Exploring the LAMI Nanjing Store: Brand Choice Matters

The growth rate of physical stores for major electronic cigarette brands is very fast, with an increasing number of stores. Can brand franchisees make money? A well-known electronic cigarette media person visited the LAMI store in Nanjing. Let's take a look at this media person's store visit experience.
  Hidden in Plain Sight: The Ultimate Low-Key Experience

  It is understood that there are currently two LAMI stores in Nanjing, one of which is located on Danfeng Street. Nanjing locals know that Danfeng Street is a hub for 3C products, and many electronic cigarette dealers have transitioned from the 3C industry, making the LAMI Danfeng Street store a must-visit.
  The LAMI Danfeng Street store is located at 77-3 Danfeng Street, Xuanwu District, Nanjing.
  The store is a street-facing shop with a very good geographical location. Across the street is the Yue Shikong Plaza, a popular place for Nanjing residents to buy mobile phones (including accessories). Nearby are high-end office buildings like the Broadcasting Building and CITIC Building, especially during lunch breaks and after work hours, the foot traffic in front of the store is quite high, and the consumer spending power is relatively strong.
  The store's decoration style is consistent with LAMI's brand tone, featuring a simple and elegant storefront. The interior has a white background, complemented by large posters. Notably, the background wall facing the entrance features LAMI prominently in the center, continuously rotating, while the entire wall is adorned with various colors of LAMI products, creating a very cool effect.
  The trial puff station is located prominently on the counter, made of acrylic, with large fonts clearly indicating the flavors.
  Good products speak for themselves and carry a halo of viral growth.

  We visited the store in the afternoon when there were few customers, so we chatted with the staff for a while. The LAMI Danfeng Street store has been open for just over two months and has already achieved profitability, with the main consumer group being office workers within a 2-kilometer radius.
  In terms of sales techniques, they recommend that customers initially try the SE single rod + one box of pods combination, allowing them to experience the product at a relatively low cost. Many customers, after trying it, directly choose the standard rod. Even customers who initially choose the SE rod generally upgrade to the standard rod by their second or third pod purchase.
  During our conversation, a group of customers arrived, saying they were recommended by a colleague. Since smoking is not allowed in their office and it’s cold outside, a colleague had tried LAMI first, and they found the design appealing, so they came to try the flavors, ultimately choosing the watermelon flavor.
  The staff mentioned that despite the store's short opening time, a significant proportion of customers come through recommendations from colleagues. She previously worked as a sales assistant at another brand's store, where product issues were reported but received no feedback or clear response. In contrast, LAMI's continuous optimization and adjustment of products and flavors have given her confidence in the brand.
  Good channel operations rely on support from the brand.
  As we were about to leave, we met the store manager, who was preparing for the evening rush. We continued our conversation with the manager.
  It turns out that this store is a direct franchise of LAMI, with one store each in Danfeng Street and Xinjiekou, strategically located in two popular business districts to establish a brand image.
  Out of curiosity, we asked the manager why they chose LAMI. The agent mentioned two main reasons: first, they value the brand endorsement from Wuye Shen, whose years of business experience make them more willing to trust a big brand; second, LAMI's investment in e-liquid research and development, as LAMI is one of the few brands with a dedicated e-liquid R&D lab, which is crucial for flavor quality and customer acceptance.
  Indeed, not only are the products solid, but LAMI's brand also provides substantial support for ongoing operations. This support comes in two main areas:
  1. Operational Support
  Whether for new store openings or holiday marketing, there is a complete operational system in place, such as a nationwide unified campaign for Christmas offering any box of pods + 8.8 yuan for an SE rod.
  2. Recruitment Support
  LAMI does not miss any major national offline exhibitions, and for existing provincial agents, they participate primarily as provincial agents, directly benefiting from the exhibition results.
  After about two hours of visiting LAMI, including simple conversations with the store manager, staff, and customers, it is clear that even though competition is fierce in the offline market, LAMI's high-quality products and professional operational support enable new stores to achieve profitability quickly, highlighting the importance of brand choice in any industry.