There are almost 10,000 vape shops in America. If you want your store to succeed, you need to stand out from the crowd. But how?
Following tobacco and vape shop trends is critical to staying ahead of the curve and keeping up with the times. Being on trend will spell the difference between frustrated customers walking out of your store disappointed and empty-handed and becoming the new hot spot in town for the best-selling vapes and tobacco products.
This post covers six top tobacco and vape shop trends to follow this year. We’ll explain each trend and how you can use it in your store.
The Importance of Following Tobacco and Vape Shop Trends
As a smoke shop owner, you've seen just how fast trends can change in your industry. From new products and technologies to shifting customer preferences and ever-changing regulations, staying on top of the latest trends can be challenging at the best of times. But why exactly should you bother keeping up with these trends?
Some of the pluses of staying on top of tobacco and vape shop trends include:
- Competitive advantage: Staying competitive in a crowded market by offering the latest and greatest products your customers are looking for, attracting new business, and keeping existing customers loyal.
- Compliance: Ensuring ongoing compliance with regulations by staying informed about the latest regulatory developments helps you avoid costly penalties or legal issues.
- Business growth: Recognizing emerging product categories or customer segments helps you identify growth opportunities and expand your product catalog accordingly.
- Customer experience: Staying up to date with industry trends helps demonstrate your commitment to providing customers with the best possible experience.
Related Read: How Much Does It Cost To Open a Smoke Shop? A Quick Guide
On the flip side, failing to follow trends can have serious consequences for your business. If you're not offering the products or experiences your customers are looking for, they'll quickly lose interest and take their business elsewhere. Over time, this can lead to declining sales, reduced profitability, and the loss of your most loyal customers.
In short, following tobacco and vape shop trends is essential for staying relevant, competitive, and profitable. With this in mind, let's take a closer look at some top trends to keep on your radar this year.
1. Disposable Vape Devices
The first trend you must be aware of this year is disposable vapes. These devices have taken the market by storm, and their popularity shows no signs of slowing.
Modern vape customers are on the go, seeking convenient, compact, and user-friendly designs for their vapes. If you want to stay competitive, consider stocking disposable vapes with longer battery life and higher puff counts, which provide better value for money.
Don’t simply stock one option for disposable vapes. Maximize your chances of success by offering multiple flavors and nicotine strengths to cater to different customer preferences and bring in more first-time vapers looking for an introductory product.
While affordability is key in attracting new and budget-conscious vapers, balancing this with sustainability and eco-friendly practices is essential. Partner with suppliers that offer disposable vapes with reduced environmental impact. The Eco-Vape, for example, features an exterior made of paper rather than plastic. Promoting these sustainable options lets you capitalize on the trend toward disposable vapes while still appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
Related Read: How To Open a Vape Shop: 8 Steps to Success
2. Nicotine-Free E-Liquids
The demand for nicotine-free e-liquids is on the rise, particularly among younger vapers. Health-conscious users want to engage with the vaping communities without exposing themselves to the harmful and addictive properties of nicotine.
To capitalize on this trend, expand your selection of nicotine-free options and showcase the variety of flavors available. Highlight e-liquids that feature natural and organic ingredients, as these will likely resonate with these same health-conscious customers.
Also, consider developing targeted marketing campaigns that appeal to non-smokers or those looking to quit nicotine. By positioning your store as a supportive resource for those exploring nicotine-free vaping, you can attract a new customer base and foster long-term loyalty, even when long-term customers quit nicotine for good.
Related Read: High-Risk Payment Solution for Vape: 3 POS Providers
3. Craft and Artisinal Tobacco Products
Stepping outside of the vape industry for a moment, let’s examine the trend toward artisanal tobacco inventory.
The artisanal trend has spanned many industries in recent years, and tobacco is no exception. Tobacco enthusiasts don’t just want generic cigars or tobacco; they want a unique craft experience. Focus on stocking exclusive limited-edition releases and collaborations that showcase rare and exotic tobacco blends if these are the customers you want to attract.
Emphasizing these premium products' handcrafted nature and small-batch production also adds to their appeal and perceived value.
If you really want to make your store the go-to destination for tobacco connoisseurs, consider hosting educational events and tastings. These events provide an opportunity to showcase product quality, share staff expertise, and build a sense of community among your customers.
Related Read: 5 Creative Loyalty Programs for Tobacco Stores (+ How To Manage Them)
4. CBD and Hemp-Derived Products
The CBD and hemp markets have grown steadily in recent years, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, consider expanding your product line to include a range of CBD-based products.
Potential options might include:
- Tinctures
- Edibles
- Topical products
- CBD vapes
To ensure product quality and reliability, partner with reputable CBD brands and suppliers who can provide lab-tested, high-quality products, protecting your customers’ health and your business’ reputation.
You should also take the time to prioritize staff training. Be confident that your team can knowledgeably discuss CBD benefits and provide proper usage guidance to customers.
Note: You may need additional licensing for CBD products in many states and localities, so make sure to research and comply with all relevant regulations.
5. Evolving Regulations and Compliance Requirements
As a smoke shop owner, staying up to date with laws and regulations is crucial for avoiding potential legal issues. In recent years, the tobacco and vape industry has seen a wave of new rules and laws that have significantly impacted businesses nationwide. Let's take a closer look at some of the key changes you need to be aware of:
- Tobacco 21: In December 2019, the federal government raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21.
- Flavor bans: In response to concerns about the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes to youth, several states and localities have implemented bans or restrictions on flavored vape products. Some jurisdictions have even extended these bans to include flavored traditional tobacco products.
- Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTA): The FDA now requires manufacturers of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products to submit PMTAs for review and approval. This process involves demonstrating that your products meet public health standards.
- Synthetic nicotine regulation: In March 2022, Congress granted the FDA the authority to regulate synthetic nicotine products, closing a loophole allowing some manufacturers to bypass existing regulations. As a result, products containing synthetic nicotine are now subject to the same requirements as those containing tobacco-derived nicotine, including PMTAs and other FDA regulations.
- Tax increases: Many states and localities are considering or implementing higher taxes on tobacco products and e-cigarettes to discourage tobacco use and generate revenue for public health initiatives.
- Packaging and labeling requirements: The FDA has proposed new warning labels for cigarette packages and advertisements to better inform consumers about the health risks associated with smoking. Additionally, some jurisdictions may enact their own labeling requirements for e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
- Indoor use restrictions: As the popularity of e-cigarettes has grown, so have concerns about the potential health impacts of secondhand vapor. In response, more states and cities are adopting laws that prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces and workplaces.
Related Read: How To Get a Tobacco License (Costs and Criteria)
Navigating laws and regulations is essential to your smoke shop’s success. Though all laws concerning tobacco and vapor products are critical, keep a special eye on laws related to vapes and CBD products, as these are current legal gray areas with more rapidly changing laws than other areas of the market.
6. Customer Engagement and Loyalty Programs
Customer loyalty is critical to your success. If you want to run a profitable business, you need to have a core of consistent customers. How can you achieve this? By focusing on customer engagement and implementing a loyalty program in your store.
Implement a points-based reward system that incentivizes repeat purchases. Offer exclusive discounts, promotions, and early access to new products for loyalty program members, making them feel valued and appreciated.
You can expand your customer base by creating a referral program that rewards customers for bringing in new business through word-of-mouth recommendations. Email and SMS marketing keep your customers engaged and informed about new products, upcoming events, and special offers.
Managing all of these efforts by hand can be stressful and time-consuming, so you’ll want to implement the right technology to help. Consider implementing a point of sale system with built-in CRM and loyalty program features to make managing customer sales, points, and interactions easier.
Managing Tobacco and Vape Shop Trends in Your Store
Staying informed about the latest trends and regulations in the tobacco and vape industry is crucial if you want to stand out from the crowd and grow your business. By implementing the insights shared in this post, you can better run your store and keep your shelves stocked with the trendiest products on the market.
However, to truly thrive in this competitive market, you need more than just a finger on the pulse of current trends. You need a powerful tool to help you identify emerging patterns, maintain accurate records, and streamline your operations. That's where Cigars POS comes in.
Cigars POS is the ultimate point of sale system for your business, designed specifically for smoke and vape shops. With advanced reporting capabilities, robust inventory management features, scan data reporting, and secure payment processing for high-risk transactions, our solution gives you the insights and tools you need to stay ahead of the curve.
Schedule a demo of Cigars POS today and see for yourself how our tool can transform the way you do business.
