SSROB,
I haven't advertised in well over a year. Word of mouth works just fine for me. You honestly think that the University of California is pumping out ads for e-cigs? Do you really have to put a negative spin on it? Come on now.
Kristin,
Yeah I am in ZERO kiosks (and yeah my experience hasn't been great when I walk up to them to hear their pitch). We're in Tobacco Shops, Durable Medical Supply Companies, Liquor Stores, Gas Stations, Pharmacies, Doctors Offices, Grocery Stores, Odor Removal Services, Party Stores, and Bars.
I will be a part of CASAA once I get these last few pieces of machinery for our factory. Doing everything in the US isn't easy, or cheap, and we are a very grass roots company... no big financing thrown our way... a little over 2 years ago we were working out of my basement. It has made my business model, not as a 'flash in the pan' type operation but as a sustainable operation, paramount to our existence.
We were also hurt heavily when we imported all of our electronic components etc. It's so nice not having to stay up til 5am to see if we got kicked back or held up.