Category: Marketing

UKVIA Seeking Clarity on Vape Advertising Notice

Photo: New Africa
The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) is seeking clarification following the recent Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) enforcement notice on the prohibition of vaping ads on social media.
The UKVIA is particularly concerned that “factual (nonpromotional) information” should only be made available to those who have “actively and specifically sought it out,” which would limit such content to social media accounts set to “private.”
The industry group is especially worried that this means factual posts, such as repeating evidence-based statistics such as vaping is 95 percent less harmful than smoking, for its annual VApril Vape Awareness Month will now be deemed unlawful.
“Around 40 percent of U.K. smokers wrongly believe that vaping is at least as harmful as, or even more harmful than, cigarettes, which suggests we need more evidence-based vaping facts on social media, not less,” the UKVIA wrote in a statement.
One of the main aims of VApril is to use both paid and organic posts on LinkedIn, X and Facebook to give facts to smokers to help them make informed decisions over how they consume nicotine.
The CAP says that after March 28, it will enforce restrictions under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, which prohibit “ads that have the direct or indirect effect of promoting nicotine-containing electronic cigarette products” from being shown in most social media.
The Enforcement Notice says: “Electronic cigarette ads are prohibited in any online media where content is shared to users who have not specifically sought it out.
“This means paid-for display ads in all online space are prohibited, but it also means that regular, non-paid-for posts and content in social media, which might get shared by an algorithm to users, are prohibited too.”
The Advertising Standards Authority will hold a webinar on March 21 where the rules on social media vape ads will be explained.
March 4, 2024
Switzerland Set to Ban Vape, Tobacco Advertising

Credit: Anthony Brown
Switzerland will ban advertising of tobacco products and e-cigarettes aimed at young people, the government said, implementing a decision passed in a referendum last year.
The cabinet said it would strengthen its already planned restrictions to bar advertising in places and media where young people can see it.
The new laws will come into force from mid-2026, and strengthen restrictions on packaging and advertising on tobacco and e-cigarettes due to take effect from next year, reports Reuters.
The move, which will affect print media, online advertising and festivals, is designed to reduce tobacco consumption and related deaths.
Smoking remains relatively widespread in Switzerland with 9,500 people dying prematurely every year as a result of tobacco consumption, the government said, describing it as one of the country’s biggest public health problems.
“Tobacco use causes numerous non-communicable diseases, and the cost of their medical treatment amounts to 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.37 billion) per year,” the government said.
In future, no advertising for tobacco products or e-cigarettes will be allowed in print media, shops or events which can be visited by minors.
In addition, sponsorship of events which people under 18 attend will be banned. Online advertising will be still permitted provided age control systems are in place.
The tighter restrictions follow the success of the referendum “Yes to the protection of children and youths from tobacco advertising,” which was approved by 57% of Swiss voters in February 2022.
May 30, 2023
Italy Investigating BAT, Amazon for Hyper X2 Ads

Italian regulators announced an investigation into British American Tobacco and Amazon over what regulators say is potentially misleading advertising for the Glo Hyper X2 heated-tobacco product, the Italian Competition Authority said on Tuesday.
“It is not made clear, or it is inadequately stated” in the advertising that Glo Hyper X2 is a nicotine-based product, and that it is “intended for an adult audience”, the authority said.
It also said it had seen the Hyper X2 was being marketed as “nicotine-free.”
“The omission and/or deceptiveness of this essential information” in advertising could influence consumers’ decisions and expose them, “minors in particular”, to the risk of unknowingly damaging their health, the regulator said.
Amazon Services Europe and Amazon Italia Customer Services were included in the investigation because the tobacco heating device is sold on the online platform.
Reuters found an offer for Glo Hyper X2 on Amazon Prime Italy presenting the product as “the cigarette alternative, a smokeless and odor-free experience, nicotine-free”.
An accompanying image had a “no under 18s” symbol.
A spokesperson for BAT said the company was committed to “responsible marketing”, in addition to the requirements set by local applicable laws.
“We are available to cooperate with the Italian Competition Authority to ensure a swift conclusion of these proceedings”, the spokesperson said.
April 18, 2023
Congress Seeks to Close E-Cigarette Ad Loophole

For more than five decades, tobacco ads have been prohibited on radio, but advertising for e-cigarettes and other vaping related products have made their way onto the airwaves in recent years.
In an effort to make such marketing less attractive, the U.S. Congress wants to close a tax loophole that allows manufacturers to claim federal tax deductions for the cost of advertising for e-cigarettes and tobacco products. That includes the ads they buy on the radio.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal have reintroduced the No Tax Subsidies for E-Cigarette and Tobacco Ads Act (S. 464), which if passed would not make the direct-to-consumer ads illegal, but would end the ability for companies to take tax deductions for advertising expenses related to vaping and other tobacco products, according to Insider Radio.
“Tax breaks for tobacco and e-cigarette giants allow the industry to profit from its manipulative marketing,” Blumenthal said. “Our legislation ends these write-offs to protect kids and other consumers from being lured into lifetimes of addiction.”
Radio and television advertising for traditional tobacco products has been banned under federal law since January 1971, and certain other forms of tobacco advertising are restricted under the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. However, none of these restrictions apply to e-cigarettes.
March 15, 2023
Vuse Continues to Gain Market Share Over Juul

Vuse e-cigarettes continue to grab market share from Juul. The gap is growing in both monthly and yearly comparisons, according to the latest Nielsen convenience store report.
The R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. brand’s market share rose from 41.5 percent in the previous report to 42.7 percent, compared with Juul declining from 26.4 percent to 25.6 percent.
Over the past 12 months, Vuse’s market share was 36.6 percent, compared with 29.5 percent for Juul. The latest Nielsen analysis of convenience-store data covers the four-week period ending Feb. 25.
On Friday, Altria Group Inc. announced that it had exchanged its 35 percent ownership stake in Juul Labs for a non-exclusive, irrevocable global license to certain of Juul’s heated tobacco intellectual properties.
No. 3 NJoy was unchanged at 2.7 percent, while Fontem Ventures’ blu eCigs was unchanged at 1.4 percent. Njoy’s future looks brighter after an announcement Monday that Altria plans to pay $2.75 billion in cash for NJoy.
Juul’s four-week dollar sales in the latest report have dropped from a 50.2 percent increase in the Aug. 10, 2019, report to a 25.7 percent decline in the latest report.
By comparison, Reynolds’ Vuse was up 34 percent in the latest report, while NJoy was down 8.7 percent, blu eCigs down 39.5 percent and Japan Tobacco’s Logic brand vaping product was down 4.9 percent.
As recently as May 2019, Juul held a 74.6 percent U.S. e-cig market share. Neilson data does not consider vape shop sales, which may include more than 40 percent of all vaping product sales.
March 9, 2023
Zinwi to Unveil New Logo at TPE Show in Las Vegas

E-Liquid manufacturer Zinwi Bio-Tech is set to unveil its new logo at the Total Products Expo (TPE) in Las Vegas from Feb. 22 – 24. The company will also be highlighting 15 of its most popular e-liquid flavors for TPE attendees to experience.
Zinwi, a global integrated e-liquid solutions provider, upgraded its branding in December to better reflect the company’s dedication to providing high-quality products and the brand’s entry into a new development phase.
“In this new phase, Zinwi will place more emphasis on product research and development, and provide diversified products to meet the needs of global markets,” a Zinwi spokesperson told Vapor Voice. “Zinwi is committed to continuing to explore e-liquid technology, pursue innovation and provide cutting-edge integrated e-liquid solutions.”
Zinwi’s new logo resembles a drop of e-liquid oil, which alludes to the company’s unwavering commitment to product research and development. The Zinwi “Z” and oil design are integrated to symbolize the company’s dedication to continuous product research and development, according to a press release. The light blue color of the logo features Zinwi’s laboratories that conduct its scientific product research and development in the background.
Currently, new nicotine salt and glycerol alternatives are two major topics of research for Zinwi. The company’s product research and development team has produced a new nicotine salt that has distinct advantages compared with the traditional benzoic acid nicotine salt.
“This new innovation brings with it a significant reduction in the number of impurities released. Zinwi is also in the process of researching and developing glycerol alternatives,” the spokesperson said. “The research and development of glycerol alternatives is an effort to reduce the toxins released during atomization and to allow the products to be more environmentally friendly.”
The 15 e-liquid products Zinwi is set to showcase at TPE include five tobacco flavors and 10 non-tobacco flavors. They are Zinwi’s best-selling flavors and have been widely recognized by the company’s global client base. One of the flavors, Caramel Tobacco, has a distinctive caramel flavor along with a mild tobacco accent.
In order to allow the show attendees to experience the different flavors, Zinwi will provide disposable vaping devices pre-filled with the Zinwi e-liquids in the 15 flavor profiles. “Trade show attendees will be able to try out the different flavors in different devices with a variety of settings, enabling them to reach the optimal puff experience,” the spokesperson said.

February 7, 2023
Geekvape Inks Deal With Paris Saint-Germain
Credit: Uslatar
Geekvape has announced its partnership with the football club Paris Saint-Germain, marking the second time the two parties have inked a sponsorship agreement.
In a press release, Geekvape, a China-based e-cigarette manufacturer, states that it first became an official partner of Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The alliance has extended the “Geek” spirit through “spectacular events” that drew a broad international audience.
“I am delighted that our partnership was so successful last year, and it is an honor to carry on the spirit of healthy sport with Paris Saint-Germain, in the new year, in keeping with our mutual pursuit of excellence and elegance for a great new and exciting season,” said Geekvape CEO Allen Yang. “Geekvape intends to capitalize on the enormous popularity of football as a sport in order to spread the love of sport and the concept of health to people throughout the globe.”
Paris Saint-Germain is one of the most popular football clubs in the world with superstar players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Jr. on its roster.
January 9, 2023
Bidi Parent Inks Deal for Marketing, Sales Strategy

Kaival Brands Innovation Group, parent to Bidi Stick vaping products, today announced it has reached a three-year extension agreement with QuikfillRx, the third party vendor responsible for executing Kaival Brands’ marketing and sales strategies.
As part of the agreement, QuikfillRx will be rebranded as Kaival Marketing Services (KMS) to more properly reflect the commitment of KMS to the success of Kaival Brands, according to a press release.
“We are happy to continue our service with Kaival Brands and its commitment to responsible marketing,” Russell Quick, president of KMS, stated in the release. “Our combined efforts at preventing underage use of vaping devices and focus on the needs of legal-age smokers looking for an alternative to combustible cigarettes, stands as a model for the industry.”
In February 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit stayed a marketing denial order (MDO) issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Bidi Vapor in September 2021 for its non-tobacco flavored Bidi Stick products. The FDA had previously issued an administrative stay to Bidi Vapor, however, the agency rescinded that stay in December 2021.
Kaival Brands reported revenues of $3.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, up from $3.2 million for the same period of 2021. Gross profit was $442,100 compared to a loss of $84,300 for comparable 2021 period.
Kaival attributed its improved revenues in part to an August court ruling that set aside a marketing denial order issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to the company’s nontobacco flavored Bidi Stick e-cigarettes.
The three-year extension with KMS was executed in preparation to support the anticipated improved sales volumes arising from this decision and the increase of Bidi Stick sales and marketing activities.
In addition to monthly cash payments, which will be lower than during the initial term of the agreement, and a one-time upfront vested common stock option award, KMS will be eligible to receive performance-based common stock option awards from Kaival Brands.
Eric Mosser, president and chief operating officer of Kaival Brands, stated that KMS has been an integral part of the Kaival story since its inception.
“Their industry knowledge and expertise, experience working with our team, and unmatched around-the-clock service is best in class,” he said. “As part of ongoing corporate efforts in anticipation of increasing sales activity following Bidi Vapor’s merits case win, it became clear that reaffirming our relationship with KMS was an important step to manage growth.”
November 15, 2022
Chinese, European Vape Groups Sign Marketing Code
Photo: IEVA
The E-Cigarette Professional Committee of the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (ECCC) has signed the Independent European Vape Alliance’s (IEVA) recently updated Code for Responsible Marketing.
The Code for Responsible Marketing contains 14 mandatory principles, focusing on the idea that “e-cigarette marketing should not make vaping seem appealing to minors.”
“As confident as we are that e-cigarettes have significant harm reduction potential, we also recognize that they must be marketed responsibly,” said Dustin Dahlmann, president of IEVA, in a statement.
“The signatories therefore only address adult smokers and e-cigarette users with their advertising and marketing to inform them about the products. Youth protection is imperative for us. We are very glad that we agreed on this with our dear colleagues from China.”
October 17, 2022
Vuse Continues to Expand U.S. Market Share Over Juul
Credit: Syda Productions
The Vuse e-cigarette brand has expanded its U.S. market share to two full percentage points over Juul.
Vuse, a product of of R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., held 35.1 percent of the market share, compared with Juul at 33.1 percent, according to the latest Nielsen analysis of convenience store data that covers the four-week period ending May 21.
For the latest report, NJoy dropped from 3.1 percent to 3 percent, while Fontem Ventures’ blu eCigs slipped from 2.1 percent to 1.9 percent, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
By comparison, Vuse was ahead 34.8 percent to Juul’s 34.4 percent for the four-week period ending April 23. That was the first time Vuse held the top market share in the Nielsen report since November 2017.
However, for the past 52 weeks, Juul remains ahead 35.9 percent to 30.8 percent.
According to Barclays, Nielsen largely covers the big chains. For the smaller chains, the group extrapolates trends, which is why trend changes don’t appear immediately in Nielsen.
As recently as May 2019, Juul held a 74.6 percent U.S. e-cig market share. That’s which is when a series of regulatory actions led to product-reduction concessions by Juul Labs Inc.
Juul’s four-week dollar sales in the latest report have dropped from a 50.2 percent increase in the Aug. 10, 2019, report to a 9.2 percent decline in the latest report.
June 2, 2022