Revenue from ecigarettes is expected to double this year from 2012 to more than $1 billion, as more people seek a safer alternative to traditional smoking. Furthermore, Bloomberg Industries predicts that ecigarette sales will surpass traditional cigarette sales by 2047, while many industry insiders suspect this will occur much earlier.
Electronic cigarettes come in many forms and prices to meet a variety of consumer needs, and Hot Vapes has a complete line of ecigarettes, personal vaporizers, eliquids and accessories, such as cartridges and chargers. “The market is huge, and our sales are exploding,” says owner Tim Roche. “We have been in this business since 2010 and our growth has been phenomenal. We went from two employees at the beginning of 2013 to 11 today.”
Top selling Torpedo vaporizer
Hot Vapes’ offers the newest state-of-the-art advanced personal vaporizers (APVs), also known as mods, from a variety of manufacturers. They are push button activated, and provide a richer, more flavorful experience than a disposable product. “People tell us these devices are more effective than the disposable ones. Many of the disposable ecigarettes do not offer as good of a throat hit, they do not produce as much vapor and are not as satisfying.” Each APV has slightly different characteristics, but they are all refillable.
Hot Vapes’ most popular model is the push button activated Torpedo vaporizer. “This is where many people start today,” Roche explains. “It is mid-level in size, and is between the cigarette style and much larger vaporizers. These sell especially well at flea markets.” The Torpedo is available in a single blister pack as well as a double kit. Wholesale starts at $12.50 and retail is $25 to $30 for the single pack.
Hot Vapes manufactures a full line of eliquids, offering more than 90 flavors and five levels of nicotine, from zero to 24 milligrams. “The most popular flavors are straight tobacco because a lot of people want something that tastes like what they are used to,” Roche continues. “The fruit and dessert flavors are also hugely popular.”
Eliquids AEMSA certified for safety
Hot Vapes’s eliquids are manufactured in the company’s Chicago laboratory. They are certified by the American Eliquid Manufacturers Standards Association (AEMSA.org). “We are proactive in ensuring the safety and quality of our products for consumers, and we do everything at a high level in terms of manufacturing our juices,” Roche stresses. “This is a good selling point for vendors,” he adds. Another great promotion is a tasting station, an idea that came to Roche when he opened his own vape shop in July of this year. “We implemented a tasting station in our store so people can sample the liquids. It is extremely popular because customers can try before they buy and are confident when they make a purchase.” To set up a tasting station, vendors simply set out an assortment of pre-filled tanks along with disposable sanitary mouthpieces, which are available from Hot Vapes.
Roche discovered the potential of ecigarettes through his partner, Helen, when she picked up an electronic cigarette kit in 2009. Although she was a lifelong smoker, after using the vapor kit for three months she kicked her tobacco habit. “I thought it was so cool that someone who enjoyed smoking so much could quit regular cigarettes,” Roche recalls, “that we talked about it and decided it would be a good business to be in.”
Hot Vapes has no minimum order. Wholesale prices start at 50 percent off retail prices, and the firm offers volume discounts. Products draw attention with their unique, original artwork, and other marketing materials are available.
For more information:
Hot Vapes
1740 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
Tel.: 775-468-8273 (HOT VAPE)
Website: www.hotvapes.com