By Harrison Trites and Joe Tierney
Beginning Sept. 24, Massachusetts smoke shops and corner stores were forced to make changes within their businesses because of the ban placed on vape products. Many smoke shops in Westfield and surrounding towns have shifted focus within their businesses.
The vape market had been surging in popularity lately, but that surge was put to a halt. What looked like a temporary ban has now moved closer to what seems like a possible nationwide ban. This could spell disaster, and foreclosure for many vape shops.
Wise Vapors, a store that was once exclusively sold vape products located on Main Street in Westfield, is now a glass and phone repair, and merchandise store in an attempt to keep themselves afloat.
Both the manager and the owner of Wise Vapors discussed how, “the overall focus of our store has changed.” They mentioned a shift in hours, and how the store felt empty.
The store typically saw a steady stream of young customers before the ban. Wise Vapors later began to offer promotions and a point system to keep these young customers coming back.
With the shift from vaping products to phone repair, the owner was still “waiting to find a [phone] repair person… to expand for cell phone repair and cell phone accessories,” he said. Wise Vapors had to increase staff, as well as expand hours in an effort to keep revenue coming in.
Regardless of the issues the ban has made for Wise Vapors, the manager agreed with the need for a temporary vape ban in order to determine the health risks vaping can cause. However, he questions whether the government is confused with THC cartridges.
Wise Vapors manager briefly discussed customers obtaining vape products through the black market, “People are going to try to make their own [nicotine] juice.” He went on to claim the move to the black market stemmed from the already booming fake THC cartridge business.
Wise Vapors hopes to see new laws on vaping and its market leading to the store’s comeback in the coming year.
Update:
The vape ban was lifted as of Dec. 11, but a new ban will be placed on flavored vape juice sales only in 2020. This will leave tobacco as the only available flavor. Vape batteries and accessories will be available to purchase freely again.
Wise Vapors owner believes this ban will continue to cause tensions since many customers cannot smoke tobacco flavors, for they originally began vaping as an alternative to smoking cigarettes.
