Would you support a walk-in Vapor Store?

[Mac]

Not all kiosks cling to the archaic 200 bucks take it or leave it business model. some of us sell a variety of products at different price points and even teach customers how to drip diy etc. Smoking everywhere has really given the mall kiosk a bad name but they aren't the end all of retail.

 

[Nyxie]

lol, tried it last week....got some interesting comments.....couple of people said "electronic cigarettes?....what do they do, smoke them for you?".....but I think you are right....overhead is only $15 a week, lots of foot traffic, just need to commit to giving up every weekend....

This is why i am not doing it. Along with my worries of law suits LOL.
I was raised in flea markets. Every weekend of my life I was at one until a few yrs ago. I met my ex at a flea market and even my new hubby at a flea market. It is a great way to make money and meet people (obviously), but it takes every weekend. I just don't have that in me anymore. As a kid I missed many birthday parties and fun things on weekends because Mom had to go and I was stuck helping. This gave me a great work ethic and crappy child hood. I just don't care to put my kids through that with me.

 

[unsure]

Probably not, considering I can buy my supplies cheaper online. I never run so dangerously low on anything that I would need to go to a store to get something "right now".

True. The fact is Brick and Mortar is a big overhead expense. No way can they compete price wise.

 

[irwink]

True. The fact is Brick and Mortar is a big overhead expense. No way can they compete price wise.

No, B&M can't compete directly price wise. There are many other things to consider as I earlier posted.

YOU can't compete price wise either, if you are working in many endeavors in this (US) country. If and when you can be outsourced you will be. If you've ever been in a small retail business or had your job outsourced to some third world country your perspectives will change. Trust me. Ditto if you work in a trade and an illegal alien undercuts your wage and gets your job. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Americans want everything cheap. But in the end we all wind up paying for that up front "cheap".

 

[Bryce]

Hi guys,

Been following the thread for a while and love this discussion. The truth is that the BandM model works, it creates hundreds of new users a month and it can profit while providing a truly value filled experience.

I work for a chain of locally owned stores in the Inland Northwest that have really got this idea on the right track. We offer lounge like settings (Black leather couches and all) that are open 7 days a week with huge inventory and very well trained staff that all LOVE the ECF. They offer a lifetime warranty on all batteries, attys, chargers and accessories. They offer free online shipping through the website for any purchase amount and they do warranties by mail too. When a part fails and you can't come in, just call in and we put a replacement in the mail the same day, before receiving the broken part in return. Good service, knowledge, atmosphere and availability are the real key to success with this thing. The AMAZING nature of this product does the rest. Oh and a lifetime warranty on replacement parts doesn't hurt either . I'm not gonna to plug the Co., I decided early on that I wouldn't, but the point is that it can be done in a way that's GREAT for all. Vape on!

-Bryce

 

[The Fool]

Mac, I'm sorry that I was so flippant about kiosks. They do serve a valuable service. It's often the first way that one hears about e-cigs!

Bryce, talk to your owners about starting a franchise! I'm not into recreating the wheel here. If there is already a business plan out there that works I'd invest. I believe in these things. Also, I want to see us relying less on China and more on ourselves. No offense China.

P.S. Met for the first time yesterday with other vapoeres (is that a word?). This is a VERY social activity! We had a blast, like kids at Christmas with all our bottles and equipment spread out all over the table. Beat the heck out of the forums cause I got a real hug at the end.

 

[CartHeadMod]

vapoeres (is that a word?)

just use vapers.....

 

[wolflrv]

Vapers vape vapor...

 

[The Fool]

Wolf, Say that three times real fast...

 

[muttSRT]

Hi guys,

Been following the thread for a while and love this discussion. The truth is that the BandM model works, it creates hundreds of new users a month and it can profit while providing a truly value filled experience.

I work for a chain of locally owned stores in the Inland Northwest that have really got this idea on the right track. We offer lounge like settings (Black leather couches and all) that are open 7 days a week with huge inventory and very well trained staff that all LOVE the ECF. They offer a lifetime warranty on all batteries, attys, chargers and accessories. They offer free online shipping through the website for any purchase amount and they do warranties by mail too. When a part fails and you can't come in, just call in and we put a replacement in the mail the same day, before receiving the broken part in return. Good service, knowledge, atmosphere and availability are the real key to success with this thing. The AMAZING nature of this product does the rest. Oh and a lifetime warranty on replacement parts doesn't hurt either . I'm not gonna to plug the Co., I decided early on that I wouldn't, but the point is that it can be done in a way that's GREAT for all. Vape on!

-Bryce

sounds good....link please

lifetime warranty on all batteries,attys, chargers AND accessories??? Shipping out replacement parts BEFORE the bad part arrives in the store for exchange???

 

[Shai]

I think it would be foolish of anyone having a store front to solely sell ecigs considering the looming question of legality. But in any case, at best this is a product to complement an already established store front: Tobacco shop, Head shop, possibly a pharmacy. Though, I think pharmacies would be in conflict with their large pharma suppliers due to the plethora of nicotine replacement products already being sold at astronomical prices and due to stringent regulation of pharmacies. They could possibly lose their license to sell if they carried a product not approved by the FDA *shrugs*.

Online is where it's at for ecigs. It's a niche product. A store front will never compete with an online retailer. There's too much cost and liability involved.

 

[derek88]

I go online for almost everything but groceries sale tax kills it for me

 

[v1John]

I think it would be foolish of anyone having a store front to solely sell ecigs considering the looming question of legality...

There is no qiestion about legalitity. It's legal. It's legal and the store sells it in Virginia. Furthermore, the Attorney General stated that ecig vaping does not fall under the smoking ban.

 

[Shai]

There is no qiestion about legalitity. It's legal. It's legal and the store sells it in Virginia. Furthermore, the Attorney General stated that ecig vaping does not fall under the smoking ban.

Ok, legality, not the best word. How about threat of ban?

 

[v1John]

Ok, legality, not the best word. How about threat of ban?

Well a perceived threat of a crooked ban didn't stop the store in Virginia from opening already.

If you're scared, I guess just start out small, If you are banned, I suppose you can always simply switch the product you sell, to deadly tobacco cigarettes, at least until the lease on the little store expires, if nothing else. There are lots of options. Anyway, stores are opening, whether others are too scared or not.

 

[Ourei]

I think progress will be made with disposable e-cigs, which is probably the most accessible format. Buy, use, dispose. Maybe a few generations down the road and disposables will have the same amount of taste and vapor production as what most of us are using now.

Dealing with batteries, atomizers, liquids... I doubt these things will ever go mainstream with smokers. Until a smoker decides to quit, they usually don't want to deal with the headaches of learning to maintain an e-cig kit. But disposables should be easy enough.

I would still buy my hardware online, but if a local shop mixed their own e-liquids, I'd definitely be a regular for that!

 

[Xanax]

There are quite a few walk in stores... am I wrong??

 

[Xanax]

Hi guys,

Been following the thread for a while and love this discussion. The truth is that the BandM model works, it creates hundreds of new users a month and it can profit while providing a truly value filled experience.

I work for a chain of locally owned stores in the Inland Northwest that have really got this idea on the right track. We offer lounge like settings (Black leather couches and all) that are open 7 days a week with huge inventory and very well trained staff that all LOVE the ECF. They offer a lifetime warranty on all batteries, attys, chargers and accessories. They offer free online shipping through the website for any purchase amount and they do warranties by mail too. When a part fails and you can't come in, just call in and we put a replacement in the mail the same day, before receiving the broken part in return. Good service, knowledge, atmosphere and availability are the real key to success with this thing. The AMAZING nature of this product does the rest. Oh and a lifetime warranty on replacement parts doesn't hurt either . I'm not gonna to plug the Co., I decided early on that I wouldn't, but the point is that it can be done in a way that's GREAT for all. Vape on!

-Bryce

Yeah but what are the prices like with that "lifetime warranty"? It's a fact that all batteries and atomizers do NOT last forever. I don't see how you guys can stand by the lifetime warranty. There's got to be a catch.

 

[JoeChemo]

Would you be willing to pay a little more than you do online in order to have the convenience and support the store?

Nope. Higher prices and sales tax would make it a deal breaker.

 

[vaplor]

I'm in Michigan and a few of the smoke shops have some ecigs and supplies but not any that I would buy. I would love to see a walk-in store that carried good quality brands...always looking for a few new choices! It would be a big task but I can see it happening in the future!