Is Opening a Vape Store a Good Business?
As the vape market continues to grow, many people are thinking about opening a physical vape store to cash in. But is a vape shop easy to run? What are the prospects, and is it really as profitable as many people say? We interviewed the owner of a vape st
The e-cigarette market is booming, and many people want to open a physical vape store to cash in. So, is it easy to run a vape store? What are the prospects? Is it really as profitable as many say? We interviewed a vape store owner to provide some insights for those considering opening a vape store.
Interview Date: 2017.12.15. Interview Location: A certain VAPE e-cigarette experience center.
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on the e-cigarette market?
Owner: In recent years, with development, the variety of e-cigarettes has increased significantly, including e-liquids and devices. It’s no exaggeration to say that about ten new devices and over thirty e-liquids are launched every week. Currently, in the Guangzhou area, the rent for storefronts is very high, making it really difficult for the e-cigarette industry to sustain. Selling e-cigarettes is essentially selling a service. For many newcomers to e-cigarettes, after purchasing, they may not know how to change the cotton or how to adjust the settings for different e-liquids. We don’t just sell products; we act as experienced mentors, patiently analyzing and guiding them step by step to make it easier for them to get started and for e-cigarettes to be more widely accepted. Most people first encounter e-cigarettes through online shopping and find it difficult to use, but when they come to our experience center, we guide them correctly, providing them with a fresh and different experience. After all, the first experience is crucial; many people are turned off by their first poor experience and never try e-cigarettes again, which is what we want to change.
Interviewer: Since you opened the store, how has your mindset changed?
Owner: Around 2014, I first got involved through a friend's studio when e-cigarettes were not yet popular in Guangzhou. Later, I decided to return to Guangzhou to open a studio. After about a year, I felt the market was saturated, and at the suggestion of many customers, I opened this vape experience center. Enning Road is also an old district, but it’s still quite lively with many young people. Can we consider this a vape club? Yes, because older customers usually just buy their favorite e-liquids and leave. However, young people enjoy tricks like blowing smoke rings and jellyfish, so we often see many young people gathering here in the evenings to discuss new e-liquids or share tricks.
Interviewer: What are your views on the promotion of e-cigarette culture in Guangzhou and its future direction?
Owner: I think the promotion in Guangzhou is quite good, and the local population is generally open to new things. However, the competition is fierce, and cheap, counterfeit products on platforms like Taobao pose a significant threat to our physical stores. I believe promoting e-cigarette culture is crucial; we need to spread this culture to the masses. I believe there are definitely more non-smokers than smokers, but many non-smokers hold prejudices against e-cigarettes due to a lack of understanding, and the visual impact of e-cigarettes is quite strong. Therefore, we are currently promoting through creative markets, allowing the public to experience e-cigarettes firsthand and actively explaining and educating them. Recently, I’ve also seen some negative news about e-cigarettes online, but in reality, e-cigarettes are not as bad as you think. They can help people quit smoking, provided they purchase genuine products.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to those interested in or wanting to try e-cigarettes?
Owner: First, I would understand their main purpose for purchasing. Generally, it falls into two categories: one is to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and the other is for trendy play, like the street photography and smoke tricks popular in Europe and America. For those wanting to quit smoking, we mainly recommend devices with lower vapor production but better flavor, as e-cigarette flavors are mostly fruit-based, and the main difference from traditional cigarettes is not just the nicotine content but also that the flavors are pleasant rather than off-putting. However, some young people come in clearly wanting devices that produce more vapor and look cool, so we recommend devices that are easy to maintain and produce a lot of vapor. After all, I’ve been through this myself, and I don’t want newcomers to take unnecessary detours. Sometimes they buy one device, see others with better ones, and feel the need to buy again, which is unnecessary. It’s best to make a clear choice and buy the most suitable device for themselves at once.
Interviewer: What advice do you have for young people like me who want to try e-cigarettes?
Owner: In my opinion, it’s best to come to a physical store to understand and experience the products to confirm whether they are truly suitable for you. Some friends buy e-cigarettes and gradually give up due to external opinions. So it’s best to come to a physical store first to see if e-cigarettes are right for you, and the flavors and devices should also suit you for the best choice. We don’t advocate just buying the most expensive ones; after all, the most expensive isn’t always the best. Only what truly suits you is the best.
During our conversation, the owner mentioned that establishing this store is secondary to commercialization. In today’s Guangzhou, being able to break even each month is already quite good. Although sometimes business isn’t ideal, we still need to persevere. Our motto is, "We are healthy porters." The store name can be understood as smoking (e-cigarettes) with a smile, hoping that every friend who comes here can gain something and find their own happiness in this small shop.
To be honest, vaping alone can feel lonely without the right atmosphere, but at Vape, I see a group of vibrant young people exchanging tips on tricks, blowing smoke rings, and creating jellyfish. In this small space, every former customer has become a friend. Although the vapor is swirling, the aroma is delightful.
Additionally, the owner mentioned that they do not serve anyone under 18 years old, as it is not a good influence, even though e-cigarettes are harmless. Therefore, entry is prohibited for those under 18!#p#分页标题#e#
Interviewer: Since you opened the store, how has your mindset changed?
Owner: Around 2014, I first got involved through a friend's studio when e-cigarettes were not yet popular in Guangzhou. Later, I decided to return to Guangzhou to open a studio. After about a year, I felt the market was saturated, and at the suggestion of many customers, I opened this vape experience center. Enning Road is also an old district, but it’s still quite lively with many young people. Can we consider this a vape club? Yes, because older customers usually just buy their favorite e-liquids and leave. However, young people enjoy tricks like blowing smoke rings and jellyfish, so we often see many young people gathering here in the evenings to discuss new e-liquids or share tricks.
Interviewer: What are your views on the promotion of e-cigarette culture in Guangzhou and its future direction?
Owner: I think the promotion in Guangzhou is quite good, and the local population is generally open to new things. However, the competition is fierce, and cheap, counterfeit products on platforms like Taobao pose a significant threat to our physical stores. I believe promoting e-cigarette culture is crucial; we need to spread this culture to the masses. I believe there are definitely more non-smokers than smokers, but many non-smokers hold prejudices against e-cigarettes due to a lack of understanding, and the visual impact of e-cigarettes is quite strong. Therefore, we are currently promoting through creative markets, allowing the public to experience e-cigarettes firsthand and actively explaining and educating them. Recently, I’ve also seen some negative news about e-cigarettes online, but in reality, e-cigarettes are not as bad as you think. They can help people quit smoking, provided they purchase genuine products.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to those interested in or wanting to try e-cigarettes?
Owner: First, I would understand their main purpose for purchasing. Generally, it falls into two categories: one is to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, and the other is for trendy play, like the street photography and smoke tricks popular in Europe and America. For those wanting to quit smoking, we mainly recommend devices with lower vapor production but better flavor, as e-cigarette flavors are mostly fruit-based, and the main difference from traditional cigarettes is not just the nicotine content but also that the flavors are pleasant rather than off-putting. However, some young people come in clearly wanting devices that produce more vapor and look cool, so we recommend devices that are easy to maintain and produce a lot of vapor. After all, I’ve been through this myself, and I don’t want newcomers to take unnecessary detours. Sometimes they buy one device, see others with better ones, and feel the need to buy again, which is unnecessary. It’s best to make a clear choice and buy the most suitable device for themselves at once.
Interviewer: What advice do you have for young people like me who want to try e-cigarettes?
Owner: In my opinion, it’s best to come to a physical store to understand and experience the products to confirm whether they are truly suitable for you. Some friends buy e-cigarettes and gradually give up due to external opinions. So it’s best to come to a physical store first to see if e-cigarettes are right for you, and the flavors and devices should also suit you for the best choice. We don’t advocate just buying the most expensive ones; after all, the most expensive isn’t always the best. Only what truly suits you is the best.
During our conversation, the owner mentioned that establishing this store is secondary to commercialization. In today’s Guangzhou, being able to break even each month is already quite good. Although sometimes business isn’t ideal, we still need to persevere. Our motto is, "We are healthy porters." The store name can be understood as smoking (e-cigarettes) with a smile, hoping that every friend who comes here can gain something and find their own happiness in this small shop.
To be honest, vaping alone can feel lonely without the right atmosphere, but at Vape, I see a group of vibrant young people exchanging tips on tricks, blowing smoke rings, and creating jellyfish. In this small space, every former customer has become a friend. Although the vapor is swirling, the aroma is delightful.
Additionally, the owner mentioned that they do not serve anyone under 18 years old, as it is not a good influence, even though e-cigarettes are harmless. Therefore, entry is prohibited for those under 18!#p#分页标题#e#
