No Physical Stores?

[Weatherman2112]

I'm sure this has been talked about here before but bare with me, I'm new here.

Why is it most of e-cig business is done online? I know they have some ecigs at gas stations and I have seen them at little kiosks in the mall., but why not an all out ecig store with real quality products for a fair price? Does anyone have that in your city? It doesn't have to be a huge space but it needs to have several different brands with all the options, spare parts, top notch liquids, top notch personal service. And yes, of course you'd have to have a great website for reorders and all other online sales and service.

I'm seriously thinking about trying this in my city. Maybe even a few locations in town. Just small but very cool little vapor stores with everything you need and a real person there that knows what they're talking about to get you set up with all you need and want. Automatic reorder service. Hell, even deliveries and service calls. What do you guys think? Am I nuts?
I guess my only real fear at this point is if I eventually be regulated out of business by the government in some way. So...thoughts?

 

[LowThudd]

Try here: VaporSearchUSA
And here: Buy Local - Vapure Store Locator

 

[LowThudd]

Also, alot of regular cig stores are starting to sell supplies, at heavily inflated prices. ATM, it really doesn't make sense to shop local.

 

[Weatherman2112]

Also, alot of regular cig stores are starting to sell supplies, at heavily inflated prices. ATM, it really doesn't make sense to shop local.

Thanks for the input. I saw some stuff in my area but no real physical stores to go to.

The store I'm dreaming of opening wouldn't be a rip-off outfit. It would be all the best products at competetive prices but with the added service of a real person to provide service and answer questions. Customers would be able to see, feel and even try the products before they purchased them. I don't know. It just seems to me if you do it right and you do it honest with fair prices, it's a no brainer to succeed. Anyone else? Am I crazy?

 

[tresrottn]

The only place I found in Austin was a head shop, and it was less than ideal. First, the overwhelming paranoia of the clerk to someone asking questions and wanting to see the products turned me off, second his obvious ignorance of the products, or, he was just so conditioned to answer vaguely to not incriminate himself was disappointing, third the sheer lack of juice or product was a total bummer of an experience. Maybe it was the nicely dressed mid 40's woman who didn't have bloodshot eyes, and constantly lose her train of thought because of short term memory loss?

I wish a shop would carry them, with a well educated person and a good selection of e-ciggies (all models and mods), ready made and DIY juices, accessories, and maintenance! Someone I could carry my carts to and have them cleaned, or atty cleaning, etc.
I think the one drawback is repeat customers visits could be a long time in between. Maybe a coffee bar/snacky/read a book type place where vapers could congregate in peace without funny looks at them as they vape?

 

[DrOckW]

Weatherman,

Glad to have you aboard. It's awesome to see more people join who are passionate about vaping. This is a cool community full of amazing dedicated people, I'm glad I have found it.

I too had a serious go at opening a physical location, I spoke with manufacturers/suppliers and looked at the numbers where I am. What you have to look at before you decide to jump is the sheer number of failed shops. I have seen no less than 15 suppliers/online shops shut thier doors in the last 6 months. Several of them had external factors (family, illness, etc) some of whom simply couldn't devote the time/energy needed.

I wont discourage you, I haven't given up yet, but you need to look at margins vs. what people are willing to pay. The best shops have some unique vision or product or service that makes them stand out. I would be glad to give you free advice if you are interested (fully worth the price you pay for it ) As we are in non-competing markets.

I wish you the best!

Doc

 

[FireHorse]

Personally, I think a lot of people would love to open an e-cig shop but with the FDA threatening the business it really isn't a sound business to get into at this point in time.
Someone could open a shop, have a lot of business and then be shut down by the FDA in a couple of months. The owner would stand to lose a lot of money and possibly have all their inventory be confiscated by the FDA.

Hopefully, the FDA will not destroy this industry because it has helped many people quit smoking or at least cut down how much they smoke. However, it depends on who is lining whose pockets the most as to how the FDA will rule on this. Until then, it's too risky for people to open a shop right now, especially when many people don't have much in the way of finances and trying to get a loan these days....

 

[telugumarwadi]

I think an On-Line store would be best till the Courts decide the matter about the industry.

 

[Para]

It just seems to me if you do it right and you do it honest with fair prices, it's a no brainer to succeed. Anyone else? Am I crazy?

Crazy?...not at all. But, good ideas don't always translate into profit. As with any business, do a pro forma and a market analysis FIRST.

 

[Captain Mal]

That's essentially what the kiosks are, isn't it? Except, I guess, that they only sell one particular brand.

I bought my e-cig from a kiosk in the mall instead of ordering online because I wanted the convenience of (a) live customer support right down the street, and (b) a local place to purchase my cartomizers. I knew the price was steeper than buying online, but those two things were important to me.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. The people manning the kiosk (a different person every time I go, it seems) don't have any knowledge about the product they're selling, and the inventory of cartomizers is pathetic. The last time I went there to purchase, they had two flavors on hand, all in 16mg. This, despite the fact that they were advertising (and offering sample vapes of) eight different flavors in all different strengths. I decided at that point I wouldn't purchase anything from them again. How they figure this to be smart business is beyond me.

All that is to say that if there was a local shop with higher prices but a knowledgeable staff and a wide inventory, I would definitely shop there. I don't mind spending the extra cash for the convenience.

 

[StormFinch]

The only thing I see as a speed bump, besides the looming FDA shadow of course, is the question of enough vapers in one general location to support a brick and mortar shop. I could however see it being run in conjunction with a small tobacco supply. Not only would you have the added sales, but it would be the perfect way to introduce more smokers to the e-cigarette.

 

[Big Hitter]

I know what you mean. I would love a good physical store to go and see the new products in person. I few months ago I was in need of some new 510 batteries. I wanted to get some same day so I tried to find them locally.
I was willing to drive an hour or so if I had to, but after many phone calls I found it was useless. The few places that sold supplies in my area all had crappy smoke stick kits.

I am a small business owner, and have no problem spending more fore the same products to support local business, but in the case of e-cigs I guess thats not going to happen in upstate NY.

 

[lilniki]

I thought the same thing weatherman, I seem to be in a mostly vape free vacuum. There are a few stores around in which I have seen a PV but all of them are expensive and those that sell them have no clue. The good thing about this is at least its not wide spread and only a few people in my area may have heard their dribble. That means I can start fresh here and start to educate and hopefully get some bars and restaurants on the wagon (off the wagon?). I am looking into stuff in my community to see how I can more people on board.

 

[SnowDragon]

Firehorse is spot on target...

I contemplated opening a store but cons heavily outweigh the pros right now. Several on-line operations have almost closed on a number of occasions when the FDA placed a hold on imports from China.

Ideally a vap shop would be set up like a traditional smoke shop with a huge variety of batts, attys, kits, mods, accessories, and juices from the most popular makers. Unfortunately most standard batts and kits come from China, mod & juice makers don't produce enough or don't wish to sell to resellers. If the FDA jumps into the game you will see many of your favorite juice makers close their doors, due to licensing and the cost of FDA requirements.

A stand alone bricks & mortar operation is viable as long as it has robust e-commerce revenues.

Until some sort of clarity is brought to the future of vaping it will remain primarily an on-line affair.

 

[t9c]

At this point, your best non-online exposure is going to be a flea market.

 

[James Wall]

I had a charger go out (and an atomizer hadn't read about cleaning yet. There's that learning curve for you!) shortly after I started. I went to my local cigarette store and they had three different starter sets available for purchase for fairly reasonable prices, about $50.00 (I passed since I just needed some parts and I preferred to research the companies before buying)

I'm thinking that a solely e-cigarette shop would have to be like the kiosks in that the prices would have to be inflated too much in order to cover costs. At that point internet and cigarette store sales would undercut the profit of a store dedicated to the sale of a single product.

 

[Hoosier]

I know the Indy Vape Shop gets good reviews from folks who stop in. They have a nice web site too.

So, there are a few out there, but they are not common, nor do I expect them to be common.

Indy's advantage is that he already had a shop when he discovered vaping and wanted to bring his knowledge and selection of products to the public. Much easier to add to a working business than start from scratch. Still a risk, but it is muted a bit.

 

[James Wall]

Of course starting with online, getting a good customer base as well as a feel for a local base in the area could then work to expand to a storefront operation in addition to the on-line sales. That way you aren't strictly reliant on walk-in business.

 

[JonnyVapΣ]

I've been kicking around the idea of opening up a small shop here in Rochester. My father-in-law and I owned a small computer store for many years and we still have the building. It's currently our recording studio but there is enough extra space. I think we're going to be hosting a vapers get-together soon as well. We'll gauge local interest from that.
The hurdle is cost. The same issue we had with our computer business. You just can't compete on cost with online powerhouses. They have price advantage AND tax advantage. As a consumer you'll spend an additional 8% by default here in NY due to sales tax. Low volume sales never gets you top tier wholesale pricing, either. As a vaper myself I would want to sell my product at a price I would want to pay, exactly what we did with our computer business, but due to that experience I already know that doesn't pay the bills. We'll see. This industry is still in it's infancy. It will change.

 

[humarock]

Your not crazy, I too would LOVE to have a vapor lounge here in my part of MA, but not sure that the overhead would enable me to price the products as well as they do online here and not sure how our state would view it....especially with the FDA issue going on!