For now, though, there’s no evidence that the vapor phenomenon is losing steam.
More than a dozen stores with names such as Hot Vapes, NexGen Vapors, Vape Girls and Vapor Haus have opened their doors in nearly every corner of the Miami Valley in the last two years, most of them in recent months. More are on the way: nearly all of those shops’ owners say they plan to open more stores in the region.
Tobacco-free e-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat liquid nicotine and flavors into a vapor that the user inhales. Vapor shop owners say they serve customers looking for an alternative to smoking cigarettes, and the vapor from the e-cigarette juice is believed to be less toxic than tobacco cigarette smoke. The long-term effects of inhaling vapors from e-cigarettes are not yet known, however.
In late April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed rules that call for stricter regulation of e-cigarettes. But some of the proposals, including a ban on sales to minors, are already part of Ohio law, and the FDA stopped short of proposing severe restrictions.
The nation’s largest tobacco companies — Altria Group, which owns Philip Morris USA, maker of Marlboro cigarettes; Reynolds Inc., maker of Camel cigarettes; and Lorillard Inc. — are moving into the e-cigarette market more aggressively. Lorillard offers the the e-cigarette called “Blu,” sold in convenience stores and other locations. Reynolds is launching an e-cigarette called Vuse, and Altria/Phillip Morris entered the e-cigarette market this year with a product called MarkTen.
But these e-cigarettes distributed by the large tobacco companies require consumers to buy replacement cartridges from the same manufacturer. The local entrepreneur-owned “vapor shops” use refillable vaporizers rather than the sealed cartridges, thus allowing customers to choose from among dozens of flavored liquids and to mix and match e-cigarette hardware from a variety of manufacturers.
And local vapor-shop owners say the differences go beyond the hardware.
“It will be hard for the tobacco companies to compete with the local vape shop due to the personalization you receive when you enter our store,” said Michael King, co-founder with his wife Nichole King of Vapor Royals in Springfield. “We take the time to get to know the person and their specific needs.”
Chris Voudris — co-owner of Vapor Haus that has locations in Dayton, Kettering and Fairfield — said he believes that consumers would rather visit local family-owned business’s that specializes in electronic cigarettes. “We are here to provide an informative, friendly atmosphere where people can gain knowledge” about e-cigarettes,” Voudris said.
Still, the entrance into the market of such deep-pocketed players such as Big Tobacco companies is a concern for local shop owners, according to Benjamin Randall, co-owner of NexGen Vapors. NexGen operates a retail vapor shop in Kettering and also mixes and sells its own “juice,” or flavored nicotine liquids, to 18 convenience stores, gas stations and smoke shops from Yellow Springs to Indianapolis.
If the large tobacco companies are able to persuade legislators or the FDA to ban or heavily regulate “open” e-cigarette hardware in favor of their proprietary sealed cartridges, those restrictions would be devastating to locally owned vapor shops, Randall said.
E-cigarettes face other potential scrutiny from health advocates.
The American Heart Association in August issued policy recommendations saying that e-cigarettes that contain nicotine are tobacco products and should be subject to all laws that apply to regular cigarettes. “We are fiercely committed to preventing the tobacco industry from addicting another generation of smokers,” said Nancy Brown, the heart association’s CEO.
The World Health Organization issued recommendations in August that governments restrict e-cigarette advertising, indoor use and flavors like fruit and candy that appeal to youth. And U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is cosponsoring the “Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act,” which would require child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine products.
Brown met with FDA officials in April to urge the agency “to do everything in its power to expand its oversight of Big Tobacco in order to protect consumers from the dangers of e-cigs and ensure they aren’t being marketed to children,” according to a news release from Brown’s office.
Local vapor shop owners say they follow Ohio law and do not sell e-cigarettes or the flavored liquid nicotine to anyone under 18. And some welcome increased oversight.
Vapor Haus co-founder Voudris said federal regulation may help vapor shops.
“As the FDA moves in to regulate the industry, that’s going to result in more awareness to consumers, and it will provide a comfort level that the products have met FDA standards for individuals to use,” Voudris said.
Like many of his fellow vapor-shop entrepreneurs, Voudris is optimistic about the industry’s future.
“We have plans mapped out for expanding into 10 more locations in the Ohio region,” he said.
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