Would you ...?

[bikerbeagle]

I thought this would be an interesting 'twist' to a common topic around here, so I'm merely going to pose the simple question:

If YOU had the resources to open a small business - time, money, ability, etc (keeping in mind it is YOUR time and money you are risking) - would YOU open an e-cigarette B&M in your area right now?

Things to consider when answering -
Do you perceive a market in your area for e-cigarettes?
Do you perceive that market as being properly serviced by existing B&Ms?
Are there accepting policies in your area (business and government level) concerning smoking/e-cigarettes?
Does the possibility of up and coming regulations concern you?

Inquirining minds want to know.

 

[retired1]

In a heartbeat.

Sent from my Vox using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bmwmom2002]

Oh yes! There are none within a 2 hour drive in my state. I have to go to Ga or Tn for the closest one.

 

[nruiz]

For sure!! There are a few in Maryland but they are all spread far.

 

[BigLebowski]

Northern Utah has a lot of B&M's, so probably not. The idea sounds amazing though.

 

[FloydianSlip]

Nope...not at all. The local economy is in the tank here in many ways and with the specter of government screwing all this up for us I would not risk such a large capital investment on such a venture only to see it go up in smoke...er vapor.

 

[Kabooma]

I have a really great job, and I've thought about it, but concluded that the risk is just too great- meaning, I'd have to quit my day job, and I wouldn't have an option to return.. and while a vape shop in my immediate locality would likely do very well, the FDA risks on top of possible business failure (or aggressive competitor moving in) really give me the shivers.

 

[retired1]

Screw the government. If I had the capital to back it, I'd open a B&M in a heartbeat. I'd be in it for the awesome ride as well as making it THE meeting place for all the e-cig users in the area. So what if I'm shut down in a year, two years, three years? The trip up to that point would be one hell of a ride and an experience that couldn't be repeated.

 

[Hippieangst]

Yep! I live in a college town and teach at the college. I see so many smokers on campus, and I'd bet at least half of them would give vaping a shot if they new about set ups better than the gas station cig-a-likes.

 

[jam*her*some]

For sure! There are no B&Ms within 20 miles of here. There are a few down in Tacoma, but I don't really like to go down there.... I'm from the Eastside (Redmond, where Microsoft and Nintendo are at....) and me going to Tacoma is like someone from Beverly Hills to South Central.... okay, not THAT bad, but Tacoma still scares me.

 

[FloydianSlip]

Screw the government. If I had the capital to back it, I'd open a B&M in a heartbeat. I'd be in it for the awesome ride as well as making it THE meeting place for all the e-cig users in the area. So what if I'm shut down in a year, two years, three years? The trip up to that point would be one hell of a ride and an experience that couldn't be repeated.

It is not so much the government than the fact that my local economy is in the tank and many small business of many type have literally gone belly up in short time. If I saw a real potential for profit I would go for it but for now I would pass.

 

[MoonLit_Water]

There is a B&M 3 miles south of me, I would open one a little further north and more "in town". But I also think YOu would need to have a fair amount of internet sales also, and that my be a hard thing to get gong since there are so many already out there. I would want to make in house juice and I am at this point just getting started in DIY, so would probably need some experienced help there

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

No. The barriers to market entry are too low and competition makes it tough to succeed. These stores are popping up all over the place and the only ones that succeed are going to be run by super savvy businesspeople who already know how to run a successful retail operation and can calculate the EOQ in their heads.

 

[Faylool]

No. I wouldn't do a B and M here where I live but I'd peddle items on CL and put an ad in our little selling flyer that comes out every week. then it would just e a sideline for busyness to make extra gas money. No action in this town and they are selling stuff at the convenience stores that is about the level of aping around here. I have yet to see a single vaper. 1 year.

 

[bikerbeagle]

Screw the government. If I had the capital to back it, I'd open a B&M in a heartbeat. I'd be in it for the awesome ride as well as making it THE meeting place for all the e-cig users in the area. So what if I'm shut down in a year, two years, three years? The trip up to that point would be one hell of a ride and an experience that couldn't be repeated.

Sadly, "screw the government" is not a realistic approach ...but your enthusiasm is commendable. Personally, I don't think that the FDA will kill the industry - such as an out-right ban - but they can (and will almost certainly) do damage to it. At a minimum, I'm expecting the FDA to ban the sell of pre-mixed flavored ejuices and Congress to tax the beejezus out of the entire industry as a "recreational" product.

No. The barriers to market entry are too low and competition makes it tough to succeed. These stores are popping up all over the place and the only ones that succeed are going to be run by super savvy businesspeople who already know how to run a successful retail operation and can calculate the EOQ in their heads.

That's a good point. If the B&M e-cigarette business model proves out to be successful (or even lucrative) - and I'm not willing to concede this point since a lot of the B&Ms I'm aware of are less than 1-2 years old - you can expect larger retail businesses with deeper pockets and Forbes-level experience pools to want a piece of it. It is certainly a risk.

 

[Penn]

Sadly, "screw the government" is not a realistic approach ...but your enthusiasm is commendable. Personally, I don't think that the FDA will kill the industry - such as an out-right ban - but they can (and will almost certainly) do damage to it. At a minimum, I'm expecting the FDA to ban the sell of pre-mixed flavored ejuices and Congress to tax the beejezus out of the entire industry as a "recreational" product.

That's a good point. If the B&M e-cigarette business model proves out to be successful (or even lucrative) - and I'm not willing to concede this point since a lot of the B&Ms I'm aware of are less than 1-2 years old - you can expect larger retail businesses with deeper pockets and Forbes-level experience pools to want a piece of it. It is certainly a risk.

Since the question is "your area" I would think you have a different reason to not try one. I remember a time when Wichita kept passing new laws and the wording on existing laws to stop anything that could be viewed as similar to a strip club. It even got to the point someone was trying to open a topless ice cream shop, if I recall correct, and the bible thumpers were doing everything they could to stop it. What came of that fight?

Anyway, I would guess the mentality of some people there hasn't changed and they would try to legislate it out of existence on a local level. Then again, maybe that would be good because there would be a forum to focus the fight but you would need even deeper pockets or would have to rely heavily on outside help.

 

[knitcrotatter]

As much as I'd love to, I live in an area where the economy is tanking, and I'm not brave enough to take the risk...

 

[Glen Snyder]

I thought this would be an interesting 'twist' to a common topic around here, so I'm merely going to pose the simple question:

If YOU had the resources to open a small business - time, money, ability, etc (keeping in mind it is YOUR time and money you are risking) - would YOU open an e-cigarette B&M in your area right now? No

Things to consider when answering -
Do you perceive a market in your area for e-cigarettes? Yes
Do you perceive that market as being properly serviced by existing B&Ms? Yes
Are there accepting policies in your area (business and government level) concerning smoking/e-cigarettes? Yes
Does the possibility of up and coming regulations concern you? Yes

Inquirining minds want to know.

Even with an extensive background in retail, a good handle on the local scene and a working knowledge of most common products I wouldn't open a B & M at this time mainly because of the uncertainty of future regulation. I'm completely confident in the market and my own abilities, but not willing to toss a coin on the outcome of the investment of time and money.

 

[Mike Sheda]

It is a rapidly maturing marketplace right now, and as someone pointed out, low barrier to entry. A few years ago, maybe, right now, probably not. It's going to get interesting for those that are already in, and I hope they make it. We saw this in CD-ROMs in the early 90's when we opened our shop. This was before Best Buy and everyone else carried them. I've said before, there is always room for a good botique shop in almost any market, but you will really have to shore up your supply lines and execute flawlessly.

 

[mommafish]

I would have to say no. We have one ego store thats adding so vv/vw pv and about 15miles from that a higher end mod and vv/vw pv but both have crap juice. Stores are popping up left and right around okc so I would have to be way different to set myself apart