Many
believe that e-cigarettes and vaporizing products are significant as bridges to
the next step in the progression of smoking habits. It is seen as a healthier
and sometimes more inexpensive alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes.
These are good reasons to invest, but be smart about it.
There is
nothing worse than trying to ride a trend, and investing in it on its way out.
It means stagnant inventory and loss of sales. All new products will eventually
be more closely scrutinized once they sell to a substantial amount of the
population. They are subject to changes in regulation, improvements, and even
discontinuance of a brand. The legwork of research and marketing comes into
play here. It’s work, but necessary to the concept of continued success. Test
the vapor waters to see how your customers respond and how regulations begin to
shape around the products.
For
example, at first glance, sales of liquid vapor products were thought to be
increasing. Upon later glances, it was determined that the tools of the trade,
equipment used to vaporize, were actually selling more than the product itself.
Vaping also ties into the growing acceptance of the medicinal use of marijuana.
Your convenient store sells flavored cigarillos, but that doesn’t necessarily
mean that the tobacco itself is what is selling. Sometimes it is about the
cigar wrap and not the tobacco it houses.
Once you
choose of vaping products you wish to sell, be sure to display them in the most
obvious places. You can’t put everything on the front counter, so you should
invest in space-saving display units and counter dispensers. Creative displays
and dispensers embrace current users and encourage potential users to try the
product.
Although
vaping seems to be an activity of the younger generation and, therefore, a
product that will increase over time, traditional tobacco enthusiasts are as
loyal to their brands as sports fans are to their teams. They will make the
trip to another store that carries it if you do not. So, keep your customers
satisfied with a happy compromise…sell both kinds of products. You are more
likely to sell tobacco, vaping products, and drinks than you are to sell food.
All in
all, vaping should be given serious consideration as it carries less of a
stigma with it than does the filthy, second-hand-smoking health issue that is
the combustible cigarette.