Setting up shop.

[mack]

Good Evening All.

I can imagine many may have read a thread similar to this one before. I apologise if that's the case.

I am thinking/learning how it would be possible to create an ecig business. My job has recently become under pressure with the company I work for having lost their contract, now this probably means I will be tupe over to the company that won the contract (we don't know who this is yet and only found out about the decision online). However it is always a possibility that the worst could happen, and with a young family, money has for the first time in my life become a real worry and there is a desire to create a lot more.

I am in the very first stage of the thought process, with getting some sleepless nights my mind wonders on what I may be able to do for myself. I have chipped away at forex trading for 5 years but would not be able throw any money at it as the risk out ways all. So to pass my very early mornings I have been trying to concentrate on an ecig business. I love the products, I spend countless hours admiring pictures and reading folks thoughts.

If this is something that I could run entirely from my garage then it is a very real possibility should I get tupe over with my job. So I am appealing to all you very friendly people for your knowledge, insight, idea's and opinions. Whilst I can see the market is flooded, I don't take that as a negative, I see many companies ran from a small budget and normal folk like myself doing well. Also I am supremely confident that If I decide to do something I will make it work (after carefully considering to make the jump in the first place).

What I have very little information thus far is on legislation, I would be very interested to hear any information on that and if it is likely to cause large issues in the near future.

So that's what im thinking, I would be extremely appreciative from hearing from any of you, even if you don't wish to talk to me you could always copy and paste a webpage you believe may be relevant. 

Thank you Kindly

Mack

[prr]

Try contacting Steve vapestorm, he set up a business but had to close, also zeldamum has a vape shop in Cornwall. mack

[markm]

allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/board/25/promoting-campaigning-articles-vaping-media
Would be a good starting point.

[mack]

Dec 6, 2014 23:01:10 GMT prr said:

Try contacting Steve vapestorm, he set up a business but had to close, also zeldamum has a vape shop in Cornwall. mack

Thanks mate, I shall. Should Steve wish to share his thoughts they could prove invaluable.

Whilst a shop owner and there thoughts would be extremely interested it is something that I am only considering that could be run from my home. I would still need to keep my full time jerb for the bills.

[djs]

Dec 6, 2014 22:51:27 GMT mack said:

What I have very little information thus far is on legislation, I would be very interested to hear any information on that and if it is likely to cause large issues in the near future.

Do you know about the TPD 2016?

[Tom]

hi mack,

I can't offer any advice on legislation or what might come in the future but I will offer you my thoughts...

The market is pretty saturated (like you say), but that doesn't mean you can't do well.

What it does mean is that you can't just open a shop and sell your average stuff to the average guy - the well established businesses have this all sewn up and will be able to out-price and outsell you.

What you need is your own niche, a selling point for your business, why people would come to you instead of others.

A great example is in chefsvapour, there a very few one-stop shops for DIYers, where you can get CAP, TPA, FA, their own and many many more... I'm not saying do this. I'm saying you have to find a gap in the market for yourself, which is a tough thing to do.

I wish you all the best with it mate, its a wonderful thing to be able to combine a passion with a vocation

[mack]

Dec 6, 2014 23:09:03 GMT djs said:

Dec 6, 2014 22:51:27 GMT mack said:

What I have very little information thus far is on legislation, I would be very interested to hear any information on that and if it is likely to cause large issues in the near future.

Do you know about the TPD 2016?

I did not, having had a look at it, it does appear scary. However I don't know what to think about the legislations and what not as they are never clearly defined nor have a definitive answer. Whilst government and corporations have been trying to get the market closed down for years, thus far they have failed to do so.

I am taking the TPD 2016 meaning that everything will have to be regulated, meaning that only the mass produced corporation type ecig will be allowed. Only mass produced eliquid and so forth or am I looking at it wrong?

Thanks for pointing this out.

[mack]

Dec 6, 2014 23:12:55 GMT Tom said:

hi mack,

I can't offer any advice on legislation or what might come in the future but I will offer you my thoughts...

The market is pretty saturated (like you say), but that doesn't mean you can't do well.

What it does mean is that you can't just open a shop and sell your average stuff to the average guy - the well established businesses have this all sewn up and will be able to out-price and outsell you.

What you need is your own niche, a selling point for your business, why people would come to you instead of others.

A great example is in chefsvapour, there a very few one-stop shops for DIYers, where you can get CAP, TPA, FA, their own and many many more... I'm not saying do this. I'm saying you have to find a gap in the market for yourself, which is a tough thing to do.

I wish you all the best with it mate, its a wonderful thing to be able to combine a passion with a vocation

Hi Tom, thank you for your insights. I do see little things that I believe would be able to set my idea's apart from others. I certainly wouldnt think of setting a cardboard cut out of others out there. I didn't like to put down what I believe I could do differently as I thought it may come across arrogant or dismissive of others websites which I love.

Its a very good point about the niche though, strip away my thoughts on what I could do very well on you are always going to come down to a base set of products. So that's defiantly something I will give a lot of thought to.

Passion with vocation will always be the dream I guess.

[djs]

Dec 6, 2014 23:17:29 GMT mack said:

Whilst government and corporations have been trying to get the market closed down for years, thus far they have failed to do so.

I am taking the TPD 2016 meaning that everything will have to be regulated, meaning that only the mass produced corporation type ecig will be allowed. Only mass produced eliquid and so forth or am I looking at it wrong?

Thanks for pointing this out.

Actually, you are wrong in your assumption in the first sentence. Nobody has been trying to close down the e-cig market. Big Tobacco and Big Pharma have been trying to discredit e-cigs.

IF TPD happens, and the UK adopts it in full (and even 'gold plated') then yes, only the biggest and richest firms will be able to product hardware fully compliant. It is expected that e-cigs will split into two markets.
1. Medicinal products (requiring licenses) and 2. Consumer products (with the accompanying restrictions).

Some might argue that the hardware side is safer than the liquid side, although atomizers are certainly in the firing line. I can't see them banning batteries....

[markm]

If you haven't read, let alone understood, the implications of the TPD then I don't think
You are ready to make a considered investment in the market.

[mack]

Dec 6, 2014 23:26:27 GMT djs said:

Dec 6, 2014 23:17:29 GMT mack said:

Whilst government and corporations have been trying to get the market closed down for years, thus far they have failed to do so.

I am taking the TPD 2016 meaning that everything will have to be regulated, meaning that only the mass produced corporation type ecig will be allowed. Only mass produced eliquid and so forth or am I looking at it wrong?

Thanks for pointing this out.

Actually, you are wrong in your assumption in the first sentence. Nobody has been trying to close down the e-cig market. Big Tobacco and Big Pharma have been trying to discredit e-cigs.

IF TPD happens, and the UK adopts it in full (and even 'gold plated') then yes, only the biggest and richest firms will be able to product hardware fully compliant. It is expected that e-cigs will split into two markets.
1. Medicinal products (requiring licenses) and 2. Consumer products (with the accompanying restrictions).

Some might argue that the hardware side is safer than the liquid side, although atomizers are certainly in the firing line. I can't see them banning batteries....

I had feared something like this was around the corner. So my first hurdle would be to understand this stuff rather than making assumptions which is all my thoughts on this stuff are. I just haven't read enough into them nor possibly would fully understand the connotations.

Is the general though process on this that it will be passed and should it do so does it mean an end to the small ecig companies? (I'm sure this questions has been asked a million time but as I say I am at the very first step of gaining information.)

[mack]

Dec 6, 2014 23:33:14 GMT markm said:

If you haven't read, let alone understood, the implications of the TPD then I don't think
You are ready to make a considered investment in the market.

Hi Mark, you're right, I am a million miles away from doing so. I have said that I am purely on a mission to learn the issues that surround my idea, I'm at step one of step one if you will.

I've learnt something already, so its successful so far

[markm]

Dec 6, 2014 23:36:58 GMT mack said:

Dec 6, 2014 23:33:14 GMT markm said:

If you haven't read, let alone understood, the implications of the TPD then I don't think
You are ready to make a considered investment in the market.

Hi Mark, you're right, I am a million miles away from doing so. I have said that I am purely on a mission to learn the issues that surround my idea, I'm at step one of step one if you will.

I've learnt something already, so its successful so far

I think you might have your eye on step one, some proper research might get you up there.
but don't forget learning about current regulations, trading standards website and distance selling regs.
then there is the minor matter of running a business. Tax, natinal insurance, product liability 
insurance, business insurance, business rates. Where you source product, legalities arising from importing product, testing it etc. import duties, customs and excise. Finding reliable suppliers, the list goes on.

[mack]

Dec 7, 2014 0:12:17 GMT markm said:

Dec 6, 2014 23:36:58 GMT mack said:

Hi Mark, you're right, I am a million miles away from doing so. I have said that I am purely on a mission to learn the issues that surround my idea, I'm at step one of step one if you will.

I've learnt something already, so its successful so far

I think you might have your eye on step one, some proper research might get you up there.
but don't forget learning about current regulations, trading standards website and distance selling regs.
then there is the minor matter of running a business. Tax, natinal insurance, product liability 
insurance, business insurance, business rates. Where you source product, legalities arising from importing product, testing it etc. import duties, customs and excise. Finding reliable suppliers, the list goes on.

I concur Mark. It is a minefield but not something I am taking lightly. The thread is certainly not asking someone to tell me how in 5 easy steps nor is it me saying I am setting up shop the morra.

The intention is to be shown the potential difficulties of the process. Those minor issues you mention are not even in the vicinity of my thought process at the minute as shown I am no mark of knowledge on the market itself. I do not assume this process to be simple nor achieved easily. I am purely looking to see if it is achievable.

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2014 0:12:17 GMT markm said:

Dec 6, 2014 23:36:58 GMT mack said:

Hi Mark, you're right, I am a million miles away from doing so. I have said that I am purely on a mission to learn the issues that surround my idea, I'm at step one of step one if you will.

I've learnt something already, so its successful so far

I think you might have your eye on step one, some proper research might get you up there.
but don't forget learning about current regulations, trading standards website and distance selling regs.
then there is the minor matter of running a business. Tax, natinal insurance, product liability 
insurance, business insurance, business rates. Where you source product, legalities arising from importing product, testing it etc. import duties, customs and excise. Finding reliable suppliers, the list goes on.

Come on be realistic, stop bombarding him, find a product or provide a service that's sells with a good margin and the rest will come, his talking about starting out if his garage. I started a business about 10 years ago and still don't deal with most of the above.  

You have honestly have found an insurance company to insure you and your CE marked products in a unregulated industry?  Have you read the small print..