How to Sell E-cigarettes at a Street Stall? First You Need to Overcome Three Hurdles

How to sell e-cigarettes at a street stall? With "street vending" becoming a phenomenon, on June 9, an article titled "Self-media person sells e-cigarettes at a stall, earning 80 yuan in half a day" was published, attracting the attention of many in the industry.

Yesterday, the protagonist of the article, Chen Gulong, specifically wrote an article about selling e-cigarettes at stalls, discussing his experiences.

Here’s what he wrote:

Speaking of selling e-cigarettes at stalls, I actually started thinking about it back in 2019. I kept encouraging everyone in my e-cigarette group with friends to take e-cigarettes to the streets and sell them near smokers.

At that time, the e-cigarette market had already established a dominant player. Then, with the online sales ban and the COVID-19 pandemic, e-cigarettes faced a harsh winter. To break through, one could only find new paths, dismantle the old order, and create new marketing models.

Thanks to the government for bringing a spring breeze, allowing the people to feel warmth and the hustle and bustle of life. Thus, I began to look for opportunities, joining the street vending army, trying to resurrect e-cigarettes through blood and sweat.
 

How to sell e-cigarettes at a street stall? You really need to overcome three hurdles.

The first hurdle is psychological. E-cigarettes are a consumer upgrade, a glamorous operation by brand manufacturers. E-cigarette devices have long become a luxury item for smokers, associated with nightlife models and elite successful individuals. Can one lower themselves to street vending, like the swallows of old flying into the homes of ordinary people? Can one humble themselves enough to do this?

The second hurdle is branding. There is only one well-known brand in the market, while others belong to niche categories. Well-known brands are of high quality and sell well, but they have strict price controls, leaving no room for negotiation in a market environment where bargaining is possible. Niche brand products are unique, with flexible pricing, and may grow into towering trees in the future, becoming market favorites. However, currently, brand recognition is low, and repeat purchases are hard to guarantee. Who do you sell for and who do you not sell for?

The third hurdle is where and how to set up the stall. I’ve tried different scenarios; either next to a residential area where people come and go but largely ignore e-cigarettes, or in a noisy market environment where bargaining occurs, but I can’t sell at a good price, and it even matters who I’m set up next to.

A few days ago at a night market, a brother doing overseas purchasing next to me turned to ask, “What are you selling?” I said e-cigarettes. The stall owner sighed, “I’m afraid of being next to someone selling cheap stuff.” That night, he made 2000 yuan selling imported goods, while I made half of that selling e-cigarettes.
 


Although it’s a street stall, the display of e-cigarettes is also quite important. Just laying the products haphazardly on a cloth makes it look like a junk stall, which won’t work. Setting up a table to display the products neatly, along with promotional posters and bright lights, instantly elevates the stall’s appeal.

If there’s also a pretty girl to engage customers, the effect can be surprisingly good. I’ve seen a live-streaming influencer at a night market surrounded by a crowd, saying, “As soon as I stand there, people come to ask for prices.”
 


How to sell e-cigarettes at a street stall? Selling e-cigarettes at a stall is really tough. Dragging heavy bags to grab a spot, being exposed to the sun, negotiating with people, feeling parched and exhausted, and having to endure until late at night. After counting the meager earnings at the end of the day, one can’t help but sigh, this is not a hardship that just anyone can endure! Even if one is willing to put aside their pride, they may not be able to handle this delicate body.