Starting a Vape Shop? A Reference Guide for E-cig Business

Comprehensive Vape Market Research Support

Before you want to start an business in certain industry, market survey is imperative. A report with more specific data can impel the business in positive direction. So when you want to start vape shop, you need favorable data and weigh the pros and cons.

1. The Vape Trend
2. The Local Citizens’acceptance of E-cigars
3. The business state of vape competitors around your potential shop
4. The local policy about vape and tobacco.
5. The vape product category and supplier

The Estimated Cost Breakdown for Opening a Vape Shop

Unlike many start-ups, you can open a vape shop with a fairly low amount of capital. Nevertheless, here are some things that you need to know before you get started.

The first thing you’re going to need is the perfect location for your new business. It’s no good to open up a vape shop if it’s in an off-the-beaten-path area or in a part of the city that doesn’t get much foot traffic.

Once you’ve found the right location, give yourself some time to save up for all of your startup costs. You’ll need money for rent, security deposits, and any other fees you need to pay upfront before opening your doors.

You’ll also need money for equipment, inventory, and any other supplies you may need. And don’t forget about the competition – they’re also looking into what it takes to open up a vape shop.

The vaping industry is still growing every day, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have competition trying to take some of your customers away from you! If you’re not paying attention, your competition probably is. 

What the cost involved in opening a vape store?

• Location

The location you choose can make or break your vaping business. Before you sign a lease on any location, think about how much foot traffic the area gets.

You don’t want to open up a vape shop in an area of town that doesn’t get many people passing by. You want to make sure that someone interested in vaping or wants an alternative to smoking sees your store on the way to work or on their lunch break.

If you can’t find a storefront that has already been used as a vape shop, try looking for a space used for retail to reduce the cost of renovations.

• Employees

It may take a while to find the right employees for your vape shop.

Depending on where you live, a vape shop can be a controversial business idea.

There are plenty of people who support vaping and the vape industry, but there are just as many people against it.

This is important to think about when hiring someone for your vape shop.

Vaping employees should be able to relate to customers and feel comfortable talking about vaping with anyone who walks in the door.

• Store Renovations

As mentioned before, you may need to do some renovations to your new store. Depending on the condition of the space you choose, this could be very pricey.

You’ll need to get new shelves for your inventory and room for any display cases or other equipment you may want to use.

There are lots of different ways that vape shops display their products for sale. Depending on the size of your store, you may want to go with tables and racks like at a grocery store, or you can choose enclosed shelving if you’re looking for something more minimalistic.

Either way, you’ll need to invest in some shelving to display your e-juices, mods, supplies, etc.

• Inventory

You’ll need to make sure your store is fully stocked with all the best e-liquids, mods, atomizers, batteries, etc.

Wholesale prices will save you around 15-40% on your inventory. This is great for someone just starting out and looking to get a good deal.

• Everyday Supplies

You’ll need things such as paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc., which you can purchase in bulk at a discount when buying for your business.

• Insurance

You will need to have the correct insurance if you want to open up a vape shop. You can expect basic insurance costs to be around $1,000 for business liability.

Since this will be a physical location, it is good to have personal liability

• Marketing and Advertising

You can expect to spend around $150 on flyers and other types of branded marketing materials.

Depending on the size of your customer base, radio ads may be worth it. If you think radio advertising will get your business significant exposure.

Internet advertising services such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Adwords, etc.

Social media management services such as Hootsuite, Nearby Now, etc.

If you have the money to spend, hiring a professional marketing team to help grow your business can be well worth it and save you time! 

It is crucial to budget for marketing as you will rely on the results to keep customers coming into your business.

• Other Expenses

It’s never a bad idea to invest in some business cards and door hangers for advertising purposes. Costs will vary, but you can expect to pay anywhere from

Marketing and Advertising

• Start Brand and Store Name

Your final brand should represent who you are and what you provide. Your brand’s (store) name is often the first element of your brand that customers will encounter. It’s vital that the name is distinctive, authentic, memorable, and enduring, so it resonates with your target audience. It should stick in their minds, build and maintain trust with your consumers, and remain relevant as your company evolves. In other words, a strong brand name is vital to establishing a strong brand reputation.

• Make Storefront Decoration More Eye-catching

In terms of store design, most of the planning and creative energy goes into the in-store experience—and that makes perfect sense. But before the customer can be immersed in the in-store experience, he or she has to feel drawn to walk through the door.

• Make Your Staffs More Professional

Your business is only as good as the employees you have on board. When your employees are excited about your business and motivated to do their best, you will find success, because they will convey that excitement to your customers and through improved job performance. When your employees are not engaged and lack enthusiasm about your company, you will struggle because your team members won’t perform up to par and they will find themselves looking for new opportunities.

• Promotion & Advertisement

The product you selecting is your first advertisement, so you must know and summarize your vape product very well. Especially need to know its uniqueness compared with competitors.

Then find all the possible ways to promote and advertise your electronic cigarettes, search engine, e-map, social network app, off-line advertising and some popular activity planning.