly odd. I am aware of the government's and other health related organizations opposing this industry.
I still believe, in the end, they will fail to abolish vaping. I do agree increased regulatory standards may affect some, if not, all retailers dependent on products sold. Opening a CBD shop crossed my mind as an alternative.
Considering the state I live in is lenient on Vaping is why I'm opting for it.

 

[MV22]

No problem, for what it is worth, 2 new vape shops just opened up within 5 miles of my house. Problem is they all carry the same stuff, mostly disposables / pods, CBD and glassware. Unfortunately I am a dinosaur who doesn't care about any of that stuff. Good luck.

I totally understand. I, myself, am a 45yo Latina. The current trends in society continuously evolve throughout every decade.
Not looking to place a vape shop near residential communities. The resistance that would ensue would only prevent business growth.

 

[ENAUD]

No problem, for what it is worth, 2 new vape shops just opened up within 5 miles of my house. Problem is they all carry the same stuff, mostly disposables / pods, CBD and glassware. Unfortunately I am a dinosaur who doesn't care about any of that stuff. Good luck.

To honest, now is a very bad time to open a dedicated vape store. Ten years ago things were far different, it was the wild west and the sky was the limit. New products were appearing daily, and vape dedicated stores had tons of products to offer.
Since the FDA initiated the "deeming" process, countless products have disappeared and many companies have gone belly up. Long time vape stores now have replaced lost sales with CBD products and even glassware just to keep their doors open. Pods and disposables have taken over and e-liquid MFG.'s have closed their doors in droves.
Good luck to you if you do proceed, you are going to need it.

 

[MV22]

Btw, I have prior experience of owning a liquor store in NYC. Problem is I have since relocated to Florida and things run differently down here in terms of availability of licensure and competition against Walmart / Publix liquor pricing.

 

[MV22]

To honest, now is a very bad time to open a dedicated vape store. Ten years ago things were far different, it was the wild west and the sky was the limit. New products were appearing daily, and vape dedicated stores had tons of products to offer.
Since the FDA initiated the "deeming" process, countless products have disappeared and many companies have gone belly up. Long time vape stores now have replaced lost sales with CBD products and even glassware just to keep their doors open. Pods and disposables have taken over and e-liquid MFG.'s have closed their doors in droves.
Good luck to you if you do proceed, you are going to need it.

Thx Enaud. I haven't ventured yet thankfully. Just in the research and surveying phase to determine if this or CBD route is best.

 

[Skeebo]

If I opened a vape shop today I would probably opt for a more family friendly approach.. like a one stop plaza where the whole family can find something they want. Bouncy ball play areas for the kids, bourbon bar for dad, and a nail shop so mom can keep her claws nice and sharp.

At midnight water proof liners would drop down on all the product and the whole shop would become a huge pool for adult fun inspired by copious amount of alcohol.

Do you guys and gals think the bouncy ball area is a bit too much?

 

[MV22]

If I opened a vape shop today I would probably opt for a more family friendly approach.. like a one stop plaza where the whole family can find something they want. Bouncy ball play areas for the kids, bourbon bar for dad, and a nail shop so mom can keep her claws nice and sharp.

At midnight water proof liners would drop down on all the product and the whole shop would become a huge pool for adult fun inspired by copious amount of alcohol.

Do you guys and gals think the bouncy ball area is a bit too much?

Very creative post Skeebo...love it

 

[Max Power]

To honest, now is a very bad time to open a dedicated vape store. Ten years ago things were far different, it was the wild west and the sky was the limit. New products were appearing daily, and vape dedicated stores had tons of products to offer.
Since the FDA initiated the "deeming" process, countless products have disappeared and many companies have gone belly up. Long time vape stores now have replaced lost sales with CBD products and even glassware just to keep their doors open. Pods and disposables have taken over and e-liquid MFG.'s have closed their doors in droves.
Good luck to you if you do proceed, you are going to need it.

Ya, actually I was pretty surprised when I saw them. One is a brand new shop and the other is a multiple shop vape store. I have 4 vape shops within 5 miles of my house though, there must be something keeping them in business.

 

[Jwaterski]

If I opened a vape shop today I would probably opt for a more family friendly approach.. like a one stop plaza where the whole family can find something they want. Bouncy ball play areas for the kids, bourbon bar for dad, and a nail shop so mom can keep her claws nice and sharp.

At midnight water proof liners would drop down on all the product and the whole shop would become a huge pool for adult fun inspired by copious amount of alcohol.

Do you guys and gals think the bouncy ball area is a bit too much?

You need to open a chain of EV charging stations just like this, they got time to kill

 

[MV22]

Ya, actually I was pretty surprised when I saw them. One is a brand new shop and the other is a multiple shop vape store. I have 4 vape shops within 5 miles of my house though, there must be something keeping them in business.

Are there any bars/lounges, commercial centers with added restaurants nearby?

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Good morning M22

I've received much feedback on not opening a vape shop at this time which surprisingly odd.

Frankly I don't think it's odd at all. Many of us are long time vapers and have witnessed all that has transpired in the US with regards to vaping.

I still believe, in the end, they will fail to abolish vaping.

At this point in time that is a very highly optimistic viewpoint. One that I would not Bet Money on.

Currently you would only be selling one approved vaping product, Vuze. I'm sure you know that every gas station and convenience store carries those already.

Competition is intense, how are you planning to differentiate your business from any other?

Have you formally created your business plan?

Have you thought about where you will secure financing?
IMO banks who finance businesses would see a vape business as High Risk in 2022.

Insurance?


Here are some resources for you to consider...

The Harsh Reality of Starting a Vape Shop in 2021 - EconoTimes

Is starting a vape shop in 2021 a wise business decision? While the potential earnings in the vaping industry are certainly impressive, you’ll also face serious challenges as a vape shop owner that business owners in more traditional industries don’t have to worry about.

You will pay more for credit card processing services because all of the merchant account providers consider vape shops “high-risk businesses.” Even if the higher transaction fees don’t bother you, you’ll have trouble finding a payment processor at all. What you might not realize, though, is that vape shops pay more for basic services than merchants in many other industries.

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1484-starting-a-business.html

How to Define Your Target Market


FWIW, I am not trying to dissuade you from following your dream. Truth be told, many open businesses and many fail. In each case there are known reasons for failure.

If you feel opening a vape shop, with all that is going on, a very questionable and uncertain future, with zero guarantee of success, where you may lose a lot, then by all means Go For It.

 

[MV22]

You need to open a chain of EV charging stations just like this, they got time to kill

 

[Max Power]

Are there any bars/lounges, commercial centers with added restaurants nearby?

3 of them are in strip malls, so yes, plenty of food places. The 4th is kind of in a separate building but it is across from our town center, which is a huge retail / food / bar type of place. All but one of them are really what I would call head shops. Like I said in a previous post, 3 of them carry lots of CBD, Krotom (please don't ask me what that is, I have no freakin clue), glassware, with some vape pods, coils, juice, disposables. The fourth place is the closest to a traditional vape store, it has some traditional tobacco products like cigars, pipes plus the same vape pods, coils, juice, disposables.

 

[MV22]

Good morning M22


Frankly I don't think it's odd at all. Many of us are long time vapers and have witnessed all that has transpired in the US with regards to vaping.



At this point in time that is a very highly optimistic viewpoint. One that I would not Bet Money on.

Currently you would only be selling one approved vaping product, Vuze. I'm sure you know that every gas station and convenience store carries those already.

Competition is intense, how are you planning to differentiate your business from any other?

Have you formally created your business plan?

Have you thought about where you will secure financing?
IMO banks who finance businesses would see a vape business as High Risk in 2022.

Insurance?


Here are some resources for you to consider...

The Harsh Reality of Starting a Vape Shop in 2021 - EconoTimes




https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1484-starting-a-business.html

How to Define Your Target Market


FWIW, I am not trying to dissuade you from following your dream. Truth be told, many open businesses and many fail. In each case there are known reasons for failure.

If you feel opening a vape shop, with all that is going on, a very questionable and uncertain future, with zero guarantee of success, where you may lose a lot, then by all means Go For It.

I will continue to dig deeper into this.

Thank you again.

 

[MV22]

3 of them are in strip malls, so yes, plenty of food places. The 4th is kind of in a separate building but it is across from our town center, which is a huge retail / food / bar type of place. All but one of them are really what I would call head shops. Like I said in a previous post, 3 of them carry lots of CBD, Krotom (please don't ask me what that is, I have no freakin clue), glassware, with some vape pods, coils, juice, disposables. The fourth place is the closest to a traditional vape store, it has some traditional tobacco products like cigars, pipes plus the same vape pods, coils, juice, disposables.

Hence, the many store openings.
Which means positive change is coming.

All it will take is for some chemist to prove Vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking. The biggest outlier I see causing resistance are your Tobacco makers as they will start losing money for every $1 spent on the vaping industry.

 

[Max Power]

I will continue to dig deeper into this.

Thank you again.

If I could also add, most people on this forum use online vape stores, including me. We tend to buy DIY stuff and real mods and RDA/RTA. All the brick and mortar stores around me and probably most people on this forum don't carry those type of vaping products so we are forced to go online. I get my DIY juice from South Carolina and my hardware supplies from California. I do go into those stores because I am curious, but I buy very little there. Maybe some coils if I am desperate, batteries or a small bottle of juice. None of the stores carry stuff I care about really. IMO, and you didn't ask for or need my opinion, but that is the challenge you will really have.

 

[MV22]

If I could also add, most people on this forum use online vape stores, including me. We tend to buy DIY stuff and real mods and RDA/RTA. All the brick and mortar stores around me and probably most people on this forum don't carry those type of vaping products so we are forced to go online. I get my DIY juice from South Carolina and my hardware supplies from California. I do go into those stores because I am curious, but I buy very little there. Maybe some coils if I am desperate, batteries or a small bottle of juice. None of the stores carry stuff I care about really. IMO, and you didn't ask for or need my opinion, but that is the challenge you will really have.

Gotcha!

 

[Max Power]

Hence, the many store openings.
Which means positive change is coming.

All it will take is for some chemist to prove Vaping is less harmful than traditional smoking. The biggest outlier I see causing resistance are your Tobacco makers as they will start losing money for every $1 spent on the vaping industry.

It isn't my place to force my opinions on you, and this is just is just my opinion, but I think CBD and disposables are what are keeping these shops open. I don't view that as really being a vape store, not like 5 years ago when vape stores sold real hardware like RDA/RTA, good coil devices and so on. 2 of the stores around me have been in business a long time, over 5 years, but what they carry has changed drastically. Personally, I can't tell where the industry is going, and I hope you didn't take any of my comments as implying that I did. Good luck.