How big is the market?

[Philx123]

Just wondering, regards another thread I started concerning a theoretic ban on vaping.

Anyone know how many people vape - how big the market is? I get the feeling we're a fringe, with hardly anyone knowing about e-cigs. Of the people I know, the people I see about, I only know of one other person who vapes (and he uses an e-pipe).
So anyone know how many of us are out there?

 

[six]

Just ECF has 65,000 members. That's a small drop in the vaping bucket, I'd wager. Lots of people get their e-cigs from gas stations, truck stops, etc. Lots of other people will never join a forum even if they found e-cigs on the net. An order I placed at nhaler recently said the invoice ID was in the 28 thousands. One from COV said 11 thousand and something. My last order from madvapes, the order number was 4 million 357 thousand and something. - Just guessing by how other businesses I've dealt with do it, but I'm going to guess that those invoice numbers are generated incrementally. So, madvapes is approaching 4.5 million orders filled since they started (if I'm right about how they generate those numbers).

There's an e-cig vendor on facebook I ran across that had over 125000 likes.

Both Volcano and Totally Wicked are super-proud of their brands and push their brands above their products. They each used to brag about how many customers they had using their brand. Maybe they still do.

Vaping is growing and growing fast.

 

[Sandrita]

I see quite a lot of people using them in my area but I still get a lot of strange looks and questions about e cigs when out and about so there still a lot of people who don't know about vaping yet! But I agree with six its growing fast!

 

[Lazrah]

I haven't seen any vapers here. I get alot of strange looks and questions about what it is. Generally if the person sticks around long enough for me to explain it they will tell me how cool it is. Almost everyone that has asked me about it has asked for a website to give to several of their friends and family. I hope atleast one of those people try them! My wife, my sister-in-law, and myself have all fully made the switch.

 

[Dwindacatcher]

Compared to smokers we are very small. But the industry is growing. Personaly I hbe only seen three people vape beside myself.

 

[Iffy]

There were 46.6 million US smokers in 2010. That almost 20%. The 'national goal' is 12%. Just think what could occur if vaping had more governmental support as a smoking secession program!

Can't find any e-cig user data.

 

[ElectroDude]

E-Cigarettes were introduces many years ago in the US but the market has really grown during the last couple of years. E-Cigarettes are getting more and more popular, not only because there is more offer (qty of suppliers) but also because of the media interest and exposure and word of mouth. However, there is definitely a lot to do yet and the market will get bigger and better in the near future.

 

[Darrigaaz]

In the little town I live in, where there are approx 38,000 people, there are quite a few people who own and use ecigs. The mall kiosk has sold over 400 of it's kits. The flea market guy that sells V4L stuff has a customer roster that he keeps and he has over 250 customers on it. The truck stop that sells disposables has gone through 4 displays that each contain 24 ecigs. The "head shop" has sold through 3 rows of his display (around 18). I only know of 2 of all these people who have actually joined up here at ECF. That's almost 800 ecigs sold locally, not including anybody who has ordered online. I've passed out over 100 cards to people who were interested in quitting cigs and asked me about mine.

There are maybe 60 people that work in the same building as I do. When I started here, there were about 20 smokers. There are only 4 smokers left. The rest have switched to vaping right after they saw me with mine. Most are still using kr808 models, but there's a couple of IT guys who all have different mods, and we go out and vape together and pass around new flavors.

I'd guess that in this town of 38,000 people, there's around 1000 PV users, and still another 9,000 smokers. I come by these numbers because I am in a position where I can see all the pack sales every day/week and know that we are the cheapest cig option in town. Assuming that every pack sold is to a 1 pack a day smoker (average), we sell about 9,000 packs a day. For every 10 people I see that are puffing away, 1 out of those 10 are using a PV...

 

[tonyorion]

The WSJ estimated in an article about 6 months ago that the market was about a $100 Million in the US. That number has probably grown.

I do not have a clue how the WSJ arrived at that number. There is a way to obtain total imports using SIC codes.

 

[Eddie.Willers]

An interesting question, to be sure, as it seems there is no industry tracking and 'best guess' seems to describe the numbers I have seen bandied about. For sure, in developed, first world countries with fewer restrictions on e-cig use, the percentage of smokers making the switch is probably on the rise - especially as tobacco cigarettes become ever more expensive due to the tax burden they have to carry.

However, in a country like Mexico, where cigs are still less than US$3.50 a pack and e-cigs are illegal, there's little incentive to either agitate for change or make the switch for economic reasons.

 

[Iffy]

When I started here, there were about 20 smokers. There are only 4 smokers left.

That's flippin' remarkable! Way to go...

 

[KeysBum]

Vaping is in it's infancy. Almost every smoker I know would like to quit and has tried, unsuccessfully. I've bought many EGO starter kits as gifts for family and friends, and heplped many others with ordering and the learning curve. Now,I don't have any smokers left in my family or close circle of friends. They ALL vape instead. Vaping works, really well. And the awareness of how well it works is increasing exponentially.
It would not surprise me if vaping becomes viral and within 2-3 years Half of the approximately 46 million smokers in the US alone switch.

 

[StotheK]

National Vaper's Club thinks the number is around 1 million users in the US. source: Shenzhen manufacturers get the taste for e-cigarettes | China Business Watch | Latest Hong Kong, China & World News | SCMP.com

 

[want to quit]

I know aprox 12 people that vape who in fact brought me to vaping and guess what all of them are getting their e-cig stuff from tobacco stores and never use a forum. It's hard to put a number on it but I am sure there are a million people at least that vape but again I have no idea at all.

Point is if you have enough balls and some cash starting in this industry is a good idea.

 

[Cronus6]

As others have said here, it's clearly a "growth" industry.

If ( and this is a big 'if') we see a few changes it will explode exponentially I think.

Those changes being, a mini that actually works. Yes, I know about the Bloog and the Volt, which are a step in the direction I'm talking about. I mean works the way "average-Joe smoker" needs them to work. Basically zero learning curve. You pick it up and it just works, and you get about a packs worth out of a carto. They will probably have to be cheap and either disposable or recyclable. Think back when we had glass Coke bottles and the whole deposit system. (damn I feel old now...)

The second thing that will have to happen is distribution chain. If we get to the point where you can walk into any 7-11, gas station, grocery store and get one of the above mentioned "fantasy e-cigs" there's no reason why every smoker in the U.S. wouldn't use them at least sometimes, if not always.

Sadly both of these changes will probably require MAJOR corporate involvement. (Read: Big Tobacco or the beer/wine industry.) They have the money to make it happen, and the means to distribute the way it needs to be distributed.

 

[BuzzKill]

I havee no idea how many there are ( I dont think anybody does ! ) but it is growing FAST , on a Bell Curve I think we may be at the first 2-3 % of that curve .

 

[MRobs23]

Good question, I know a fair amount of smokers and ex-smokers. I'm the only one I know who vapes, though 3 people are to the point of "casual interest"