Analysis of the Prospects for China’s Vaping Industry

 　　The Prospects of China’s Vaping Industry is a heavy topic, but I believe it concerns both vapers and those working in the vaping industry. If you still have feelings for vaping, please bear with me and read this article to the end; we believe you will resonate with us!

  　　1. About Heated Tobacco   　　As vaping devices become more popular, vaping brands are increasing, and small devices along with heated tobacco products have become hot commodities in the domestic market over the past year and a half. With a mix of products and devices, and the usual imported e-liquids, China's VAPE market seems to have deteriorated. Has our circle expanded? Or have those nostalgic veterans been forced to leave?   　　What is an electronic cigarette? It is a device that uses electrical energy to produce vapor. I believe electronic cigarettes include both vapor cigarettes and heated tobacco; both use electrical energy to operate. However, heated tobacco is still tobacco, and even if it is not burned, tar is still produced internally (this is a fact, not a debate). Vapor cigarettes only release water vapor. Instead of calling them vapor cigarettes, I think it would be more appropriate to call them vapor mists, because the molecular structure of smoke is particulate, while the molecular structure of vapor is water vapor, not particulate smoke molecules.   　　Some people feel that vapor cigarettes produce too much smoke and are too complex for the average smoker. However, without the dedication of many players who have promoted the vapor cigarette market and researched complex internal parameters, we might not have the popular small vapor products today, nor would heated tobacco have such high visibility. Nowadays, small vapor products are like a key for newcomers to unlock the door to large vapor, while heated tobacco seems to be a roadblock preventing newcomers from entering.   　　In recent years, the public has become increasingly concerned about their health, leading many to want to break free from the shackles of traditional cigarettes and regain their health. As a result, many have turned to electronic cigarettes. Previously, electronic cigarettes were quite singular, merely synonymous with vapor cigarettes, but now heated tobacco has emerged, impacting the vapor cigarette market.   　　Heated tobacco is much closer to traditional cigarettes, almost identical (the harmful components to the human body are also nearly the same), and initially could only be obtained through imports or purchasing agents at high prices. It allows one to discard traditional cigarettes while still being able to show off, a win-win situation. However, I must say that heated tobacco is still tobacco, and it still contains tar; why pretend otherwise?   　　2. About So-Called Vapor Cigarette Reviewers   　　Some of our so-called professional vaping reviewers are like certain "experts" from professional institutions (for example, on some platforms, a bottle of domestic e-liquid, device (box), and atomizer priced at 299, can last a month without issues!). These misleading promotions targeting newcomers can bring significant negative impacts to our industry; they sacrifice a product, but the cost is the entire industry being labeled as fraudulent by the public.   　　Nowadays, various live streaming apps are booming, and some unscrupulous merchants don the guise of professional vapor cigarette reviewers, starting to exploit novices. For instance, on a certain platform, XXX (I won't name names, let's just discuss the issue), uses a finished atomizer with mechanical devices. Another example is XXX, claiming that an atomizer can last for a month or even longer (I’m curious, how do they clean the carbon buildup?). They also confidently sell domestic devices as imported ones, and some even claim that if you buy a device in their live stream, they will give you their personally mixed XXX e-liquid, which is lacking in quality (they even claim it’s high-quality handmade oil, limited to XX bottles; to these people, I say, I could get drunk on a pound of Hengshui Laobaigan). What kind of impact will such "professional reviewers" have on our vapor cigarette industry?   　　3. About "Craftsmanship"   　　Some imported vaping devices are products designed after multiple discussions by a group of international friends. Some unscrupulous domestic merchants, in a bid to profit, have imitated batch after batch of so-called crafted products, stealing their intellectual property (if this were abroad, these unscrupulous merchants would probably be "holding a steamed bun, with no oil in their dishes"). Craftsmanship originally meant refined craftsmanship, but in our industry, it has become synonymous with counterfeit goods, leading to some interesting devices standing outside our borders, looking longingly at our domestic market. Whenever I discuss this issue with foreigners, I always ask: "Why?" The foreigners' responses are usually consistent; they smile and shake their heads, saying, "You guys are really good at copying." So, how do you understand this issue, fellow enthusiasts?   　　Let’s objectively analyze how a product is born. Take mechanical rods as an example; they seem to have little technological content, but first, there needs to be a design inspiration, then a draft, confirming materials for prototyping, followed by continuous testing for safety and explosiveness. Various issues arise during this process, requiring repeated prototyping until a finished product is formed, which is then mass-produced and released. However, for those making crafted products, the steps are much simpler: they buy a rod, measure the data, change the material, and mass-produce it. Looking at the above steps, shouldn’t genuine products really be more expensive?   　　Every step they take is based on repeated testing, requiring a significant investment of human, material, and financial resources. After multiple measurements and modifications, they ensure the quality and performance of each rod. For example, a certain company releases a device with a genuine retail price in the four-digit range, and overnight, a crafted version appears for just 1XX, leading everyone to flock to the crafted version, leaving the genuine product ignored. This means the genuine company cannot recoup its funds, and how can it have the energy to develop the next generation of products? Fellow enthusiasts, do you agree? This is why foreigners say we are a country of counterfeits. Why are e-liquid flavors so similar? They just keep copying instead of innovating, which is one of the main ailments of the domestic market today. E-liquid flavors are largely the same, and the lack of innovation has led to the departure of many veteran players.   　　4. About Physical Stores   　　How can a good e-liquid let everyone know its quality? I believe relying solely on micro-businesses and the overwhelming advertising on certain platforms is useless. E-liquids must be tried to determine if the flavor suits oneself; only on-site testing can lead to conclusions.   　　Our industry’s physical stores are constantly being impacted by price wars from micro-businesses and certain platforms, leading to one physical store after another collapsing. Physical stores have opened the door for many newcomers, but if they collapse, where will our industry’s offline promotion go? Some physical store owners have to abandon their passion and focus solely on making money to survive, but this destructive cycle only leads to poor experiences for newcomers, causing them to lose confidence in vapor cigarettes.   　　Why is the vaping rate so high abroad? I believe that when it comes to intelligence, the Chinese nation can claim second place on this planet, but no one dares to claim first. Moreover, vapor cigarettes were invented by us Chinese; why are they still a niche in the domestic market? Perhaps it’s because our environment isn’t good enough, players can’t find organizations, physical stores can’t stand firm, and there’s no one to communicate with or play together, always working in isolation, where is the innovation?   　　I believe many people, like me, yearn for a lifestyle where, during breaks, we gather with friends to blow big clouds, share experiences, and come up with innovative ways to play, while enjoying a couple of drinks. That kind of life is very pleasant. However, the chaotic pricing behavior of certain platforms and micro-businesses, treating wholesale prices as retail prices, makes it impossible for physical stores to survive. The price wars between manufacturers and wholesalers make it difficult for physical stores to stay afloat. Who will pay for the losses of physical stores? Rent, utilities, labor—none of these are free. These are just the basic operational costs; personal living costs aren’t even included. Fellow enthusiasts, how can physical stores survive? How can they establish themselves? Without physical stores, where will the bases be? Where will the communication venues be?   　　Vapor cigarettes require face-to-face communication and learning; it’s not something you can learn just by watching videos or chatting in groups. Only through the collision of ideas can newer and more innovative ways of playing emerge. Only innovative ways can attract more young people to join our community! Only in this way can vapor cigarettes become mainstream and popular. However, some physical store owners indeed need to improve their capabilities; some even know less than new players, which is quite awkward. Fellow physical store owners, remember! We are the guides for newcomers; we are their lighthouse! The price war, while a bloodless battle, ultimately brings only chaos and sacrifice. Fellow physical store owners, hold on a little longer; victory and dawn will eventually belong to us! The burden of promoting vapor cigarettes still rests on our shoulders. To quote Dr. Sun Yat-sen, "The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades still need to work hard!"   　　5. About Vapor Cigarette Competitions   　　Some vapor cigarette competitions in our country have a greater emphasis on commercialization than on culture, and the atmosphere of the competitions is somewhat lacking. The rules for competitions vary widely. I believe there should be a unified standard, such as for large vapor clouds: like in competitive sports, there should be professional measuring instruments to evaluate and classify levels, and there should also be a standard for measuring the density of vapor. Just like the weight classes and rules in boxing competitions.   　　Vapor cigarette competitions should be a contest filled with professional knowledge and learning, where players use all the vapor cigarette knowledge they have learned to compete for honor in a fair and just manner. However, they are now muddied by commercial interests and unprofessional organizers. For example, after a single round of competition, when contestants change batteries, judges prohibit the change (in a certain city’s vapor cigarette competition), and the judging standards leave the audience in disbelief. Are these so-called competitions for selling products? Or for communication?   　　Vapor cigarette competitions should promote vapor culture, ensuring equality for all, providing a stage for vapers to showcase themselves and earn honor. However, once it becomes overly commercialized, it loses its essence. Holding so-called competitions and grand events—are they for selling products? Or for promoting vapor culture? The key to competitions lies in the word "competition"; it is a clean stage where everyone standing on it should express all misunderstandings, cold eyes, and insults, exhaling a big cloud of vapor to exchange for understanding and honor. But can we not even defend this piece of pure land now!? Fancy smoke ring competitions are not about blowing a smoke ring and making it bigger to win; it should integrate years of skills and experience to create a performance that is both creative and visually appealing! The stage of vapor competitions does not allow for a one-trick pony! Only with a minute on stage does it take ten years of effort off stage to earn honor!   　　I believe many people, like me, have a special sentiment towards vaping (non-smoking cessation products). What is sentiment? Sentiment is based on human emotions and corresponds to the emotions generated, referred to as sentiment. We love the misty rooms and the pleasure brought by the bottom oil of the coils. We are passionate about vapor cigarettes; we are willing to stay up all night researching the different feelings brought by different data from various e-liquids. We love vapor cigarettes; we are passionate about vapor cigarettes; we hope for the healthy development of this industry rather than its pathological growth. Fellow vapers, let’s defend this industry together, contribute to the development of the vapor cigarettes we love, and let more people understand and promote vapor cigarettes!   　　How many doubts? How many cold eyes? How many people do not support? How many people do not understand? How many people leave their hometowns? How many people’s sleepless nights of research are denied? How many people close their doors? How many people feel helpless? How many people give up? How many people shout? Ten times how many! Vapers, do you understand? Are we just going to watch what we love and what we all put effort into disappear? I must stand up and say these things! But this is what I want to express!