Opinions wanted!

[Susiejo]

I know everyone has an opinion so I want yours!

My hubby and I have a bit of money saved right now and I have been thinking of ways to invest it or something.

Ok, so what I was wondering is..... What are your opinions on opening a vape shop?

Where I live the closest vape shop is about 1 hr away and they don't have much at that shop. If I could get a small building and have good selections of equipment and e juice plus have the knowledge to help new vapers make good choices, do you all think that would be a good investment?

I know most businesses take a while to get going, but my hesitation is the government regulating the vaping industry. I'd hate to buy all the inventory and set up shop then have the government regulate me out of business.

I honestly think a vape shop would do really good around here. I know a lot of people who have shown an interest in vaping but don't know where to turn to for help getting started. I know how I felt when I first started vaping. I didn't know the difference between a 510 threading and ego threading. I had no idea about batteries or anything, and if there had been a vape shop around I would have made a beeline straight there and there is no telling how much I would have spent.

Well that's it. Any and all will be appreciated!

 

[Signal30]

Read my thread I made about vape booths in flea markets.

 

[polingpower]

Is there a flea market around you? might be a place to start and see if it works small scale.
then jump to B & M place . buying all stuff to fill a store...............

 

[Susiejo]

Just did!

That is why I would like to open a real b&m so that I could help people make the best choices for the money they have to spend and yet still be safe. And to be able to spread the word about vaping and what it is and hopefully guide people to sites like this so that they can make the choice for a healthier lifestyle and not have to resort to buying crap from someone who doesn't know a Protank from an Evod.

 

[Susiejo]

Is there a flea market around you? might be a place to start and see if it works small scale.
then jump to B & M place . buying all stuff to fill a store...............

Not really. The nearest decent flea market is about an hour away also. Our little local flea markets aren't much. This is a small town but there are a lot of smokers (being this is tobacco country that's not suprising). I know a lot of companies have made the mistake of thinking that this is such a small town that they underestimated the amount of business they would do here. Walmart made that mistake and after only a few years they had to rebuild a complete new store because the old one was way to small. They didn't realize that in a small town there's not much to do so people shop. MacDonalds did the same thing.

Down here people like to spend money because there is nothing else to do. They also like to be in on the "new" thing going around and I think vaping is getting ready to really take off around here. My nieces (they're all in their 20's) said that a lot of their friend are talking about this new e-cig stuff but none of them currently vape. Many of them are interested but don't know how to get started.

Anyways, it is just one of the ideas that my hubby and I are talking about, just wanted to get some input from you all.

 

[rvh414]

I'm not really found of the flea markets when it comes to buying any my devices.

 

[bfrie]

if you make an online store, ill buy a bottle or two to help out

 

[SharonMM]

I would definitely wait until the deeming regs by the FDA are announced. I heard its coming in Oct.

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[bfrie]

I would definitely wait until the deeming regs by the FDA are announced. I heard its coming in Oct.

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it was also supposed to come in june

 

[SharonMM]

Good point. It was postponed in 2012 too. But like the op said, it would suck to be regulated out of business right away. And its coming. Pressure is on. These things are really gaining traction and there's too much money at stake for gov, big T, big Ph to turn a blind eye. Not good for small business at all.

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[bfrie]

Good point. It was postponed in 2012 too. But like the op said, it would suck to be regulated out of business right away. And its coming. Pressure is on. These things are really gaining traction and there's too much money at stake for gov, big T, big Ph to turn a blind eye. Not good for small business at all.

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vaping is becoming far to big to be banned at this point. way to many people vape instead of smoke now, especially in your home state sharon the fact of the matter is that the more people like the op that open stores, the harder it will be for bt and bp to purchase legislation against it

 

[Susiejo]

Thanks everyone, There is a lot to consider in making a decision like this. My hubby and I have to throw this around a bit more before we will make a decision.

 

[glowplug]

I like the hands on approach when I want to buy something. I would have been hard pressed to buy my first kit from an online supplier. I needed to talk to someone and look at the product in "real life". Added to that, there is a special line for "newbies" in the vape shop that is less than a mile from my house. Todd was fantastic dealing my questions and setting me up. They are more expensive than online, but I stop by every week or so and grab a bottle or two of juice just to support them (and to ask a few more questions).

So, I think there will be a need for B&M stores for a long time to come. If they regulate vaping, I am guessing they will tax the heck out of nicotine first. At worst, I picture a situation much like UT was when I was still a drinker. You could buy a bottle of booze from the state run stores, carry it into the bar and then the bar sold you a "set up" which was just ice water in my case of scotch and water. Stores/online will be able to sell DIY pg/vg and flavorings but not nicotine. I am planning to stock up on nicotine liquid at some point just to be safe. I have heard that it actually freezes well but I will need to do further research.

I will also buy some liquid or hardware from you if you have an online presence as well. As a small business owner myself, I will always support the little guy/gal if the product is good and the price fair. Notice I did not say "cheap". I understand the overhead involved and I am pretty sure the liability insurance would be a little high. There isn't a very long track record for insurance companies to figure risk factors with vape stores yet. I might even get a load into KY and stop by to say hi! and buy from your store. Remember, in any venture, the money you invest needs to be money you can afford to lose. I don't think "scared money" makes for good decision making!

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Myrany]

Thanks everyone, There is a lot to consider in making a decision like this. My hubby and I have to throw this around a bit more before we will make a decision.

Personally I would think 4 times before I did it just yet. Regulations coming would make me very nervous.

My suggestion get with your local BBB. I know the one here has free classes on what you need to know to open a business. Then do a ton of research and write up a real a detailed business plan. By the time you sort out all the regulations, suppliers, costs etc. You will have a much better idea what you want to do.

 

[spegtoast]

I share the same idea SusieJo. I also have considered the gov. regulation after I get started. My thought's are this..

The gov. regulations have not shut down the smoke shops, cigar shops, and liquer stores. Vape shops will be needed with or without the gov.
Worst case is if it looks like I am going down, whatever I buy for inventory I am sure I can sell. This is commodity stuff, it moves quickly.
I am no fortune teller, but I foresee a vape shop in everytown in the future. Give or take 5 or 10 years.
B&M's may be the only way to get vape commodities after the gov jumps in. I see websales forbidden unless your a licenced buyer of some kind.
Gas stations will still carry PV's like they do cell phones, cigs, and beer, but that has not affected the market for mom and pop stores selling the same products soley.

Good luck with your decision. Investments are always a risk. Reading your posts. It seems like you are trying an honest approach and good intentions to starting your business. With that I think you would be successful. I will pay an honest dollar for an honest service.

 

[texasguy4]

My wife and I also talked about opening a B&M, but after some research, decided against it. We thought it may be a good "get in and get out" venture, but just didn't see it being a good long term investment.

 

[Crash Moses]

Thanks everyone, There is a lot to consider in making a decision like this. My hubby and I have to throw this around a bit more before we will make a decision.

Good. Write up a solid business plan before you spend any money. When choosing a location do a traffic study to determine ease of access (this can be as simple as counting the cars that pass each hour). Coffee houses (Starbucks, etc.) often do detailed traffic studies so if you find a location near a coffee house...the work's done for you.

Expect little to no profit the first two years and plan accordingly. If you both work do NOT quit your day job if at all possible. Consider carefully should you decide one of you needs to devote all day to your new enterprise. Expect 18 hour days and little sleep. It takes a lot of work.

A friend at work decided to open a coffee shop in a well traveled plaza and quit his job to devote all his time to it. Despite all his hard work he lost the business and his house. This is not something to be done lightly and the odds are not in your favor.

I don't want to discourage you but I would really hate to see you fail...and a large number of small business' do.

 

[mare ze dotes]

I have ponderd the idea myself. Not that I know a lot about it, but I think you would need an online business as well to make enough profit.

 

[shakeytails]

Falls of Rough? Where are you thinking of a shop? Hardinsburg? Leitchfield? I know the JC's Cigarette Outlet in Clarkson and Leitchfield are carrying more e-cig stuff, and they're not outrageously priced. If all my batteries died, I could get a 900mah ego battery at the store in Clarkson for $10.

I've been to the Vape Shop in E-town (a couple of months ago), and they had a fair selection of common juices at inflated prices and almost no hardware. Nice friendly staff but I got the impression they didn't know much more than me. I think they're making their money on juices- quite a bit of money when you're selling Dekang @ $9+ for 10ml. I'm cheap, and if I'm going to buy Dekang(or Hangsen or Liqua) juice, I'll just order from Fasttech and wait 10 days for it.

I'm not so sure the population of your target area would support a B&M vape shop. I'd be more inclined to do a flea market set-up to test the waters first.

 

[Susiejo]

Falls of Rough? Where are you thinking of a shop? Hardinsburg? Leitchfield? I know the JC's Cigarette Outlet in Clarkson and Leitchfield are carrying more e-cig stuff, and they're not outrageously priced. If all my batteries died, I could get a 900mah ego battery at the store in Clarkson for $10.

I've been to the Vape Shop in E-town (a couple of months ago), and they had a fair selection of common juices at inflated prices and almost no hardware. Nice friendly staff but I got the impression they didn't know much more than me. I think they're making their money on juices- quite a bit of money when you're selling Dekang @ $9+ for 10ml. I'm cheap, and if I'm going to buy Dekang(or Hangsen or Liqua) juice, I'll just order from Fasttech and wait 10 days for it.

I'm not so sure the population of your target area would support a B&M vape shop. I'd be more inclined to do a flea market set-up to test the waters first.

I was thinking possibly L-field. I know you can get stuff at JC's (got my first stuff there, Tsunami 1000x, plus my mother in law worked at the JC's in Caneyville) but they don't have much and they don't know much about the world of vaping. They may be getting better about their prices but their juice was horrible (at least to me) and I paid $40 for one e cig (650 mah battery and a ce4 clearo), I kicked myself later!

I was also planning on linking my b&m with an online store. I figured with the b&m store you only reach so many people and so an online store made sense.

I also figured I would make the most of my money on e juice as there are no good places around to get "good" juice.

Just curious, where are you from? Apparently you know the area. I know you may not want to say that openly, I know some people just don't want their actual location known so it's ok if you don't want to say. Just thought if you were close we might actually know each other, or you might know my hubby, I think half the county knows him.