Category: Retail

  • VPZ, Morrisons Partner to Open 10 Vape Shops

    VPZ, Morrisons Partner to Open 10 Vape Shops

    Greig Fowler, director at VPZ

    VPZ, a UK vaping retailer, is set to open 10 new stores by as part of a groundbreaking partnership with the supermarket chain Morrisons, with plans to expand further during 2025.

    The new in-store outlets will expand the brand’s presence in communities throughout the UK, with
    seven key locations in Leeds Hunslet, Birmingham Stirchley, Glenrothes, Peterhead, Darlington,
    Stratford and Grantham.

    The collaboration will also introduce a new innovative mobile pod concept for customer parking
    areas, with two planned for Nottingham and one in Rotherham.

    The partnership will drive positive change by making stop-smoking services more accessible in
    communities throughout the country while educating smokers on the benefits of more sustainable
    vaping products.

    Greig Fowler, director at VPZ, said: “Our partnership with Morrisons to open 10 new stores is a
    pivotal step in our mission to transform the health of our nation by empowering more people to
    become smoke-free.

    “I believe that together we will be making it easier for smokers to access the resources, help and
    education they need to quit smoking, while also offering a convenient and sustainable shopping
    experience.”

  • New Kentucky Vape Rules Start on New Year’s Day

    New Kentucky Vape Rules Start on New Year’s Day

    Credit: Andreykr

    A law taking effect on Jan. 1 will limit what smoke shops in Kentucky can sell.

    Kentucky House Bill 11 will make disposable vape products illegal and place restrictions on other vape products based on their status with the Food and Drug Administration.

    FOX 19 spoke with Jay Armstrong from Dripwell Vapors in Fort Wright, who said he opposed the law.

    “I think it’s a huge waste of time, and all it’s going to do is hurt the legitimate businesses that are doing things right,” Armstrong said.

    Armstrong explained that enforcement of policies like this seems to be lacking. He said that he rarely sees anyone come into the store to make sure they’re selling products that they’re allowed to sell.

    “People are going to go where they can get what they want,” Armstrong explained. He believes stores will be selling banned products, while stores that follow the rules will lose profits.

    Ben Chandler with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky told FOX 19 that the new law would be a step in the right direction.

    “It’s a start,” Chandler said. “It’s got lots of holes in it that need to be closed.”

  • Report Details Global Age Verification Regulations

    Report Details Global Age Verification Regulations

    Image: Ondato

    Ondato, a global provider of digital identity and age verification solutions, has released a report that maps the intricacies of age verification regulations worldwide.

    The report analyzes age verification laws and practices across major markets, including the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom and emerging economies. It provides sector-specific insights into regulations affecting industries such as gaming, social media, e-commerce and online content streaming. Additionally, the report identifies common compliance challenges that businesses face when navigating diverse regulations and explores how technology can help mitigate these issues.

    “Our goal is to empower businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to stay compliant and protected,” said Ondato co-founder and CEO Liudas Kanapienis. “This report is an invaluable tool for companies striving to keep pace with the evolving regulatory environment.”

  • U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent: Report

    U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent: Report

    A new report from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative showed that from 2019 to 2023, there was a 47 percent increase in e-cigarette unit sales at U.S. retail outlets. Flavors like fruit, candy, mint, menthol and desserts accounted for more than 80 percent of sales.

    The report, Monitoring E-Cigarette Trends in the United States: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Kids from Flavored E-Cigarettes, urges states to adopt comprehensive statewide policies restricting flavored e-cigarette sales. The report found that the most effective policies to restrict these sales clearly define products and include comprehensive flavored tobacco restrictions without flavor or product exceptions, incorporate community and retailer education and are supported by enforcement.

    “The rise in e-cigarette sales, particularly those with youth-appealing flavors and graphics, is deeply concerning, especially as manufacturers evolve e-cigarette products to feature gamified devices and increased nicotine strength,” said Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, in a statement. “However, the data from states like Massachusetts, California and New York demonstrate how comprehensive policies can effectively curb youth access. This report underscores the urgent need for widespread adoption of similar measures to protect our young people from the risks associated with e-cigarette use.”

    “E-cigarette sales have skyrocketed in recent years, with an explosion of new products—many designed to attract and addict our youth with increasingly high levels of nicotine,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and president of Truth Initiative. “Today’s e-cigarettes are available in a vast array of enticing flavors and feature sleek, colorful designs. They’re also bigger, stronger and cheaper than previous devices, which only heightens their appeal. Even more concerning, over 80 percent of e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. While enforcement is vital to ending the youth e-cigarette crisis, retailers also must do the right thing, take responsibility to protect their young customers and remove all illegal products from store shelves.”

    “While the latest data from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative show a dangerous rise in sales of e-cigarettes, they also reveal a notable decline in sales where strong policies restricting flavored e-cigarettes are implemented,” said Kelly Henning, public health program lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The progress in states with strong policies underscores the urgent need for more action to swiftly and successfully combat the flavored e-cigarette epidemic among youth across the United States.”

  • Retail Group Launches Guide for Disposables Ban

    Retail Group Launches Guide for Disposables Ban

    Credit: Benn Photo

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched an extended version of its Selling Vapes Responsibly guide to support retailers in their gradual move away from disposable vapes ahead of a product ban on June 1, 2025.

    The new guidance outlines the features that vapes need to have to be legal for sale from 1 June, as well as what to do with any disposable vapes that are unsold when the ban comes into force.

    Vapes that are legal to sell from 1 June must be chargeable and refillable, as opposed to disposable vapes, which are intended for a single use and are limited to 2ml of vape liquid.

    Anyone selling disposable vapes from 1 June 2025 could get a £200 fixed-penalty notice, followed by further enforcement action if they continue to break the law, media reports.

    ACS chief executive James Lowman said introducing a ban on disposable vapes next year will mark a significant change for thousands of retailers that currently stock these products.

    “We have produced this guide to help retailers with the transition and ensure that nobody falls on the wrong side of the law on [June 1],” he said. “It is important that any retailer selling vapes not only prepares themselves for the change but also communicates with customers on the implications of the ban to avoid any potential confrontations or flashpoints in store.”

    The guide has been produced with Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards as assured advice, which means that ACS members can rely on this advice and the interpretations of how to comply with the new regulations.

    “By having this advice assured as part of our award-winning scheme with Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards, retailers can have confidence that following this guidance will see them operating legally and without fear of prosecution,” Lowman said.

    Since the start of 2024, retailers who sell vapes have been required to provide a take-back service for customers on a minimum of a “one for one” basis (a customer can return a vape when they buy a new one).

    The ACS guide sets out all the requirements for retailers when taking back used vapes, storing them in their business, and arranging for regular collection so they can be recycled.

    Selling Vapes Responsibly also includes advice for retailers on spotting an illicit product, with information on all the things to look out for on the packaging, where to check the list of legitimate products, and advice on preventing underage sales and using Challenge 25.

    The full guide, as well as posters for retailers to display in their stores to communicate the ban to customers, are available at www.acs.org.uk/advice/selling-vapes

  • North Carolina County to Restrict Tobacco Shops

    North Carolina County to Restrict Tobacco Shops

    Credit: Rex Holster

    The Columbus County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina is slated to vote on a proposed ordinance restricting locations of retailers selling tobacco, hemp and kratom during its meeting Monday.

    At the board’s previous meeting, Commission Chair Ricky Bullard said he wanted to restrict the locations of new shops “the maximum amount we can.”

    The current proposal requires a much wider distance between retailers and places used by minors than a version of the ordinance discussed on Nov. 4, according to media reports.

    The expanded ordinance would also set a four-year deadline for retailers already in business to move out of the protected zones. If passed, the vape shop regulation would only affect unincorporated areas of the county.

    The board tabled discussion Nov. 4 of an earlier vape shop ordinance, saying it didn’t go far enough. That proposal defined the targeted products and prohibited retail shops selling them from opening within 1,000 feet of schools, child care centers, public parks, group homes or rehabilitation facilities.

    Commissioner Giles “Buddy” Byrd called the 1,000-foot barrier “not enough” and asked county staff to rewrite the ordinance to expand it to at least half a mile. County Planning and Economic Development Director Gary Lanier’s new recommendation does just that, setting 2,640 feet as the nearest a vape, tobacco or hemp shop may set up from one of the listed areas.

    Lanier also based the new recommendation on ordinances in other eastern N.C. counties that “amortize” the right of existing shops to operate. The new wording would require existing tobacco and hemp retailers to move outside the half-mile boundary within four years.

  • Haypp Happy for Retail Licensing in U.K.Vapes Bill

    Haypp Happy for Retail Licensing in U.K.Vapes Bill

    Vape retailer Haypp welcomed the news that the U.K. government has included a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco, vape, and nicotine products in its Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

    “As a responsible retailer, Haypp.com has long supported the need for a robust licensing system for retailers of vapes, nicotine pouches and tobacco products in the U.K.,” said Markus Lindblad, nicotine retail expert from Haypp.com.

    “The absence of a licensing system in the U.K. has encouraged a wild west type environment where almost anyone can set themselves up as a vape shop. This has not only created challenges for responsible retailers, it has greatly increased the risks of underage vape use and untested products hitting the markets.

    “This proposed scheme could finally bring some law and order to what has been a wild west marketplace. Our most recent annual vape report asked vape users where they bought their first vape, and with 18% saying they bought it from a shop when underage, it is clear that the lack of licensing and enforcement is encouraging underage access.”

    The vape report, produced by Haypp, found that:

    • 54% of UK vapers legally bought their own
    • 18% of UK vapers bought their first vape from a shop when underage
    • 10% of UK vapers bought their first vape online when underage
    • 7% bought their first vape when underage from a major supermarket chain

    In addition to this, 36% of respondents also admitted that they have purchased a vape for a minor, and 11% do so regularly, media reports.

    “What we need to see now are appropriate penalties and enforcement mechanisms,” Lindblad added. “The licensing system will only be effective if there are tough financial penalties for rule breakers and the enforcement authorities are resourced sufficiently to do their job.”

  • Malaysia Urged to Reconsider Display Ban

    Malaysia Urged to Reconsider Display Ban

    Photo: Heorshe

    The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) is urging the ministry of health to reconsider the vape display ban introduced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), set to take effect on  April 1, 2025.

    According to MVA, the display ban not only limits consumers’ right to make informed decisions but also places unnecessary restrictions on access to crucial product information.

    “The display ban for vape creates significant obstacles for adult consumers seeking to make fact-based choices about the products they use. By preventing users from browsing or viewing product options at the point of sale, the ban directly impacts consumers’ ability to access key information and data about product quality, nicotine content, and flavor profiles—all critical factors in making informed purchasing decisions,” said MVA President Khairil Azizi Khairuddin.

    “Beyond the practical limitations, by forcing vape products out of sight, the ban sends a stigmatizing message, implying that vape is socially unacceptable. This could deter smokers from making the switch to vape, leaving them feeling ashamed for even considering a less harmful alternative to smoking. It is demoralizing for those who are genuinely seeking a way to quit smoking, and it further isolates them from the harm reduction support they need.”

    Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark.

    Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, president, Malaysian Vapers Alliance

    Banning product retail displays at retail outlets goes against basic consumer rights, MVA believes.

    “Informed choice is a cornerstone of consumer rights. Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark, unable to get the information they need to make choices.”

    To this end, MVA urges the MoH to reconsider this element of Act 852 and remove the vape display ban.

    “There are many adult vape users in Malaysia who have transitioned away from smoking. Our 2023 survey found 73.7 percent of vape users in Malaysia are former smokers. In fact, 80.1 percent of respondents had switched to vaping as a means to quit smoking. These statistics share a realistic view of the use case for vape. Restricting consumer access to product information counteracts harm reduction efforts, which seek to provide smokers with less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”

    “We are calling on the MoH to remove the vape display ban from Act 852 and ensure that consumer rights are protected. Transparency and informed decision-making are key to the success of harm reduction strategies in Malaysia,” Khairil concluded.

  • UKVIA Welcomes Support for Vape Licensing Plan

    UKVIA Welcomes Support for Vape Licensing Plan

    Credit: VPZ

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) welcomes Baroness Merrion’s support for introducing a vape licensing scheme this week.

    During a House of Lords debate on youth vaping, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care said the government was “actively considering” a vape licensing scheme.

    According to a press release, the UKVIA has long supported the introduction of vape licensing to fund a nationwide Trading Standards enforcement program to clamp down hard on rogue retailers who sell illicit products or sell to those under 18.

    “Will the government consider the impact of [the] lack of enforcement and introduce a licensing system with substantial fines for those who sell vapes without a license and for all outlets who sell to children, as well as any unlicensed vaping products?” Baroness Walmsey asked.

    Baroness Merron replied: “Licensing may well be beneficial for strengthening enforcement, supporting legitimate businesses, deterring rogue retailers and ultimately supporting the mission of improved public health. It is an area that we are actively considering for inclusion in the [Tobacco and Vapes] Bill.”

    UKVIA Director General John Dunne said: “We have been calling for a robust and effective vape licensing scheme – backed up by fines of at least £10,000 for those who sell for children – for years now, but this fell on deaf ears with the previous Conservative administration. Such a scheme could generate upwards of £50 million annually to fund a much-needed national Trading Standards enforcement program at no cost to the Treasury.

    “The Sunak government tried to rush through the Tobacco and Vapes will without proper debate and I am very much encouraged at the message given by Baroness Walmsey. I am delighted that serious thought is being given to amending the proposed legislation to include vape licensing so that youth vaping can successfully be tackled and the focus of vaping can once more return to helping adult smokers quit.

    “I look forward to meeting with ministers to discuss this and other ways to close the loopholes that allow illegal products to enter the supply chain here in the UK.”

  • Nicotine Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Nicotine Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Photo: auremar

    The U.S. We Card program is encouraging retailers to make employee training a top priority in promoting responsible retailing of age restricted products.

    In addition to educating staff, retailers should update in-store signage, gauge employee performance through “mystery shopping,” and compare their store practices against We Card’s Guide to Best Practices, according to the organization.

    “There are lots of changes in laws, regulations and age restricted products sold at retail,” said We Card President Doug Anderson in a statement. “In September, we kick off Awareness Month with a focus on elements that help reduce underage access: effective employee training that ensures retail employees are trained-and-confident and ready to deny underage purchase attempts of tobacco, vaping and nicotine pouch products.”

    To ensure compliance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspects up to 9,000 stores per month. Simultaneously, state government authorities also measure retailers’ compliance with state youth access laws.

    “Keeping tobacco, vaping products, nicotine pouches and all age-restricted products out of the hands of everyone under 21 years old is our top priority,” said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores and a We Card founding board member.

    “A well-trained staff helps stores establish a reputation as a responsible retailer in their communities.”