The attitude of RELX retail stores toward current industry conditions

Many industry insiders say that the e-cigarette industry is currently in a winter season. On one hand, the incomplete understanding of e-cigarettes by society has led to a lack of trust among users from various sectors; on the other hand, the impact of regulatory intervention is also significant. In the face of such circumstances, many are curious about the attitude of leading e-cigarette company RELX. In an exclusive interview with Ms. Wang Ying, CEO of RELX, we can get RELX's response.

The National Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued a notice on "Further Protecting Minors from E-Cigarette Harm," urging e-cigarette production and sales companies or individuals to promptly shut down e-cigarette sales websites or apps; urging e-commerce platforms to promptly close e-cigarette stores and remove e-cigarette products; urging e-cigarette production and sales companies or individuals to withdraw e-cigarette advertisements published online, making the entire e-cigarette industry face difficulties, with many companies even going bankrupt.

Protecting minors from e-cigarette harm and preventing teenagers from purchasing e-cigarettes is not only a regulatory challenge for companies but also a significant issue as businesses shift from online sales to offline development, making the path ahead arduous.

Although RELX has achieved the top position in the industry, it is still significantly affected by this "online sales ban." Online business has completely ceased, with flagship stores and promotional advertisements on major e-commerce platforms all shut down and rectified. CEO Wang Ying stated that initially, the company did have complaints, but more importantly, they focused on changing and responding positively.

E-cigarettes are not a new phenomenon for us, but there are still some misconceptions about them. E-cigarette companies are strictly restricted from selling to minors, and society will certainly progress. If e-cigarettes must be regulated in this way, then RELX must overcome difficulties to comply.

On this point, RELX is indeed making efforts. RELX has established a dedicated offline inspection team, led by Wang Ying, to conduct irregular inspections of offline stores (including authorized and specialty stores) and has implemented penalties for selling e-cigarettes to minors. Additionally, to prevent minors from purchasing e-cigarette products, RELX's promoted offline facial recognition verification system will utilize AI technology and facial recognition to prevent self-service terminals from selling products to minors.

The e-cigarette industry is facing a difficult period of development, but only by responding positively can we find a solution. RELX will provide a more comprehensive understanding of e-cigarettes to the public, so let us wait and see!