Today we are offering a file that will be mainly addressed to professionals, but also to anyone who has the idea of getting into the e-cigarette business. We often hear about cohesion, mutual aid between the various players in the vaping industry, except that in fact, no one will help you develop your business or give you the right addresses in order to offer a successful store. We know that the number of shops offering e-cigarettes has exploded and that despite this the quality is not always there, Vapoteurs.net In this article, we therefore offer you its expertise, the best addresses and the various possibilities in order to always have a top store!
PART 1: PROVIDE QUALITY MATERIAL ANDNEWS
BECOME FRANCHISE: AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE ANOTHER!
You want to start opening an E-cigarette store but you are not a specialist, a simple solution is to be a franchisee which will allow you to open your business serenely. The interest of this system is multiple, it will allow you to benefit from advice, to have all the installation and the equipment necessary for the opening and to be at the heart of a vast network of partners, suppliers and resellers. In return, you will obviously have to pay an entrance fee and an operating fee. Franchising is an especially interesting option if you want to start quickly, be accompanied and not have to do everything alone. There are a lot of store chains offering to become a franchisee (Taklope, I-cigstore, Cigamania, Cigusto, Eliquid-en, j-well, clopinette…
MANAGING YOURSELF: FRENCH WHOLESALERS
If you are motivated, you can start your own store yourself. Depending on your budget, different opportunities will be available, we will first talk about French e-cigarette wholesalers.
You may not have been aware of this, but you can order all or part of your stock from a wholesaler in France, this allows you to have very short delivery times (J / D +1 / D + 2) and not having to order from several different suppliers (reduction of costs). Your logistics are therefore simplified because you do not have to order 3 weeks in advance for fear of out of stock . But obviously this also has drawbacks, generally you have to wait a little longer to get the latest news on the market and also the prices which will be higher than if you order directly from Asia. The difference may be small, but in the face of the competition it can work against you, at worst you will have to align and therefore lose profit margin. Here are some sites offering this wholesale resale service: Wholesale e-cigarette.com / Greenvillage.fr / ADNS / Vapodeal...
MANAGE YOURSELF: CHINESE WHOLESALERS
It is probably the most interesting solution in terms of budget, but far from the simplest. Because if the Chinese wholesaler generally offers very low prices, he does not however bother to sell a few parts. So it will be clearly difficult for a shop with a small budget to order 100 pieces at once. Another small problem that can arise: Counterfeiting. Let us not forget that it is omnipresent in the world of the e-cigarette and it would be very unpleasant for you to receive counterfeit material. Clearly, the Chinese wholesaler is interesting, but a real relationship of trust will have to be established and you will probably have to contact several suppliers before finding the right one! But the game is worth the effort, because once this relationship is established, you can have the latest generation equipment as soon as it is released and at really low prices (increased profit and better price ratio on resale). You will find most Chinese wholesalers on the site " Alibaba..."
MANAGE YOURSELF: GET HIGH-END EQUIPMENT
Mod, atomizer, drip-tip… Obviously in your shop you would like to have a small stand dedicated to this cutting-edge material but once again this will not be easy. It is possible for you to contact directly the modders whose material you want to acquire, but be aware that most of them sell their batches wholesale. Clearly, if you have the means to order 20 atomizers or 20 mods (several thousand euros) this will not be a problem, but if however you only want one or two pieces, do not count too much on it. It remains a very widespread operation but not generalized either, some modders still accept to sell by the piece. Anyway, you will always be able to order from an official French or foreign distributor, however the profit margin will be lower than if you deal directly. In France, for the High-end, you can contact " Myfree-cig, Pipeline, eway, Vapstor...". Abroad we find" Pinkmule, Vaperev, High Creek.... »
PART 2: OFFER DIFFERENT E-LIQUIDS TO SATISFY YOUR CUSTOMER
HAVE E-LIQUID RANGES ALL QUALITY PUBLIC
Even if there is an impressive number of high-end e-liquid brands, the most important thing for your business is to have one or more reference brands for all audiences. By this term, we define e-liquids with a reasonable price (5.90€ / 10ml maximum) and fairly simple flavors (mono aroma), this will affect a large majority of your customers hence the interest of choosing your brand or your references. In France, you will find many brands that offer prices based on order volume and loyalty such as Liquideo, Alfaliquid, Vincent on the run, Roykin, Fuu, Dlice, Fuel… And certain other brands which rigorously control their points of sale before agreeing to supply you such as Green Vapes, Bordo2… You have the choice among thousands of different brands, so take the time to test them because these ranges will be your main business. Note that some equipment wholesalers also offer e-liquids.
HIGH-END E-LIQUIDS FOR YOUR DEMANDING CUSTOMERS!
With the evolution of the vape in recent years, it is no longer enough to sell entry-level e-liquids. To fully satisfy your customers, you will need to offer complex e-liquids with a significant taste rendering. The market changes extremely quickly and you will have to follow the trends in order to always have the e-liquid that is all the rage, it is up to you to follow or create the trend by unearthing the latest news. There are several options for this:
A) High-end E-liquids French
By proximity, you can head to the high-end French which, in general is standards, brands like Thenancara, Vaponaut, Bordo2, NKV, Survival vaping, Elsass Funky juice…. are examples of references in terms of French high-end. It should be noted all the same that most of the big brands now offer their high-end e-liquids. Some brands will refuse to sell you until they've visited your store and verified that you meet their criteria.
B) High-end E-liquids abroad
There are thousands of different brands and ranges around the world, even if they mainly come from the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Malaysia or the Philippines. For some brands you will be able to have an easy contact with the producer as for the " Snake Oil (Tmax) or with the distributor, as for Five Pawns (Cigatech). Obviously with some notions of English, you will have the possibility of going directly to look for wholesalers in the United States like " Wolfpack »Which propose (Suicide Bunny, King's crows, Jimmy the juice….)« Seduce Juice "(Cuttwood, Ruthless, High-roller, Smax, Anonymous elixir ...) or " Giant vapes". And for a little more originality, why not order " Zamplebox »In wholesale format? And yes it is also possible! The possibilities are almost limitless and you will often need to bring something new to retain your customers.
THE "HOMEMADE", A CONCEPT THAT ATTRACTS THE CUSTOMER!
And yes ! Many stores still think that offering “Do It Yourself” is a loss in terms of profit, but that's not true! This should be seen as one more possibility for the customer, and it is an additional attraction for your store. Vapers have learned how to make their e-liquids and they simply love it, because they can dose however they want and make a mixture that suits them. Admittedly, it is a real investment because you will need nicotine bases, flavors, additives, syringes, empty vials but the proof is there, the "Do it yourself" works! Of revolute via Solubarôme or even Inawerayou will have a choice, and if you want to be sharp on the subject you can also offer your customers complex aromas such as T-juice, Quacks or those of Mt Baker Vapor. Think about it because "DIY" can be the little extra that will make the difference.
PART 3: DO NOT FORGET CONSUMABLES, ACCESSORIES AND MERCHANDISING
THE CONSUMABLES: THE NERVE OF WAR!
Whether you sell clearomizers, reconstructable atomizers, you must not, in any case, run out of consumables! This is an important parameter because there are still too many shops that sell rebuildable atomizers without offering kanthal and cotton, which sell mods without having the batteries or chargers that go with them ... In short, it's the kind of detail that can quickly change your status from e-cigarette professional to junk seller. Consumables are the most important sales with e-liquids, so it is essential to always have stock in advance.Obviously among the consumables we will also take into account the spare parts (pyrex tube, atomizer base , screws, etc.)
ACCESSORIES: SMALLER AFTER EVERY PURCHASE!
Accessories are very important in an e-cigarette store, that's what will add value to your sales. A storage pouch, protection for your mod, drip-tips, tanks…. So many accessories that will bring a touch of originality to the material of your customers and it is not because we are talking about a tool for smoking cessation that fashion is not important. Women will like for example to have colorful tanks or drip-tips, decorations on their equipment and men will appreciate a solid case or an additional tube for their mods. Clearly, do not hesitate to offer extensions, decorations and any object that brings added value.
MERCHANDISING: FOR THE UNCONDITIONAL VAPE!
This type of article is not yet very present in France unlike the United States where vaping has become a real way of life for some. But why not offer a few t-shirts, hoodies or even caps bearing the effigy of vaping in your store. Collector boxes and limited edition items are also popular, do not hesitate to have some in stock if you can, you will always have fans of the vape that will interest. Here are some US brands that offer merchandising (Vaperev, Improod, Cloud Kicker Society, CKS, Wick & Wire…). On the French side, it starts to appear gradually as with the site Vape Tshirt, or more recently AIDUCE , promising has set up his online t-shirt shop.
GOOD PLANS AND TIPS VAPOTEURS.NET
1) Suggest preorders
As in any sector, pre-ordering allows a customer to reserve his product and be sure that he will get it as soon as possible. It is a system that can be very interesting if you are organized, certain shops or websites have made it their specialties. As a manager, this will allow you not to take out your own funds for inventory and to order a specific number of items. In addition, it will allow you to offer many more items than if you brought them into stock in the classic way. Besides that, nothing prevents you from ordering a few more items for unforeseen customers (or possible breakage).
2) Practice Drop-shipping
Drop-shipping is a practice that consists of selling a good without having it in stock and having it delivered to the customer directly by the supplier, in other words you are only satisfied with one thing, collecting the margins. It is a practice that can be very interesting in setting up a website. Some e-cigarette wholesalers practice it and everyone wins from supplier to customer to seller.
3) Obtain exclusivities or become an official reseller
By doing your research and contacting different suppliers you will quickly realize one thing: There are exclusives everywhere! Each shop, supplier is placed on the products so that they are exclusive to them. If you are the exclusive reseller of a popular product, you dominate the market; it's up to you to find the exclusive product that will make the difference.
4) Make your shop a place of meeting and conviviality.
A smile for a salesperson is good, but the stores that work best are the ones that know how to build loyalty! And for that, the best technique remains to organize vapers, small contests so that vapers can meet and share their knowledge or their passions! So think about it, because this kind of organization is always important.
5) Propose a concept and a unique framework
The concept and the setting of your shop will obviously be a crucial issue, many have lost this personalized welcome which meant that each smoker could leave a shop in a few minutes and be transformed into a convinced vapoteur. A simple concept, a pleasant setting where you feel at home will undoubtedly make the difference. Never forget that in sales, a satisfied customer will tell 2-3 people about it, but a dissatisfied customer will tell 30 people.
6) To be informed and competent
It's so obvious that we shouldn't even talk about it. But from the moment you sell a product, you must master the subject perfectly or else you lose all credibility. Also being informed about current events and participating in certain events (Aiduce, Expo…) seems to be a necessity in the world of e-cigarettes.
7) Note: In the e-cigarette market, everything has to be paid for in advance!
And yes ! Unlike most businesses, the e-cigarette works like this! You pay in advance and you are delivered later, sometimes with a delay of 2 months. This is a very widespread practice in vaping, so do not be surprised that you are refused payment after delivery, or that you are asked to pay in advance on a next batch that will be delivered several months later.
8) To know: Attention to your compositions, there are incompatibilities!
Even if for some it may seem obvious, we prefer to make a reminder on it! Do not expect a supplier to sell you high-end products (hardware or e-liquid) if you are selling counterfeit. In any case you have been warned.
9) To know: Avoid smoking in your shop or in front of your shop.
We know that some stores are run by people who continue to smoke. The least of things, when you run a store that offers this kind of item, is not to denigrate your own products by consuming tobacco in front of the door ...
10) Tip: If you need to recruit a salesman, focus on the knowledge in the field to the quality of good seller.
In our opinion, it does not seem useful to have good “sellers” in your store, but rather to have “experts” in vaping. Because be sure of one thing is that a salesman can tell everything he wants about an atomizer or a mod, if he does not know how to use it, the customer will not give him a gift.
11) Tip: Choose the location of your store.
Obviously the location of your business will have a crucial impact on its success. Consider choosing a room in an open space or a large passageway. The presence of free parking spaces will be a very good additional point.
We just have to wish you good luck, hoping that this file will help you develop your business, and especially to be at the top level so that all vapers can benefit from what is being done better everywhere in France.
