Category: Shop talk

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.”
December 12, 2024
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.”
December 10, 2024
Senator Wants Harsher Vape Laws in Kentucky

Exterior of Kentucky State Capitol Building on a Summer afternoon. Frankfort, Kentucky, USA (Credit: EJ Rodriquez)
Lawmakers, health leaders, and even young people talked in an interim legislative panel yesterday in Frankfort, Kentucky and discussed the dangers of youth use of vaping products.
A law was passed last year to address some youth vaping issues, but lawmakers were told that the new rules don’t go far enough.
Senator Jimmy Higdon says he may file a bill to require retailer licenses. He says that House Bill 11, which dealt with youth vaping, doesn’t have consequences for offenders, according to media reports.
“That’s a good tool to have hanging over your head. If you continue to break the law, you will lose your license,” said Sen. Higdon, R-Ligdon.
The Denton Group represents some vaping businesses, and a representative said that House Bill 11 is already hurting some. She wants a delay in enforcement of the bill.
“To allow time to create regulations which is based on science and help businesses keep operating in the commonwealth and adult smokers with alternatives,” said Abbie Gilbert with the Denton Group.
Senator Higdon also says his bill could have consequences for students caught with vapes away from school campuses.
The proposed bill could be discussed in the legislative session set to begin January 7.
November 20, 2024
Northern Ireland: Many Vapers Avoid Verifying Age

Credit: Miroslav
According to a recent survey, 4 out of 5 vape users in Northern Ireland have never been asked to verify their age compared to 45 percent of UK users.
Despite this, the survey showed retailers would support checks coming into force where the minimum age to purchase a vape in Northern Ireland or the UK is 18 years old.
Campaigners say vapes are just as threatening to our nation’s health as other age-restricted items, like cigarettes and alcohol, but currently have a hold over our youth who have access to vapes. The tools for age verification are more accessible to sources too for convenience stores.
The topic of age-restricted sales, which made it into the King’s Speech, also tackles shoplifting. Identification has been an essential aspect in delivering, according to media.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, driven by Rishi Sunak to stop under-15-year-olds being legally sold tobacco products.
Knowledge has evolved around vaping culture; suppliers like Vape Supplier Limited (VSL) have distributed ITL’s MyCheckr scanners to convenience stores.
November 13, 2024
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.”
September 6, 2024
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.”
September 5, 2024
Minnesota Attorney General Warns Illegal Vape Sellers

Credit: Chris Titze Imaging
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is sending thousands of letters to smoke shop retailers warning them to cease selling deceptive vaping products.
Attorney General Keith Ellison states that some of the products are indistinguishable from everyday highlighters and other school supplies.
Ellison states that once the rules are known, retailers will be fined up to $25,000 per device sold for violating them.
State law prohibits tobacco products from being advertised to children; however, new products like “highlight” disguise themselves as everyday school supplies. And that makes it easier for students to smuggle devices into school, according to media reports.
Ellison stated that the objective is to encourage voluntary compliance, but he also emphasized that his office will take legal action against businesses that choose to violate the law.
August 30, 2024
Golden, Colorado has First-Ever Fund for Shop Owners

Welcome to Golden sign along Washington street in Golden, Colorado (Credit: PaBrady63)
Lawmakers in Golden, Colorado, dropped the hammer on more than two dozen retail outlets last year when they banned the sales of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products in the city.
The move is costing the businesses thousands of dollars in revenue.
Now, this city on the western edge of the Denver metro area is setting up a one-time $100,000 relief fund for smoke and vape shops, gas stations, and convenience stores to soften the financial hit they’ve taken since Golden’s prohibition went into effect on Jan. 1, according to media reports.
The City Council earlier this month directed staff to create a competitive grant program for businesses to apply for funds. No single store can receive more than $10,000, and the money must be allocated before the end of the year.
About 30 businesses in Golden are affected by the city’s prohibition.
“The City Council is trying to say they’ve heard the concerns of local businesses and they want to be responsive to local businesses that were impacted by an ordinance they weren’t anticipating,” said Rick Muriby, Golden’s community development director.
While several Colorado municipalities, including Boulder, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Edgewater, have passed similar flavored tobacco sales bans in recent years to combat youth nicotine product consumption, Golden appears to be the first willing to backfill revenues lost to a law it passed.
Muriby said the $100,000 figure wasn’t based on sales data from city businesses but was a figure the council and city manager “felt was a reasonable amount for the city to spend.” While Golden wants to ensure its businesses remain healthy, he said, it has no intention of taking a second look at its flavored nicotine ban.
In March, for the second time in the last three sessions, a bill to regulate flavored nicotine products has died in Colorado’s General Assembly.
August 22, 2024
Registry Rules in Kentucky Decimating Vape Shops

Credit: Zoran Milic
A leading figure in the retail vaping industry in Kentucky has stated that businesses statewide are experiencing a decline. A new law that affects most vaping product outlets will come into effect this January.
Tony Florence owns six vape stores in Kentucky and a manufacturing facility. He said his father died from lung cancer and his interest in the business has been to provide an avenue to help people quit smoking cigarettes. Florence said open-system vaping devices can work to that end.
“If it got to the point where 20 years from now, I went out of business because there were no more people smoking and no more people vaping, mission accomplished. I’m good with that,” said Florence, according to media reports.
But Florence predicts a vast majority of vape shops in Kentucky will be closing in the months ahead. He said HB 11, passed earlier this year, limits legal sales to relatively few products. Florence said disposable vape devices often do have higher nicotine levels, which can foster continued use.
Florence said he’s seen a trend since April when lawmakers passed the legislation.
“More and more stores just going out of business. They are not renewing leases. I mean, from a manufacturing-distribution standpoint, I’m down 80 percent since April. Because stores are just … they’re either not buying new product because they’re selling off the old or they’re going out of business,” said Florence.
August 20, 2024
Iowa City Seeking to Limit Tobacco, Vape Shops
Credit: Argus
Iowa City Council is working to change some of the rules regarding the amount of tobacco and vape stores in town.
In a work session on Tuesday, councilmembers discussed a 55 permit limit in the city (down from 62), a 500 ft. barrier from tobacco shops being near school or university property, and the ban of the sale of kratom, an herbal substance the gives stimulus effects, according to media reports.
This is in addition to the moratorium on new tobacco permits that’s in place until December.
Up in Smoke is among the tobacco and vape shops that sell kratom. While the owner is happy there won’t be as much competition in town, he said it is concerning that the city is looking to ban kratom, as the shop is already dealing with the aftermath of the new state law limiting THC in products.
August 12, 2024