What I did today, and maybe suggestions might help for next time...

[DC2]

So today I went to all of the vape shops in the Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Carlsbad, and Escondido portion of this map...
San Diego Vape Shops

I brought them all a bunch of these CASAA business cards...
CASAA E-cigarette Information Cards

And I brought one of these vendor display kits, hoping to encourage them to buy their own...
CASAA Vendor Display Kit

And I also brought them a copy of these documents, printed in duplex...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B01zUk1aSNToRTVISXMzTTExU2s/edit?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B01zUk1aSNToZjdveWRvQi1yeDQ/edit?usp=sharing


So this brings me to my question...

I am going out again on Saturday, and heading to the shops in the Encinitas, Miramar, Mira Mesa, and Poway areas.
But I'm am hopng that someone can come up with an idea on how to provide this information in a better way.


Oh, and I would like to add that if every one of us did this for the vape shops local to us, we would win this fight.
So please feel free to use the documents I posted if you feel like doing so, and change them as much as you want if you want to.


But yeah, does anyone have any ideas for a better way to get the vendors involved?
And/or a better way to encourage them to get their customers involved?

Because there is nothing more important right now, so any ideas and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
If I can alter my strategy to make it better by Saturday, I'd be all for that.

 

[CKCalmer]

Oh, and I would like to add that if every one of us did this for the vape shops local to us, we would win this fight.

I absolutely agree. It sounds to me like you're doing a great thing for all your vaping brothers and sisters.

It makes me wish I wasn't housebound, so that I could get out there and do the same thing.

One a scale of 1 to 10, I give you 11 thumbs up!

 

[DC2]

I wish I could be doing so much more...

Any thoughts on better approaches?
I think I could use them.

Some shops had no clue, but some shops were all over it from the start.

One thing I noticed was that almost every shop I went into had Camp Pendleton troops inside.
It seems that vaping is absolutely SWEEPING through the marine base.

One of them overheard me talking to the manager and came up to me to ask for more information.
I gave him one of my handouts and asked him to spread it around the base.

There were good moments and discouraging moments.
That was one of the good moments.

 

[emily n portland]

I wish I could be doing so much more...

Any thoughts

I got nothing you could have done better.

But from where you were before --
This thread.
Encouraging all of us to do the same or similar.

Won't be as organized as you, but I can stop by at least one tomorrow after work and have a chat and some websites handy.

 

[CKCalmer]

One thing I noticed was that almost every shop I went into had Camp Pendleton troops inside.
It seems that vaping is absolutely SWEEPING through the marine base.

One of them overheard me talking to the manager and came up to me to ask for more information.
I gave him one of my handouts and asked him to spread it around the base.

That's a great way to kick off an effective word-of-mouth campaign. The Marine you talked to will share what you told him with several of his fellow Marines who are either getting into vaping or are reluctant based on the scare campaigns they're hearing on the news, which your info will help to correct. And then some of those Marines will share the info with their friends and families outside the Corps, and so on...

A multi-pronged approach (to borrow a military turn of phrase) is what will be needed to purvey the truth about vaping to the general public. Internet, B+M storefronts, television, radio, newspapers, word-of-mouth, political advocacy, town hall meeting agendas...

To borrow another military term, we could do well with a scorched-earth strategy to battle the naysayers. We should hit every arena of society and use every form of communication we can think of in order to get the RIGHT information out there. Goodness knows the BP/BT/ANTZ crowd are using the very same tactics against us.

I'm sure I haven't described anything here that CASAA hasn't already thought of, being the tip of our spear in the matter.

If there's anything specific I can think of to help in your endeavor, I'll be sure to post it. And I'm sure that you'll get a lot of great ideas from other ECFers in the meantime, too.

 

[Vapocalyptic]

I appreciate your effort and truly commend your commitment. In regards to asb 1500(?) meeting on the 21st, if this passes will it ban vendors (such as world of vape, fluidvapes, 101vape) vendors, with huge CA based warehouses from shipping nationally? Or is it only importing? Either way it'll cripple business none the less.. But my favorite vendor is in California. If they go down....Oh hell no!!

Sent from my XT1028

 

[FlamingoTutu]

Way to go DC2! Stoked to hear about the military too.

The only thing I can think to add is some information about the bs going on in California courtesy if Dickinson. Not sure how the military would handle that. “Excuse me Colonel, I have to go sign for my shipment of Mother’s Milk”? Anyway, very nice job.

 

[DC2]

Yeah, I should definitely incorporate something about what's going on in California.

 

[AgentAnia]

Well done, DC2, and done the right way: face-to-face always works best, IMO. Glad you got a "foot in the door" w/ Camp Pendleton.

I also provide my 2 B&Ms with a supply of ECF cards. Just a thought...

(BTW, while it doesn't strictly relate to vendor communications, I've ordered a great new car magnet from CafePress you might be interested in: FDAWantsToKillYou Round Car Magnet by Admin_CP24908443)

 

[Zildjian]

I live just outside of Portland, OR. Here we have this thing called the Saturday Market in Downtown Portland. This is a place where people can go to and sell their wares and crafts etc... They have music, Food etc... Kind of like a state fair but on a smaller scale and every weekend. If you have something like that their, and if it is anything like it is here you will find a bunch of like minded people. You could hand them out there where there are a bunch of people in one central location. http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/

 

[DC2]

I have been brainstorming for years how to get the vendors involved, and in turn get their customers involved.
So far this is the best idea I've been able to come up with, for better or worse.


I am thinking of putting together an email that can be sent to any vendor...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBJECT: What you need to know about the pending FDA deeming regulations

I am a member of a consumer activist group named CASAA that fights for the rights of vapers.
I am just one of over 15,000 such members, and I am contacting you with the hope of increasing their membership and the strength of our collective voices.

It's free to join, and takes only a minute or so...
http://www.casaa.org/Become_a_Member.html


Attached is a one-page document that outlines reasons for concern that every vendor should be aware of as it relates to the future of their business.
ATTACHMENT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B01zUk1aSNToRTVISXMzTTExU2s/edit?usp=sharing


The links below outline a strategy put together by CASAA for how the vaping world can best focus our efforts to affect the course of these regulations...
CASAA: Overview of CASAA's Action Plan Regarding Proposed FDA Regulations
CASAA: First Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Request for an Extension of Comment Period

It is my hope that you would consider utilizing your customer email database to make them aware of the links above.



And if you would consider doing so, there are materials available from CASAA that can assist you in helping to direct your customers to join these efforts...

CASAA E-cigarette Information Cards

CASAA Vendor Display Kit

It is my hope that the entire vaping world can join forces and work towards a future that is bright for vaping.
And I think that the best way to do that is one vaper at a time.


Thank you for your time and consideration...
And best of luck to you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, what do you guys think?

Feel free to give feedback of any kind.
I want to get this ball rolling.

 

[DC2]

Really? Page Two now and no feedback?
And I'm doing this while the North San Diego County fires rage all around me.

Look in the mirror vapers.
You reap what you fail to sew.

Step up or get crushed.

 

[patkin]

I saw over at the CASAA Forum and replied... just refreshed "Todays Posts" and saw this thread.

 

[rico942]

Good show, DC2 !

I wonder if you could get an appointment with the Commanding General or Sergeant Major at Pendleton, see if they are vape-friendly, and preach the vaping gospel to them. Could go a long way toward keeping our finest away from tobacco ...

 

[aikanae1]

I think what you are doing is awesome! I've heard of a couple of others that have done something very similar. The area around me is pretty well aware of CASAA and active / up to date on what's happening.

I don't know why SOME vendors seem so ignorant. Afterall, it's their livlihood and I'd think they'd want to protect it. My best guess is that many are still on the fence in denial, thinking they can work with whatever regulations and taxes come their way. The idea that the gov't can come in and wipe out an entire industry doesn't seem possible to them. And this isn't the first time it's happened.

Most people have a hard time sorting out which are rumors and which ones are actually happening / could happen. I tend to blame the fear mongering that's been going on for the last 20 years that's proved to be untrue. Maybe we should issue a "yellow light" for this. After all, ecigs are more aluminum tubes. Crying "wolf" has happened too often without any wolf that people don't believe anything anymore.

I think you'll find more and more are waking up. They don't know what to do next. You might want to add SFATFA to those cards - or the vaping malitia.

I have been brainstorming for years how to get the vendors involved, and in turn get their customers involved.
So far this is the best idea I've been able to come up with, for better or worse.


I am thinking of putting together an email that can be sent to any vendor...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBJECT: What you need to know about the pending FDA deeming regulations

I am a member of a consumer activist group named CASAA that fights for the rights of vapers.
I am just one of over 15,000 such members, and I am contacting you with the hope of increasing their membership and the strength of our collective voices.

It's free to join, and takes only a minute or so...
Become a CASAA Member


Attached is a one-page document that outlines reasons for concern that every vendor should be aware of as it relates to the future of their business.
ATTACHMENT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B01zUk1aSNToRTVISXMzTTExU2s/edit?usp=sharing


The links below outline a strategy put together by CASAA for how the vaping world can best focus our efforts to affect the course of these regulations...
CASAA: Overview of CASAA's Action Plan Regarding Proposed FDA Regulations
CASAA: First Call to Action for FDA Proposed Regulations - Consumer Request for an Extension of Comment Period

It is my hope that you would consider utilizing your customer email database to make them aware of the links above.



And if you would consider doing so, there are materials available from CASAA that can assist you in helping to direct your customers to join these efforts...

CASAA E-cigarette Information Cards

CASAA Vendor Display Kit

It is my hope that the entire vaping world can join forces and work towards a future that is bright for vaping.
And I think that the best way to do that is one vaper at a time.


Thank you for your time and consideration...
And best of luck to you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, what do you guys think?

Feel free to give feedback of any kind.
I want to get this ball rolling.

 

[zoiDman]

It's Cool to Talk about Doing Something. But it is Those who Actually Do it that should be Praised.

Right On DC2.

 

[peraspera]

Really? Page Two now and no feedback?
...

Perhaps you can persuade your local retailers to help themselves by contacting the Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy and the National Federation of Independent Business about the onerous proposed FDA regulations. These are organizations that advocate for small business. The owner of a small e-liquid company has already contacted them and gotten a positive response as to their interest in the FDA regs. He has contact info as well as an excellent email he has sent that could serve as a useful guide for others, Call To Action: How Vaping Businesses Can Help Fight The Proposed FDA Deeming Regulations.

 

[CKCalmer]

@DC2: You're knowledge, writing skills and the quality of your materials, even including the photographs you posted above, are all top notch. Knowing how to organize and deliver facts and evidence in a concise and professional manner is as important as the drive that makes a person participate in the first place. You're on a solid and noble path that is helping us all.

Give this thread a few days. I think it'll be bumped quite often with people who are inspired by your work so far. I'm personally housebound (nerve damage in my neck, left shoulder and arm), so I'm limited on how much I can do with my health being better on some days and worse on others. But I want to get more involved with CASAA, at least with things I can do online.

I discovered a few weeks back that donating goodies to the CASAA membership drive can help keep them flush with freebies for new members, although others have given much more than I have so far. What I'm able to do may not be much, but I'm gritting my teeth and pushing into the wind whenever possible to keep doing it. The moment I'm able to travel in a car again, the first place I'm going to go is to the nearest vape shop in Macon (GA) and follow your lead and method to educate as many people as possible. Until then, I'll continue squeezing everything I can out of my limited budget and limited health to help out as best I can.

I've honesty never been a part of any cause as noble as this one. I've never been much of a "participator" at all, I'm ashamed to say. But many of the people here - like yourself - have been so great that they make me want to jump into the fray and participate more than I ever have before.

You're a real inspiration, and so are the others here who are working with CASAA and/or making it a point to teach people one-on-one the facts about vaping in order to snuff out the crappy stigmas and misinformation that's being thrown out to the public like chum for sharks.

Keep it going!

 

[Robmidi]

I mail order a lot, so from now on, I'm going to ask my vendors to email their customer base with calls to action. I'll do this directly and when placing orders. Knowledge is power, and they need to get more involved. So do us ordinary vapers!

What you are doing it's awesome and I thank you immensely. I couldn't really suggest improvements to what you're doing.

I'm doing the political thing and writing to legislators pleading our case and following CASSA guidelines for asking the FDA to extend the period for public input.

If WE don't act, we'll get squashed. Folks need to remember that FDA funding, in large part, comes from the very industries they regulate.

The common sense in THAT, escapes me.

 

[Amraann]

DC2 What an excellent thing that you are doing!