for the last 3 years whenever I go into a vape B&M I always ask how bussiness is 3 years ago they all told me bussiness is booming.....the last year when I ask them they all turn a shade of green and tell me bussiness is pretty bad.
The vibe and marketing of dedicated vape shops
- Thread starter Javamon
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
for the last 3 years whenever I go into a vape B&M I always ask how bussiness is 3 years ago they all told me bussiness is booming.....the last year when I ask them they all turn a shade of green and tell me bussiness is pretty bad.
I'm middle aged. I enjoy seeing younger people enjoying themselves. If I walk into a vape shop and the music is blaring Slayer. Clouds galore. You damned right I'm gonna join them. I may get old on the outside, but never on the inside. Life is great !
Yeah I don't share their taste in music, but I don't have a problem hanging with the young guys...alot of them are pretty sharp kids.
Who knows perhaps it's time to open a new type of vape shop...more like a cigar shop...comfy chairs books and magazines to read maybe an espresso machine or beer ,newspapers..ect.....
I don't mind hanging out with younger people, either. My older kids are in the range group targeted by the shops.
But, it's not the age making and breaking things. It's the overall look and approach of these shops.
Think about a grill/restaurant/bar. In my area, we have some that successfully establish a look/vibe comfortable for All generations, and then there are the few that an older person wouldn't step foot in.
I'm a musician - I like all kinds of music. But I still don't want to spend any time in a shop pumping metal or dubstep at 120dB. Nor do I want to look among products with names like Suicide, etc.
But, it's not the age making and breaking things. It's the overall look and approach of these shops.
Think about a grill/restaurant/bar. In my area, we have some that successfully establish a look/vibe comfortable for All generations, and then there are the few that an older person wouldn't step foot in.
I'm a musician - I like all kinds of music. But I still don't want to spend any time in a shop pumping metal or dubstep at 120dB. Nor do I want to look among products with names like Suicide, etc.
Hanging out with a group (of any age) doesn't bother me
Said group distracting an employee from helping customers? THAT bothers me
I've been in different stores friends are working at. I always pay attention to customers, so that I'm not blocking a sale. Heck... if the merchandise is something I know, I'll even help out. But I see a LOT of times where a clerk is too busy hanging with his friends and blowing clouds to help a customer
Said group distracting an employee from helping customers? THAT bothers me
I've been in different stores friends are working at. I always pay attention to customers, so that I'm not blocking a sale. Heck... if the merchandise is something I know, I'll even help out. But I see a LOT of times where a clerk is too busy hanging with his friends and blowing clouds to help a customer
I stop by when traveling. Yes, they tend to be younger. What bothers me more is the adverts or signage. Out on the main drag we have Grape Vapes with a purple gorilla. I wonder if "Healthier Way" might be better.
Young people don't bother me. I've met lots of nice people in vape shops.
I like music too, and lots of thick and warm vapor from my pv.
Clouds are yummy and just a part of vaping.
I don't understand the vapers who hate on vapers for blowing lots of vapor.
I like music too, and lots of thick and warm vapor from my pv.
Clouds are yummy and just a part of vaping.
I don't understand the vapers who hate on vapers for blowing lots of vapor.
There's no hate here. It's just a discussion of marketing.
I don't have hate for anyone, and if someone wants to blow giant clouds, it's none of my business.
But that doesn't change the probably truth that a shop focused on that isn't really marketing to the masses, nor assisting the overall industry in acceptance and growth.
From my own personal experience, from my wife's, and from efc posts in general there is an overabundance of anecdotal evidence that dual usage tends to cause more coughing/harsh throat issues when compared to vaping alone. Just something I noticed.
That in mind, a reasonable argument could be made that a smoker / potential first time vapor might not respond well walking into a room resembling a scene from a cheech n chong movie... that would be regardless of age groups.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
That in mind, a reasonable argument could be made that a smoker / potential first time vapor might not respond well walking into a room resembling a scene from a cheech n chong movie... that would be regardless of age groups.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I've been in a hundred different vape shops and never saw one that was focused exclusively on cloud chucking.
There's always as much space dedicated to e-go style and tanks as there is the mods and rda's and such.
I have a couple friends, a husband and wife, who own one of the oldest and most successful vape businesses in Florida. I have watched how they have grown their operation over the last few years. Their keys: the online business is kept totally separate from their 2 B&M locations. Online ordering, sales, and shipping are run like a separate business, in a separate location. Second, both B&Ms are located in a strip where there is an 'anchor' store. They feel that 'walk by' and 'walk in and browse' business is important. Third, they feel it's crucial to carry equipment for the first time, minimalist vaper; including cig alikes, prefilled cartos, etc. in addition to more advanced gear. Fourth, the sales staff is always well dressed, and familiar with every product they sell.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Every local vape shop I been in just sucks badly. First one I ever went in was more like a living room with everyone sitting around in a cloud of smoke staring at me as I made my way to the counter to see what was for sale. Almost felt like walking in a dope house. Second one I went to was somewhat similar to those described in the OP. Slim Shady at the counter was trying to rip me off with $35 Patriot clones and $65 Kanger EVOD/T2 combos. One that I went to was like walking into an empty room with just a woman standing at an empty counter. All she had to offer were some ejuice samples, which all tasted horrible to me, and a few overpriced cartomizers and clearomizers hidden behind her counter. I don't see how any of these places stay in business.
So many vape shops have cropped up over the last couple of years since I picked up my first cig-alike, it's gotten kind of ridiculous. When I first started vaping just about the only places to get gear were "head shops" that also carried vape gear (at least around my area). Then slowly a few dedicated shops started opening up, but none were really hangout kind of places, they were straight up retail shops. Then I started seeing a vape shop in nearly every strip mall everywhere I went. I've been to quite a few all over the city, but very rarely did I ever see people just hanging out and vaping at these shops, now I see it a little more. I've noticed that the location usually dictates the shop's style; in trendy hipster popular parts of the city, the employees are young, interested in the cool factor, and kinda elitist usually, and tend to hangout at the shop (since most of them seem to be college students without jobs); when you get to the suburbs the shops tend to employ a wider range of people, and most are ex smokers and far more laid back and much more helpful and knowledgeable about the products they stock, and the same goes for the people who hangout at the shops...
We have a relatively successful chain of vape shops in my area ... I believe they have four or five locations now. While the locations of their shops isn't the greatest, they have done a great job of catering to all ages. Each shop I've visited has some sort of air cleaner running at all times to keep the clouds to a minimum. No loud music. Staff is typically younger (early 20s I'd say) but all are well dressed in a company-logo polo shirt and all are friendly and willing to help in whatever way they can ... they're typically all experienced/knowledgable vapers as well. They have their own line of liquids (unfortunately, more on this below) and also sell a variety of different third party brands as well.
The shops are seemingly doing well; but are generally in lower-rent buildings located in aging strip malls in the lower-income areas of the city. The shops have very little "theming" or decor ... single color walls, no professional signage, and what looks to be hand-me-down furniture or cheap IKEA like stuff.
There are a couple of other shops that I have not visited yet that may be a bit more "fancy" ... that being said, below are some specific points that I'd like to see from ALL stores, and especially this particular chain; as I think they're at least pointed in the right direction.
I suppose this is the start of my utopian vision for the perfect vape store. As long as we can keep negative legislation at bay, I hope to see these types of stores start popping up soon, and the lower end/"quick buck" stores start to consolidate in to this or disappear. I think stores like this would be extremely positive for our industry and I look forward to seeing something like this in my area soon!
The shops are seemingly doing well; but are generally in lower-rent buildings located in aging strip malls in the lower-income areas of the city. The shops have very little "theming" or decor ... single color walls, no professional signage, and what looks to be hand-me-down furniture or cheap IKEA like stuff.
There are a couple of other shops that I have not visited yet that may be a bit more "fancy" ... that being said, below are some specific points that I'd like to see from ALL stores, and especially this particular chain; as I think they're at least pointed in the right direction.
- In-house E-Liquid Lines: I want this to end. Unless you've got a dedicated ISO8 (or better) certified clean-room facility producing top notch original flavors, don't try to integrate in-house-made liquid sales with your B&M. I realize the margin is quite high here, but liquid vendors are coming up in very high numbers; vendors who use certified clean-room facilities producing super high quality stuff. I would much rather see B&Ms promoting these vendors, as this will help our industry in many ways, especially when it comes to pending legislation/regulation. Mixing artificially flavored mediocre liquids in your non-sterile back room/closet area and charging a premium price for them does not benefit anyone but the stores' pockets and is a very easy target for ANTZ.
- Fancy it up: Emphasize quality over quantity. I'd much rather this particular chain have one very nice, large/spacious professionally decorated store in a great location as opposed to 4-5 "lipstick on a pig" stores in run down strip malls. Section it off; cloud-chasing equipment in one section. Starter-equipment in another section. Flavor-chasing/enthusiast gear in another section. Education/classroom type setup in another section, which leads me to my next point.
- Vape University: Perhaps a small section of this large "quality" store could be set up for education; a small classroom of sorts. Offer, market, and advertise regular "classes" ... topics could be: Safe vaping/battery safety, coil building, cloud-chasing, and legislation and advocacy topics, to name a few.
I suppose this is the start of my utopian vision for the perfect vape store. As long as we can keep negative legislation at bay, I hope to see these types of stores start popping up soon, and the lower end/"quick buck" stores start to consolidate in to this or disappear. I think stores like this would be extremely positive for our industry and I look forward to seeing something like this in my area soon!
Last edited:
im all for people quitting smoking younger than older, but yeah there seems to be a lack of 'business-like' vape shops. Most the ones here in sacramento are 'Lounge' types, Club/Bar' types, have only run into one that isnt either of them but in my opinion I think its moreso the younger crowd tend to 'showoff' and are just there blowing clouds and such, plus most older mature people have higher paying jobs or better places to be than working at a low paying vape shop. Seems the only people they can actually find to work at these vape shops are younger people who work for someone else, rather than a personal business ran by the people who own it which would probably be the more mature older folks. The employees I run into treat it as just some random job they will move on from, and dont really care about the business itself or know much about the products. Rarely run into the business owners at the shops I've been to.
Couldn't agree more these inhouse juice lines made in a bathrub are ridiculous I've never even considered buying any after tasting them...most of the people that make them have a lousy pallatte, and their range of gastronomical influences don't extend past a cany counter.
Classes seem a no brianer to me,but I suppose alot of shopes dont.because it draws customers in to the store to get their attys rebuilt and since they are there they wind up buying some juice..
The vape only shops I've been in are for the most part very Not busy and often are selling their own brand name liquids and No known brand names. However I would agree the demographic is the 20s crowd and most of these shops are selling a cool hip life style so to say. Most of these stores are fairly new, have young unknowledgeable people working there, and are very overpriced. I have one that's really close called Lizard Juice and there's never anyone in there except for the staff. Their prices are crazy which is maybe what's keeping customers away. I stopped into maybe buy a coil and tank but I walked out. The price for a Kanger T3s tank was $15 and the coil itself was like $5 for only one coil lol, which isn't even a dual coil.
Now the other Tobacco and vape shops I've been in do very well and are busy selling both tobacco and vaping products, lotto, pop, and snacks. Theses shops tend to be more helpful, much better priced but higher then online of course, and most have a decent variety of known established brands. They are usually run directly by the store owner instead of young 20s behind the counter. I also find these places are much eaiser to negotiate the price of vaping gear and liquid then the vape only stores, aren't playing pounding music and rarely have people hanging around blowing clouds.
Now the other Tobacco and vape shops I've been in do very well and are busy selling both tobacco and vaping products, lotto, pop, and snacks. Theses shops tend to be more helpful, much better priced but higher then online of course, and most have a decent variety of known established brands. They are usually run directly by the store owner instead of young 20s behind the counter. I also find these places are much eaiser to negotiate the price of vaping gear and liquid then the vape only stores, aren't playing pounding music and rarely have people hanging around blowing clouds.
I DIY all my own juice, under the same cleanliness conditions with which I prepare my meals. I'm not a vendor, other than a few friends, so I don't have any skin in the game. But I have no problem with 'house juices'. Some are quite good, so I'm told. I've yet to see anyone mixing juice in a bathtub, sink, bucket, or whatever. What I have seen is wannabe juice vendors creating mixes using the same commercially available flavorings everybody else uses, creating a fancy label, putting it in a fancy bottle, calling it "Premium", and charging ridiculous prices. I do think that the idea of requiring juice to only be made in an ISO spec clean room is overkill.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
- Status
Similar threads
