VAPE Magazine October 2015

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letter from the editor: People ask me all the time if VAPE is a business-to-business or business-toconsumer. The answer is that it’s both. We try to focus on every genre of the industry that’s out there, but the exciting thing is that there are so many subcultures in our industry that editorial space in each issue is at a premium. I recently had a conversation at San Antonio’s Vape Blast with an industry professional, and we almost said in unison: “This industry has everything from your 80-year-old grandma who just quit smoking to the 20-year-old who just wants to cloud chase.” And, it’s true. We have vapers who are trying or who have been successful in quitting smoking, cloud chasers, hobbyists, advocacy vapers, vaping events planners, vaping “celebs,” those who vape simply because of the business they are in, and yes, we have those high school kids who are curious about what vaping is, just like the generation before who were curious about cigarettes. Gosh, what an interesting time it is to be a writer.

For October’s issue, we threw it back to the thousands of people who thankfully read VAPE, with our first-ever Readers’ Best Survey. In August, we sent out a questionnaire on social media and via email, plugging this write-in survey. You, the people, chose your favorites in a multitude of categories, such as Best VAPE Column, Best E-Liquid, Favorite Personality and Best Regional Shop. We’re proud and excited to announce the winners and send a hearty congratulations and thanks to everyone involved.

As we head into the fall season, I urge to you stay involved. Whether it is pitching me an awesome story that you’ve heard through the industry grapevine, attending an event or joining our many organizations that are fighting for your rights, being an avid vaper is a very important part of how we stand today.

Happy reading.

NEWS, BUSINESS & CULTURE VAPE Magazine is the only international vaping industry focused magazine with more than 35,000 readership in the United States, Europe and Asia, where vaping professionals find the latest news, products and trends.

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Alyssa Stahr content@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x2 Executive Editor Laura Batty Art Director Van Avanzado Graphic Designers Joe Buehner, Laura Camp, Matt Ritzenthaler Webmaster Axel Gillespie Contributors Steffanie Atkins, Nick Bessette, Norm Bour, Jake Butcher, Cynthia Cabrera, Azim Chowdhury, Dave Cross, Benjy Feinberg, Maggie Follett, Jenee Fowler, Nick Green, Erin Hedrick, Chad Kushins, Chris Mellides, Leigh Oates, Susan Oser, Tony Ottomanelli, Tyler Price, Patrick Riffe, Matt Rowland, Ian Silver, Arvid Sollom, Maria Verven ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Executive Officer Matt Schramel Chief Operating Officer Alyssa Stahr Vice President Jon Laverde Executive Assistant Erin Hedrick ADVERTISING Mike Schramel, mike@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x1 Jon Laverde, jon@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x4 Jacob Barger, jacob@vapemz.com Tim Artz, tim@vapemz.com China-based advertisers contact Wingle Group Electronics LTD +852 51759256 dev@winglegroup.com CONTACT Advertising sales@vapemz.com News news@vapemz.com New Products newproducts@vapemz.com Employment jobs@vapemz.com VAPE Magazine is wholly owned

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table of contents Columns 14 Vaping From the Outside 28 Let’s Ask GrimmGreen

99 VAPE Vixen

101 Readers’ Best of 2015

113 Scenic Vapers

118 Rappers, Entrepreneurs Introduce

152 The VAPE Meet Scene

Vape Ya Tailfeather E-Liquid

150

On the Tip of Your Tongue

Features

158 Unbroken, Purilum Harvest

16 The Nicotine Lie

18 Financing Tips for

162 Top 10 Vaping Personalities

163 Shop Global Vapor Q&A

Successful Vape Shop Ownership

Sweet Rewards with Unique E-Liquids

30

21 Illinois Smoke Free Alternatives

166 Getting the Scoop on

Crowd Chasers

Retailers, Consumers

32 Mastering the Vape Space

23

Independent Women

58 Safety First 61 Techin’ Geek

Trade Association Stands Up for

Scope Juice Founder

Events

44 Clearing the Air On In-Flight Vaping?

54 Vape Haven 2015

49 Step Right Up!

107 What Really Happened at

Vape Expo NJ?

110 Eurozoned

121

ECC Brings the SoCal Heat

Departments

135 VaperCon West

64 Tech Reflect

126 UK Vapefest 2015

35 VAPE Talks Shop: 816/417 Vapor 39 Vaping 101: A Nic Level Look 42 VAPE Talks Shop: Mister-E-Liquid 46 Juice Judge 73 Just In Juices

52

Is Vaping Caffeine the Next Big Trend?

67 Cloud Chasing: Go Big Or Go Home?

70 The Grandfather Date

81

VAPE Fashion Pictorial

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MAGAZINE

—What are FDA’s Alternatives?

140

78 Branding Challenges Within

Lights, Cameras, Cloud Comps:

the E-Liquid Market

The Vape League Convention

90

Female Empowerment in

146 Vaping the Coast Brings Firsts

the Vaping Industry

to Alabama

92 Filmmaking & Vaping:

171 Moscow Hosts First

Who Are Vapers?

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What Does The Vaping Militia Do For Me?

Homeland VAPEXPO

Vaping From the Outside

What is this vaping activism thing anyway?

I once read that activism is the practice of vigorous action or involvement to achieve a political or other goal by the means of protests, demonstrations and the like. As vapers, you have probably

By Susan Oser heard something about vaping activism in regards to CASAA, the Vaping Militia, SFATA and perhaps via a local organization. Knowing this fact, the question is, do you truly know what vaping activism is all about? Generally, are there some of you who understand what the idea of activism is and what it takes?

I’ve had a few conversations about this topic with my own co-host Tami Chapman (aka bikergranny) on Vapenet, Joe Barnett from the Vaping Militia, and the one and only Malice Doll.

These are three of the many people I happen to know who have vaping activism in their blood and who make it a part of their lives. They don’t care about reputation, the popularity, or winning some kind of award or accolades. They love to help people, want to make sure your rights are being allowed and they are not paid a dime to do so. Sadly these very people (like myself) are the one percent who are doing all the grunt work while the rest of us are looking to get the freebies from a vaping show or who tend to forget that if strict regulations do come down, that the community won’t have a chance to win free stuff every day from a different online show host. In fact, as an online unit, if we are not careful, we could lose the privilege of buying our favorite juice online.

This is why activism in general (no matter the issue) can be so exhausting. I know there are some people within the vaping community who sometimes wonder if it’s all worth it in the end when defeat after defeat happens. It becomes even more daunting when we get into something as serious as a pending indoor ban and only six to 13 people are in the room. Most of them fall asleep, some zone out and quite a few of them leave. Sometimes, it even feels like as an online host, when one talks about vaping activism, it’s as if that topic is in competition with the giveaway shows. This is something the needs to be changed in my opinion.

Face it, if you have a show that brings in the numbers and has the giveaways, it almost seems logical to bring up a topic and call people to action so at least the troops are rallied up a bit. If not, then it’s kind of a lost cause, and the opportunity has been missed for you as that host or even that channel to do the right thing and show your activism chops. Thus, I’d like to challenge all of the big-time vape people to express a call to action, talk about a topic on vaping rights, etc. at least once every week to at least get your audience to think about it.

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Not only would you gain the respect for those in the community who work as hard as the people featured on the hit show Dirty Jobs, but you might just also find yourself wanting to get involved yourself.

If you look at when we do have a call to action that comes from CASAA, SFATA or the Vaping Militia and it comes locally at the last minute, the true activists show up. I know of at least one shop owner here in Michigan who has literally closed his business for the day just go to the Washtenaw county hearing on its indoor vaping ban. Sadly, he was one of only a handful to do so while the rest were thinking about the next dollar. And, he’s not only proud that he sacrificed a few dollars to do this but he will keep doing it just to keep his passion for vaping alive. Who doesn’t want to keep supporting that?

I know that are some people out there who want to let the “experts” handle the activism. However, if you think about it, we all do our part as vapers when it comes to activism in the smallest way that perhaps you never thought about. This includes spreading word about companies we support who test their juice, have clean labs, and who support CASAA and the Vaping Militia. As a juice maker, it means finding your nicotine and flavorings from a reputable and high-quality company. As a host, it means merely talking about the current laws and regulations and how it affects you as a constituent in your community. On social media, share the links that pass your way in support of vaping including articles, celebrities and politicians who actually care about our community.

So the question is: Do you think you’re a vaping activist now?

Remember these little words of wisdom: If you want something bad enough, you have to fight tooth and nail and work your ass off for it. If you want to live in a nice house and pay your bills, you have to work many hours in order to have that place to stay and have food on the table right? Stand up and fight! If you don’t, someone else will take those rights away from you and then you won’t be able to stand up anymore. If you don’t speak up, someone will find a way to keep you from keeping quiet about your rights as a vaper.

Susan E. Oser aka Angelwriterspeaks is a host on Monday nights on Vapenet (http:// http://vapenet.com/); (https:// www.facebook.com/CreativeAngelwriter). For her day job she is an online tutor and part-time freelance writer. She is a passionate activist for rights of any kind. Find her at http://angelwritercreations.com. Contact her directly at angelwritercreations@gmail.com.

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attention and memory likely represent true performance enhancement because they are not confounded by withdrawal relief. The beneficial cognitive effects of nicotine have implications for initiation of smoking and tobacco dependence.”

So, if you start smoking because your friends who smoke all seem to do better on tests than you, you might get addicted to performing better on cognitive tasks as well.

Words and photo by Jenee Fowler What if I told you everything you thought you knew about nicotine was wrong? What if I told you nicotine was the only ingredient in your e-liquid that has scientific evidence that it could improve cognitive function, treat dyskinesia, impulsivity, and reduce some symptoms of degenerative brain diseases? What if I told you keeping your nicotine level up might help prevent you from the onset of Alzheimer’s and to control your ADHD? Are you open-minded enough to accept some new evidence about an old misconception?

“The idea that nicotine would have positive therapeutic effect on brain function is still a novel idea to a lot of people,” said Paul Newhouse, M.D., professor of psychiatry, pharmacology and medicine, and the director of the Center for Cognitive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville during an interview with Dan Hurley, author of “Smarter, The New Science of Building Brain Power” (excerpts published on ScientificAmerican.com in an article titled Will a Nicotine Patch Make You Smarter?).

Newhouse continued: “Nicotine obviously carries a lot of baggage, but this paper is based on work we started doing in the late 1980s on the beneficial effects of nicotine on Alzheimer disease. There are now clinical trials of nicotine in Parkinson’s disease. What we’re trying to discover is the range of benefits.”

What’s even more interesting is what Newhouse had to say about the way nicotine works in our brains and how hard it actually is to get addicted to nicotine. “Nicotine receptors in the brain appear to work by regulating other receptor systems, like a gain amplifier. If you’re sleepy, it tends to make you more alert. If you’re anxious, it tends to calm you.

Obviously the results of small studies often aren’t replicated in larger studies, but at least nicotine certainly looks safe.

And we’ve seen absolutely no withdrawal symptoms. There doesn’t seem to be any abuse liability whatsoever in taking nicotine by patch in non-smokers. That’s reassuring.”

Some of the studies on the subject were initially intended to suggest that the conative enhancement was part of what made nicotine addictive or only effective at relieving symptoms of nicotine withdrawal in an addicted individual. The ironic bit is that they have, primarily, found that nicotine dependence has little to do with the enhancement. They included non-smokers in these studies, usually by administering a nicotine patch, and found significant improvements in their performance on a battery of tests.

One study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse said, “The significant effects of nicotine on motor abilities,

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Tobacco-related mental performance enhancement may be enough for some to pick up a bad habit, but what if nicotine didn’t have to come wrapped in tobacco and lit on fire?

What happens when you test the effects of nicotine without smoking? A 2007 paper in the journal Neuropharmacology put it this way, “Tobacco use has one of the highest rates of addiction of any abused drug. Paradoxically, in animal models, nicotine appears to be a weak reinforcer.”

Largely, what we know about nicotine today was discovered by way of tobacco use, and mostly by people actually smoking. The link between nicotine and addiction has been reinforced for so long that it’s rarely questioned, even by experts. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine.” Mind you, these are the same people who supported a study saying that a person might take up smoking for its cognitive benefits. There seems to be a large hole in reasoning when a single agent (nicotine) is interchangeable in definition with a compound (tobacco) that contains thousands of known and unknown agents.

Maybe all of this time something has been hiding in tobacco. It seems possible that amongst the 4,000 or so other chemicals we know to be present there could be an agent responsible for addiction outside of nicotine. Maybe we’ve been throwing the baby out with the bath water all these years at the advice of our doctors and scientists.

Obviously more and larger test and studies must be performed. We shouldn’t jump to any crazy conclusions just yet, but hopefully we can all agree that more research should be done. A drug that has so many benefits and so few negative side effects shouldn’t be ignored because of our previous misconceptions any longer.

While all critics may not be so easily swayed, at least now I can justify my 30 mil a day habit.

By Benjy Feinberg The vaping industry is booming and nowhere near a peak. will lend to businesses that have been active for two to three Estimated to become a 17 billion dollar industry by 2017, years, and the SBA will only lend to business owners who have opening a vape shop seems like a great business move. But, a FICO score of above 700. Even if qualifications are met, keep you’ve probably heard about emerging regulations in the inin mind that approval for these loans can take weeks. dustry. Is it even worth it to try to open your own?

Alternative- Alternative lenders, such as finance companies, Challenges Posed By Regulations offer loans with fast approval rates (sometimes only a matter While the FDA has yet to start regulating, cities, counties of minutes!) Alternative finance loans start out smaller (usuand states across the nation have taken vaping restrically under $50,000) and with shorter terms. Some finance tions into their own hands, making it essential for companies will increase your line of credit and you to check local reforms. In a reported matyour terms as your revenue grows. ter of months, the FDA’s regulations should Credit Cards- Many credit cards offer be published, likely having an affect on easily accessible loans to small businesses. your cash flow.

However, the repayment fees often are For example, if the government decides pretty heavy. Defaulting will lower your to regulate all flavored juices that contain credit score and could put your business nicotine, the price of these juices will rise. at risk.

This higher cost could, of course, seriously Vendor Financing- Some vendors offer financing hurt your profit margins. terms, which helps you build your credibility with Another potential challenge is that the FDA them. While the terms offered are usually short, might require vape shops to only serve people having a clean financing rapport with ven18 years of age and above, removing a large portion dors can lead to deals or better terms in of your potential client base. the future. On the flip side, having a bad relationship with a vendor could give you With unknown costs and even more poten a bad name in the industry. tial regulations on the horizon, you’re probably doubting whether opening a As you choose the financing that vape shop pays off. Are you the best per fits you best, decide what repayments son to take this jump? take first priority. It might be important for your business’ long term success to Tips To Be A Successful Vape repay vendors first. Also, consider the efShop Owner fects of late loan repayments on your credit The vaping industry is huge, number score, or on late and revolving fees. ing as many as 1,300 shops in some states. With a total tally of aguably Keeping your lending options adaptable is important more than 6,500 vape shops across the nation, you have to as you grow, because it helps you maintain flexibility in a get creative to stay competitive. rapidly changing industry.

How Can You Differentiate Your Business?

Bigger loans can help you pay off large overhead costs, but you’ll pay interest on the whole amount, even if you don’t end up using it all. Smaller loans may charge higher interest rates, but enable you more room to innovate without the burden of hefty debt. You can also choose to use multiple financing sources for different business needs. For example, you could use a bank loan to help finance your employees’ salaries, and alternative financing to fund your inventory purchases.

With a market as competitive as vaping, your business plans need to constantly be adapting to stay ahead of the curve.

Sometimes innovation requires extra financing, especially when you’re starting out. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to your financing options in order to differentiate your store.

Looking To The Future

Map out what vape shops already exist in your area, and how you can create a memorable experience for the customers who walk into your shop. If your area has lots of kiosks around, think about opening a lounge or a hang out spot for vapers. Scalable business plans, as simple as stocking hardto-find e-liquid flavors, can set your business apart and keep the door to your shop open.

Financing Tips For Getting Started

Navigating the different financing options may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. For starters, understanding the different loans can help you choose the financing option that best suits your vape shop.

Traditional Financing- For the largest loans with the longest repayment plans, your best bet is with a traditional bank or the Small Business Administration. However, banks generally only

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Demand for vaping is rising as its popularity grows throughout the country. New regulations are likely going to make competition fierce, creating a reality of buyouts and mergers in the market. Planning ahead and doing your market research can help you get in on the action, and might even make you a leader in the field.

For more information, follow @BehalfInc for latest updates and news in the space https://twitter.com/BehalfInc. Benjy Feinberg is co-founder and CEO of Behalf. Committed to the power of building relationships between small businesses and vendors, Behalf provides small business purchase financing and works with vendors to increase sales by offering financing options to their small business customer base.

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Illinois Smoke Free Alternatives Trade Association Stands Up for Retailers, Consumers in Illinois State Capitol

By Jake Butcher

“

Vapor products provide the best technological advancement to date to fight combustible tobacco usage. Chemically, the difference between vapor products and combustible tobacco is that combusted tobacco contains thousands of chemicals, including dozens that cause cancer, whereas vapor products do not. Due to the significant chemical differences between combustible cigarettes and advanced vaporizers, the two products cannot be reasonably compared and should be regulated differently as a matter of law.

The vapor products industry in Illinois is facing unprecedented regulatory efforts by opponents who are seeking to regulate vapor products in the same or similar manner to combustible cigarettes. Illinois SFATA has been focused on fending off these regulatory efforts, as well as on educating legislators on the fundamental differences between vapor products and combustible cigarettes.

loads of consumers and advocates descending on Springfield to demonstrate the importance of vapor products and their value in the market place. Ultimately, due to the efforts of Illinois SFATA, the bill did not advance out of the Illinois House.

These aforementioned bills would drastically change the vapor products industry in Illinois. The vapor products industry has already been regulated in surrounding states such as Indiana where manufacturing and storage standards could bankrupt many small businesses. Illinois producers, retailers and consumers do not want overly burdensome regulation.

However, regulation of the vapor products industry is coming.

We must be proactive about communicating with elected officials, stakeholders and the news media in telling our success stories and educating these groups on this unique opportunity to combat combustible cigarette usage.

“

Our firm, Leinenweber Baroni & Daffada Consulting LLC, has a personal connection and understanding of the need for vapor products in the marketplace. Several members of our firm have fought tobacco addiction. These habits are difficult to break, and the health effects associated with combustible cigarettes can last a lifetime. In addition, my mother’s father died of lung cancer attributable to smoking combustible cigarettes when I was 6 years old. If a viable alternative was available at that time that could have met the physical and physiological addictions associated with combustible cigarette usage, perhaps circumstances would be different for my family and many others today.

It is clear that the ability to provide alternatives to combustible tobacco cigarettes will only occur if such alternatives are available at significant price differentials without over regulation. In order for a viable market competitor to exist to combustible cigarettes, vapor products will need to remain convenient, satisfying and inexpensive, even under regulation.

In order to maintain the vapor products industry in Illinois, we must be able to tell our story at the local level to demonstrate the impact of the vapor industry from both a retailer and consumer perspective in legislators’ districts. Illinois SFATA must continue to grow in order to advocate effectively over the long term in Springfield. If you are a retailer or consumer, and you are interested in becoming an Illinois SFATA member, please contact Illinois SFATA Chapter president, Victoria Vasconcellos at vicki@cignot.com.

The most important fight of the Spring 2015 Session for Illinois SFATA centered on defeating an effort to add vapor products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act.

To date, Illinois SFATA has been winning the fight against excessive regulation at the state level in Springfield. We have successfully defeated bills related to a ban on flavored vapor products and e-liquids, retail licensure legislation that would have defined vapor products as tobacco products and an attempt to add vapor products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act requiring that vapor products only be used in areas where combustible cigarettes are allowed to be used.

The most important fight of the Spring 2015 Session for Illinois SFATA centered on defeating an effort to add vapor products to the Smoke Free Illinois Act. The bill as introduced sought to define vapor products as electronic cigarettes and ban them anywhere combustible cigarettes are banned in the State of Illinois. The current Smoke Free Illinois Act has a broad definition of public place and bans combustible cigarette use in public places. We engaged in an advocacy campaign on multiple fronts. We worked to educate General Assembly members through one-on-one meetings in the capitol.

Most importantly, we worked with SFATA membership to generate calls into legislators’ offices leading up to several bus-

We look forward to continuing to work for Illinois producers, retailers and consumers in the future to move the Illinois vapor industry and Illinois SFATA forward in Springfield.

Jake Butcher is a lawyer and public policy consultant based in Springfield, Ill. His firm, Leinenweber Baroni & Daffada Consulting LLC, is comprised of three public policy advocates, Peter Baroni, Andrew Bodewes and Butcher. The firm has been representing Illinois SFATA since September 2014 and has more than two decades of experience advocating in Springfield. The full service consulting firm represents clients across several sectors including in the health care, business, energy, pension, labor and transportation arenas. Butcher joined the firm in 2013 after spending nearly two years as assistant legal counsel to Senate President John J. Cullerton, where he drafted legislation and advised Senate members regarding the legal and political consequences related to various regulatory issues.

21

Vape Scene’s corps of female builders creates customer, internal bonds one coil at a time.

Words and photos by Alyssa Stahr

Jenifer Williams teared up when talking about a customer who stopped her on the street to thank her for saving his and his wife’s life after picking up vaping information at her yard sale. Showing emotion over a personal encounter was a sign of strength from just one of the female builders at Vape Scene, a two-store brick and mortar that operates in Lake Villa and Schaumburg, Ill. These ladies have a bond wrapped tighter than the best coil, and the respect earned by local customers has been a satisfying road, albeit a tough one at times.

Vape Scene Beginnings

Frazier Domingo, owner of Vape Scene, learned about vaping from his cousin in California, but returned to Illinois to find that the nearest vape shop was an hour away from where he lived. He visited shops, but they didn’t have the devices he wanted, and the e-liquid wasn’t that great.

He contacted a couple of friends and asked them if they wanted to start a vape shop.

“Worst-case scenario was, we open it, and if it doesn’t work out in a year, we just sell everything and then go back to the way it was. And that was about two years ago,” Domingo said.

Builders in the Making

Briana Vigil was the first hire out of the female builders in March of 2014, and later that month, Edie Toledo followed, along with Amber Ambroziak, Gladys Malazarte and Williams.

Katie Bingaman, the lone female associate at the Schaumburg store, began building because she wanted to build better than her boyfriend. Now, she does all of his coil building for him, even though he’s been vaping longer than she has.

Toledo smoked cigarettes before she knew what vaping was. One of her buddies was into vaping, and before they went on a double date, he said that he was going to stop by a shop and get some e-liquid.

“Me, not knowing what juice was, he’s like e-juice. We

walked into the vape shop, and it was a totally different experience than I’ve ever seen. I thought it was a pretty cool place, so I asked one of the people who was working there, ‘Are you guys hiring?’” Toledo said.

Toledo put in an application, and a month later, she got the job. From there, she and Vigil, who began vaping a couple months before Toledo joined the Vape Scene team, learned how to build from scratch. One of her friends worked at Vape Scene, and she learned from him. She now has been vaping for more than two years.

“It’s helped me quit [smoking]. Sometimes, I have my little weak spots, but I love vaping. I have my mod with me 24/7. It lays next to my bed; I put it on a pillow and everything,” she said.

Bingaman and her boyfriend started vaping the same way—to stave off the cigarette habit. Her father died of lung cancer, and she picked up smoking when she was 15.

She loves the constant of smoking and the smoke itself.

Bingaman was working at Tilted Kilt, and Domingo came in wearing a Space Jam shirt. She asked him about it, and he asked if she’d like to work at Vape Scene. She came in for an interview, and loved the good vibes. She felt like she could truly quit smoking in that space, so she took the job.

Ambroziak started vaping because of Vigil. Their stepdads are best friends, so the pair call each other cousins. Ambroziak went to the store to see what it had to offer, and purchased a little pen to get started. After two weeks, she wanted an upgrade. Later, she wanted another upgrade, and she just kept going. After a couple attempts at a job, after graduation, she finally became a Vape Space employee.

Malazarte lived in California for about six months, where she saw everyone holding a vape. She was stress smoking around the same time.

23

“I always told myself I wouldn’t smoke, because my dad always did. So, when I came back [to Illinois], I was looking for vape shops,” she said. “I knew that if I was going to do either or, I might as well go with the safer one. I ended up finding Vape Scene, and I bought my first setup. It was a little MVP battery, and I thought I was the coolest person. I was like, ‘Yeah, look at what I have compared to you guys and your pens.’ I felt so cool.”

Malazarte talked to Domingo and put in an application.

Every time she came into the shop, she still didn’t get the call. And, one day, she did.

“He made me work for it,” she said. “At that point, I had my first mech mod, and I was mostly building at home already. So, when I came in, it was a little easier for me.”

Malazarte didn’t think she’d still be vaping once she quit smoking. But for her, now it’s more than just quitting smoking; it’s become a hobby.

“You find these people that you just form a bond with, and they become family or they become friends. This whole industry, this whole community, is just astounding on its own,” she said.

Williams’ husband quit smoking about three years ago and started vaping. She knew nothing about it at the time, but she researched PG/VG and her husband asked what the verdict was on vaping. She said she’d have to think about it.

“I can’t let him win right off the bat,” she said. “It was about three months after he quit that I actually quit smoking. My dad was in the nursing home, and I knew I was going to be stressed out, but I didn’t want to buy cigarettes.”

She finally asked her husband to take her to the vape shop and set her up with something that worked. Then, her oldest son quit, and vaping became a family hobby.

“All the people that we’ve met, that I never would’ve met under other circumstances, is truly amazing to me. That’s what drives me even more to get out there and visit other shops, just because I would’ve missed out on meeting these amazing ladies,” she said. “I’m substantially older than they are. What other option would I have had to have gotten to know them like this? I wouldn’t have—except in this industry.”

Vaping Turns to Building

Toledo found building intimidating at first. However, once the crew at Vape Scene, including a former employee named Brock, taught her, she was just as good, if not better, than the boys. Vigil also gave Brock props for molding her into the builder she is today. Toledo said that Brock would pick on them, saying that coils were loose, for example; however, she knew that she would “one-up” Brock one day.

Vigil agreed: “I’d be like, ‘I built this, you don’t have to

24

build my stuff anymore.’ I’ve learned from Frazier; I’ve learned from a lot of people.”

Ambroziak wanted to start building because she is a people watcher and a question asker. Every time she went into the shop, she was curious and interested in what the other girls were doing.

“I would always watch Bri, and then I got my first setup I had to build, and I had no clue what I was doing. I would say to Bri, ‘This is not working; only one coil is burning and I’m freaking out!’ I was so amazed by how much smoke you can get. Every time I get a new build, I’m like, ‘I want it lower, I want it lower,’ and now I’m at a 0.1. When I first started building, I said this will be the death of me—this is so hard. I got the hang of it pretty soon; it wasn’t that hard, and it just kind of caught on with me and it got easier,” she said.

Malazarte was a self-proclaimed cheapskate who didn’t want to buy her coils. She started watching YouTube videos to get information and found that she could rebuild her own.

“You can get very specific to your style of vaping when you build yourself,” she said. “I remember trying to do my first build. It was the most terrible thing ever. It burned, it shorted, it sparked, and I thought, ‘That doesn’t really look safe to put in my mouth.’ But, I kept doing it because I ordered all this stuff already; I just can’t give up. After watching a bunch of videos and just continuously doing it—it’s just learning. It’s that easy. You just get better at it with practice over time.”

Williams bought a dripper, so she had to build. She knew she could have someone else build it, but she preferred building on her own. She learned to do it, but only after she sadly had to cut her nails down.

Customer Service at Vape Scene Bingaman said that she tries not to push what she likes on a customer, and prefers to see what they really want.

If they don’t have it at Vape Scene, she’ll recommend another store that has it.

Malazarte prefers not to think of people who walk through the door as “customers.” She feels it’s about forming a relationship. “That’s how you find out what they need,” she said. Williams agreed: “In this industry, everybody becomes friends, I think. It’s a very amazing industry to be in; that’s what drew me to it.” Vigil echoed her sentiments.

“We always try to send out good vibes. I try to help out the customer as much as I can, and like Gladys said, I build a bond. When I have regulars scheduled, they’ll come in and say, ‘Where’s Bri or where’s Edie?’” she said. Toledo said that if customers come in and say that another person really helped them, no matter who it is, it’s really good to hear.

“We always let each other know that a person was looking for you today,” Toledo said.

Domingo said that when Shawn (a Vape Scene employee) tried to sell Williams “all these different devices” when she was a customer, she broke out this bag.

Williams said that she gets a different flavor off of each device. If she likes something, she gets it, but then she usually has to get a new device for that flavor because it always tastes different.

Favorite Builds, Vapes

Toledo loves variable wattage. She likes that you can pick your preferred temperature and control the wattage.

“Sometimes, if I do a build on a dripper, and you just have a regular mech mod, it’s a lot warmer,” she said. “You just have to keep it at that certain temperature. But, with the tanks and the regulated mods, you can kind of control how much vapor you want—if you want a cool vape or a warm vape.”

Williams chimed in: “That’s what’s so amazing about those devices—that one of the mechanicals might not work or be good for one of us, but then when you have something that you can change for your taste, it gives you much more options, especially to build, too.”

Bingaman prefers light devices—something she can hold in her hand that’s not heavy. “I’m a one-handed vaper. I only hit a vape with one hand.”

Malazarte likes mechanical mods: the ones that aren’t regulated—the ones that you build and wrap yourself. She’s tried other devices, but she always goes back to the basics, instead of tanks where you only have certain coils that you can install. When it comes to dripping, one can get specific.

“It’s a staple of vaping; it’s not overly complicated. You do your wraps, you do your coils, you like the heat, you like the vapor production, you’re good,” she said. “I know it’s typically more convenient, but there’s something about the heat and the density that you get from mechanical mods that always appealed to me personally.”

Builders United

With five builds a day per person, and more on the weekends, this troupe of women stays very busy. They also have to rely on one another’s abilities.

“I depend on all my coworkers to do the same quality job that I could do,” Malazarte said. “If I’m busy, I can hand it off to her and I can trust her, which I couldn’t have always done at any other job. I think all of these people have to really love and care about vaping to be in this industry.

That just gives us more of a push.”

Vape Scene offers free builds to its customers with purchase, which is another huge draw. A customer can come in, have a professional provide a quality build, and if it’s not satisfying to them, they can tell staff what they’re looking for. The time it takes to wait for a build depends on how unusual the build is. Simple builds can take just a couple of minutes.

One particular day, Malazarte had a lot of customers asking for unusual builds that took more time and effort to complete.

“Personally, I don’t like those types of builds, because I feel you can get the same vape quality off of something pretty simple. The basics are the best,” she said. “But, my job is to help them. If that’s what they want, that’s what I’m here for. So builds like that—I remember one that took me like a half an hour. But, I wasn’t going to give up and say, ‘Hey, I can’t do this for you.’”

Chicks with Wicks

Intimidation, feeling bad in the beginning, not being treated the same—those are feelings many of the women of Vape Scene felt—until they proved themselves.

“It does make you feel bad at first, just because you get put down a little bit. But, at the same time, each of us know that we can build. So for us, we don’t take it personally,” Toledo said. Vigil agreed: “We prove them wrong.”

That’s why Malazarte said she works at Vape Scene—because she can build. She thinks it’s easier for girls to build because they have smaller hands to deal with coils.

“When I see Steve over there, he’s about to snap something in half. It kind of makes more sense to me anyway. There are customers who come in and say, ‘Oh, you do builds?’

And I say, ‘Yes, we all do.’”

Ambroziak, who likes hot vapes, agrees. “I like them really warm, so I always do my own with them. I don’t like to mess with all the fancy stuff. I’m simple.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Vigil likes building different coils and getting different heat levels and different Ohms. Most of the time, she doesn’t check her Ohms, but if she likes it, she keeps vaping it. If she doesn’t, she’ll build it again.

(from left to right) The Vape Scene team: Edie Toledo, Briana Vigil, Katie Bingaman, Frazier Domingo, Amber Ambroziak, Gladys Malazarte, Jenifer Williams

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Life at Vape Scene as a female doesn’t come without its pranks. Domingo prank called the store one day, and Malazarte was the lucky winner who answered the phone.

He asked if the store had female builders, and Malazarte said that all of the employees build, including the females.

Domingo jokingly said that he prefered if a male built his.

“I was so mad,” Malazarte said. “I was fuming. I’m saying to myself, ‘I can build just as good as any other guy.’”

Ambroziak, who overheard Malazarte’s end of the conversation, said that she was very professional. When Malazarte got off the phone, she shared that it was Domingo, but in the beginning, it wasn’t.

“Really, in my mind, it wasn’t Frazier. It’s dealing with customers,” Malazarte said. “There are times when I get personally offended by things that guys say when they come in. Regardless, I’m there for them. I cannot treat them terribly; that’s retail. Why should I be mad at you just because you’re a little misinformed? We build and then we show them. We prove to them that it’s not about gender.

It’s not about stereotypes. It’s about anyone who cares.”

Frazier said that Vape Scene has had a couple of instances where customers will ask if “she” is building. He said that, normally, he says yes, “she” will build this for your and if you don’t like it, he’ll have someone else do it for them.

“Pretty much 100 percent of the time, they like it. Or, there’s somebody new who comes in, and we’ll have regulars in there who say, ‘Let her build—she knows what she’s doing.’ That helps us, that our customers are backing us, too,” Domingo said.

Both Vape Scene locations have a building station.

Sometimes, customers will ask how to build, so the women will come out with tools and show them how to do it. Edie Toledo takes us through a Vape Scene build.

The female group at Vape Scene has dealt with just about everything, from men who find it easier to talk to women, to “creepers” who follow their every move while in the shop. “Some think you’re amazing no matter what you do. You could be blowing your nose, and they’re like, ‘Oh she’s gorgeous,’” Malazarte said.

The Origins of Hiring Female Builders

When Domingo initially opened Vape Scene, he wanted to hire women. He joked that he was going to make it a Tilted Kilt version of a vape shop. On a serious note, he knew that females would get along well with customers, and because of the female corps, more females are coming into the shop asking questions. He said that when he hires someone, they absolutely have to be customer oriented. It doesn’t matter if they know how to build or not; building is teachable.

Toledo said that a Vape Scene girl really needs to want it, while Williams said to succeed, you have to enjoy what you do.

“It’s more than just a job. There’s got to be a driving force other than just money to have this type of job. It’s a passion for this industry itself,” she said.

Malazarte agrees. “You can’t just sell any product. If you work at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, whatever, you don’t have to know anything about it. But, when it comes to vaping, there’s a lot of questions. It’s about every device, every liquid. Every juice is specific to every person. You’re going to have to want to learn all these things for your customers. You have to care.”

Domingo said that he wants to make sure that customers walk out of his store vaping. And, through all the tests and prank calls, the women want to stay on edge. Toledo said that they want to be able to answer questions and prove to people that they know their stuff.

Malazarte said that, as vapers, they’re all going through an amazing journey. However, there was one thing that did make her sad: “I remember the first night I had to cut my nails. I think a little tear fell down.”

For more information, visit http://shop.vapescene.net/.

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By Nick Green

Photo by Metal Jeff

Should I stick to an Atlantis or buy a Kanger Mini?

- Vinny Hey Vinny! If you like the Atlantis tanks, then chances are you will also like the Kanger tanks.

They are very similar in design and airflow. The great thing about the Kanger Mini is that it does come with an RBA (rebuildable) head. So, you can build your own coils as opposed to buying new coils every time they burn out. The RBA head does take up more space inside the tank, so you will lose a bit of juice capacity, but it’s still very cool. When I’m using the Kanger Mini, I’m always using the RBA base. Saves some money on those coil purchases.

Hope that helps out!

- Grimm

I was curious about the Maganus DVC tank. Do you know the life expectancy of coils on average?

- Dizzy Murray The Maganus is a great tank. The same goes for that tank that goes for a lot of other tanks.

The coils should last a decent amount of time. In my experience I’ve got anywhere from two to three weeks on one coil. That isn’t always set in stone, however. Some coils seem to last longer than others. So, don’t give up if you get a coil that only lasts a few days.

Just try another one and hope for the best. I also generally only change my coils when I notice a significant drop in flavor or performance.

- Grimm

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MAGAZINE

Crowd Chasers

Allen Querido and Ramon Barredo

THE RUTHLESS APPROACH TO THE E-LIQUID MARKET Using innovative and aggressive marketing, Ruthless E -Juice hopes to double international sales in 2016.

By Maria Verven Photo courtesy of Ruthless E-Juice By developing a line of unique gourmet flavors favored by discriminating vapers, Ruthless E-Juice has become one of the most successful e-liquid brands in the United States.

Now, living up to their name, the men and women behind Ruthless are developing an aggressive, almost “ruthless” approach to the international market. While Ruthless is already selling about 40 percent of its products overseas, CEO Allen Querido said they are aiming to double international sales in 2016.

“We have a big international presence, but there’s still a ways to go,” Querido said, adding that Ruthless is distributed in Australia, China, France, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and the U.K. This spring and summer, Querido and his Ruthless colleagues exhibited in their first international vape shows, including Vape Jam UK in early May and Vape China Expo in July.

They’ll attend at least six more international shows before the end of the year, including Vapexpo in Paris in September, meeting with distributors, store owners and vapers.

“We’re bringing our team to them so they can get to know what we’re all about. We want Ruthless to be available to all cultures of the world,” Querido said. “We want everywhere there’s vaping to know about and taste our products.”

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MAGAZINE

From Chef to E-Liquid Connoisseur Several years ago, when Allen Querido was in culinary school, he had no idea he would end up using his cooking talents to create new e-liquid recipes.

Querido and his buddy Ramon Barredo, Ruthless’ COO, were introduced to vaping during a trip to visit family in the Philippines in late 2011.

“I was just smoking socially, but Ramon was smoking more like a pack a day,” Querido said. “Ramon had struggled trying to quit smoking, so a cousin gave him his first vaporizer as a gift,” he said. When they got back to California, they set out to learn more about vaping and the e-liquids on the market.

“There was a lot of e-juice out there, but not a lot of creativity going on in the industry, and none that we really liked,” Querido said, explaining why he and Barredo decided to try making their own e-liquids in early 2012.

“They weren’t well made, were too simplistic and didn’t give you that fullness, that full punch of flavor, that ‘wow’ factor,” he said.

Suddenly Stuff Came Out Well So the pair bought some flavorings and started mixing and creating recipes in Ramon’s kitchen. “Suddenly stuff came out pretty well,” Querido said.

Their first break came when a friend and owner of the new vape shop Vapor Junkies offered to sell their e-juices. He selected five flavors: EZ Duz It, Grape Drank, C.r.e.a.m.sickle, Slurricane and Peach Fuzz, flavors that Ruthless continues to make to this day.

By the middle of 2012, they were selling so much that they had to move operations out of Ramon’s kitchen into a 500 square-foot warehouse in La Puentes, Calif.

“We saw huge potential,” Querido said. “We visited stores every single day, pushing our products as hard as we could. We got a lot of great reviews, social media followers and developed a lot of relationships in the industry,” he said, explaining the reasons behind their success.

By the middle of 2013, they had to relocate once again. Ruthless’ storage and shipping are now handled in a 10,000 squarefoot space in San Dimas, Calif., while a second facility in Walnut, Calif. houses the mixing, manufacturing, bottling and labeling.

Proud of their ISO-certified Walnut facility, Querido often invites customers to visit. “We’re trying to get the same FDA certification that pharmaceutical companies have,” he said.

More than 1,000 stores carry Ruthless E-Juice and its staff now numbers to more than 40, mostly in production, shipping, packaging, marketing and sales. Querido said they’re planning to expand to a 25,000 square-foot facility by the end of the year so they can bring everything together under one roof.

The Breakfast Club flavors Vape Flakes, Apple Snaxx, Crunchberry, and Froops were released in June, and are already taking off in popularity, Querido said.

“We sold close to 50,000 bottles in one month,” Querido said.

He believes they’re popular because it offers everyone’s favorite cereal in one juice line. The international response has also been very positive. “I just got back from China a week ago, and it was a hit even there, even though they probably don’t recognize the names,” he said.

Several new flavors are still in the hopper at Ruthless. “We don’t like to release new flavors all the time; we like to give each flavor a ‘run’ and then market it correctly,” he said.

Every e-liquid flavor released by Ruthless passes through Querido’s finely tuned palate. “I still work in the lab and have to be the one creating recipes for new flavors.

“Vapers change constantly, so we do a lot of market research to see what flavors are popular at the moment,” he said. “But we don’t ever want to release anything that’s redundant. We develop something within the same context but that’s totally different.”

For more information, visit http://www.ruthlessvapor.com/.

A Smoother, Sweeter Vape Querido is fussy when it comes to all of the ingredients that go into Ruthless E-Juice—especially the nicotine.

“We wanted to get the best available nicotine with certification, and choose a company that could move forward with us,” Querido said. “NicSelect offered all of that. The other nicotine we tried was harsher, with a sharper throat hit. The color was sometimes too brownish or the liquid was fishy smelling,” he said. “It just wasn’t appealing when mixed with our flavors.

“We tested NicSelect with all of our juices, and it came out with the best flavor,” he said. “We knew we wanted to use it for all our e-juices going forward.” Ruthless uses NicSelect’s VG blend, which offers what Querido describes as a “smoother, sweeter vape.”

He also appreciates the customer service he gets from Nicotine River, one of NicSelect’s exclusive distributors. “Just having someone always available was really big to us,” he said.

Querido said they use NicSelect for all of its flavors, including their most popular: EZ Duz It, EZ Duz It on Ice, Swamp Thang, Jungle Fever and Slurricane.

The Debut of La Dolce Vita and The Breakfast Club In May, Ruthless released a new flavor it called La Dolce Vita—a unique combination of “vanilla pistachio Italian gelato.”

The original Vaping Vamp, Maria Verven is partner and chief marketing mentor of VapeMentors.com.

Introduced at Vape Jam UK and featuring unique packaging, Ruthless only released 50,000 units of La Dolce Vita. As of press time, they’re close to selling out. “When people know a flavor is harder to get, they appreciate it even more,” Querido said.

But the Ruthless team didn’t stop there. They’re now launching four new breakfast flavors in a new line called The Breakfast Club.

“We tried a lot of breakfast flavors, but weren’t satisfied to the max,” Querido said. “So we took the four most popular breakfast cereals, and made sure every one of those flavors was exactly what it should taste like and put them together in one line.”

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Mastering the Vape Space Vape Shop of The Month: From Roofer to Vapreneur

By Norm Bour Photos courtesy of Route 1 Vapor Chris Austin dreaded every New Hampshire winter. As a professional roofer for decades, he hated climbing up and down ladders during the horrible snow and frigid weather conditions every year.

Austin turned 40 last December, and had worked in construction since the age of 15. He dropped out of high school, built boats, worked as a framer and spent long hours “hoping for a way out.” He found it in vaping. Austin opened Route 1 Vapor in Seabrook, N.H., in October 2014, and is now ready to open his second shop in Epping, N.H. How does this happen? How does a construction worker go from being a blue-collar tradesperson to becoming my latest Vape Shop of the Month?

Commitment to Service and Excellence Can Spell Success The decision to open a vape shop was a family affair, with some financial help and advice from his father. Since Austin was good with his hands, he bought materials and installed them himself. A frugal shopper, he pinched pennies everywhere he could, but knew there were some areas where he would not scrimp: training, service and products.

“We were successful from the beginning,” he said. “There was little competition, and most New Hampshire vape shops are franchises or were too fixated on specific markets. We cater to everyone and give everyone the same service.”

“It’s not about making a sale; it’s about helping them reach their goal,” he added.

Austin does not fit the model of most vape shop owners, nor does he follow most common paths to success. Many successful vape shop Vapreneurs come from a business background, as owners or active participants. A blue-collar worker transitioning into vape success is noteworthy and significant.

Austin started smoking at age 15 by hanging around an older crowd, and smoked for 20 more years. Transitioning to vaping was not easy. “Smoking is easy. The cigarette sits on your lips; it’s light and convenient. Vaping was awkward, and it took some effort to make that change.” It took a month, but when his taste for food came back and he started feeling better, he knew it was a good decision.

On top of that, he always wanted to be his own boss, and knew that this was his vehicle.

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MAGAZINE

Chris Austin and Brianna Consoli (customer)

He started by doing research—a lot of research. One of his managers worked at a competitor’s shop and watched what they did right and wrong. Austin visited every shop within a 50-mile radius and found flaws everywhere.

“One of the things that bugged me the most was not being greeted at the door, even after buying from them several times. How easy is that?” he asked.

We asked what his competitors were doing wrong, and he replied, “They don’t take suggestions. When a customer comes in and asks for something, we order it!

We take feedback very, very personally. Most don’t do that.”

How Vape Shops of the Month Become Significant My initial Vape Shop of the Month financial benchmark is hitting $10,000 monthly revenue. Austin almost doubled that in his first 30 days, and has never looked back. By month three, the shop hit its next milestone: $30,000 monthly income.

Route 1 is approaching its first anniversary, and its revenue now is several times that amount. The company recently opened its second shop in Epping, N.H., about 25 minutes away, but not for the reasons you would expect. Austin’s motivation for the second shop was not financial, but to serve the customers who drove that far to buy from him. Shop #3 is planned for next year.

Vape shops hitting numbers like these have become rare in this hyper-competitive industry. A few years ago, hitting six-figure income months were common, but the vape space is evolving. New vape shops are better equipped, better trained, better staffed, and poised for the future. The amateurs are victims of their own failures, but even so, the survivors are reaching formerly lofty heights.

I asked what made his shop so inviting, and he said, “It’s larger than most—almost 2,000 square feet— and is open and uncluttered. Everyone is greeted at the door. And every flavor tank has a battery. Period.

We never have to exchange batteries, and with an inventory of 146 flavors, that takes some effort.”

A local advocacy group has monthly meetings and retained an attorney to keep them involved.

Route 1 does little advertising aside from the normal social media channels, but it does something unique: It gets involved with the community and supports charity events. The company sponsors a women’s softball team, along with two Jiu Jitsu fighters who go to tournaments. One is a 6-year-old boy whose parents cannot afford to pay for their son’s hobby.

We discussed weaknesses in his business model, and Austin acknowledged that they should create their own house brand of e-liquids. “We have considered our own line, but have not done that yet. And we will not do it ourselves!”

The New Hampshire coastal community is seasonal, and many of his regulars leave town during summer. That void is filled by tourists.

I asked what advice he would offer to pending shop owners. “Do your research! Not just within the industry,

Paul Chareth, Maxwell Hager (manager), Molyda D’Amico, Chris Austin (owner), Holly Southworth, Genna dePierre and Brandon Bordonaro The company sponsors bike rides for cancer along with a local band that won a contest to go to the final round in Tennessee. Talk about supporting a range of projects!

The Christmas Toys for Tots campaign is personal for Austin, who said it goes further than Google advertising.

“I get a good feeling every day,” he said, and this concept, called corporate social responsibility, is rarely seen in small businesses. “When people come in teary-eyed, thanking us for what we’ve done, it’s immensely satisfying. I never got that in my roofing business!”

but also investigate the gaps in the shops around you,” he said.

He also said that customer tracking is elementary, and Route 1 uses a Clover POS system. “I admit it; I’m not the most business savvy person in the world, but we know how to treat people, which makes up for it.”

True enough, which is why I am proud to honor Route 1 as Vape Shop of the Month.

Who is the “typical” customer? Like many other shops, it is not always the young 20-somethings, but instead it is the 40-plus crowd, including a higher percentage of older female customers, and those who have smoked for decades.

The company’s top-selling liquids vary, and with 35 different lines, can be unpredictable. Cold Fusion Juice, a local company from Franklin, Mass., has been a strong seller, and it follows a similar cause marketing focus.

State regulators don’t worry about Route 1, as the company is doing this “by the book” as much as possible.

Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors, which offers online educational programs, services and resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. He’s also host of Vape Radio, a podcast series that interviews the masters of vape and thought leaders in the vape space. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com.

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talks

Missouri Vape Shop Floats in the Clouds

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Billy Angus and Martin Hedgecoke

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C

loud competitions happen daily in this great nation of ours. However these are literally above the rest. High above the 816 Vapor show floor in Kansas City, Mo., resides an 18ft. tall Cloud Lounge mezzanine, serving as a barstyle place for customers to relax, hang out and talk shop and builds.

Billy Angus, VP of operations at the Kansas City store, helps judge his store’s cloud comps from underneath the mezzanine of the store, which just opened a couple of months ago. The Cloud Lounge also has a 13ft. long cloud meter on the ceiling, starting from the mezzanine bar top and soaring over the showroom.

In business since Nov. 2013, 417 Vapor, 816’s sister store based in Springfield, Mo., was initially the dream of Doug Cox. Cox and Angus met via a mutual friend. Angus was looking to get into a different field of work, and the friend mentioned that her friend Doug was opening a vape store and could use some help. Angus called, set up a meeting with Cox and the two hit it off.

“Long story short, Doug offered me a management position at 417 Vapor. After a year, I had plans to move to Kansas City for other reasons of my own, and we decided to start looking for a location here once I got all settled in,” Angus said.

By this time, the Springfield store was booming and demanding more space. Cox, who smoked a packandahalf a day for 35 years, knew he had something from the very start. His sister and her husband introduced him to vaping, and being from the St. Louis, Mo., area, there was a vape shop everywhere. However, when Cox returned to Springfield, there wasn’t a store providing what Cox wanted to provide. After a “kneeslap” moment while watching a St. Louis Cardinals game one night, he opened a store three months later.

“The store that was open in Springfield was a sterile environment; it looked like a doctor’s office. The people weren’t really nice, and I wanted a bar where people could taste their juice,” Cox said. “I immediately started looking for places to rent, and found one in about a week and started searching for wholesalers.”

The decor of 417 Vapor initially came from “throwing darts” in the Lowe’s paint department. Now, the paint scheme for both shops is orange, and Cox made his own counters from scratch. He didn’t have a display case for six weeks, which is just one of the changes that has run parallel with how the vape industry has changed in just two short years.

“People try to open vape stores like that now, and there’s just too much merchandise. People are educated on the Internet and come in with an idea of what they want,” he said.

“Twenty months ago, the market was nothing like it is now.

I was just selling eGo style batteries and only had about 12 flavors of juice at that time.”

Once Cox’s store was up and running, it was time to expand.

He wanted to stick with what was working, making sure he hired the right people who actually enjoyed dealing with people. That’s where Billy Angus came in. While the stores are Cox’s creation, Angus said he’s helped from the beginning, creating and freeing up time for Cox to focus on other ventures like an eliquid line.

“Billy is just awesome, and Samantha Burnham, they are pretty much up there [in Kansas City] by themselves. One of our slogans that we use a lot down here, and it’s on the back of our T shirts, is, ‘It’s a big deal.’ And it is. Getting people off tobacco products is. It’s a big deal,” Cox said. “That was a lot of my motivation in starting it, and if you’d told me 25

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months ago I’d be doing this, I’d have laughed at you. That’s when I started vaping, and I didn’t know anything about it.”

Angus, Cox and some of the now 10 employees between the two stores worked hard to make the new Kansas City store, which opened May 1, a comforting environment for customers. The team focused on inspirational items, like music and art, and they wanted to have a classy area for people to come in and enjoy. It is different from 417, however, because now Cox knows a lot more about the industry. 816 mirrors 417 in some ways, such as stainless steel cabinets and shelving, and lamps instead of overhead lights, which creates a relaxed ambiance.

“I really love our decor and the looks we have achieved,” Angus said. “Our oneofakind Cloud Lounge and the competitions are super fun to judge from underneath the competitors. We have tons of room to stand or relax due to our huge 1800 sq. ft layout; we have a ton of local art and locally handcrafted features.”

The mezzanine idea popped in Cox’s head one day, and the landlord said that the space had been architecturally blueprinted for a mezzanine level, which worked with Cox’s vision for the Kansas City store.

“It’s a work in progress, but we’ll eventually have all of our flavors up there for the drippers. We want to make that more of an advanced cloud lounge, away from the newbies coming in,” Cox said.

In addition to opening the new store, Cox is the proud producer of his own line of premium e liquids. He is up to 115 flavors as of press time; however, he thinks he will stay around that mark. From day one, with what little research he could find on the Internet, he started adding more flavoring than what he read anyone else had. And it worked.

“You can’t skimp on your flavoring; literally it was just experimentation. It took me about two weeks to come up with the first 12 flavors. We use all stainless steel restaurant tables [to make the liquid] from scratch in the store. A lot of people say

that, but they’re ordering big bottles and putting it in little bottles. I order PG/VG, nicotine, everything separate, and then combine [them] in the store,” Cox said.

Cox gets a lot of his ideas by listening to his customers.

Sometimes, he will head to the flavor bar, mix some flavors together and call it something new. Slimer, a kiwi blend, and ALLIOOP, a caramel cinnamon roll flavor, are two instore favorites. Cox is working on some natural tobacco flavors and an allnatural raspberry blend.

Blended with industry knowledge and an active imagination, Cox has a ton of events and promotions in both stores, in addition to the cloud competitions. He also recently bought a 25ft. FedEx truck and had it wrapped with the shop’s logo in anticipation of event travel. While there is a focus on most of the “really solid” topselling units, like Aspire, Kanger, Innokin, Sigelei and IPV, starter kits are still the biggest sellers.

“Our bread and butter is starter kits, but we have a huge mod selection now, too,” Cox said. “Getting people off of cigarettes still is our main motivation, and the 3060 age group that comes in—they just want to quit smoking.”

Quitters, along with all customers, are greeted with a high five, a smiling face and a positive attitude. The focus is educating every person with the correct knowledge for the unit that fits them best, sitting down with each customer to educate him or her about the unit: how to turn it on, change coils, fill the tank, charge the battery and more. Angus said that he wants to make sure the customer is as comfortable as possible making the switch away from the “stinkies.”

Cox agrees: “Customers are everything. We want to make sure they are treated right and they leave with a smile on their face.

No. 1 is customer service and then the quality of juice. Everything else just falls into place if you have those two. That’s the two things we’re really known for in Southwest Missouri.”

For more information, visit www.816vapor.com.

417 Vapor’s Team (left to right) Martin Hedgecoke, Andrew Willoughby, Doug Cox (owner), Karissa Murray, Anthony Gordon, Jené James and Jessamyn Orchard

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VAPING 101 A Nic Level Look

Words and photo by Erin Hedrick

In our last adventure we visited a vape shop for the first time, and you purchased your first setup. Half of the battle has been won, but now there’s the other half to face—what to put in your new tank or addy. Needless to say there are plenty of e-liquid brands on the market to choose from, and countless more flavor varieties.

But where do you begin? Let’s say you know the flavor you want, but what about all of those numbers printed on the stickers hugging the e-liquid bottles? What does—for instance—12 mg/ml mean, and how does that compare to analogs? The strength of e-liquid is measured in mg/ml. Theoretically it is possible to determine how much e-liquid you are vaping. However, differences in devices, and the rate at which you vape a set amount of e-liquid, leads to big differences in how the nicotine is transferred to your body. If you drip, 3 mg/ml may give you the same effect that a 6 or 12 mg/ml e-liquid vaped from a starter kit or tank would give you. This is, of course, assuming that you’ve come to the vape side (Star Wars, anyone?) as a result of your desire to quit smoking. If you’ve never used tobacco products, it is important to understand that nicotine is an addictive substance. While we here at VAPE Magazine believe strongly in the power of vaping as a smoking cessation tool, it also can be enjoyed and implemented for reasons other than taking in nicotine. Some people (like me, for instance) enjoy vaping for the flavor. Vaping also has kept me from continually destroying my fingernails (it’s a bad habit I’ve had ever since I can remember). If you’re like me, then you’ll probably find vaping an e-liquid that contains nicotine harsh, and should go with a zero nic juice (0 mg/ml). Zero nic e-liquids serve other purposes too, though many in the industry say that this is the goal of vaping—to slowly wean yourself down the nicotine ladder.

Unless you possess a master’s in a scientific field, it’s hard to nail down an exact nicotine dosage in e-liquid.

There are helpful guides on the Internet, and any knowledgeable, experienced person in the industry should be happy to help sort the information out for you, but for those of us that are part of the vaping community for the lifestyle aspect, that’s a little much to take in. While a little experimentation can go a long way, here’s a helpful guide to keep in mind while shopping for your perfect all day vape.

12-18 mg/ml: After speaking with several employees at a nearby brick and mortar shop, I learned that the current belief is that 18 mg/ml is roughly the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes. If you’re a heavy smoker that consumes at least a pack a day, then this may be a good starting point for you. However, it’s easy to inhale more nicotine when vaping, since people tend to hit their mod more frequently than they would an analog.

The professionals I’ve spoken with all suggest starting at a lower level (such as a 12 mg/ml juice) and, if necessary, moving up. It should be noted that these levels of nicotine shouldn’t be vaped with an addy. Atomizers tend to generate a lot more vapor than tanks, so e-liquids with higher nicotine levels have much more of an impact in an addy than in a tank.

6 mg/ml: This generally is a good starting point for people who’d qualify as moderate smokers, smoking maybe half a pack a day. This also is a good level for people looking to switch to vaping from chewing tobacco.

3 mg/ml: 3 mg nic should appeal to light-to-moderate smokers. This also is the recommended level for dripping.

There hasn’t been one person that I’ve spoken with who has recommended vaping above this level if you plan on using a RDA or a sub-Ohm tank system.

0 mg/ml: This is the ideal option for people that want to enjoy vaping with the absence of nicotine, or for people that have been slowly lowering their nicotine intake, and are using vaping now as a habitual action or to keep up the appearance of smoking (Jedi mind trick on yourself).

While the above guidelines are a great starting point, the best suggestion that I, or anyone else, can give you is to experiment. Don’t be afraid to try a few different e-liquids of different nicotine levels to see what you prefer. And don’t let the numbers label you: vape at the level you feel comfortable at. Don’t try to relate vaping to how many analogs you smoked. Let your body tell you where you need to vape at.

Erin is VAPE Magazine’s executive assistant. New to the vaping scene, she loves long walks on the beach, comic book conventions, cats and her Doge RDA.

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Newbie A-Z Technical jargon can be a lot to take in, even for people who are in the know, and as you have probably noticed, there is plenty of it in the vaping world. Here’s a short vocabulary lesson to help get you started!

Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV): An APV usually consists of a bigger battery and features things such as variable voltage or variable wattage. The iTaste 134MX-Z by Innokin, which I recently bought and am in love with, is an example of an APV. All Day Vape: The e-liquid that you personally enjoy over any other and can vape on all day long without it getting old.

Box Mod: A box mod is any PV or APV that comes in a box shape and comes in several different wattage selections. Some popular wattage classes for box mods are: 10-30 watts, 50-80 watts and more than 100 watts.

Brick and Mortar (B&M): A physical store that you can buy vape products from.

Clouds: Due to the highly dense water content in vapor, the vapor that is exhaled when smoking electronic cigarettes is referred to as clouds.

Deck: The flat base area where the positive and negative posts sit on an RBA/RDA, which is designed to keep e-liquid off of the battery connection.

Hit: The inhalation of vapor.

Lung Hit: Alternative to mouth to lung hits, lung hits are inhales of vapor straight to the lungs. Usually requires massive airflow.

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Newbie A-Z

MG Strength (milligram strength per millilitre:(ml)- This relates to the percentage of nicotine contained within the e-liquid. For example, 8 mg is 8 mg of nicotine per ml.

Mod: Short for modification. This originally referred to modifying a flashlight or a battery to be used in vaping, but now is commonly used to refer to any vaping device that is not a cigalike.

Pull: Also known as the draw or hit. What the smoker does to get the vapor hit from the e-cig.

Throat Hit: The feeling an e-cigarette smoker experiences when the vapor hits his or her throat. Most desire it to feel like a cigarette with a full, yet smooth hit. *definitions gathered from http://www.bestclearomizer.com/

eGo battery with a tank

VAPING 101 Newbies Rate Favorite Starter Kits

Photo by Erin Hedrick

Just starting out? Our readers give their advice on the kits that rocked their first vape.

When i first started vaping, it was to quit cigarettes, and I didn’t know if it could really help me or not, so I wasn’t in the market to spend a bunch of money. First starter kit I got was an off brand, and it broke quick. I finally ended up getting an EVOD 2 kit with a variable voltage battery. The battery alone made all the difference in the world to keep me committed to it and kicking cigarettes.

It’s now been six months since I had a cigarette, and I’m a full-time vaper. I have now graduated to a mod box set. As far as what’s the best kit out there, it’s personal preference. Through trial and error, my preference is Kanger and Sigelei products.

Brandy Musser Williams-Lucas - Baltimore, Md.

When I started vaping, it was eGo and Vivinova/carto tanks. As for now, I would say the KangerTech SUBOX setup is quite good for a budget starter kit.

- Malaysia

Risyal Redzuan

I work at a shop in Richmond, Virginia, and if it were my choice, I would start everyone on a Nautilus mini and an iStick30. I started on the single-coil setup two years ago, and ended up smoking again because I wasn’t satisfied. All the spinner batteries I bought either broke or the chargers were junk, but once I got my hands on my iStick and Nautilus tank, that was it; I was hooked.

- Richmond Va.

Aunt Chelle Rayne

I purchased Avail Vapor’s Edge vape pen (just a step up from a real starter kit), same thing as KangerTech EMOW. The power supply (battery) lasted a few weeks and went bad, so I ordered that part directly from KangerTech, and it went bad in just a few days. I got another from MistHub this past Saturday, so I hope this one will do better; too much trouble with these batteries, so I would not recommend starting out on this unit, or even getting it for any other reason. I do have a different vape device now (the intent of purchase was to have it as a backup, but I use it more then the vape pen).

- Southwest Virginia

I started with cigalikes, then Evo 900+1100 mAh batteries with I clears with no satisfaction. Then I got an MVP and a Nautilus, and life changed. Soon I was into tube mods, then 30 + 50 watt boxes, and now unregulated 2+3 battery series boxes capable of upwards to 500 watts. Vaping is now a lifestyle.

- Youngstown, Ohio

Jon Bummer Markusic

I quit with a eGo battery and a ce4— that was almost two years ago. Everyone has a much larger selection now. I would still recommend this to start; it’s cheap and you can upgrade on your way.

Randi R. Santos - Pennsylvania

MVP 3.0 PRO with the Atlantis 2 is the s**t!

- Reading, Penn.

Matt Arey

Vistavapors.com has a great setup. They call it the Vista single. Cool part is they have a setup where you get the e-cig and their five top flavors (all 17ml bottles) for only 25 bucks.

I just looked it up; it’s called “Vista top five” on their site.

- Plymouth Minn.

Jake Kappel

I started with an eGo but started to smoke again after a few weeks. Several months later, I bought a Guardian e-pipe from SMOK and quit smoking since then. I have now an iStick 50w and several e-pipes and several clearomizers (SMOK, Aspire ...). Now, I’m making my e-liquids myself and am busy with rebuildables.

- Ghent, Belgium

Eric De Leeuw

Firstly, I have to say, if you are not willing to quit smoking, nothing can help you. Only when you are determined to quit smoking can the e-cig help. Also, the best starter kit on the market now? I think the CE5 would be like most classic one, but not the best. The EVOD atomizer with the twist battery would be much better than that. But recently, another box mod kit is better. Use a box mod to smoke with the Aspire Nautilus or Arctic—will be great vaping experience.

- China

Jack Zhang

Cliff Hodges

I started with a White Cloud cigalike setup used for nearly six months. One night, no 808 heads. I went to the local Walgreens and bought a Fin pen-type device and used it for a week. I liked the taste and vapor product, high nic 24mg, just what I needed to keep me off the cigs, then a vv device with Ce4, upgraded to Evod vv/vw … loved the Evod tank until I got Naut, paired it with MVP, then MVP 30 watt …

Now in rotation I have Aspire CF sub-Ohm, (2) MVP Pro, (2) iStick 30 watts. Atlantis V1, Isub G.. (3) Isub original tanks.

Tried building on a Kayfun; OK, but not my cup of tea. Cig free now 19 months. Husband and daughter also vape.

- St. Paul, Minn.

Patricia Wms-McDonald

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p o h S s k l a T Mister-E-Liquid E P VA Entrepreneur Discusses AEMSA Beginnings, Company History

By Alyssa Stahr Whether it’s bicycling through the neighborhood on a childhood paper route or running a fledgling business, entrepreneurs have one thing in common: they love creating something from nothing. Dan Lawitzke has come a long way from his paper route.

Mister-E-Liquid started in 2010 as an e-commerce website.

Handcrafting custom e-liquid per customers’ requests, the company grew steadily with a customer base all over the country. Lawitzke starting smoking socially in college; however, the habit grew to a pack a day. Lawitzke worked as a musician to help pay his way through college, and his parents helped with tuition and books. But with that help came expectations.

“I was singing four hours a night, and the smoking was affecting the way I was able to drink beer for the rest of the week,” Lawitzke mused. “A buddy of mine was using an e-cigarette. Actually, the eGos had literally just hit the market. I tried it and jumped right in to the whole thing.”

Photo by Aaron Tanis

(from left to right) Dan Lawitzke (CEO), Robert Knoblauch (store manager), Matthew McCollum (former store manager), Dave Doud (inventory control manager), John Waldmiller (sales manager), Russ Swanson (social media admin) Photo by J Ervin Bates

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Clearing The Air On In-Flight Vaping?

The writer in the Virgin Airways lounge at OR Tambo International Airport, JHB, South Africa, in April 2014, eagerly anticipating the chance to vape on her Virgin Atlantic flight to London, amongst others. Sadly, it was not to be.

By Maggie Follett In 2010, just before boarding a Qatar Airways return flight from London (via Doha) to Cape Town, where I live, I was aghast to notice a guy next to me in the departure lounge contentedly puffing on what appeared to be a cigarette—except that the telltale blue light winking at its tip suggested an electronic device. It was, he explained, a “digital fag!”

At the time, e-cigs were a novelty in SA, and I’d never seen a “live one.” In fact, a few days before, I’d been reduced to sucking miserably on the much-vaunted Ryanair “smokeless cigarettes” (essentially cardboard tubes containing nicotine-soaked cotton fibre), and I glumly recalled those halcyon days when one could legitimately reek up the back of the aircraft after the welcoming off-ping of the no-smoking light.

Later, during the flight, I bumped into e-cig bloke emerging from the toilets, and asked if I could “have a hit.” He happily obliged, so I vaped away brazenly, until being aggressively accosted by an irate flight attendant, whose hostility slowly gave way to fascination, as we explained the mechanics of the device. Soon, we were surrounded by curious cabin crew, who conceded that, while we were not breaking any law, they felt it prudent to check with the captain. Having duly conferred, the head flight attendant instructed us to desist from our practice, as “it might alarm other passengers, who would assume it was smoke, or possibly encourage other smokers to light up.”

Needless to say, vapeless dude did not speak to me for the rest of the long flight home!

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When I joined the vaping community, I was on cloud nine, reassured by the promise of a “nic-fix” in any place where smoking was disallowed (including planes, according to the marketing shpiel), so I was dismayed to discover, on various recent local and overseas flights, that the use of e-cigs now falls under the smoking ban.

In fact, those vaping on Qatar Airways (on which I had that first puff five years ago) now face especially stringent penalties, including possible imprisonment.

Having replaced my former anti-social vice with what seemed to be an inoffensive alternative, I was keen to establish why airlines the world over are suddenly taking such a hard line—particularly because PVs and bottles of e-juice conforming to international liquid guidelines (see https://www.tsa.gov/) are permitted in carry-on luggage. Furthermore, being a fire hazard in the cargo hold, owing to their lithium content, e-cig batteries must now be placed in hand luggage, although PVs themselves may neither be charged nor used on the aircraft.

Why? I wondered. Was it fear of terrorists using the devices as explosives? Could PVs interfere with delicate aviation electronics? Or was it pure ignorance-fear of an unknown new technology, which has now lumped hapless vapers along with smokers?

I tried to find some clarity amidst the murk—but research only made things cloudier. With VAPE being a U.S. publication, my first port of call was the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); however,

there is zilch on their extensive website referring to vaping—and at time of writing, I still have had no response to repeated enquiries via email and telephone, thereby forcing me to rely on other sources—of which a great many (of varying accuracy) exist.

The vaping on planes ban officially dates back to September 2011, when the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) first proposed rules prohibiting the use of e-cigs during flights, because these “may contain harmful substances or respiratory irritants in a confined space, especially to those who are at a higher risk.” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/ electronic-cigarettes-ban_n_821828.html) In June 2014, concerned U.S. senators urged the USDOT secretary to speed up a formal ban on “e-cigarette vaping” on domestic and international flights. Their strongly worded letter, citing reasons for the proposed restriction, can be seen at http://www.help.senate.gov/ranking/newsroom/ press/senators-urge-departmentof-transportation-to-finally-bane-cigarettes-on-airplanes.

USDOT asserts that e-cigs fall under the long-established, inflight smoking ban, which may be found on their website under http://www.transportation.gov/ airconsumer/air-consumer/dotpolicy-e-cigarettes, but it appears that the FAA has not yet issued an official ruling, permitting each individual U.S.-based domestic or international carrier to determine whether or not to allow in-flight vaping— just as smoking/vaping regulations are left to individual states, due to there being no national U.S. policy.

U.K. law is somewhat different. Despite a strict public smoking ban (in effect for several years), vaping is permitted anywhere, with one exception: on individual property. A property owner’s right to object gives airlines latitude to forbid vaping, and, as a result, most major airlines have now banned this during flights.

Interestingly, while fears that propylene glycol (PG) emissions may affect the health of aircraft passengers seems to be a major reason for the U.S. in-flight vaping ban, U.K. airlines mostly cite the fact that vaping could be confused with smoking, which might encourage the use of tobacco cigarettes during flights, rather than the issue of second-hand vapour—a sentiment echoed by other international airlines.

In South Africa, vaping is a burgeoning trend, so I contacted the SACAA (South African Civil Aviation

Authority) to establish why PVs may not be used on local or international SA-based flights. After a runaround of comically epic proportions (“What is an e-cigarette?”

“How do you spell ‘vaping’?”), I finally received this cryptic response from Corporate Services Executive Phindiwe Gwebu: “According to our Flight Operations department, our regulations do not cater for the use of electronic cigarettes on board, so they are not allowed.” On prying further, I received a marginally less obtuse reply: “Because this is a new invention, the regulations do not address it directly, and therefore the airline can decline anyone using it on board.”

So, there you have it. (Or not.)

To conclude, vaping on commercial aircraft may be not illegal, but it is generally not allowed. So, whilst rebellious vape-activists may blow caution to the wind and dare to sneak a stealthy puff in the “loo,” bear in mind that most aircraft use highly sensitive ionization smoke alarms, which are designed to detect particles, as opposed to the less sophisticated photoelectric detectors that work via light beams. PV vapour particles are larger than steam, so vaping in a confined space can trigger a smoke alarm—with disastrous consequences, as many travellers have learned, to their chagrin. (For one such incident, see http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ ecig-air-rage-incident-lands-airline-with-100k-costsafter-it-had-to-land-in-shannon-31184279.html) If you need any more convincing that in-flight vaping is a bad idea, check out “Can E-Cigs Set Off Smoke Detectors? An experiment” (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=hbWUJxGp-44) or “ECCR Xtra: Can Ecigs Set Off Smoke Detectors or Smoke Alarms?” on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um0hyMF59uk If you don’t hear an announcement relating to the use of e-cigs on your next flight, ask a member of the cabin crew for the airline policy—because nowadays, if you do get nicked for vaping on a plane, you not only face possible prosecution, but also jeopardise the global vaping cause!

Cape Town, South Africa-based Maggie Follet is an award-winning writer and founding member of the South African Scriptwriters’ Association Cape Chapter. Her freelance career has enabled her to constantly reinvent herself, broadening her horizons as a scriptwriter, journalist, proofreader and Afrikaans translator.

Follow her Facebook group, Vape Escape Mzansi.

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THE

JUICE JUDGE Words and photos by Steffanie Atkins

I <3 Donuts 0 mg TASTE - 2 VAPE - 4 THROAT HIT - 3 So, I’m kind of a doughnut connoisseur. Or at least I think I am. And I had heard lots of awesome things about this company and was really excited when I got the package in the mail. Upon my initial taste testing (before I knew which company I was trying) I was less than pleased with the flavor, and now that I know which e-liquid it is, I’m super bummed. It’s supposed to be a blueberry doughnut, which is one of my favorite things. But, the flavor is lacking. It’s just too weak. If the blueberry was a little more flavorful, this would have been awesome. I had the blueberry taste in my mouth after the hit, but nothing during the hit. It needs some umph. The clouds were super thick, and that was an added bonus. The throat hit was smooth, but it’s lacking in the flavor department.

Unbroken ‘Aurora’ 4 mg TASTE - 4 VAPE - 3 THROAT HIT - 2 So, this is one of those flavors that upon first hit, I had no idea what all was combined to make it, but I really liked it. It’s a sweet pear and apple flavor with caramel undertones. It’s such a different blend with lots of dimension, and I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely not your run of the mill flavor. It’s super unique and tastes nothing like anything I’ve tried before. Each hit I could taste something a little different, and I really like that. This is also another one of those flavors that I have a hard time putting into words because it’s difficult to describe, but not in a bad way. Just try it for yourself. The vape production was about average and the throat hit was a little on the light side for my liking, but all in all it’s a good vape. I’m not so keen on the 4 mg nic strength, only because it’s different and I know what I typically vape and then companies come in and try and be different and unique and make up numbers that most juice companies don’t sell.

But hey, that’s just my opinion. Maybe it fits with this e-liquid though and its unique flavor.

The Juice Judge Judges are picked from respected members of the vaping community to give unbiased reviews of e-juice.

The VAPE Verdict is reached by an initial blind taste test, and the review is written afterward.

Want to have your juice judged? Email jj@vapemz.com.

Reviews do not reflect the overall opinion of VAPE Magazine Steffanie Atkins is the self-proclaimed most pickiest vaper she knows. She has to be head over heels in love with a juice before she vapes it regularly. A baker and a foodie, Atkins is particular when it comes to taste and flavor. She loves long walks on the beach, candlelit dinners, tattoos, art and rocking her face off at concerts. She is forever on the search for the perfect Oreo flavor.

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Pearl ‘Bakehouse’ 3 mg TASTE - 1 VAPE - 3 THROAT HIT - 4 When I vaped Pearl’s Bakehouse initially, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was tasting or what I should be tasting. It’s kind of spicy, but not in the overly nicotine spicy, but the flavor was spicy. So to the Internet I went. It’s supposed to be a peanut butter flavor. I could taste it in the aftertaste, but the initial hit did not taste like peanut butter at all. The flavor was indiscernible. It’s never a good thing when I have to look up what it is that I’m supposed to taste. The throat hit was excellent though; it was a good strong, in-your-throat feeling that I really enjoyed, and the vapor production was about average. But, the taste just wasn’t enough to give it anything over a 1.

Prestige ‘Independence’ 3 mg TASTE - 1 VAPE - 2 THROAT HIT - 1 I was really not impressed with Prestige’s Independence flavor at all. It didn’t taste good; it didn’t have any throat hit and barely had any vapor production at all. It’s a berry, fruity flavor, but it totally missed the mark. The aftertaste is not good at all, which is about the same as the initial hit. It just was not something I’d ever vape again. I’m not sure how they could reformulate the product and make it better, but something needs to be done.

Blue Ostrich ‘Vanilla Custard’ 3 mg TASTE - 3 VAPE - 3 THROAT HIT - 4 I was really excited to try Blue Ostrich’s Vanilla Custard. They produce their e-liquid in my hometown, and I’ve never tried their products before. My initial taste test was that it was missing something. It’s a very typical vanilla custard flavor. I think that it could use another dimension. It’s got a good aftertaste and it’s a good vape, but nothing that makes me say ‘Wow, thats different.’ I’ve tried tons of vanilla flavors, and this is about the same. It needs a kick or something to bring it above the rest. It boasts a good, solid throat hit that I enjoyed, and my clouds were about average.

(left to right) Nicole Mogyorosi, Danielle Mogyorosi

Maryland-based sisters bring their family circus heritage to a new line of “Big Top”-inspired vapor flavors

By Chad Kushins Photos by Kyle J. Morris for Cirkusz Grrl, LLC

Launching a small business can be an intimidating task for anyone, but for Danielle and Nicole Mogyorosi—two close-knit sisters who come from a long line of dedicated circus performers—danger and inspiration go hand-in-hand.

With warm childhood memories of life under the big top and their own experiences in the corporate world, the women recently pooled their creativity and a shared love of vaping to introduce a unique flavor line that already has generated massive early buzz: Cirkusz Grrl.

Taking a break from their hectic schedule of promoting Cirkusz Grrl, the sisters sat down to discuss the challenges of being the “new kids on the block” in the vape community.

Aiming to produce an original, exciting flavor line that is meant to jog the childhood memories of even the toughest vaper, while keeping their own personal connection to the flavors and circus motif in mind, the Mogyorosi sisters have already learned a lot about creating and marketing their own vapor products—and have walked away with some valuable advice for those hoping to one day do the same.

While the two women have long been gung-ho about going into business together, it wasn’t until they both tried vaping earlier this year that the seeds of the Cirkusz Grrl concept really started to take hold.

“Nicole and I had decided that we needed to come up with a new idea, something that we could build together,” Danielle, the younger of the sisters and head of the company’s marketing and public relations, said. “During these late-night discussions, unfortunately, we were smoking a lot of cigarettes.”

There’s so much,” Nicole said. “Tax “documents, registration, social media, web presence—as the government does get more involved with these items, it is imperative to continue researching as you grow.

”

Nicole, Cirkusz Grrl’s primary design guru and the concept’s chief visionary, agrees that smoking is a habit that they both got addicted to, and and tried unsuccessfully to quit.

“Before we even thought about selling any products, we decided that this was a project we wanted to pursue, and in doing so better ourselves … [Also] it is an up-andcoming market that everyone is discussing and—having extremely supportive friends in the industry—we thought, ‘Let’s give this a shot,’” Nicole said.

Before the project got off the ground, Nicole had been living in Maryland, running her own graphic design business, House of Hazelnut, when her younger sister moved nearby from her home in New Hampshire. By a stroke of luck, their mutual friends at Planet of the Vapes MD got them into mixing and tinkering with vapor flavors just for fun and, although a hobby at first, the women quickly found they had an aptitude and enthusiasm for creating unique flavors.

“Almost instantly,” Nicole said, “we both began to think how we could put something like this of our own together. Our friends were incredibly helpful and they offered to have us hang out in their lab and try to make our own. I can’t say that we dabbled in a bunch of different flavors, since both Danielle and I, right away, knew the type of flavors that we would want for ourselves. They are basic, but they haven’t been completed with the Cirkusz Grrl touch. We did, however, want the flavors to be recognizable and comforting in their tastes.”

Recognizable and comforting already is a trademark of the Cirkusz Grrl line. With flavors like funnel cake, popcorn, snow cone and candy apple, users may feel like they’re under the big top while vaping, and may even feel a sense of childhood nostalgia themselves—something the Mogyorosi girls had intended all along.

“These flavors were inspired by comfort foods from our past,” Danielle said, referring to their unique childhood in the circus. “We grew up in such a different environment,

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that we wanted something that was directly linked to our past in the circus,” Nicole said. “It really was to pay homage to our own background in a way. It was nostalgic to us … we are so connected to our past through all the different senses, but smell and taste trigger so many memories. We felt it was a great idea for a line, and maybe the right timing.

And now, it really seems like other vapers are feeling the same way and enjoying it, too.”

While the sense of nostalgia for Cirkusz Grrl vapers was always intentional, the Mogyorosi girls have a deep connection to the line, which they insist motivates them further. “We are fourthgeneration circus girls!” Danielle said, giggling. “It’s our actual background, since we really do come from a circus family.”

“We had tigers and lions growing up,” adds Nicole, sharing her sister’s laugh. “Our family, three generations ago, used to perform for kings and queens all over the world … they were a unique group of people, and that’s the heritage that we learned from. We even performed a little bit when we were kids. So, these flavors and these designs are in our blood.”

Danielle adds, “These flavors represent a lot of memories for us.

We even spell ‘circus’ the way we do, as it’s the Hungarian way.”

As newcomers to the vape community, the girls quickly learned to utilize both traditional public relations methods and social networking to get Cirkusz Grrl off the ground. “[Social media] was foreign to me, since I’d never done any of this before,” Danielle said. “Facebook and Instagram and Twitter were all new to me, and we’ve had to learn how to use social media correctly as we have gone along. But it’s an important tool in today’s market, since it’s great PR and plays a huge, huge factor in getting your name out there quickly.”

The ladies are quick to add that, although the business started with a bang and the process of working side-by-side is a dream come true, it has still presented them with the uphill battle of learning the ropes of small business ownership and the tricks of the trade in getting your name out there in a competitive market. As Danielle concedes, it’s been a learning experience that fellow small vapor producers will have to adapt to and endure.

“Do your research!” Danielle advises. “There’s going to be a lot of ground to cover, not only starting out in the vape

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world, but in the business world itself. Selling online, keeping track of the trends in the market … It’s a lot to learn and you have to be ready to work for it.”

“You have to really keep track of what you are doing and the legal aspects,” Nicole said. “The best we can do is follow those guidelines and provide the safest, best ingredients and juices that we can … we’ve made it a point to make something that’s high end and that people can come back and keep using, not having to worry about quality and taste and safety.”

And with the vape community still blossoming, newcomers to the trade will also have to conduct their fair share of due diligence, as the girls quickly learned.

“There’s so much,” Nicole said. “Tax documents, registration, social media, web presence—as the government does get more involved with these items, it is imperative to continue researching as you grow. It’s already obvious that, as vaping gets more popular, the market is going to shift and change.

We are prepared and know we will have to stay on top of trends in order to keep this going.”

“I feel that, besides creating the flavors that you will be utilizing as your product, deciding upon a name and ensuring the domain is open is a crucial step,” Danielle said. “This will allow you to begin the licensing process, which is extremely important, as you will need your Federal Tax ID to complete several processes, including setting up a business bank account, finding a payment processor, as well as setting up a merchant account number.

“Being new to online sales, we assumed that we could complete all of this paperwork in a week. But we soon realized with all of the processing times and back and forth, it ended up taking a few weeks to get all of these details aligned.”

She adds, “Both of us have that corporate background, but in both cases, that was primarily a form of service industry.

This is the first time that we have a real product in front of us, and one that we feel strongly about getting out there.”

Although they are a brand-new company, these sisters are eager to leave their mark on the vaping world, no matter what the future of the industry may hold.

For more information, visit www.cirkuszgrrl.com.

Americans love their coffee.

The instant “fix” that we get from that first cup of joe in the morning gives us both a boost of physical energy and a jolt of mental clarity.

We pay good money for it, too, stopping at places like Starbucks or Caribou Coffee, where our favorite caffeinated beverage might cost in upwards of $8 per cup.

But what if there was an easier, healthier way to feed that caffeine addiction? What if there was a way to get our fix without the risk of spilling coffee on our laps during rush hour traffic? Wouldn’t it be nice to also avoid the related caffeine and sugar crash that almost always immediately follows? Thanks to the wonderful advancements in vaping technology, we are now witnessing a surge in popularity of the caffeinated e-cig.

Vaping

Is

Caffeine

the Next Big Trend?

By Matt Rowland Vaping caffeine is nothing new, but the mainstream public is just now catching wind of this marvelously inventive gadgetry. A significant amount of the credit goes to a recent report in The New York Times. Journalist Alex Williams calls these caffeine inhalers “Red Bull for the Lungs.” And if the Times gives the green light for any new book, movie or even a new type of e-cig, then a significant amount of public attention is sure to almost immediately follow.

In reviewing the Eagle Energy Vapor e-cig, reporter Williams goes on to say, “The disposable inhaler, which is $8.99, lasts for about 500 puffs. Although each inhaler contains only two milligrams of caffeine, compared with about 150 milligrams in many 12-ounce cups of coffee (caffeine content can vary wildly, according to the type of brew), the company says 10 to 20 puffs constitutes a standard serving. Indeed, that was enough to give this reporter a buzz...”

That’s a pretty impressive recommendation, considering that the anti-vaping movement is so widespread throughout the print and television media. But a single good review from The New York Times does not mean that everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of admiration for caffeinated

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Photo courtesy of E-cig-News.com

vaping devices. TIME Magazine, for example, is calling for the FDA to investigate the safety of caffeinated e-cigs, even though the e-juice ingredients are largely the same as those found in common energy drinks.

The main ingredients of the caffeinated e-juices are ginseng, taurine and guarana, a caffeine-rich plant from the Amazonian rain forests. While the levels of caffeine will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, most caffeinated e-cigs contain no nicotine, sugar or calories, and only about two milligrams of caffeine per e-cig.

With 500 puffs per e-cig and 10-20 puffs per dosage, that’s conservatively about 25 cups of vaporized coffee, with a total of two milligrams of combined caffeine for a mere $9. That’s a bargain worth investigating. Williams even boasts that, after only five small puffs, his fingers tingled.

After only 10 puffs, he had a caffeine high. If true, this means that 25 cups per e-cig could easily turn into 50. It all depends on the individual vaper’s tolerance levels.

Eagle Energy isn’t the only caffeinated e-cig on the market. Energy Shisha from the U.K. has a brand called Caffeine Vape Stix. And the Rush Energy Company

To be fair, we should also note that many medical professionals warn against the possible health risks of caffeine and energy drinks in general.

Whether we are vaping our stimulants or drinking them, consumptions of high quantities on a regular basis are usually not recommended.

Donald Hensrud, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is all over the web offering his opinions on caffeinated e-cigs. His main concern is that inhaling rather than drinking these stimulants causes them to be absorbed into the bloodstream much faster. But, we’re only talking about two tiny milligrams of caffeine divided over 500 puffs of an entire e-cig, vs. the 150 milligrams in a standard cup of coffee. Is a caffeinated e-cig really such a big deal? Or are doctors like Hensrud simply overreacting?

After all, many of these medical professionals consistently warn us that caffeine is addictive.Research shows a direct connection between excessive caffeine consumption and negative side effects like restlessness, agitation, depression, anxiety and other disorders of the nervous system. Since caffeinated e-cigs contain such a miniscule amount of the stimulant, one might expect the medical community to be shouting their health benefits from the rooftops.

Photo courtesy of Blog.VeppoCig.com

offers its alternative, named Vapor Stick. But, if disposable e-cigs are not your style, vaping enthusiasts can also purchase many different brands of caffeinated e-juice from an abundance of suppliers. The e-juice manufacturers also tend to offer a wider variety of flavor choices.

Meanwhile, disposable e-cigs like Eagle Energy only offer one standard flavor currently.

This rush of public acceptance is leading to a great deal of debate among local, state and federal politicians, as well as among leaders in the medical community. Should the vaping industry be regulated by the FDA like Big Tobacco and prescription drugs? And what about caffeinated vapor? Should it be regulated, like the Folgers Coffee found at your local grocer?

Since the late 1980s, the smoking of traditional cigarettes in public venues has become increasingly unacceptable, which is understandable, since second-hand smoke is harmful to our health. Yet somehow, vaping devices are deemed “guilty by association,” simply because they have a similar appearance to traditional tobacco cigarettes.

But, vaping isn’t the same as But, vaping isn’t smoking. And vaping caffeine the same as is not the same as drinking it. Just as millions of people smoking. And have turned to vaping as a vaping caffeine way to quit smoking, millions is not the same more might turn to the vape as drinking it. as a way to overcome their caffeine addiction. So, if you are tired of standing in line at the local Starbucks while the person in front of you orders her “quad Venti, nonfat, half-caff, light iced caramel latte, shaken not stirred,” then perhaps a caffeinated e-cig is worth a try.

Matt Rowland is a blogger for https://www.rastavapors.com/blog/.

It’s no big secret that vaping is taking the world by storm.

Photo courtesy of Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

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fireman ’ s lindenhurst park provides safe haven for vapers

By Alyssa Stahr Photos courtesy of The Vape Station L.I. The Vape Station L.I. (Long Island) opened in May, but already the shop is making a huge difference in its community. Justina Sylvanus’ entire family quit smoking, up to the point where she thought vaping was magic. They got more involved in the surrounding community, including the events circuit. However, Sylvanus quickly realized that there were always events in the city and in upstate Pennsylvania, but nothing on Long Island.

They wanted to do something for everyone local, and Vape Haven 2015 was added to the events calendar.

Held Saturday, July 18, at Fireman’s Lindenhurst Park in Lindenhurst, N.Y., the show had a different vibe in being outdoors.

“We were trying to make it different by making if, first of all, an outdoor thing,” Sylvanus said. “It was summer, and we wanted to see people outside. We wanted to mix a festival aspect with a vaping aspect.”

Food and live music were on hand to create a carnival-like atmosphere. The event was focused on getting people to try out new products and to get people together in one place to enjoy themselves. While there was a door fee, The Vape Station as

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a company didn’t sell anything in its booth. It allowed vendors to sell, however there were a ton of giveaways.

“We wanted to give the people what they came here for— plenty of stuff. We came in with 15,000 worth of giveaways, and we were wiped out,” Sylvanus said.

Along with Sean Sylvanus, Eddie Sampson, Charles Anzalone, Donna Anzalone, Victor Anzalone, Jenn Angelini, Teddy Elwenger, Chris Willis and Toni Pagano, The Vape Station not only secured the outdoor area of the park, but there was an indoor pavilion where a cloud competition took place and beer was served.

With it being the first year of the event, it wasn’t what Sylvanus expected. With 200 people and 17 vendors, she was expecting more.

“We were expecting a lot more people; it was the same weekend as the Jersey thing and we lost a lot of our vendors to that,” she said. “A lot of people ended up bolting to Jersey. We were expecting at least 500, but everyone that came was really happy.”

A personal highlight for Sylvanus was the cloud competition, which had 30 entries.

“It was awesome; everybody really enjoyed that. I think I was busy running around, and he [Sean] got the cloud comp.

He always gets the fun stuff,” she said.

Vape Haven was a rain or shine event, making the early morning rain a scary threat. However, after about an hour it died down, and everyone went outside to hopefully enjoy the live music. To Sylvanus’ surprise, not everyone was a band lover.

“I was a little surprised that nobody seemed to genuinely enjoy the live music; it was more annoying than anything,” she said.

“They wanted us to turn it down so the could talk about vaping.

Once we turned the music down, they enjoyed it.”

With a “cliquey” community like Long Island, Sylvanus did expect bugs and some negativity with a first-year event.

“It is very cliquey around here. People were like ‘Why don’t you do this,’ ‘We should be doing this.’ We were just trying to

have a good time. We gave out hats and T-shirts and juice, and we did our best. We’re hoping for much better planning for next year, but we’ll probably end up going through an event planner,” Sylvanus said.

The event planner thought came up because The Vape Station team wants things to run a bit smoothly the second time around and enjoy the event more. They also are thinking about a fall event and would like to secure cash sponsors instead of sponsoring the entire event out-of-pocket. Juice companies, Sylvanus said. were very supportive, sending eliquids and other items for raffles. More than 20 e-liquid companies sent product along for giveaways.

All in all, it wasn’t bad for a first-year event Sylvanus said.

“We’d like to see it grow. It was fun and a good concept, and we’d like to see it go somewhere.”

For more information, visit http://www.thevapestationli. com/vape-haven.html.

55

Safety

First

Battery Safety & Ohm’s Law Words and photos

by Nick Bessette

There literally are millions of vapers nowadays, and many of them are trying out the art of building their own coils and/or using a sub-Ohm tank. However, there are a few things that everyone should know before they delve into the realm of rebuilding and sub-Ohming; battery safety and Ohm’s Law are on the top of that list. The following is a step-by-step guide on the do’s and don’ts of the subculture of vaping.

·

Battery Safety It may seem like common sense to use the right tool for the job, but for a beginner, there’s so much information available that it might seem a bit overwhelming. Hopefully, these tips will get you on the right track for being a responsible, advanced personal vaporizer (APV) or mod owner.

Never Leave Your Batteries on the Charger Overnight. This can cause the battery to have a reduced life cycle, and any chance to extend the life of your batteries is one you should take into consideration. Not to mention the fact that Li-ion batteries are very fragile, so you should always be cautious when using them and keep an eye on the charging process.

Furthermore, make sure your charger is in a safe place out of the reach of children and never on the carpet.

·

·

Never Fully Discharge or Overcharge Your Batteries.

When charging, keep an eye on your batteries and make sure you take them off the charger when they say they are fully charged (most of the time at 4.2v.) Most modern chargers are equipped with overcharge protection, but that doesn’t mean you should just leave them on until you’re ready to use them. Batteries slowly drain even when they’re not being used in a mod, so if you leave them on, they will continuously cycle even though they still read 4.2v. Also, make sure you take out your batteries before they hit their lowest charge rate (most of the time at 3.5v.); you should notice a significant loss of power when using a mechanical (mech) mod when the batteries are starting to drain. When this happens, take it out and swap it for a fully charged cell.

Buy the Right Battery for the Job. Buying batteries can be a pain with so many different brands to choose from. First of all, when something has the word “fire” in the name, it’s best not to trust it. If you’re using a regulated device that only goes up to 15w and is not capable of sub-Ohming, you should most likely use an AW IMR protected cell battery.

There are several sizes to choose from, including 18350, 18450/500 and 18650, among others. Make sure you purchase the correct battery size for your device and never stack batteries. If you’re using a mech mod, you will need an unprotected, high-drain cell, such as the Samsung 25R “Smurfs” or the Sony VTC4’s. These batteries are capable of putting out a much higher amperage than protected cells, and if you are using it with a sub-Ohm coil, you will also be using a higher-than-average amp draw from your battery.

·

Don’t Short Out Your Batteries. A short circuit is like a shortcut that electricity can take on its way from the positive to negative terminals. This can be caused when your positive and negative terminals touch the battery at the same time, such as using a hybrid connection with a device with a shallow positive pin. But a short can be caused by a number of other factors as well. One thing to stay away from is storing batteries with other metal objects. Don’t just throw your batteries in your pocket with your keys and loose change, as it can short your battery and even explode! The telltale sign of a short is that your battery and mod will get very hot. Don’t risk using a battery that you shorted out; a $15 battery is definitely not worth risking your hand over.

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What is resistance? Resistance is like a bottleneck where four lanes get reduced to two and the traffic is forced to slow down. The more lanes (lower resistance), the faster traffic can go, and the fewer number of lanes (higher resistance), the slower it can move. The coils you build are the resistance, in the case of vaping. All three of these factors play a crucial part in Ohm’s law.

Ohm’s law can be stated as mathematical equations, all derived from the same principle. In the following equations, V is voltage, measured in volts (the size of the highway); I is current, measured in amperes (related to the top speed [voltage] of cars speeding down the highway); and R is resistance, measured in Ohms as related to the size of the highway: V = I x R (Voltage = Current multiplied by Resistance)

·

Always Check Your Battery Wrappers For Rips. This is a common problem that is too often overlooked. I’ve seen countless customers come into my vape shop that have tears in their battery wrappers and think it’s not a big deal, but they are definitely wrong. Even if it’s a minor tear, you should always rewrap it, because if it’s left untreated, it could get larger or possibly short your battery and cause you to get shocked. Battery rewraps are cheap and easy to do; simply peel the old wrapper off your battery, slide the new one over it (trim if necessary) and heat it using a hair dryer. Presto! You’re ready to start vaping safely once again.

·

Know the Amp Limit of Your Batteries. Before building your coils, make sure you check the amp limits of the batteries you are using in your mod. It is imperative that the batteries you use can handle the amp draw from the resistance of your coils. If the batteries you’re using cannot handle the amp draw, you can short out your device or possibly vent your batteries, which could be catastrophic. Furthermore, always use a married set of batteries of the same make and model if you’re using a dual battery mod. If you do not do this, it could lead to failure of your batteries or damage to your mod.

Ohm’s Law Ohm’s law is the relationship between three mathematical equations relating to the flow of electricity. It may be difficult for those of you who don’t have a pre-existing knowledge of electricity, so I’ll try to make it easy for you and relate it to a highway.

What is voltage? Voltage would be like a huge super-highway with lots of cars speeding down it. The speed at which the cars travel is determined by their own top speed and how many lanes are in the highway. The difference between the speed at which the cars are travelling and the cars’ maximum speed could be thought of as potential voltage.

What is current? The best analogy for current would be the fastest speed the cars can travel as determined by their own top speed (voltage). The quantity, volume or intensity of electrical flow would best describe current, as opposed to voltage, which refers to the force or “top speed,” causing the current flow.

R = V / I (Resistance = Voltage divided by Current) I = V / R (Current = Voltage Divided by Resistance) Knowing any two of the values of a circuit, one can determine (calculate) the third, using Ohm’s Law. For example, when building coils, you will have your known maximum voltage output (4.2v for most batteries) and your resistance (Ohms), so when you plug those two factors into the equation, you can determine how many amps you will be drawing from your battery. This information is crucial, because you don’t want to be going over the amp limits of your batteries. There are helpful tools out there to help you with this, including websites, and even apps that allow you to plug in the known factors to determine the amps you’re drawing from your batteries. Always use an Ohm reader or multi-meter when rebuilding so that you know the resistance of your coils and have the numbers you can plug into these formulas.

At this point, you should have a solid knowledge base of the safety aspect to vaping and hopefully have gained some knowledge on how batteries work as well. The information that I really want you all to take away from this is how important safety is when it comes to rebuilding your own coils. Too often, I see people using unsafe batteries or making coils that would make an electrician cringe. The more accidents we have as vapers, the more the media will show bad press and push for more regulations. Vape safe, everyone, and as always, vape on!

For the video portion of the story, visit https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=9zHEKIG2vIU&feature=youtu.be.

Nick Bessette works at Voltage Vape shop in Springfield, Mass., and he does video reviews for his own YouTube channel, Daily Vape TV, among others. He has been building for two years and conducting battery safety courses at VCC events over the past year. Teaching the safety aspect of vaping is a passion of his, and he believes that it’s an extremely important topic for every vaper to know about.

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Swappable Battery Sled Modular Electronics Bracket

Interchangeable Panel Kits

Electrical Connection Terminal

Optional Clear Panel

cloudmaker whiteout mod

By Arvid Sollom Temperature control is something you have heard me speak of before, and it’s the present as well as the future. The summer brought us advances in temperature control, and was the period during which China pushed past emulating the almighty Evolve and brought out their own take on temperature control (TC). At the same time, they upped the bar in wattage, as well as expanded the usable coil material from exclusively nickel to also include titanium. While not the very first in each advance, we can thank Yihi and their SX boards for this evolution, but Evolv wasn’t caught napping, either. The Ohio-based manufacturer released a chip named the DNA 200, which has now redefined a second type of TC device and a whole new level of advanced user experience.

Along with the advent of Type 2 devices (ones focused on both high power and customizable experiences), the industry is starting to draw a dichotomy of focus. Evolv initially focused on providing the most advanced control (wattage instead of voltage), but aimed for a simple user experience. Evolv even sought a retro experience by purchasing half of the world’s remaining Sony Walkman volume-control knobs for their first device, the Darwin. This allowed the user to simply “dial in” the experience. That ideal lived on through the DNA40, in which the company insisted that 40 watts were enough for any temperature-control device, and options should be limited only to those critical few, and leave the rest up to the device. That served to define the idea of the Type 1 category of devices in the TC world: the simple, easy, plug-and-go setup.

Luckily, for the extremists, Evolv listened, and in a surprising 180 degree turnaround, defined our new Type 2 category, the

Evolv Darwin Mod Photo by Arvid Sollom full-on, high-powered customization extreme, with 200 watts and near endless control over the “brain” of the device.

However, the Type 1 mods are here to stay. They are the devices of the masses. These will flood the market by year end and will have their own generational changes focused on making it easier to have a “good” temperature-control experience with little to no knowledge or hassle. The iStick 40 TC is this type of setup, if still an early version. Intended to involve only minor user choice around what temperature to choose, these devices will progress by making simplifications on the user side and becoming smarter about how they deal with variation in coils and circumstances, while maintaining a reliable vape. This type is a direct replacement for the “stick vape” setup aimed at the average user, allowing access to temperature control for everyone.

61

Cloudmaker Whiteout SX Mod Photo by Ian S. of Cloudmaker Technolgies Type 2 mods are in their infancy, but have received a beautiful start. The Cloudmaker Whiteout is a perfect example of the extreme end of customization. Not only can you order one with a DNA 200, which already has dozens of customizable properties in its PC software, but is even built to swap every part imaginable to make it unique. Users can choose from many different body colors, including clear sidewalls, and even find specs that allow 3D printed options at home. The Whiteout can swap 510 connector locations, button layouts, battery sled options and even the very brain itself. They are available with Yihi SX chips, Evolv DNA chips and their own unique chipset named the OS (open source), and down the line, one can pull out the existing brain and replace it with whatever new chipset is available. The OS chipset itself is groundbreaking, offering unheard of, pure geek customization. Extremists can even program their own operating system and have access to every sensor, input and output available to the chip by using a syntax based on the language used to control Arduino modules. This means that average users can pick up the device and use the built-in operating system, or go online and download one of many created by the public, and take advantage of the refined learning available through the crowd-sourced expansion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a brave proposition, but Cloudmaker is betting on the brilliance of the crowd when it comes to the future perfection of the temperature control experience.

Much like the separation between iPhone and Android, or pen and mod, we see the beginning of a new divide in temperature control devices, between the simpler, easier plug-andplay style devices, and the inevitable extreme-customization-

62

oriented power-user toys. The brilliance of the developments mean we all benefit and will have more choices down the line as each new iteration occurs. Just wait for Kanthal protection to mature after the iJoy Asolo mod! No technology has advanced at the rate of vape gears evolution previously, and new standards in short-term refinement are being set for the future of product development in all fields. I, for one, welcome our new temperature control overlords!

Arvid Sollom is a long-time vaper, old-school modder and builder, and resident tech and safety guru living in the Southwestern desert. He is founding member of Tucson Vapers and Clouds of Tucson and an employee at Old Pueblo Vapor.

TECH REFLECT The ProVape ProVari P3 Tech Reflect is the newest review column brought to you by VAPE Magazine.

However, technical reviews are not the overall opinions of VAPE Magazine. Tech Reflect is designed to give readers advice and know-how about gadgets, mods, devices, accessories and more.

Want to have your tech reflected? Email tech@vapemz.com.

Words and photos by Chris Mellides Since its first product release in 2010, ProVape has been revered for the quality and reliability of its devices.

The U.S.-based company was created in 2009 after one of its founding partners purchased and essentially reengineered one of the first e-cigarettes to be commercially available in China.

Out of that initial tinkering, ProVape was born, and with a large team of engineers it witnessed four significant product launches, the latest being the ProVari P3.

The P3 is constructed out of top-grade stainless steel, utilizes an enhanced menu system and has many built-in safety features (one of ProVape’s top priorities), including thermal monitoring, reverse battery protection, overcurrent protection and over discharge protection.

The P3 is both a variable voltage and variable wattage device. In voltage mode, the mod is capable of being adjusted from 2.9-6.0 volts in 0.1 increments. And in wattage mode, it is capable of operating between 3-20 watts in 0.2 increments.

The mod’s flat-top design and selfadjusting center pin ensure compatibility with most tanks and atomizers on the market, and the device’s P3 threading allows for third party tanks and atomizers with complementary threading to “hybrid” on to the P3 for a more minimalistic look with a shorter overall profile. For instance, the Kayfun V4 by SvoёMesto has P3 threading and does look rather nice on the P3.

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MAGAZINE

Now, the menu of the P3 is certainly not for the timid. At first glance, it looks busy and confusing. And in a lot of ways, when you first start handling the device, it is. However, the same can be said of my ProVari 2.0. You just have to adjust to the learning curve.

What throws off a lot of people is the one-button interface that’s become synonymous with the ProVari product line. That one button, while easily accessible and a pleasure to use, is your only tool for firing the device, powering it on and off, and rifling through an expansive menu where you can customize just about everything, from your desired voltage or wattage, to your saved setting profiles, and even the color of your button’s LED.

With that said, if you’re hip to RDAs and are looking for a new device, it’s probably wise to steer clear of the P3. Although, I’ll be the first to admit that a 1.6 Ohm build on my Kayfun Lite Plus pairs nicely with the P3.

The bottom line is that if you’re just someone who’s looking to quit smoking and is not concerned with blowing clouds or solely using rebuildables, but instead just wants a single device and a simple tank to last them well past the Second Coming, then the ProVari P3 is the “it” thing.

The ProVari P3 is available in various styles and finishes for the starting price of $199.95 and is available online directly through ProVape or at a number of its authorized resellers.

One of the new features of the P3 is the HotShot Boost mode. This allows the user to get a spurt of additional power for increased vapor that lasts for a second or two on every inhale. It’s an interesting feature—one that, while noticeable, isn’t particularly striking. I found myself setting it once and forgetting about it almost entirely.

Another interesting thing I’ve found is that the internal firmware of the P3 is upgradable.

The most striking update that comes preloaded on all new ProVari P3 models is dubbed “Version 38,” and it allows the device to subOhm down to 0.5 Ohms, where previously, the device could only fire as low as 0.7 Ohms.

This was a good move on ProVape’s part, considering that it wasn’t long after the P3’s initial launch that our friends from China started pumping out sub-Ohm clearomizers like the $#@% was going out of style.

However, it is important to note that while the P3 is capable of firing sub-Ohm builds, this is not a mod for us cloud chasers. And it wasn’t designed to be one. ProVape has been very vocal about their noninvolvement in the wattage wars, and instead, they’ve chosen to focus on producing well-made, solid products that perform well for 85 percent of vapers—i.e., their target market. And in that respect, ProVape has achieved this in spades.

Chris Mellides began vaping in 2012 and witnessed the rise and fall of the cartomizer tank firsthand.

A multimedia journalist, he has contributed to various local and national publications and has worked for WSHU Public Radio. Mellides takes an honest approach to reviewing the latest vaping hardware, separating the diamonds from the rough and suggesting where your money might be better spent. He works weekends at one of the first vape shops to launch on Long Island and lives in a fortified compound near Queens, N.Y.

65

Cloud Chasing:

Go Big or Go Home?

By Erin Hedrick

Bigger and better: two things vapers constantly strive for. Bigger mods, deeper wells, better flavor …

Ours is an industry that’s constantly seeking to push the limits and take it to the next level. Ours also is an industry that can appeal to virtually anyone; there’s some aspect of the community that all walks of life can find interest in—even competitively. While relatively infantile in this still young industry, cloud chasing has become a growing fad. If you’ve never witnessed someone blowing a big ol’ cloud, suffice it to say that it’s pretty cool looking. Its trendiness comes at a price, though: it’s currently one of— arguably the, based on opinions I’ve gathered—hot, controversial topics in the vape life.

“There’s no real point to it. It’s just part of the hobby.

Like with most hobbies, there’s going to be people who push it to the extremes just because they can,” said Erik Thomson of St. Louis, Mo. Meanwhile, Joseph Cooper, of Springfield, Ill., has a different opinion. “It’s disgusting, and it makes the rest of us [vapers] look bad in comparison. When people blow huge clouds in public, it makes us look like d-bags. With everything going on, we don’t need that. They like to think they have dirt on us as is; no need to fuel their fire.”

Is there a middle ground?

The arguments involving cloud chasing sit on polar opposite ends of the spectrum, and based on the information I’ve been able to gather, there’s really no middle ground.

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Cloud chasing as a hobby

Cloud chasing today

According to a lot of forum testimony, though, bigger and hotter set-ups were the only way for many people to finally kick the craving for analogs. Some people dove into the tinkering aspect, building their own coils, etc., to stave off the nagging feeling of need.

Cloud chasing as we know it is growing rapidly, with competitions springing up all over the country. There are competitions at trade shows, vape meets, B&M shops and even as stand-alone events (I was recently approached by the perpetrator of one such event, which aims to fundraise for a good cause). The competitions are impressive and can get pretty intense, from what I’ve seen.

“Seeing, feeling and controlling the amount of smoke I created helped keep me calm,” said one person, who chose to remain anonymous. “Blowing clouds brings me back to that, and it’s helped me forget about cigarettes.”

Cloud chasing origins Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it’s pretty clear that cloud chasing is here to stay—at least for a while. But where did it come from? To a lot of people, cloud chasing seems to have just popped up one day.

And what’s the appeal? Why has it taken over so much of the community?

For those of you who are just tuning in: What is cloud chasing? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like … sort of. More or less. It’s the act of blowing the biggest, thickest most badass cloud of vapor that you can. With all of that vapor hanging in front of you, it looks like you’re chasing after it. Get it? Or, alternatively, it’s chasing after the perfect cloud; it’s building better coils that will create bigger clouds that may, somewhere down the road, if you so choose, win you an award at a competition.

I’ve called the four corners of the country, but, despite attempts at guesstimation, have not been able to pinpoint a timeframe in which it sprung up. The Wall Street Journal did an interesting piece on the “extreme sport” of cloud chasing/cloud blowing, and in that article, they timed the hobby-within-a-hobby as starting up in “less than two years.” According to Wikipedia, cloud chasing began on America’s West Coast, and while Wikipedia is not always the most reliable source of information, that’s not a hard nugget of information to swallow, seeing as the vaping movement is considerably larger there than anywhere else in the country. The who’s who and what’s new in the industry more often than not leaks from the West Coast.

So, what all is involved in cloud chasing? The chasers I’ve been able to talk to at shows, and those who have been nice enough to talk to me while passing through shops, all seem to agree on several key points: battery safety, airflow, inhale/exhale techniques, posture and the coil build you’ve got running on your deck.

While the details of cloud chasing remain shrouded in mystery, we do know the important things. It’s a nichewithin-a-niche, a common cause for a certain group of vapers to rally around. It’s fun, to put it simply, and for a lot of people who like to be hands on, it gives them a creative outlet that allows them to see actual, real-life testaments to their hard work. While there’s a decent amount of hate being thrown in chasers’ directions, cloud chasing is an art form. It’s more than just grabbing a mod, an addy and going for the big chucks. Real cloud chasing takes a lot of technique and style that a lot of vapers don’t give it credit for. Just do a quick search on YouTube and you’ll see.

Erin is VAPE Magazine’s executive assistant. New to the vaping scene, she loves long walks on the beach, comic book conventions, cats and her Dog RDA.

The crowd chases clouds at Vape Blast Forth Worth.

Photo by Mike Schramel

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The Grandfather Date —

What are FDA’s Alternatives?

By Azim Chowdhury In my article in the last issue of VAPE Magazine, “FDA Regulation of E-Cigarettes—Are You Prepared?” we explored the requirements that will apply to e-vapor manufacturers if the FDA’s proposed “Deeming Regulation” becomes effective. The proposed regulation would capture e-vapor products that contain or use nicotine derived from tobacco as regulated tobacco products. Such e-vapor products (including devices and e-liquid) would be subject to the same statutory and regulatory requirements that currently apply to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco in a “one-size-fits-all” approach that essentially treats all “tobacco” products the same.

Premarket Authorization—Need for a New Grandfather Date The most onerous of these requirements is the premarket authorization process. This means that new products first will have to be authorized by the FDA before they can be sold. But what is a “new” product? That depends in large part on the “Grandfather Date” set forth in the statute: Feb. 15, 2007. A new tobacco product is any product that was either not commercially marketed in the United States as of Feb. 15, 2007, or modified in any way since that date.

There are two main premarket pathways set forth in the Tobacco Control Act—the Substantial Equivalence (SE) Report and the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA). The less burdensome of the two is the SE Report, which requires demonstrating that a new product is “substantially equivalent” to a product that was on the market as of the Feb. 15, 2007, Grandfather Date. The SE standard requires showing that any characteristics of the new product that are not identical to the grandfathered predicate product do not raise “different questions of public health.” Because it does not appear that any e-vapor products were on the market on Feb. 15, 2007, and therefore no “predicate” products are available for comparison purposes, submitting an SE Report for a new e-vapor products is not an option.

Rather, e-vapor companies will have to go through significantly more burdensome PMTA process to market new products. Although the PMTA does not require a comparison to a predicate product, it is the substantially more difficult (and considerably more expensive) pathway, because companies must demonstrate that their new products are “appropriate for the protection of the public health” in order to market them. This is a very high standard that requires considering the product’s risks and benefits to the population as a whole, including users and nonusers of the tobacco product, and taking into account the increased or decreased likelihood that existing users of tobacco products will stop using such products, and the increased or decreased likelihood that those who do not use tobacco products will start using such products.

Requiring all e-vapor products be subject to PMTAs would be likely to, eventually, destroy the industry, because it simply would not be a feasible option for thousands of small vaping businesses. Many industry advocates submitted comments to the Deeming Regulation, urging the FDA to use a new Grandfather Date for e-vapor products to capture the existing market. The FDA’s position, however, as stated in the preamble to the proposed Deeming Regulation, is that it does believe it has the legal authority to change the statutory Grandfather Date. But, history indicates otherwise.

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FDA’s Enforcement Discretion It is important to realize that because the Tobacco Control Act amended the FDCA, it attached itself to lots of well-established jurisprudence and precedent. The FDCA has always been interpreted as providing the FDA with much rulemaking and enforcement flexibility. For example, Section 701(a) of the FDCA gives the agency the authority to promulgate substantive rules that will provide for the “efficient enforcement” of the Act. Furthermore, the Tobacco Control Act itself states in Section 3 that the purpose of the law is to “provide new and flexible enforcement authority to ensure that there is effective oversight of the tobacco industry’s efforts to develop, introduce, and promote less harmful tobacco products.”

Agency decisions regarding whether or not to take enforcement action and the criteria for making such decisions has also been supported by the courts.

There are numerous examples of the FDA using its rulemaking authority to implement appropriate regulatory solutions other than those anticipated by explicit language in the FDCA. This is true not only with respect to FDA regulation of foods, drugs and medical devices but also tobacco, where the Agency has made ample use of its enforcement discretion with respect to the currently regulated products. Even in the Proposed Rule for the Deeming Regulation, the “option 2” to exclude premium cigars from regulation, as well as the 24-month “compliance policy” for submitting PMTAs discussed in my last article, are clear examples of the FDA using its enforcement discretion. In short, although the FDA has stated that it does not believe it can alter or amend the Grandfather Date from the Feb. 15, 2007, date set in the statute, there appears to be ample legal authority for the FDA to do so based on the Agency’s ability to use its enforcement discretion. Whether the Agency is motivated to do so is another question.

Potential New Grandfather Dates There are several potential dates that the FDA could adopt as the new Grandfather Date for e-vapor products. To understand which dates might make the most sense, it is important to consider why Feb. 15, 2007, an arbitrary date, was selected in the first place. That date was simply the date that the House and Senate bills that eventually became the Tobacco Control Act were reintroduced in Congress, after previous versions of the bill had failed to pass. In fact, even though it was H.R. 1256, introduced on March 3, 2009, in the 111th Congress, that was ultimately signed by the president, we suspect that the original Feb. 15, 2007, date was kept in the legislation, at least in part, because that was the date that put the tobacco industry on official notice not only that it would be subject to FDA’s authority, but how it would be regulated.

Using this same logic of “first notice,” the FDA could use several dates as the new grandfather date for e-vapor products: • April 25, 2011– This is the date that the FDA published a letter to e-cigarette stakeholders on its website that it would not appeal the Sottera Inc. v. FDA, 627 F.3d 891 (D.C. Cir. 2010) decision (which held that e-cigarettes that contain nicotine derived from tobacco and are sold for recreation fall under the meaning of “tobacco product” and are not drug delivery devices), and conceded that such e-cigarettes would be captured under its authority by the Deeming Regulation. That letter is available here: http:// www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm252360.htm.

• April 25, 2014– This is the date that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Deeming Regulation was published in the Federal Register and made available for public comment, putting the e-vapor industry on official notice that the FDA intends to regulate it in the same manner as currently regulated tobacco products.

• The Effective Date of the Deeming Regulation (To Be Determined)– The Proposed Deeming Regulation could go through significant changes before it is finalized, so using the effective date of the final version would make the most sense. In addition, the e-vapor product category is rapidly evolving, and the technology used in products today is quite different (e.g., variable voltage VTMs) from products that were on the market in 2007, 2011 and even 2014. Use of the earlier dates would not grandfather the many now standard safety features in today’s advanced e-vapor products the FDA may consider using the effective date of the Deeming Regulation as the new Grandfather Date for these products to ensure that it captures the latest engineering and safety advancements that benefit the public health.

A Legislative Solution?

While we believe that the FDA does have the legal authority to use its enforcement discretion to amend or alter the Grandfather Date for e-vapor products, the FDA has so far stated that it does not believe it can do so. As a result, many advocates have been lobbying Congress to change the Tobacco Control Act itself. In April 2015, Congressman Tom Cole introduced H.R. 2058 into the House of Representatives. The bill would remove all references to “February 15, 2007,” in the Tobacco Control Act and replace it with “the effective date of the regulation under which a tobacco product is deemed subject to the requirements of” the Tobacco Control Act. Thus, the new Grandfather Date would be tied to the date on which the FDA makes the Deeming Regulation effective (which could happen later this year). As a result, any products that are on the market today would be “grandfathered” and thus exempt from the premarket review requirements (but not the other regulatory requirements like Good Manufacturing Practices, ingredient disclosures, testing requirements, facility registration/inspection, etc.).

• Dated purchase orders; • Dated customer receipts; • Dated manufacturing documents; • Dated distributor or retailer inventory lists; or • Any other document that you believe demonstrates that the tobacco product was commercially marketed (not exclusively in test markets) in the U.S. as of the grandfather date.

This list of items is not all inclusive, but examples of materials that the FDA has accepted as evidence that a product was commercially marketed as of the Feb. 15, 2007, Grandfather Date.

The key item is the final bullet—“any other document that you believe demonstrates that the tobacco product was commercially marketed” in the United States as of the Grandfather Date. The FDA has left the door open for manufacturers to provide any other documentation that might indicate a particular product was on the market on a certain date.

This might include purchase documentation from suppliers, agreements with retailers or distributors, test results from analytical laboratories or correspondence with customers, among other things. Any dated document that might indicate when the specific product was on the market would be relevant evidence to establish grandfathered status.

Finally, although it remains to be seen whether the FDA will adopt a new Grandfather Date in the final Deeming Regulation, or whether either the Cole or Aderholt bills become law, e-vapor product manufacturers that are developing new products should push to introduce those products into the United States market sooner rather than later, before the Deeming Regulation becomes effective, just in case the effective date of that rule becomes the new Grandfather Date.

While it may be unlikely that this bill ever becomes law, given how difficult it is to get anything controversial through Congress, even more recently, Congressman Robert Aderholt introduced a rider to the 2016 Agricultural Spending Bill in the House Appropriations Committee that, similar to the Cole bill, would prohibit the FDA from enforcing the Feb. 15, 2007, Grandfather Date for newly deemed tobacco products and move the grandfather date to the effective date of Final Rule for Deeming Regulation. That bill was approved by the Committee on July 8, 2015, but is still unlikely to become law because of opposition in the Senate and the Obama Administration. A good discussion of this issue can be found in the Committee Report starting on page 71: http://appropriations. house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-114-hr-fy2016-agriculture.pdf.

What Next?

If the Grandfather Date is changed to a date other than Feb. 15, 2007, in order to avoid the premarket authorization requirements, e-vapor product manufacturers will need to document evidence that their products were commercially marketed as of the new date. In this regard, the FDA has published a Guidance Document which provides examples of the types of dated materials that will be accepted as evidence that a product was commercially marketed on the grandfather date: • Dated copies of advertisements; • Dated catalog pages; • Dated promotional material; • Dated trade publications; • Dated bills of lading; • Dated freight bills; • Dated waybills; • Dated invoices;

Azim Chowdhury is partner at Keller and Heckman LLP, founded in 1962. Since 1971, the firm has had an in-house scientific staff that works closely with the firm’s attorneys on matters of technical complexity as related to the pharmaceutical, food, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, consumer products and high-tech industries.

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Compiled by Erin Hedrick and Alyssa Stahr The world of vaping is vast and grows bigger every day! It’s an industrious community full of innovative people looking to create what they hope will be the perfect e-liquid flavor.

VAPE Magazine is here to hopefully shed some light on some of these new liquids. Sadly, there’s no way we could cover them all in every issue, but our goal is to showcase a variety of the newest e-liquids on the market to you, our valued readers.

Array from Vapor Hub

Array is a complex mix of four extracts that give you a sweet and sour blend, providing the all-day vape that you want. http://www.vapor-hub.com/

So, sit back, relax and enjoy this round of Just In Juices!

Ol’ Time Teddy from Juice Parlour

This iconic American flavor has been around since 1852. It has been a favorite for its distinctive creamy vanilla taste and is a unique, refreshing take on a classic cream soda. The 30 ml bottles come in a 70/30 VG/PG ratio. http://www.juiceparlour.com/products/ol-time-teddy

Bountiful from VapeWell

Bountiful is a great introduction flavor to VapeWell; it’s a delectable frothy treat made with luxurious whipped vanilla and sweet strawberry. This robust creamy blend is simply divine. http://vape-well.com/

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Miss Tea from Joy Flavor

Miss Tea is one of six new e-liquid flavors that is natural and true to its name. Available in a 20 ml bottle taster with a20/80 PG/VG blend, and 0 mg/ ml of nicotine, the taste will take you on a journey to days of barefoot strolls down bluegrass paths that lead to cool swimming holes, hot southern evenings, country line square dances and porch sitting with a glass of ice tea. As refreshing as its namesake, Miss Tea rejuvenates the soul. http://www.joyflavor.com/ageverification/index/index/

This unique blend of fruity cereal and light vanilla cream is as complex as it is delicious. This flavor is 71 percent VG/29 percent PG, however every flavor of this brand has a different PG/VG percentage, making each one its own special experience. Naked Fish e-liquids are mixed using the highest quality USP kosher food grade VG and PG, NicSelect nicotine (from an FDA inspected facility), and are flavored completely free of diacetyl or its byproducts. http://thevapestoreonline.com/naked-fish-wahoo.html

I ♥ Donuts from Mad Hatter Juice This deliciously fun juice is inspired by the taste of fresh blueberries with sugary glazed cake doughnuts, just like the best blueberry doughnut you’ve ever had without the worry of any calories! This is a true all-day vape, certain to appeal to all vapors from the first-time tasters to the wake ‘n vape professionals. http://www.ejuices.com/collections/mad-hatter-juice

Abe from Backwoods Vapor

Abe is a blue raspberry blend of perfection. This liquid was chosen for a few reasons—one is that it simply cannot be put down—it is an all-around great flavor. Another is because it has taken the No. 1 spot for product sale, and fans have great feedback for it. http://www.backwoodsvapor.com/ MAGAZINE

Flave Lab is a tart, creamy key lime filling inside of a graham cracker crust, balanced by a sweet meringue topping. With Florida’s Key, you get a nice creamy tart lime note on the inhale and a decadent graham cracker and sweet meringue on the exhale. http://www.flavelab.com/

Private Réserve from República Vapes

Wahoo from Naked Fish

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Florida’s Key from Flave Lab

A generous shot of classy, barrelaged bourbon and silky-smooth, rich vanillas are blended in this premium concoction. The delicious combination is topped off with various roasted nuts and creams that add a smoky tone, caramelized brown sugar and a hint of crisp coconut. The resulting aroma intoxicates the mind and overwhelms your senses. http://www.republicavapes.com/

Whitey Bulger from Wise Guys Vapes

A taste as elusive as Whitey Bulger himself, Wise Guys Vapes has captured the perfect blend of honeydew, peach and strawberry in this fan favorite out of Chicago. Available in 0, 6, 12 and 18 mg. http://wiseguysvapes.com/

AltoStratus from VistaVapors

This smooth, subtle fruity blend gives you a fruity candy burst with a mild sour candy finish. Playful yet classy, this flavor will leave you wanting more. http://www.vistavapors.com/ altostratus

CAPT’N TRIXX from Vaperlicious

Free the spark of freedom contained in Capt’n Trixx, and feel energized and refreshed. Release the power inside you and enjoy the unrestrained feeling independence. This e-liquid is a mixture of Cap’n Crunch cereal and Trix. http://vaperlicious.com/flavors/

Developer from Dark Room Vapors

Developer is the newest in the line of handcrafted combinations. In collaboration with the genius mind behind CRFT, Dark Room Vapors offers a unique outlook on uncharted flavors. http://darkroomvapors.com/collections/all

1980 Rendlesham Forest, UK from Time Zone E-Liquids

A blend of mango, strawberry and pineapple, this 25/75 PG/VG blend from Time Zone comes in 0, 3, 6 and 12 mg offerings. http:// www.drpicnics.com/product/1980-rendlesham-forrest-uk/

Cookie Butter from Sweet Nectar

Cookie Butter is Sweet Nectar’s signature savory blend. It tastes like soft Belgian cookies with a slightly caramelized, almost-butnot-quite gingerbread flavor. This flavor goes perfect with coffee. http://www.sweetnectarjuice.com/home.html

SoHo from Blue Label Elixir

Released at this year’s ECC, SoHo is Blue Label’s sixth premium high VG flavor. SoHo is a tantalizing mixture of luscious huckleberry and blueberry combined with subtle notes of mouthwatering honeydew and watermelon. http://www.thevapourlounge. com/thevapourloungeevents/2015/8/5/ soho-the-newest-flavor-from-blue-labelelixir-releasing-ecc

Ampere from Skunkworks Vapors

Ampere is a strawberry banana pudding e-liquid. Adding a hint of custard cream produces a large amount of flavor and just a touch of sweet. https://skunkworksvapors.com/

Strawzilla’s Milk from Triumphant Premium Juice

Strawzilla’s Milk is ripe, fresh strawberry flavor in milk with subtle hints of vanilla. The e-liquid is made with a 65/35 VG/PG ratio. http://www.triumphantjuice.com/

Froot Fighters from Motley Brew

A delectably sweet and juicy candied melon medley including chilled watermelon, vineripened cantaloupe and honeydew, plus a few undisclosed recipe treats. This melon felon will leave you breathless in its delicious wake. http://www.motleybrew.com/

Crud from Hobo Joe’s Juice

A complexity of flavors, this e-liquid is a cream, cake and exotic fruit blend. http://www.hoboejuice.com/product/crud/

Apple Butter from Liquid State

Sweet Washington apples slow cooked to caramelized perfection, blended with spiced cinnamon, make up this e-liquid. The result? A taste that rivals your grandma’s homemade apple pie. http://liquidstatevapors.com/

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Pink Apocalypse from VapΊr ML

Summer in a bottle, Pink Apocalypse is a fresh squeezed pink lemonade with just the right amount of mouthwatering cherry. https://www.vapor-ml.com/

Headless Horseman from Dr. Juice

Headless Horseman is a smooth pumpkin custard flavor infused with sugar cookie and cream with a hint of graham cracker crust. http://drjuicevaporliquid.com/

V-Liquid from Dr. Crimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Cheesecake with your choice of up to two toppings. Extra Flavor Shot: Will make the overall flavor profile stronger. http://www.drcrimmy.com/store/pc/DIY-c14.htm

Drip Around the Bush Idiom from EGeneration

Drip Around the Bush is the newest flavor in the Idiom line from EGeneration The 6 mg e-liquid tastes like fruit and vanilla confetti.

Cirrus from Peachtree Vapor

Cirrus is a vanilla cake flavor infused with brown sugar, cinnamon and milk. It is a max organic VG. https://www.peachtreevapor.com/productcategory/e-juice/empyrean

Supercharged from Redline

Supercharged is a fruit mix consisting of strawberries, peaches and apples with a hint of watermelon. http://www.redlinevapors.com/ collections/redline/products/ supercharged?variant=1116701300

Melon Dive from Little Head Vapor By combining honeydew, cantaloupe, apricot, strawberries and mangos, Melon Dive will have you craving the sweet nectar all day. http://littleheadvapor.com/

Pink Donut from Vapers Industry

Syrup is a dessert and cream e-liquid line, created for dessert lovers.

Be on the look out for your favorite dessert or maybe your favorite bowl of cereal. This line is 70 percent VG, 30 percent PG. Pass on desserts at dinner, and skip straight to the Syrup! Imagine biting into a pink frosted donut with sprinkles! Strawberry inhale, donut exhale with Pink Donut. http://vapersindustry.com/

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PREMIUM

Branding Challenges Within the E-Liquid Market

By Norm Bour

The dictionary defines the word “premium” as “something of exceptional quality or greater value than others of its kind; superior. Usually of higher cost or price.” The adjective is very inexact and begs the question: Who decides what is superior and what is not? The word is highly subjective and open to interpretation, as is beauty in the eye of the beholder.

This is just one of the challenges we face within the explosive e-liquid market. The other concerns the accusations that some e-liquids “pander to the young” and entice them to vape before the age of 18.

The “Premium” Question Premium-grade gasoline is specific, exact and of higher quality than regular unleaded.

To be considered premium gas, it must have a 91 octane rating based on the most common testing, called Research Octane Number, or RON. But that is just one of several different calibration methods used, and different countries have their own methods, as well.

Why should we care?

The abuse of the word premium is a problem on two fronts.

One is that when everything is considered “premium,” then none truly is. The other problem is that calling your e-liquid brand “premium” can expose you to legal challenges.

In a recent interview with VAPE Radio, Sarkis Kaladzhyan, president of CalCo Commercial Insurance in Sherman Oaks, Calif., shared the growing number of lawsuits that have become more prolific. Consumer rights’ violations have been entering the vaping industry, and the number-one complaint revolves around the word “premium.” Imagine a customer coming to

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you and claiming, “I bought your product, which is called premium, rather than a competitor’s line, which is cheaper. I am not happy with that, so I will sue.”

Kaladzhyan said that the customer sometimes feels “misled,” and may decide to go to court over it. Who is drawn into this battle? “Everyone,” he said, “from the retailer, to the distributor to the manufacturer.” The good news is that no plaintiff has won based on these allegations.

We have become a nation of connoisseurs in many areas, and the terms “top quality” or “premium line” have become a contentious topic.

How Do We Define a Premium Product?

Branding exaggerations are part of the process and easily abused. Many industries offer premium or exclusive lines, from wines to computers to automobiles. Is a MercedesBenz a premium car?

Many would say yes, but a billionaire driving a more expensive Bentley, Maybach or Rolls-Royce might scoff.

There are several key points to determine a quality, premium product: Rarity: If everyone has access to it and everyone has it, that negates the word “premium.” Automobile manufacturers sometimes issue special- or limited-edition models. The Aston One-77 was the fastest Aston Martin ever made, with a top speed of 220 miles per hour. It was produced from 2009 to 2012, and all 77 models were hand-built. That defines a premium car sold at a premium price.

Quality: When a Rolex watch is encrusted with top-quality jewels and is not just gold plated, that defines a quality product. The Rolex Ladies Masterpiece White Gold watch is set with 116 diamonds. The case and band are made of 18 carat white gold. It sells for $45,150.

In our world, the silver Caravella mod retails for about $2,000 and is a limited edition of 333 units. It is made from pure silver and defines the rarity and quality requirements. The question is: Will we--should we--pay more for products that are rare and of higher quality?

Aside from the marketing of these products, we need to address the vaping market e-liquid quality issue and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The American E-Liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA) set the benchmark and follows the directions of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). They were highly vocal in highlighting the now well-known problem of diacetyl, acetyl and propionyl in e-liquids. That problem still exists, but is slowly getting resolved.

For an e-liquid to be called premium, it should have the following characteristics: All ingredients should be United States Pharmacopeia (USP) verified or use USP ingredients, and should come from a GMPaudited facility.

The facilities should be ISO clean and 100 percent particulate free.

Premium e-liquids production should use proper standard operating procedures, including a transition or gowning room. Hair nets and face masks should be used by anyone working with the product.

Are E-Liquids Enticing Our Youth?

Of the criticisms thrown at the vaping industry, many focus on underage sale to minors. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics say that the percentage of high schoolers who vape tripled from 2013 to 2014 and reached 13.4 percent of students. But 2014 smoking statistics show that just 9.2 percent are smoking combustibles, down from 12.7 percent the previous year. These are the first single-digit statistics ever reported since they started tracking.

E-liquid companies that copy existing name brands or candy brands are common. Fruity, candy and sugary are acceptable descriptors for various flavors, but others are not.

Yummy-sounding names that should be banned include: Hawaiian Punch Kool-Aid SweeTARTS Gummy Bears FrootLoops And cartoon characters, such as Curious George and Papa Smurf.

The vaping industry is under attack; letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not invite more criticism and make our industry look bad. The race to see who can copy the next flavor brand is a lightning rod for controversy.

Fruit flavorings are the number-one vaping category, but there is a difference between vaping strawberry, apple and cherry, compared to vaping flavor names that bring back memories of elementary school.

Is this something you worry about? We want to hear your thoughts for our next issue as we explore this worrisome trend.

Is the e-liquid being graded and tested by a high-quality, impartial lab? It should be.

Are they using USP grade nicotine and monographs? Ditto.

All labeling should include: Bar code Nicotine level List of primary ingredients Company information Warning labels appropriate to federal and state guidelines All e-liquid manufacturing facilities should also carry appropriate liability insurance.

Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors, which offers online educational programs, services and resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also host of Vape Radio, a podcast series that interviews the masters of vape and thought leaders in the tape space. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com.

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FASHION PICTORIAL Yuliya Lasmovich came to California from her home country of Russia to realize a successful career in modeling and one day to reach her goal of acting.

At age 17, her aspirations for a career in modeling were furthered by following the successful careers of such supermodels as Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss. She then began modeling school at age 18 and quickly signed with an agency. She learned the craft through performing at countless runway shows across the country. The success and satisfaction she gained from this hard work gave her the confidence to truly believe in her career as an elite model. After a short stint in Prague, it was time to make the big leap to the United States.

Of course it was very hard to be so far from home without friends or family.

Through these difficult times, Yuliya was driven by her artistic passion and the firm belief that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the difficult moments that define you. She had the good fortune to work with so many wonderfully creative and professional people to produce a collection of unique and memorable work. She has been published in such magazines as Maxim, FHM, GQ, Esquire, Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health and Treats, and she has worked on many diverse projects such as LA Fashion Week, BMW, music videos and commercials.

La Maison De Fashion Mod: ThinKing DNA40 by Akced Atomizer: Aeolus v1 by Syntheticloud Drip Tip by Nolli Designs

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Wonderland Corsets Mod: ThinKing DNA40 by Akced Atomizer: Aeolus v1 by Syntheticloud Drip Tip by Nolli Designs

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La Maison De Fashion Mod: The Rig Mod by Vaping American Made Products Atomizer: The Roughneck by Vaping American Made Products

La Maison De Fashion Ellie Shoes Mod: Glas Mod Atomizer: REM Atty by REM Creations

La Maison De Fashion Mod: ThinKing DNA40 by Akced Atomizer: Aeolus v1 by Syntheticloud Drip Tip by Nolli Designs

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

JON LAVERDE

@Jon_Laverde MODEL

YULIYA LASMOVICH @yuliyac77 PHOTOGRAPHY

EZRA ZUNIGA & JEN ZUNIGA

@135fotografiks www.135fotografiks.com WARDROBE STYLIST

ALAN MONTES

A&D Styling @Amontes4659 WARDROBE

• LA MAISON DE FASHION • WONDERLAND CORSETS MAKEUP ARTIST

DIEGO QUINTERO

@JDQugo HAIR STYLIST

NATALIE KAMEROGLU

@nataliek_muah VIDEOGRAPHER

MOISES PEDRAZA

@lovesoulmedia MODS PROVIDED BY

CALIVAPERS

@calivapers SPECIAL THANKS TO

Bryan Gateb and Jan Halili at CaliVapers Denise Zuniga, photography assistant Kevin at Dystopian Studios

Wonderland Corsets Mod: The Rig Mod by Vaping American Made Products Atomizer: The Roughneck by Vaping American Made Products

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53 IN THE FUTURE NOBODY SMOKES

5 03 503eliquid.com

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Y R T S U D IN G IN P A V E H T IN

By Cynthia Cabrera

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Recently I watched a program on CNN called “The Seventies,” a retrospective series on the pivotal decade that saw women’s rights come to the forefront, the fight for gay rights take off, the move toward consumer product safety and the rise of television, among other pivotal events.

At that event, a male business owner commented that for two shows in a row he had been stuck next to the same competitor who showcased a 20-something “booth babe” in butt-cheek revealing shorty shorts. His complaints? That she was always wiggling her butt in his direction, and that for a 20-something; she had an unforgivably saggy butt.

The segment opened with an interview involving Hugh Hefner and two women’s liberation advocates. I remember sighing with relief that women today are well empowered to be themselves with far less objectification than these women faced in the ‘70s. Then one of the women told Hugh Hefner that he should let them know the “day he has to parade around with a bunny tail stuck to his rear end” and I flashed back to the most recent “vape event” I had attended and realized that I was so, so wrong.

NACS was the first trade show where SFATA ever exhibited. The then-president of the organization insisted there be “models” in the booth. Never mind that they could not intelligently explain what the federal and regulatory issues that SFATA hoped to address were—the point was to pull people (read = men) into the booth with the lure of hot chicks in tight fitting SFATA dresses. The show was a bust, but the ladies to got to keep their dresses. Since taking the reins I’ve never felt the need to stock the booth with scant-

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Yeah … we still have a way to go.

ily clad models, but I recognize that sex sells.

The question then for this industry—facing more regulatory challenges and hurdles than probably any other in the country—is how important is sex to spreading the message about the potential of vapor products to change the landscape of health? The answer depends on whether that is actually the goal; the assumption that a “trade show” requires hot chicks for business-to-business transactions to take place is questionable.

Spenser Chen of Frontback conducted real-time tests during the famed CES show in Las Vegas to determine if booth babes brought more business to the company than a booth with older, experienced contractors, who were dressed for business. The results? They were great. The booth that was staffed with the booth babes generated a third of the foot traffic (as measured by conversations or demos) and less than half the leads (as measured by a badge swipe or a completed contact form) while the other (non boothbabe) team had a consistently packed booth that ultimately generated over 550 leads, more than triple from the previous year.

Similarly a consumer show where the goal is to attract new customers by providing samples handed out by showgirl look-alikes misses the fact that 60 percent of vapers are women and 15.3 percent of women (vs. 20 percent of men) smoke cigarettes. Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, noted that “Tens of millions of female smokers and smokers over 40 may require different marketing strategies to reach.”

But, if a vape event is just a big carnival where part of the entertainment is people watching, then there is indeed a place for all those booth babes … ahem … models.

Although more egregious in its objectification of women, the vapor industry isn’t the only one questioning this strategy. A 2013 Forbes.com article reported: “For better or worse, ‘booth babes’ is an industry term to describe women paid, as former Eurogamer.net writer Rab Florence noted, “to stand for hours in painful high heels and skimpy clothes by a corporate body operating under the dated notion that tech products can’t be sold without appealing to the worst elements of a perceived demographic.” Sound familiar?

But, I support the right for every woman to choose her own path in life, including becoming a booth model, so for me the issue is whether the image that the industry currently projects is the one that helps it the most. Is an industry really serious about providing the best possible quality product to consumers, if all people remember is that there were pole dancers at the last show?

Colleagues told me they could not focus on an article I had written for this magazine because it was right next to an ad with half naked women. This same magazine recently warmed my heart because it featured a good looking stud on the cover, but I could not help noticing that unlike most of the women that have graced the cover of this publica-

tion, he was fully clothed. Is that a move toward good taste or just that the vapor industry is more comfortable with half naked women but not men?

Last November, both Julie Woessner (president of CASAA) and I were approached by a publication to be featured in a series about vapor advocates. We were told we had to wear some sort of gown or dress and that pictures with specific poses would be required. Huh? What does dressing up like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s have to do with securing a way for the vapor industry to survive the legislative and regulatory battles it faces? We declined to participate, but noted that the woman who did wore a lovely and sexy ball gown, while no men featured had to strike a pose and got to wear regular clothes.

Schell Hammel, owner of the Vapor Bar and inarguably an extremely successful vapor entrepreneur said, “This is definitely a male dominated industry, which is not unlike other industries. However, the use of sexual content and women in advertisements, booth displays, and things like body painting is degrading the industry as a whole, not just women. It makes us look like an immature, immoral industry trying to be hip but only fuels the fire of those who would like nothing more than to shut us down. Think Playboy or Hustler, add a mod and e-liquid and you have a typical vape convention.”

At the end of the day, who cares what drives smokers to the vapor alternative as long as they successfully switch over? The questions business owners should consider when they make decisions about how to bring attention to themselves are:

● Is the spectacle you have planned something you would be proud to use in a discussion about the value of vaping with your city council, state senator or U.S. Representative? ● Does objectifying women target current smokers? ● Are you just going for shock value? ● Do you believe it adds value or are you doing it because your competitor does it?

There are many things we in the vapor industry cannot control but when we have been regulated and legislated beyond any conceivable expectations, let’s hope we don’t look back and regret that this was one of the things we had a chance to get right.

Cynthia Cabrera is executive director of the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association; the leading and largest trade association dedicated to the education, promotion and continued innovation of vapor products.

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Filmmaking&Vaping:

Who are Vapers?

Words and photos by Tony Ottomanelli

Please feel free to take a moment, build/alter your coils, drip your RDA or fill your clearomizer with that all-day vape. Comfortable? Now, vape along while you read, as this entire project was inspired by you, vaper. Over the past several years, vaping has been somewhat of a controversial social issue. At the same time, vaping has not exactly been the most popular topic among our slowly deteriorating social interactive dialogue, nor should it be. However, vaping is still important for American society to understand and truly empathize with.

When all is said and done, many would agree that vaping is a relevant topic for the public to comprehend. As a matter of fact, even though vaping has been branded as a threatening social issue, vapes continue to grow in popularity. So much that vaping has even become the central focus for a number of documentary films.

It may be time for filmmaking to play a more impactful role within the vaping culture. Presenting a fresh approach of vaping would be easier for anti-vapers to digest.

Because of this, I want to research the artistic expression of vaping through the greatest social research tool ever invented: art of filmmaking.

This film has a primary objective. I attempt to answer the question, “Who are vapers?” The film will serve as an homage to vapers, accompanied by a glimpse inside the vaping community, celebrating its many beneficial aspects for social progress. Simply put, it will be an observation of the everyday vaper from his or her own perspective, backstory and interpretation. A collection of face-to-face, ind-epth interviews will ultimately produce evidence of the motivations and overall desires that permeate through vapers’ psyches.

The interviews will consist of a series of non-confrontational and open-ended questions, revealing who the vapers are and how they came to enjoy vaping. For example, I will ask questions like, “When did you first start to vape? Why do you choose to vape?

How often do you vape? What does vaping represent to you?”

It may be wishful thinking, but it would be filmmaking gold and social researching paradise to interview vapers who are working as law enforcement officers, city officials, state legislators, health professionals, athletes, artists, soldiers, scientists, teachers and other educators.

My motivation for making this short film is to provide a more humanistic approach that will allow non-vapers to see the face of vapers as human beings, rather than just another harmful chemical concoction subsequently viewing vaping as nothing but a toxic danger.

One of my many hypotheses is that most vapers will have a dramatic backstory in which vaping has, without a doubt, played a major role in allowing them to overcome something harmful in their lives, such as smoking tobacco cigarettes. I suspect many of the participants will undoubtedly talk about why and how vaping is better tasting, much safer and also less expensive than smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes.

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My hope is to reach at least one individual and allow him or her to switch gears into reverse if they seem to be easily persuaded by those non-believer doubts. However, proving how beneficial vaping can be for everyone may not cause much of a lasting impression, or maybe anti-vapor enthusiasts will somehow become more enthused about the benefits of vaping. Still, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ideology, faith, and politics shape many government programs rather than solid research evidence, but good social research can help all of us make more informed decisionsâ&#x20AC;? (Neuman 2007:2).

Overall, I have a vision for this film. It includes portraying vapers as ordinary people: neighbors, friends and family.

Once viewers are able to see clearly that our sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are all a part of the vaping community, maybe more people will begin to approve of vaping as an artistic expression. Vaping just might become known as the right test for the righteous.

For more information, whoarethevapersfilm.

visit

https://www.facebook.com/

Tony Ottomanelli graduated with a Master of Arts in sociology from DePaul University and taught sociology at Owens Community College. He lives in Denver, Colo., where he pursues opportunities in sociology, writing and, of course, vaping, testing new devices and e-liquids. Because its staff focuses on educating customers, Vaporleaf off Colfax in Denver is his favorite go-to shop.

What Does the Vaping Militia Do For Me?

Robin Barsky and Joe Barnett Photo by Ian Bird Friedman

By Patrick Riffe Photos courtesy of The Vaping Militia We’ve heard this question from vapers on social media and at events a lot this year. To answer that question, we have to look at the mission of The Vaping Militia and understand that no one has all of the answers and no one group can fix every problem.

The information cards that we carry to events has all of the information right there for vapers to read and understand what is needed.

The “We Believe” card gives you a basic understanding of what The Vaping Militia stands for.

We Believe • That Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) through the use of personal vaporizers is shown to reduce the morbidity associated with smoking. We focus on the prevention of tobacco harm and seek to cooperate with the health agencies to function for the greater health of the public.

• That under no circumstances shall e-cigarettes, e-liquid, accessories or components be sold to minors. We agree that each store should adopt a strict policy to I.D. any customers who appear younger than 35.

• That business owners have the right to choose whether to regulate e-cigarettes and their use within their establishment based on the own beliefs and policies. That city and state government need not to use revenue penalties to over regulate the use and sale of e-cigarettes.

• That research must be done. Extensive short-term studies prove that e-cigarettes are substantially safer than traditional cigarettes. They pose minimal risk to the user and no specific risk to bystanders (conclusions published and peer reviewed).

• That common sense regulation regarding the safe handling, distribution and creation of e-liquids and nicotine is necessary.

• That those who vote in favor of limiting adult access to, unfair taxing of, and complete banning of the sale of e-cigarettes, vote against effective smoking cessation and reduction of combustible tobacco related illnesses and the extension of life for citizens who desire to practice the behavior of tobacco harm reduction.

That is the first part of the message we have delivered to thousands of vapers already this year. Next, we teach the average vaper what it is that he or she needs to do. The Vaping Militia is not here to do your work for you. We are here to teach you what you need to do to keep consumer access to vapor products free of crushing over regulation.

On the flip side of the “We Believe” card is the “Vaper Manifesto.”

The Vaper Manifesto • I am a VAPER and I have CHOSEN life.

• I will promote the use of this disruptive technology to promote positive outcomes in the lives of others.

• I will work from within to create a cohesive and collaborative culture in the vape community.

• I will not shy away from difficult situations and will educate vapers and non-vapers about the positive purpose of vaping.

• I will create informed ex-smokers.

• I will spread the word about vapor advocacy.

• I will use my voice to defend this culture, knowing that it is the greatest tool I possess to counter misinformation and lies.

• I will lead when needed, follow when necessary, but I will never stand still.

We’ve had some people tell us, “I just want to vape. I don’t know about doing all that. I can’t do all this political stuff.”

This is the truth. We are not over exaggerating, and we will not lie to you. If every vaper wants to continue to have open access to vapor products, it will take every consumer and every vendor in the industry to win this fight.

That does not mean that you have to give up the six to eight hours a night that we do, but you have to do something; even little things can be very helpful.

There may be those who feel like they are doing everything that they can, and some might actually be doing everything they can. If we want to keep vaping as a viable alternative to smoking and freely available

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available without massive restrictions, then the excuse, “Well I do the Calls to Action,” is not going to be enough. Calls to Action are an awesome first step, but they are not the full journey. Anyone can pick up a phone and call his or her legislator. You can let them know in ways other than an email that they can simply delete without reading. You can write real letters and mail them. You can even request a face-to-face meeting. When politicians are between sessions they will be in their local offices.

You have to take the opportunity to do more.

If we want to continue vaping we have to do more than clicking a button.

“You made the choice, now stand up for it.” Those are the words on our event display and on the back of our T-shirts. It is the battlecry that we have lived by for the last two years. We can train you to fight for yourselves. Vapers have to be willing and ready to stand and participate in advocacy.

Simple things are the best way to start, the “Vaper/ Vendor Responsibility” card tells you what little things you can do. One side is for consumers; one side is for vendors; nothing on this card is strenuous and or time consuming; everything on it is important.

As a vaper, these are some simple actions you can do for advocacy: • Register to vote.

• Join CASAA. • Join The Vaping Militia (www.thevapingmilitia.org).

• Advocate everywhere.

• Support those that support YOU by patronage of those stores that support advocacy efforts.

• Support advocacy; support responsible vendors; educate your vendors when needed.

• Become active on social media. Spread the positive message about the benefits to family and friends.

• Become active in your local vape clubs.

If there isn’t one, start one.

• Educate yourself on local, state and federal issues that affect vaping.

• Make yourself aware of local government by reading the local agenda items on your local city council or county commissions websites.

• Contact your state senator and representatives, and start a dialog. Find out how they view vaping and learn their issues and positions.

• Show your support in those who you believe in.

On the flip side, the card gives simple instructions to vendors on what they can do. Again, nothing that will slow them down or cost a lot of money.

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As a vendor, supplier, manufacturer or distributor, this is what you can do for advocacy: • Encourage voter registration.

• Join SFATA (www.sfata.org) and participate in the SFATA Age to Vape program.

• Join your state trade group, state SFATA chapter or start one.

• Join The Vaping Militia (thevapingmilitia.org).

• Join the local Chamber of Commerce or other city/community business groups.

• Support your customers by informing them about CASAA and their interests for consumers.

• Become active with your city government.

• Build a relationship with the city attorney, council members and staff.

• Ask your customer base what their involvement in advocacy is, and inform them of your involvement.

• Keep an accurate customer list including name, email and ZIP code, and use it to inform your customers of issues.

• Meet your state senator and representatives.

Tell them about your business, employees, goals and what you do for your community.

Find out their position on vaping and support those that support you by voting for them.

These are simple, responsible practices for any business, vape industry or not. If you intend to be around in the future you need to step up and be active in your business community and let your legislators know that you are here to stay.

If you attend an event, listen to our podcast or have ever needed our help you know this is the message we bring. The studies packet we host on our website has been handed to thousands of local and state legislators all over the country. People we have educated have taken the message that vaping saves lives, employs tens of thousands of people in this country, contributes to the local and state economy to governments state and local all over America. We made the choice and are standing up for it.

Patrick Riffe is the legislative director of The Vaping Militia.

Patrick Riffe, Robin Barsky, Angi Horn Stainaker (BEAA Lobbyist) and Joe Barnett Photo by Leah Rafanan

VAPE Vixen

Katelyn Powell Photos by Destiny Richard

My name is Katelyn Powell, and I am from Roanoke, Va. I started vaping almost two years ago, when the first real vape shop came along in my area.

Vaping was not very popular in Roanoke yet.

IPV3 with an Atlantis 2 tank

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I eventually started working at Southern Vape Escape, and that’s when the vaping adventure began. I started off with a simple starter kit with a 650 mAh battery and then upgraded to a Vision Spinner and Aerotank Mega. I thought I had such a great setup, until the IPV 3 and Atlantis tank came out. I am still to this day very impressed with it, and it has yet to disappoint me. It gives out such a great flavor and a crazy cloud. I am a huge fan of vaping our wild strawberry; it has the best ripe strawberry flavor.

IPV3 with Atlantis 1 tank

Enough about me, let’s talk about customers and the company. After we opened, we noticed competition started popping up everywhere between tobacco shops selling vapes and juice for super cheap, to more local vape shops.

Luckily, we have opened four stores since we have came along. People come in every day with the want to quit smoking, and every day someone leaves with the setup of their wants/needs with the desire to quit smoking. I love when we get regulars, and they just keep coming back telling us their progress and they are so happy and healthy; it’s moments like that when I could not be more happy with my job. I will hear people talk about how bad vaping is, but I always have the facts to back it up and change their opinion on it.

Our vape shop has progressed tremendously in the past two years, and I could not be more impressed with the company as a whole; we have came a long way. I look forward to helping more people quit smoking or to help them with their rebuilds. I can’t wait to see what the vape future has in store for Southern Vape Escape.

IPV3 with Atlantis 2 tank

Vision Spinner with Arrival Mega

IPV3 with Atlantis 1 tank

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IPV3 with an Atlantis 2 tank

IPV3 with Atlantis 1 tank

Eleaf iStick 50 watt with Atlantis 1 tank

' BEST S R E D REA 15 OF 20

VAPE Magazine always has been a collaborative effort, and nothing would be possible without our wonderful readers across the globe. We are excited to announce the winners of our first-ever VAPE Magazine Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Best of 2015 survey, voted on solely by our readers. We asked you, the people, to nominate your favorites in a multitude of categories in the vaping industry. Without further ado, here are your VAPE Magazine Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Best Winners for 2015.

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Favorite VAPE Issue 2014-2015 April 2015 April’s showers certainly didn’t rain on your parade. Chock full of interviews ranging from Totally Wicked, KIND Organics, AEMSA and Elixir Vape, April’s issue also was a page turner of your favorites such as Let’s Ask GrimmGreen, Juice Judge, Vaping From the Outside and Eurozoned. Photo galleries included our regular fashion pictorial, VAPE Vixen and Scenic Vapers. And, it wouldn’t be a VAPE Magazine issue without events coverage throughout the nation. Thanks for choosing April’s issue as your Readers’ Best!

Favorite Overall Shop: Northeast Region It’s a tie: The Vapor Room, Frostburg, Md. (three locations), and Lineage Vapors, New Hampshire (four locations) The Vapor Room, which started in late 2009, currently employs 16 people across three store fronts and its online processing facility. Josh and Jess, co-owners, sent a joint statement to VAPE: “The Vapor Room family is incredibly honored and thrilled to have been chosen for VAPE Magazine’s Favorite Shop for the Northeast region! We strive to offer the best customer service and education, all while carrying the purest handcrafted, USA-sourced ejuice and the top hardware on the marketing. It’s so wonderful to be recognized for our work and to know that our TVR customers love us as much as we love them!”

District Manager of Lineage Vapors, Glen Cavanagh, said that they appreciate all of their customers—they’re family.

Amongst the four stores there are about 13 employees. “Our Facebook group is Lineage Family, and we give away so much stuff, and it’s awesome. I’m stoked that this area chose us because there’s a lot of vape shops out here. We began two years ago in Nashua and grew to four stores, and we couldn’t have done it without all of the awesome people.”

Favorite Overall Shop: Southeast Region Talon Vapor, Raleigh, N.C. Talon Vapor has been in business since Aug. 1, 2014, and has grown to five employees. Kurt Janda, owner, said that it’s pretty cool to be the winner of the Southeast region. “I’m taken by surprise to be honest with you. We work really hard; we love what we do, and I think it’s an honor to even be considered as the winner of the Southeast region considering how much competition is out there.”

Favorite Overall Shop: Midwest Region Rogue Vapers, Little Rock, Ark. (two locations) Two years ago, Rogue Vapers opened in Little Rock, and between the two stores there are 15 employees. Owner Troy Meuret said that probably what they hear the most is that they have the best liquids around. “We have our own lab and we do our own manufacturing. And, it’s all about customer service and making the customer feel at home. Those are the two things that will make any vape shop popular.”

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Josh and Jess of The Vap or Room Photo by Shane Riggs

Favorite Overall Shop: Southwest Region Old Pueblo Vapor Lounge Keith Reinhart, CEO, said that it’s pretty amazing how many loyal customers Old Pueblo Vapor Lounge has. The company celebrated its third anniversary July 21 and has 11 employees.

“I’m kind of speechless right now. There’s a lot of shops in the Southwest; we’re ahead of the curve in the country as far as vaping. We actually just leased the space next to us for an additional 1,400 sq. ft. of space. We built a full clean room to start doing our juice. We’re getting it set up right now with a packing and shipping area. We haven’t put a lot of focus on wholesale because we haven’t had the facility to keep up with manufacturing, and we’re going to start moving in that direction.”

Best Overall E-Liquid Company and Best Overall E-Liquid Line Boosted E-Juice Cory Vigil, founder of Boosted, said that he is grateful to receive these awards. “To see Boosted E-Juice grow into what we are today in such a short time is nothing less than the American Dream.

My company would not be where it is today without my amazing team. I would never have been able to grow this quickly without hardworking employees who make sure our product is the best it can be when it leaves our warehouse. The same applies to my distributor 3D Vapor LLC; I would be nowhere without Danne Reinke.

He took a chance on me, and he always matches my efforts. My wife Kat recently left the law firm she was working at to come work for Boosted E-Juice full time as vice president and general counsel.

She has been around behind the scenes the whole time, but now I get to do this with my best friend. I am grateful to the whole Boosted family because I have some amazingly loyal and supportive fans out there. My company really grew through Facebook vape groups. I would be nowhere without the support of this community.

My company recently became a founding member of the Colorado SFATA chapter. I plan to make sure my company continues to do everything we can to support the advocacy efforts of organizations like CASAA (a consumer group) and The Vaping Militia as well. We all need to work together to make sure all the wonderful things about our industry aren’t crushed by misguided legislation.”

Favorite Online Forum Vaping Underground The reaction from VaporJoe and the Vaping Underground admins: “Vaping Underground Forum would like to thank the readers of VAPE Magazine for your support! We are both delighted and humbled that you named us as your favorite vaping forum, and we’re dedicated to continue to bring you a great forum experience in the years to come. We envisioned and built a forum where vapers and vendors could both enjoy the freedom to participate, without fear of heavy-handed moderation or extensive and limiting rules. Our moderating and admin team deserves a tremendous thank you for their tireless efforts in implementing and carrying that vision forward. We want to also extend a hearty thank you to our members, because they are what make this community the vibrant, active and thriving place it has become in just one year. We look forward to keeping the conversations going and growing to suit the needs of our current and future members.”

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Jeff Photo by Metal

Favorite Vaping “Personality” Nick “Grimm” Green “I’m completely humbled; I don’t even know what to say.

When I first started making YouTube videos almost seven years ago, I was just a guy in a room who loved vaping a whole lot. Even here in 2015, that hasn’t changed. I’m a guy in my room who just loves vaping a whole lot. I believe that everyone deserves to have a good vaping experience, and it’s that belief that drives me and motivates me every day to do what I do. It’s a labor of love; I love vaping and I love this community. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my vaping journey. Thank you to my subscribers who challenge me every day to be a better vaper.

Thank you to my friends I have made through vaping, who have shown me we are indeed a family. Here’s to seven more years of being tobacco free and seven more years of friends and vapey-tastic good times.”

Best Mod Sigelei 150w The Sigelei 150 has won over your hearts. Coming in black, blue, red and silver, this box mod allows vapers to control temperatures ranging from 212 to a whopping 572 degrees.

Readers took to Facebook to tell us what they loved about the Sigelei.

Jessica Rivenburg: It’s a simple box. Works the same as the 100w, but I can vape over 100 if I feel like it. It is very durable as well since I drop things quite a bit lol.

Quinn Starr: I just bought the new temp control box. It’s well built, easy to hold, has an amazing battery life, durable, beautiful design and easy to use any build on. I recommend it to everyone.

Nate Van Vleet: Dual 18650s (less strain on batteries), fairly light, easy to use, rugged (left mine out in the rain and it still works), enough power for any application, well thought out design.

Favorite Accessory Vape Bands

Fahey James’ vape sock, which he uses to protect his tank.

Photo by Fahey James

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We went social for your responses on why you loved the vape band. Here is what some of you had to say: Alex Hammond: I use them on my tanks so if they do fall or roll off my table they don’t break or get as scratched. Unfortunately I lost my last one last week on vacation.

Daniel Pearman: I use a vape band on my tank to make the base easier to grip when it’s time to refill.

Quinn Starr: I use vape bands to protect my Kangertech Mini.

I broke three glasses in one week, and when I went to buy my fourth glass, the shop worker offered me a free band. I’ve been using it ever since. I have yet to break my glass since I put the band on. I’m super grateful for them!

Nate Van Vleet: I use them on my Lemo RTAs to block the air holes when I fill it from the top so the juice doesn’t run out the bottom.

Lori Ann McClain: I use them because I’m clumsy and have broken many a tank before. I also like the look.

Michelle Heatherly: I use them on my Hana box because it’s easier than worrying about the screws. Last one broke last week. I miss those! Need more!

Favorite Trade Show/Convention VapeMania/VaperSlam Out of all of the trade shows and conventions that hit the circuit in 2014 and 2015, you have picked VapeMania and VaperSlam as the cream of the vaping crop, possibly due to organizers Chris “Freeze” Winfrey and Tommy “Mooch” Jones’ TVA Show. The show reached more than 250,000 listeners last year, and the pair also started a video show, which can be seen at www.thetvashowlive.com. They released a joint statement on their win: “Firstly, we would like to thank each and every one of you who decided to cast your vote for the VapeMania/VaperSlam conventions. We are truly honored to not only be considered a national convention on any level, but also to be considered the best by you—the readers. Without you guys the conventions and this award are not possible, and we will never forget that. We promise to continue doing everything in our power to make each of our conventions better than the last and will strive to continue to raise the bar that we already set very high for ourselves. Not only that, but we stand by continuing to have free admission even as we move into a much bigger, much more grandiose venue for VaperSlam 2, which you can find all details for right now at www.vaperslam.com.

Favorite Vape Meet/Club Tucson Vapers Tucson Vapers began two-and-a-half years ago, founded by a handful of vape enthusiasts in the back room of a local bar who wanted to get together to sample new juice and see new vape gear. It now has grown to more than 2,300 members on its Facebook page and has monthly vape meets where more than 250 members get together for raffles, a juice tasting bar, food trucks, cloud comps and awesome people hanging out to support vaping advocacy in the community.

Shawn Irish, Tuscon Vapers’ event coordinator said that the club truly appreciates all the support it has received, and thanks for voting Tucson Vapers as VAPE Magazine’s Favorite Vape/Meet Club.

Favorite VAPE Column Let’s Ask GrimmGreen A reader question/answer column, you ask and Grimm answers. In the past year we’ve had some great in-depth technical questions and some more opinion-only queries such as “What’s the best e-liquid/mod on the market?” No matter what the question, Grimm gives his expert opinion to you, our valued readers. To ask Grimm a question, email content@vapemz.com.

Favorite VAPE Feature Vape A Vet: Jennifer Hubby Jennifer Hubby, Vape A Vet assistant director of operations, had this to say: “Thank you for all of your generous support and donations to the project. Our veterans and active service members are able to enjoy the benefits of vaping (and kicking tobacco for good) because of our combined efforts! We would like to thank each and every person who has helped to make this project successful so that we can give back to those that serve for us!”

Vap

Sup e a v Vap ports et ing Mili Effo t rts ary

By Jen nife

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Photos

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I’ll never forget the moment at the Vaping Convention Circuit event in Pittsburgh, Penn., where everything we have worked toward over the past two years seemed to come to fruition. I reached down to grab a quick sip of water, and a young man (seemingly out of nowhere) flung his hand out to me, shook it with incredible intention and thanked us for helping him to quit smoking and for changing his life. It was quick, but quite profound. He explained that he was a young Army ranger who had spent four years of his life serving his country stationed in Iraq. As a pack-a-day smoker, he had tried unsuccessfully to kick the habit for many years. During his time overseas, in a last, desperate attempt to quit his tobacco habit, he applied online at vapeavet.org to receive a free vaping starter kit—a service that he had found online looking for smoking cessation programs for veterans. This changed his life, he told us, and he is grateful every day for the opportunity we were able to provide.

Our lives have changed as well, and stories like this are more and more common here at the Vape A Vet project—we owe it all to those who served our country and to those who support our veterans. We know we can do more, though, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our veterans and our industry.

Since its modest inception in July 2013, Vape A Vet project’s mission is simple yet profound.

Helping veterans conquer tobacco habits by providing a healthier alternative to service members at no cost to them has become our passion.

Through education, market evaluation, private donations and funding from BRV liquids, we offer the equipment and knowledge necessary to help our recipients effectively switch from tobacco to vaping.

In 2015 Alone, The Vape A Vet Project: • Sent more than 550 starter kits to active and former military personnel worldwide

Advocacy E-Liquid by BRV

Jennifer Hubby and Will Cohen

• Delivered more than 75 care packages per month to support sustained vaping for those who received the initial starter kit • Demonstrated an effective tobacco cessation rate greater than 80 percent among respondents when asked if the starter kit was an effective tool in transitioning • Received more than 5,000 requests for support • Coordinated more than 1,500 hours of volunteer maintenance and support of our mission • And received support from private donations and Bottle Ready to Vape (BRV) liquids, which donates 100 percent of the wholesale profits to the Vape A Vet mission.

We are proud of the work we have done, but we know we can do more. We continue to grow each and every day and strive to meet our goal so that every service member that applies for our services receives what he or she deserves. In addition to doing more for our service members, we are striving to do more for our community—for our vapers. We understand the vaping industry’s climate is changing on a daily basis.

With any rapidly growing industry, it becomes absolutely essential—both legally and morally—to regulate behaviors and business practices of those involved. If we do not take a stand now, and we fail as an industry, we will have failed our service members. That simply is not an option for us.

BRV liquids has been an instrumental player in the Vape A Vet cause. The primary continuous funding source to the Vape A Vet project comes from BRV Liquids.

BRV is able to do this by giving 100 percent of the wholesale profits to the Vape A

Vet Project on a continuous basis.

As BRV and the Vape A Vet project grow, we see an ever increasing need to be active in our communities and support the vaping community.

In a multi-dimensional approach to ethical business practices and supporting our industry and the Vape A Vet Project, BRV Liquids launched our Advocacy line in mid-June 2015.

A portion of the proceeds of each bottle sold will benefit a vaping advocacy group; the rest of the profit will benefit the Vape A Vet project. Our goal in supporting these organizations is to create community cohesiveness while combating major industry issues that are negatively affecting our community (including blatant use of trademark infringement and/or the use of marketing strategies that could be considered appealing to children or minorities). BRV Liquids and the Vape A Vet project feel so strongly about these issues that we launched the line with the sole intention to raise awareness and funding so that we solve the problems ethically, responsibly and rapidly.

Our goal, both as consumers and as a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization supporting our veterans, is to keep the vaping community alive, healthy and active for many years to come.

As a direct result of our efforts, we have seen an outpouring of support from our military community looking to give back in any way possible. Probably one of the most powerful and effective strategies that we utilize at the Vape A Vet project is the veterans themselves. Countless service members have supported our mission through direct communication with political figures, including state, county and federal legislators, to discuss the benefits of vaping —particularly for the smoking community. Policy makers are able to see first-hand that our veterans want and deserve the opportunity to receive our services and continue to use these life changing products when they return home from active duty. Our framework— and our livelihood at BRV and the Vape A Vet projectis built solely on serving others as much we we can, as they served us so selflessly. Let’s give back to them. Let’s give back to our communities. Let’s keep our community alive.

There is nothing more powerful than seeing those that we serve return the favor again and again and again. Thank you for your service.

Jennifer Hubby is assistant director of operations at Vape A Vet. She received her master’s degree in public administration from Arizona State University in 2014, in her home state in which she helps to run the Vape A Vet and BRV mission.

This essential role with the director, Will Cohen, puts the organization in a unique position—completel y separate from any other vaping organization in the industry—to support our veterans while supporting our community through active communication with our policy makers and industry leaders.

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What Really Happened at Vape Expo NJ?

Advocacy Panel

By Leigh Oates and Matt Rowland Photos by Leigh Oates

The much anticipated Vape Expo NJ, held the weekend of July 17-19, was more eventful than anyone could have anticipated, and not because of the vendor selection, hot technology and interesting panels, although there was a fair amount of those, as well. Vendors and vaping enthusiasts flocked to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center to find that Vape Expo NJ 2015 will forever be remembered as the expo that banned vaping. Unfortunately, the Division of Health and Human Services was lurking in the background, waiting to wield their mighty sword of political power. Advocacy became an important theme, as event organizers struggled with New Jersey Senator Joe Vitale and the Edison Health Department to even be allowed to finish the event.

Trouble began brewing as early as Friday afternoon, the first day of the event. Friday was billed as the business-tobusiness portion of the marketing expo. Nearly 250 vendors set up their display booths, shook hands and tested each other’s vaping paraphernalia and e-liquid blends. As one might expect from a vaping expo, the atmosphere inside the indoor arena turned thick with vaping clouds within a couple of hours.

Almost immediately, Jay Elliot from the Division of Health and Human Services landed on the doorstep of coordinators Don Miller and Andy Balogh. According to Elliot, his office was already receiving a massive number of complaints from within the local community. Besides the thick cloud of smoke, or vapor in this case, hanging over the auditorium, local citizens were reportedly witnessing babies in attendance, pregnant women and underage teenagers.

Whether this happens to be true, Elliot and the health department were told to make some sort of change.

Miller and Balogh explained to Elliot that the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center had already agreed to

host the Vape Expo NJ event, knowing that vaping would be conducted indoors. Additionally, Vape Expo NJ was billed as a private event. It was not open to the public because there was a $10 entrance fee at the door. Vendors paid $25. No one could enter without already knowing what to expect inside the auditorium - namely, a dense haze of vaping blends made from taste-testers and cloud-chasers.

However, since the health department had received a slew of complaints, event organizers had to enforce the law. Balogh spoke about the vape expo being structured as a private club, with attendees buying a membership to a club, which he claimed exempted them from the Clean Indoor Air Act. Allegedly, Senator Vitale had visited the expo and saw vaping in violation of the state law. The senator argued that there are no legal exemptions to the Clean Indoor Air Act, with the exception of certain cigar bars in existence before 2004.

Elliot wasn’t buying it. The health department wanted to see all Saturday and Sunday vaping take place in an outdoor, open-air facility, which the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center essentially provides at no additional cost. “No Vaping” signs were to be clearly displayed throughout the indoor auditorium, and all vendors were to be informed of possible fines and legal citations should they choose to ignore the warnings.

Elliot’s demands seemed to throw Miller and Balogh off guard. A video posted by Phil Busardo on his website TasteYourJuice.com showed the two coordinators standing in front of the crowd of vendors and attendees, explaining the options. According to the video, Miller and Balogh told their audience of vaping fanatics that everyone must sign an agreement, stating they are aware that Vape Expo NJ is a vaping event and are essentially “entering at their own risk.” All invited guests, vendors and their employees were required to sign the document.

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Thankfully, most people in the auditorium seemed to take the new rules in stride. Business seemed to move forward, although with a slightly more hushed tone.

Vendors changed their sample liquids to zero nicotine and continued on their merry way. That is, until more than a few of the small business owners got a tap on the shoulder by Elliot and health department representatives.

According to Elliot, Miller and Balogh were dead wrong.

Vaping of any kind inside the auditorium was strictly prohibited. Regular vaping, chain vaping, vaping with 12 mg of nicotine or vaping of zero-nic blends was completely against the law. “This is your first and final warning,” many vendors were immediately told.

As early as Friday night, the news of the “Non-Vaping Vape Expo” had spread like wildfire across the Internet and social media. Attendance dropped almost immediately.

Many vendors were extremely upset with plummeting sales due to low attendance, fines and controversy. Event sponsor Bad Drip packed up Saturday and did not return for Sunday activities. Some remained positive, however.

Steven Berry, owner of Bang Bang Vapor and associate of Dotcom Vapor, said, “I think it’s going really well. I think the biggest thing to talk about is the camaraderie between the booths.” He was excited to attend his first big vape expo and had “no concerns about the vaping ban.” He said that they had “talked to the fire marshall personally, and he told us it would be OK to try juices.”

“Regular vaping,” like taste testing a vendor’s sample brand, was acceptable, while “chain vaping” was not.

“Chain vaping” took place in the open-air pavilion adjacent to the auditorium. “Regular vaping” could only take place indoors, as long as the e-liquids contained zero nicotine. A warning to future attendees was posted on the Vape Expo NJ website and Facebook page.

Sometime early Saturday morning, a message was posted on the event Facebook wall from event organizer Andy Balogh that said the health department had banned vaping inside the event center. An outside pavilion would be set up for vapers to casually vape, but according to New Jersey state law, vaping was banned indoors.

There was confusion in the morning, as vendors still appeared to be vaping without incident. VAPE spoke with Evan McMahon of Liberation Vape and Ryan Bunting of Good Ohm Boys and NJVRC to get their perspectives on the fallout. McMahon and Bunting both stressed the importance of action and following up with legislators to prevent similar problems in other areas. McMahon, who practically lived at the Indiana state house during the hearing of HB1432, knows that sympathizing with advocacy will only get vapers so far. Action must be taken to ensure that legislators hear the desires of the people.

Bunting said, “There is a strong vape community in New Jersey, but you can’t just get into the legislator’s ear once and then go away … you have to be a constant presence.”

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Virgin Vapor He stressed the importance of awareness, financial support and political action. McMahon said, “I want people to know that you are a heartbeat away from never being able to vape again. There are powerful, well connected, well funded people that want your customers and your friends to die because they would rather them smoke cigarettes than vape. I’m not the rosy sunshine person to tell you that everything is going to work out.

I’m the one to tell you that that it is probably going to end up really crappy, and you better get off your ass and get involved.”

A poorly attended advocacy panel, featuring McMahon, Bunting, David Goerlitz (formerly the Winston Man), Joe Barnett and Robin Barsky of The Vaping Militia, and Chris Hughes of SFATA all covered topics about protecting the industry. Despite only having 12 people in attendance, the panelists offered an urgent call to action, reminding attendees that 3 percent of vapers cannot do 100 percent of the work when it comes to protecting the industry from unfair taxation, vaping bans and regulation. The panelists’ urge for members of the vaping community to be present, to be active and to get excited about advocacy may have gone unheeded during the Friday evening panel, but the events to come would serve as an important reminder about the importance of advocacy.

Scott Stapp Concert

with fines ranging from $250 to $750. This reporter saw at least one vendor warned to stop offering samples by health department officials.

After the initial shock of Saturday afternoon wore off, many of the vendors began to share in Berry’s enthusiasm. The events of Saturday evening and Sunday flowed smoothly, although the Miss Vape Expo New Jersey pageant was quietly sidelined.

However, the vape trick competitions, free giveaways and the dance contest still went on as planned. In some cases, vendors were seen offering free samples without threats of legal action.

VAPE met with Miller Friday night to gather his input on the event. Miller stressed that, in his opinion, the most important part of the expo was the advocacy panel.

The main reason for the event, he claimed, was public awareness. A bright spot of the evening took place via an acoustic set from Scott Stapp of Creed. The evening concert drew many out, however one might assume that these concertgoers may have been the source of complaints about illegal indoor vaping.

Vape Expo NJ’s indoor vaping incident was the first episode in a chain reaction of missteps that eventually led to an unsolicited visit by a United States senator, more than $50,000 in fines and an early closure on Sunday afternoon.

It resulted in an overwhelming amount of confusion, where government officials issued more than 66 citations to individual vendors for ignoring New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act Initiative. Individual fines ranged from $250 to $750, and the health department also issued another 27 summons to the organizers of Vape Expo NJ, Don Miller and Andy Balogh.

More oddities occurred on Saturday afternoon. A “cannabis car” showed up in the middle of the auditorium, some sort of marketing gimmick for one of the vendors.

And, another vendor brought in a bunch of scantily clad pole dancers.

By Sunday at 4 p.m., Vape Expo NJ has run its course.

Miller and Balogh posted a notice that the event would be closing early at 7 p.m. due to having “reached capacity.”

VAPE reached out to Balogh for comment regarding final attendance numbers and comments, but he declined to issue an official statement on the advice of his legal team.

The only thing that he would say was: “We shall see in the upcoming weeks what the end result is.”

The final outcome for Vape Expo NJ still is unclear. However, there are lessons to be learned by the events in New Jersey.

First and foremost, a small percentage of the vaping community cannot be responsible for all of the work it takes when it comes to protecting the industry from unfair taxation and regulation. Second, how we present ourselves is critical to gaining both public and political acceptance. We don’t want to become our own worst enemy by “thumbing our noses” at the legal system. We must promote vaping advocacy while remaining within the confines of the law. Take action today by joining CASAA and the Vaping Militia, and by remaining informed and aware on proposed vaping legislation around you. And when it comes time to defend your right to vape, go to the state house, write that letter and do your part to protect vaping, because without the support of all the vapers, we are susceptible to being extinguished.

Edison Health Dept Official

Exhibitors and attendees were told that casual vaping would be allowed outside only, but sampling of 0 mg juices would be allowed inside the expo center. All day Saturday, there was vaping, then there wasn’t, then you could sample the flavors at the table, then you couldn’t, and then you could. Rumors rippled through the crowd and no one was sure what could be done. It was a back and forth that culminated in tickets being written to vendors and the public for violating the vaping ban. Exhibitors and attendees are told that vaping is at your own risk. It was not a police action, but people vaping indoors were subject to fines,

Vapers Supporting NJVR Booth 109

The NHS fraud protection body has launched an urgent investigation and we expect each Trust and Clinical Commissioning Group involved to launch a full inquiry.”

The National Wealth Service

Will this have any effect on the vaping-related pronouncements coming from the

By Dave Cross

BMA? It seems highly unlikely, but at least it discredits their opinions. What could prove to hold a much longer-lasting impact is the work being carried out in the

Nye Bevan, the son of a coal miner, championed the rights of working people

quit services themselves—or rather, the actions of one individual: Louise Ross,

and social justice his entire life. He was instrumental in setting up the National

service manager for the NHS Stop Smoking unit in Leicester.

Health Service (NHS) after mapping out the free at point of delivery provision in 1945. The NHS was tasked with the universal care of the population but it’s now

We’ve met Ross once before in a VAPE Magazine article. She saw the numbers

a service that is now creaking at the seams due to underfunding. The system

coming for support declining as vaping took off and investigated. Her research

has its faults and allegations of corruption point to reasons why e-cigs face tough

drew the conclusion that her unit should become e-cig-friendly. Such was the

opposition, but there are positive stories coming from it too.

success of the move that Ross’s name began spreading throughout the country, appearing on talk shows and in interviews.

It is no secret that the level to which vaping is going to be accepted in England and Wales depends upon the support the NHS is seen to give it. Although

Ross’s dedication and belief in electronic cigarettes has driven her forward to be

businesses and campaigning groups will have their say in dictating how legislation

a leading advocate within the NHS. When proposals were implemented to ban

will progress, the voice of doctors holds a lot of sway. Doctors, through their

smoking and vaping from all NHS grounds Ross lobbied hard to see if she could

professional body The British Medical Association (BMA), have been unsupportive

affect a change in policy for the Bradgate NHS mental health unit.

of the electronic alternative to smoking on the whole.

Previous research by Ricardo Polosa found that: “Even with intensive smoking “NHS bosses paid by drug firms,” sang the headline of The Daily Telegraph.

cessation management programs specifically designed for patients with schizophrenia,

“Senior NHS staff are being paid thousands of pounds and taken on expensive

quit rates are low. Although not formally regulated as a pharmaceutical product,

trips by drug companies lobbying to get their products used by the health service.”

the e-cigarette can help smokers with schizophrenia to reduce their cigarette consumption or remain abstinent and reduce the burden of smoking-related

The BMA has been vociferous of its opposition to vaping. Ignoring the growing

morbidity and mortality, particularly in schizophrenic patients who smoke.”

body of evidence to the contrary, some of it being produced in conjunction with NHS services, they have stuck resolutely to the mantra that quitters should use

Polosa’s study formed part of Ross’s argument to convince the local NHS board

nicotine patches or the other increasingly failing pharmaceutical products. Now

to allow a pilot vaping study within Bradgate as an alternative to the plans for

the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place and explain why such an important

yet more traditional cessation work. Hopes are that a successful conclusion will

organization would take the stance it does.

enable similar e-cig-based programs to be rolled out across the country.

What the BMA had to say in the past is that it favours a strong regulatory hand

It will not be the first time Ross has inspired change within the NHS. From being

for electronic cigarettes. While sales of some NRT products are falling by 30 to

the only quit service to accept vaping, the numbers are beginning to increase

50 percent, research from Professor Robert West highlights that e-cigs promote a

as they witness her success. It has contributed to her unit being selected for

60 percent increased chance of quitting successfully. People have been scratching

a national study looking at the efficacy of electronic cigarettes as part of a quit

their heads in disbelief at the BMA’s standpoint and then plunged into the depths

attempt. The research is being carried out by Queen Mary University of London

of incredulity when George Rae, the BMA’s northeast representative, was quoted

(a leading research-intensive higher education institution) and will focus on three

as saying that eliquids are “even more cancer forming than what you’re getting

centres in East Sussex, London and Leicester.

within cigarettes themselves.”

Ross said: “We are delighted, and proud, to be one of the test sites. This study will The NHS spends tens of billions on medication each year, NRT playing a part of

add to our body of knowledge around e-cigarettes.”

this. It seemed logical to assume that this link had to feature in the machinations of the BMA but it wasn’t until the story broke that we finally had evidence of a sort.

So while the BMA may be scheming with Big Pharma for financial motives they may yet be undone by the pure intent and dedicated work of Ross, a person Nye

“Many of the meetings take place in five-star hotels around the world, with some

Bevan would be proud of working in his National Health Service.

attendees telling this newspaper that they were taken to ‘flashy’ restaurants and paid large sums while considering whether to ‘switch’ drugs.”

The BMA members being wined and dined are co-opted onto pointless committees and receive financial rewards under the pretense of advising pharmaceutical companies. Kickbacks include payments of around $800 per day for trips and up

Dave Cross is a writer, biker, vaper, ever-more rotund punk and

to $24,000 for attending a meeting.

perpetual disappointment to his parents. According to his wife he is frequently wrong about most things.

An NHS spokesperson announced: “If these allegations are true, this is completely outrageous and amounts to an abuse of the trust that patients place in NHS staff.

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MAGAZINE

Follow Dave Cross on Twitter @MawsleyX.

Jon Paxin (@paxinphoto) Sunset in the hills of Wendover, Utah Holding: Epic Design Studios SMPL with Yep RDA

Scenic Vapers

#CloudCheck Promotes Vaping in Nature

Jordan Riggs (@coil_and_trouble) Photo by Steven Jackson (@actionmfjackson) Houston, Texas Shirt: Council of Vapor (@councilofvapor)

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Social media sometimes brings people together in ways that we least expect. Friends, followers and likes originate from all over the world, and many people become acquaintances and even close friends without meeting face-to-face. In July 2014, Ian Silver (@Yogi_Wan_Kenobi_Sov) and Tyler Price (@Drippin_Balls) first met on Instagram when running into each othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; similar photography styles and love for nature.

These passions are what led them to create Scenic Vapers, and almost a year later, the pairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original goals are staying true to form.

From the beginning the main goal was to inspire other to get outside and enjoy the beauty that this world has to offer and the exercise that comes with it. They knew that they loved what they were doing and there had to be others out there who shared the same loves.

Ian Silver, or Yogi, lives in Sedona, Ariz. A self-proclaimed nerd and Star Wars junkie, he also is an avid hiker, yoga practitioner and healthy lifestyle promoter. He started his journey in the vape game about a year and a half ago when he and his girlfriend Aimee (@natty_vapes) wanted to find a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. They went to a local shop and picked up the Smok Magneto and IGO-W. Since then, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a whole new world. He started building immediately and fell in love with all aspects of vaping, including the community. He found himself promoting online and doing reviews for companies, and he now works at a local shop called Magic Mist as a sales rep and promoter for Fogg Society (@FoggSociety) and is captain of Team Royal Wires Arizona (@teamroyalwires_az). He and @natty_vapes have a juice line called Chakra Joose (@chakra_joose) and he is proud to be a part of the Society of Vape competition team (@TeamSOV).

Tyler Price has been cigarette free for almost two years.

He started off with a Volcano e-cig and a cartomizer, and from there with the help of forums and friends and a lot of curiosity and practice he gradually made it into mechanical mods and atomizers. This whole journey has been more than he could have ever hoped for, and he feels blessed to have gotten to meet and get to know so many members of the vaping community.

Both Silver and Price have consciously chosen a healthier lifestyle, and they feel that Scenic Vapers gives people the motivation to want to get out and explore all of the beautiful places around them while being active and enjoying life.

They aim to promote a healthier lifestyle and living life to the fullest. What they really enjoy the most is being able to get a glimpse at what others from so many different parts of the world get to see on a daily basis. While they feel they are on the right track due to community response so far, neither will quit setting goals for the Scenic Vapers movement.

The biggest unexpected challenge, after all, is the wind.

Eric Zubenko (@dripkid) Blaine, Washington Mod: Tesla2 with Atlantis v2

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Vince Nero (@vapor.fiend) Photo by Alec Conlon (@aconlonpa) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mod: Smpl Mod with Kennedy RDA

To submit your photo to Scenic Vapers #CloudCheck for VAPE submission consideration, follow @VapeMagazine @ScenicVapers @Drippin_Balls and @Yogi_Wan_Kenobi_Sov and #VapeMagazine #CloudCheck & #ScenicVapers on Instagram.

For VAPE pictorial column, photos must be in high resolution, but for the IG page everyone has the chance for a feature.

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RAPPERS, ENTREPRENEURS INTRODUCE

By Alyssa Stahr

The St. Lunatics helped put St. Louis, Mo., on the musical map back in the early 2000s, and throughout the years, they’ve paved their own way as entrepreneurs, not only musically, but with a multitude of products.

Vegans for 15 years, brothers Kyjuan and Murphy Lee have taken their health seriously. Kyjuan is asthmatic, and with a mother who smoked two packs a day since they were kids, he used to break her cigarettes in half. Now, as an adult, he finally helped her break the habit for good.

Photo by Justin Capadocia

About a year ago, the brothers’ aunt started vaping. Their mom asked them to buy her a vape, even though they had virtually no knowledge of the e-cigarette world.

“The next thing I know, our mother is not smoking cigarettes anymore. Our auntie, our uncle and so on,” Kyjuan said.

The pair was approached by a mutual friend about starting an e-liquid line based on the hit song from the Bad Boys 2 soundtrack, “Shake Ya Tailfeather.” The friend explained that, since they are vegans with an alternative eating lifestyle, vaping fits right in as a healthier lifestyle to smoking cigarettes.

After investigating more and more, they figured out that vaping is not only a great business to get into, but that the world needs it.

“With us, with our popularity, maybe we can get more people to change their lives just as it did our mother’s … almost two packs a day for a long time,” Kyjuan said. “So, for her to go cold turkey like that and have vape help her … With me, personally, I’ve talked to my mother more, at least triple the time, because she vapes and I’m in the vape business. It’s just really almost incredible for real how it changes relationships.”

Murphy Lee agreed, saying that all they had been looking for was a healthy alternative in being vegan, and, as we all know, cigarettes are killing us. He believes that they understand the business in that personal way.

“I see a bunch of commercials, and they don’t even talk about the person smoking the cigarettes; they talk about the secondhand more than that. So I think this is a great thing. With all the businesses and the states that have it illegal to smoke anywhere, I think this is perfect all around the board,” he said.

The mutual acquaintance introduced the brothers to Justin Price, store owner of The Vape Room Discount Vaper Lounge in St. Louis. Price had launched a line for a different artist previously, and it made sense with the pair’s vegan lifestyle and personal backstory.

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“It made sense for us to connect to do it. Their backstory is really what Photo by Justin Capadocia encouraged me. Theirs was just the best fit, being vegans; they helped their mom quit smoking—that’s one of the first things they said to me when I met them,” Price said. “The thing that stuck out: to go from a kid breaking his mom’s cigarettes to being an adult to present her with that, it really is beautiful.”

Price, who currently distributes Vape Ya Tailfeather in 15 states, said that he sees the family connections and turmoil smoking has caused on a daily basis. Husbands and wives come into his shop resenting each other because the husband may be smoking and the wife isn’t.

“My joke and my tagline is that it saves marriages. It’s so very real. You do resent when someone is not taking care of themselves, and smoking is one of the worst things you could possibly do,” Price said.

The brothers appreciated Price’s experience, accomplishments and professionalism in the vape space, so for six months, they began taste testing and allowing various focus groups to test what would be included in the Vape Ya Tailfeather lineup. The line, which is made with a 70/30 PG/VG ratio, benefited from Price having a retail location, rather than just having a bunch of friends who may have inconsistent palates taste test flavors. With a shop, you hear from hundreds of people rather than two or three. Price also sent samples to shops already carrying his lines to gather additional opinions.

“The feedback from the focus groups and having a retail operation where you can test the vape is invaluable,” Price said. “I can roll out flavors at the shop and get really good responses. My customers will tell me right away, ‘This is a great flavor,’ or, ‘This is really not on par.’ I might roll out 10 flavors, and one of them is a slam dunk. That’s when I know it’s ready for the national stage.”

As with beginning any e-liquid line, there was a lot of trial and error in the last six months of the process. It was enough time for the team to be thorough; there was a round of labels that they didn’t like and some art that wasn’t as socially acceptable, so they went back to the drawing board to get something more national—more commercial.

“If you want a lot, you gotta do a lot. Seeing this first step of it after having a conversation six months ago puts a smile on my face. We’re about to make it happen, and it’s fun,” he said.

Additionally, they sent flavor finalists to family members and researched online to see how many people gravitated toward it, or how many people had knowledge of it, period. This is a goal that’s changed since the beginning for Kyjuan—research.

While a lot of people start an e-liquid line from a vape standpoint, the brothers agree that what started Vape Ya Tailfeather stemmed from a health standpoint. They may not vape as much as somebody else, but they love health more than somebody else.

“Looking at Instagram and social media, seeing the other side of the world and what they’re doing in China, we connect with people and build relationships,” he said. “It definitely gives us a lot of range to do things. We came here [Chicago] to see how to approach how we want to do things.”

As of press time, The Vape League show in Chicago was the group’s first grassroots effort at vape event marketing. They are doing in-store signings and tastings, and they have an idea of bringing out music to tag along with the bottle. Buy a bottle, and you’ll get a free song with a QR code in the future.

When it comes to conventions, however, Murphy Lee said that they have some catching up to do. Their first goal is complete: seeing their product in the bottles and seeing flyers, and having a massively successful launch party at Undertow in St. Charles, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.

Photo by Alyssa Stahr

Kyjuan agreed: “We’re able to do stuff like a pineapple Now and Later. It’s hard to get a pineapple Now and Later these days.”

“I find myself vaping more and more, but for the most part, health is our goal,” Kyjuan said.

And, the group is already looking to the future. Two more Vape Ya Tailfeather liquids are in the works, one designed more for the ladies, princess style. It will be called Tohria after Murphy Lee’s daughter, and will be a pink champagne or pink moscato flavor. Additionally, Murphy Lee’s new album is out, a collaboration with the producer who started it all in the beginning of the St. Lunatics. So, though new things are on the horizon for the brothers, they certainly haven’t forgotten their past.

For more information, visit http://www.vaperoomtelegraph. com/vape-ya-tailfeather/. For information on Murphy Lee’s new album, visit NewMurph.com.

Photo by Alyssa Stahr

The house DJ gets the launch (from left to right) Alyssa Stahr,

party started

Murphy Lee and Matt Schramel

Photo by Alyssa Stahr

(left to right) Justin Price, Murphy Lee, Alyssa Stahr and Kyjuan at the Vape League Convention in Chicago Photo by Justin Capadocia

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Brings the SoCal Heat

By Nick Bessette and Alyssa Stahr Photos by Alyssa Stahr and Mike Schramel

Is bigger always better? That depends on who you ask. The biggest vaping exhibition in the United States, and arguably in the world, was held in midAugust on the Fairplex grounds in Pomona, Calif. Held a little earlier in the year from 2014’s event and in a different location, the Electronic Cigarette Convention, commonly known as ECC, was so large that it spanned multiple buildings on the Fairplex grounds.

Day one seemed to bring on nerves, uncertainty and excitement as vendors began the first B2B day of the show. While there was only a vendor list and no floor map on the printed show directory, there was an ECC app that one could upload with more information about how to find vendors in the five sponsored buildings:

Cosmic Fog Hall (Hall 4), Lost Art Hall (Hall 6), Vapor DNA Hall (Hall 7), 3D Vapor Hall (Hall 9) and VPX Hola Hall (Hall 10). Those outside were feeling the heat on day one, but the afternoon started to get a little more lively for those trying to beat the heat. Music started and people seemed to be a little more upbeat despite the high temperatures.

Building 4 was the largest, and housed the premier sponsor Cosmic Vape. Rob Crossley of Cosmic Vape said that being the premier sponsor of ECC was an incredible opportunity. “It’s an amazing fast-forward from two years ago, when I was here as a consumer.” It took 30 to 40 subcontract employees to put Cosmic Vape’s huge display together.

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Day two had much happier vibes, as the B2B session of the show continued. Vendors, like Intrinsic Vapor, mused on why ECC is the must-attend show of the year.

“Southern California is the hotbed of the vape industry around the world,” Jodi Santino of Intrinsic Vapor said.

Glas had possibly the most unique “booth” at the show, complete with a concierge experience at its entrance.

The Glas hostess welcomed each visitor, and the indoor room was dark and enclosed, and exhibited a cocktail lounge feel with drapery and seating areas.

ECC also was the show with the biggest, baddest booths.

Onur Oz, sales/marketing manager with Penguin eJuice, said that the company cares about brand image and reputation.

New product launches was a theme throughout ECC, as Avail Vapor debuted QR code certificates on its bottles, and Cloudbreak Vapors also debuted its line.

Craving Vapor brought out a limited-edition ECC HexOhm mod with five colors, exclusive only to patrons on days three and four of the event. Additionally, Elixir Vape brought out three new e-liquids housing 3 mg of nicotine: Awake, Breathe and Enhance.

“We understand in America sex sells, but we try to keep it professional. We care a lot about things like Facebook and Twitter, and we have have a focus on the U.K. market, as well as America,” he said.

By the end of day two, there was an excitement in the air—an anticipation of the B2C days to come. Several ECC fans came on days three and four, and they weren’t disappointed. However, many outside vendors were less than impressed.

“We love that we’re here at ECC, but we think that everyone that purchased spots here should’ve had indoor accommodations,” Austin Rodriguez of Good Ohm Boys said. “It’s over 105 degrees right now, and our bottles are leaking, and we’ve lost product and potential customer base because we’re outside. When we ask people, ‘Do you want to try our juice?’ it’s too hot.”

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Show Attendees, Vendors Chat About

Daniel Montano (I Vape Clouds) Santa Fe, N.M. “I’ve been to Vape Summit, Houston and Vegas. I came here and this blew my mind; I absolutely enjoyed the show.

I’m a shop owner, and the only thing I can see about this show is that it’s going to help me build my business. It’s amazing seeing how this industry has grown so much, and this right here just shows you the depth of this industry and how much it means to everybody that’s here.”

Cuttwood’s back, which I’m glad. Blue Label wasn’t giving much, but they’re still holding strong, and a lot of the underdogs are here again, like Drip Society—gotta give a shout out to them. You’re getting, like, hundreds of dollars of juice for like $15; you can’t get juice this cheap.”

When asked if he’d been to any of the outside booths, Mushrush said, “Thank God for air conditioning. We’ve been to a few when we first walked in; I felt sorry for them, no air conditioning; they’re being strong. They got their fans, drinking a lot of water. More drinking fountains are inside compared to last year at the Ontario Convention Center.”

Joey Ford (attendee) has been vaping for four years.

“ECC is great this year; I feel like they’ve been holding back this year compared to last year, but it’s still been a great event. I still got a lot of juice from people. Met some new vendors out there.”

Mike Martinez (attendee) “We’ve only hit one building so far; I’m probably going to buy some juice.”

Steve Phelps (attendee) Huntington Beach, Calif.

“I bought a Kennedy atomizer. Good show so far.”

Ryan Klumper (attendee) “We’ve only been here for about an hour or so. I’m trying to get [Jason] Mewes’ autograph.” (Mewes was on hand to promote his Mewes Juice line.)

David (attendee) East Los Angeles, Calif. came to ECC on both B2C days.

“Just came to check it out. Love this community and just wanted to come for this dope-ass vibe that’s here.

I bought a couple juices, checked out a few companies I haven’t heard of, hit some of the spots I have heard of and tried the juice lines I haven’t gotten to try yet.” When asked what his favorite part of the show was, he said: “The vibe that I get off of everyone. Everyone’s so friendly here. I’ve been to so many shops where the employees are pretty much rude and even the owners don’t even pay attention to you. Here, it’s like I can literally go up to anyone of these people and start a conversation. It’s great; I hope we can all work so that we can keep having these events by staying active with CASAA and Not Blowing Smoke—focus on the goal here and keep vaping around.”

Nathan Mushrush (attendee) “Last year was absolutely phenomenal; this year absolutely tops it. Fantastic people, fantastic juice, Space Jam outdid themselves again, all the other booths have outdone themselves again. Just a fantastic experience. The new bill they’re trying to pass, it’s not going to pass, no one here is gonna let it. I picked up a couple bottles from Space Jam; we went down to Villain Vapors, picked up some Villain Vapors.

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Luis (E-Generation, an outdoor vendor) Los Angeles, Calif.

“It was good; exhibiting was a little slow, not many buyers came through. The weather wasn’t so helpful; we got some mist fans going, they assisted a little bit, so we were able to pull the crowd with the models and some of the giveaways that we had. Hopefully coming up [it’ll be] a bigger venue indoors.”

When asked if he thinks they would’ve been better indoors, Luis said yes, 100 percent. Traffic would be about five times more.

“What was it, 107 out today? Both days have definitely been over 100. We had a fire behind the mountains, too, so that definitely affected it a little bit. A lot of people were upset, so they wrapped up before the show even started.

Our neighbors in front of us wrapped up this morning and they left. We’re looking forward to future shows.

We gotta do what we gotta do, and we plan on being a vendor at ECC again given different circumstances.”

Joey Jux (2modgod on Instagram, attendee) Wilmington, Dela.

“It was a great event, great people, so much support.

I’m from the East Coast, but California made it feel like home for me. Every vendor, every person who came out to support, everybody was awesome. The venue was not what I expected; there was a lot of politics with [I guess the] fire marshall and space, and I guess they had people out here in the 130 degree heat, but I don’t think that was their fault. I don’t know, it was a great event in my eyes; I’d hate to be some of these people out here.

I’d give the event as a whole compared to all the other events an 8.5 out of 10. I’m a brand builder, I’m with the company Continuous Current; I’m also with 9South, the juice company. I came out here representing my company, that’s Dripped Up Vaped Out; we’re a company off the East Coast. We do apparel, we collaborate with some of the biggest companies in the game right now and basically expand their identities. I just travel and try to help build the community as a whole, give the people who are outside the community something that they don’t usually see. I do hip-hop music, and they don’t really see our culture, and when I bring these mods to shows and blow clouds they’re like, ‘Wow, I can really quit smoking cigarettes with those things?’ So what I’m here for is to try and build the community as a whole and make it the most positive community as possible. We all have one common goal for the vape industry to be successful!”

Cory Gunz (pixielite on Instagram) Wilmington, Dela.

“I think the event as a whole was great! Any event that brings us together as a community kind of lets the community outside our ‘vape world’ know the possibilities of stopping smoking and the ability to fight big tobacco and change the way people think is pretty incredible.

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The positivity here is amazing; I’m really impressed by it. I’m with Continuous Current; they’re from Carlsbad, Calif., that’s who I’m out here representing, and my own company, DUVO (Dripped Up Vaped Out), so we’re out here just supporting the community. The best part of the event is always the community. I could rattle off thousands of companies that I love and support, because the people are absolutely incredible people and they do this because they believe in what they’re doing, and you can’t help but to get behind that and support that.”

When asked what one thing he would change for the next ECC, he said, “Don’t put a convention outside in the summer in the desert in 103 degrees!”

Angel and Bree (attendees) Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“I love it; man the people, the vendors, the environment; man, there’s such good energy around here. We were one of the first ones in, so, two days in a row. We love the giveaways, the music and the positive vibes.”

Stefan Didak (NotBlowingSmoke.org) Oakley, Calif.

“It’s been pretty good for us; people have been complaining on our behalf for no apparent reason, saying, ‘You guys should be in the front instead of being in the back,’ but we’ve had an enormous amount of people come through. They’re all positive, they’ve all been asking questions … it’s been pretty good!”

Didak said that the best part of ECC is meeting all the people that he knows online but hasn’t had a chance to meet yet. “One of the things that NotBlowingSmoke does is get information out to stores, get people involved, get more vapers excited about the things we’re doing, and there’s always additional opportunities to reach out. What we really want is more people to support this, because the more businesses that support us, the more vapers we can reach.

Our main mission is changing the public narrative back to the understanding that this is a tobacco harm-reduction product. That’s what this is about; these things should not be demonized, and the users should not be demonized.

You have to strategize with the advocacy organizations what exactly needs to be done, at what specific time, and come up with a very good schedule for that. Get them to agree to come out, because there’s been a few dropped balls at many different events. I know that several different advocacy organizations are very much disappointed and discouraged from doing more events, and I think that you need them there. You always need them there, so you have to keep encouraging them in the right way.”

Editor’s Note: We reached out to Steve Mac, co-founder and coowner of ECC, for comment, with no response as of press time.

For more information, visit http://ecc-expo.com/.

t K s e U ef : 5 p 1 a V 20

l a v i y t r s e e f v A British ss s r Cro Cros rthu ave A D d y an ds b ave Wor

by D s o t Pho

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Shrewsbury, an old market town resplendent with medieval architecture, quietly sits near the border of England and Wales. It is home to an 11th century castle, a Benedictine monastery and, now that it’s been in its new home for two years, the U.K.’s premier vape event.

The event began five years ago in the spit and sawdust back room of an English pub. The handful of vendors and attendees could little imagine the size to which vaping and Vapefest would grow. Year on year demand has forced the event to relocate twice, now residing in a 53-acre outdoor agricultural showground.

Last year there were more than 20,000 visitors, and many commented how this year appears to have outstripped the record figure once more. Summer in England can be a fickle affair, but the sun beat a hearty 70 degrees through a clear sky as vapers flocked from across the country. The vendor area was expanded to house the 108 manufacturers and merchants as they displayed their wares in car boots and big tops.

If sitting in a field with a pint of beer were to be an Olympic event our medal haul would shoot through the roof, the British are spectacular at it. The ambiance makes Vapefest the event it is, a relaxed and happy place rooted in and for the vaping community. It has always been a free to enter affair that leaves attendees with more money for products and treats.

For those who failed or chose not to book a hotel room there was an expansive campsite with excellent toilet facilities. A chart circulated social media detailing all of the vape-friendly pubs in town for people to chat and laugh in the evenings—but this year there was also the draw of live music. A DJ and bands from the U.K. and France delighted onlookers, marking that Vapefest has transitioned into a fully-fledged festival of vaping.

The traditional raffle grew to unprecedented proportions, as well as resulting in the need to hold two separate draws. Prizes included liquids, atomizers and mods—but also contained exceptional high-end products from the likes of Hellfire and the French modders collective.

The idea of community stretched to the juice makers too as seven got together to share an eye-catching rainbow marquee. The popular brands including Dunfords, Colonel Boom, Diablo Liquids, Manabush, Finest Vaping Juice and B-Juice advertised them as The Best of British. “It’s lovely that we can come together,” said Diablo’s Vicky, “and show everyone that supporting each other is as important as sales.”

For those seeking escape from the sun, spaces had been offered to online forums and the single-issue vapers’ political party Vapers In Power. The Planet of the Vapes forum tent saw a constant influx of members old and new due to the free coffee and tea on offer.

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So, at the end of a highly enjoyable and rewarding weekend, vapers and vendors drifted off from the site like vape in the breeze. Everyone will be counting the days till next year; maybe weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see a larger American presence in 2016?

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d all be welcomed.

For more information, visit http://ukvapefest.com/.

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THE VAPER EXPO UK

ADDS TO U.K. VAPING EVENTS EXPLOSION

Words and photos by Dave Cross

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The Birmingham exhibition center opened in 1976, and in its history has played host to the likes of enfant terrible Justin Bieber, a grumpy Kanye West and Madonna not acting her age. This year has witnessed an explosion of U.K. vaping events, so it was only fitting that one should be held in England’s second city, centrally located and at the hub of a transport network.

“I had to come,” said Tom in sweeping Scottish brogue you could swim in. “I won a ticket.” Vapers are like that. A free $15 ticket was all the excuse needed to splash out on a $220 4 a.m. flight on Thursday from the remote Scottish island of Arran and a night in Wolverhampton. Not wishing to insult the residents of Wolverhampton, but that’s real commitment to vaping right there.

The Vaper Expo was an inaugural event at the National Exhibition Center (NEC) held on July 11 and 12. Dave and Lee, the organizers, staged the Expo in a 3,000 capacity hall. A conservative decision, but understandable even though the number of vapers in the U.K. now is estimated at 2.6 million. Questions asked when this and Vape Jam were announced included: Did the U.K. have the interest to sustain both events alongside the already popular annual Vapefest? The question was emphatically answered as The Vaper Expo UK sold out in advance of the weekend. Like Vape Jam before it, the British public appears to have a thirst for vape meets and a desire to see the biggest brands from home and America represented.

Birmingham enjoys as much rain in July as it does in February, but fortunately for the members of the UK Slick Vapers Facebook group, the exhibition center basked in 73 degrees Fahrenheit of fun. Homing in from diverse locations they met up to queue from 7:30 a.m. (for a 10 a.m. door opening). “Why?” seemed an obvious question. For those lining up around the block the answer lies as much in meeting virtual friends as it does in the event itself.

“We’re enthusiastic! We’re enthusiasts! We’re enthusiastic enthusiasts!”

The same question is easier to answer for the business owners behind the stands. For the likes of event sponsor Cuttwood Vapors it’s as simple as seeing a market ripe for the picking.

Cuttwood’s Sosicc explained how he sees the U.K. as being six months behind the States and set for ongoing expansion.

It’s why Cosmic Fog was here with the launch of the Lost Fog Collection and Element E-Liquids are attending its second U.K. event of 2015 with an award-winning juice collection.

For the U.K.’s Totally Wicked, single-handedly taking on the legislators of Europe, its presence was a celebration of a company fighting for the very existence of vaping on this side of the Atlantic. The Devilish red stand was a beacon for Brits to line up and express their gratitude.

For more information, visit http://www.vaperexpo.co.uk/.

It’s hard to see how such a successful event won’t be repeated next year in a bigger venue, and we’ll be hoping you can send over many more of your awesome vape companies.

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THE VAPER EXPO UK

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VaperCon West Brings Biggest Little Vape Meet to Reno

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Mike Schramel

For the second year in a row, VaperCon West headed to Reno, Nevada’s, Peppermill Casino Resort, and for show promoter GrimmGreen, there was no gamble necessary.

VaperCon West is a true old-school vape meet event, with no B2B session or serious mentality. It’s an event designed for vapers of the same mentality to relax, have fun and mellow out. When Grimm lived in Reno, he knew there were a lot of vapers, but no real vape “scene” or event. Grimm wanted to do something cool for the people in Reno, a show where the consumer can talk directly to vendors.

Grimm talked to as many of the 2,500 people who came through the doors over the weekend as possible, and everyone seemed to have a great time.

“It becomes more about free juice and B2B stuff and networking and getting wholesale accounts, which is good—you need that in our industry. But I miss that small sense of community. As far as I know, there aren’t a lot of those going on anymore,” he said.

With that in mind, Grimm and his team of almost 30 volunteers wanted to create a show that wasn’t about giving away as much free juice as you can and making as many wholesale contacts as you can. It was a show all about consumer-to-vendor relationships. The busy room was slightly bigger for this year’s event, allowing for 10 additional vendors, totaling 40. A stage was added so people could schedule time to get up on the microphone and talk about whatever they wanted.

NotBlowingSmoke.org was a first-time attendee, and they hit the stage to speak about advocacy.

“I’ve been in the industry for about six years now, and I always have more fun at the smaller, personal meets,” Grimm said. “Back in 2009, I remember going to vape meets, and there was a real sense of community. You knew the people in the room and you knew the people you were talking to.”

“It was actually their first event ever, and they got one of the very last tables that I had open. This event happened to fall one day after SB 140 in California, and we kind of looked at it as the death of SB 140 after party. Everybody was in a great mood and was very victorious,” Grimm said.

Grimm said that as the trade show circuit gets bigger, the community feeling gets lost.

A side benefit was having an event space attached to a casino. In Reno, one can smoke on the casino floor.

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Curious smokers filtered into the VaperCon eager to learn more after seeing vapor trailing up. Kevin Skipper of Vaping Convention Circuit fame donated starter kits that were given away to every smoker that entered the event. Having an event where one can vape freely in bars and lounges is a definite bonus to any vaping event.

Another standout moment for Grimm was when the doors opened on day one.

“I always get really nervous before the show starts, and you do everything you can to make sure it’s going to run smoothly and to put the word out to make sure people show up, but you don’t know what’s going to happen when you open the doors,” Grimm said.

As the vendors were getting set up, receiving lanyards and the music started, people came flooding in. Everyone started vaping and chatting, and the show took on a life of its own.

“I was so excited to see people excited to be there and be a part of the community,” Grimm said.

Grimm hand picks the vendors who will be on the show floor in an attempt to alleviate any last-minute surprises.

He said that as he talked to vendors, making sure the temperature was OK and everything else was good, vendors were surprised at how cool other vendors were.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I pick these vendors for a reason.’

I believe they share the same mentality as me, and I invited them up to this vape meet. There were no feuds going on—that was done on purpose,” he said.

Possibly the only letdown of the event was the extinguishing of the Star Wars costume contest. Ironic for a state that houses Sin City, there is a loophole with events tax laws. If VaperCon had held a costume contest, it would have been considered live entertainment, and the show would have been hit with a huge fee.

While last year’s costume contest was a hit, Grimm’s team decided not to eat the live entertainment fee.

As for VaperCon West 2016, Grimm said that he’s looking at a different venue. While he doesn’t want to grow much larger than the 40 vendors from 2015’s show and the Peppermill was a great venue, he’s pretty sure he’s going to move the event. It’s going to stay in Reno and still have a community-driven, small, intimate vape show; however, he wants to look at other casinos and keep his options open.

“Almost all of the vendors wanted to sign up for next year, and I think they had a good time,” he said. “We had a great time. I had a great group of volunteers who helped out.”

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Grimm wanted to thank Shelly, Chad and Nina from Nevada Vapor Supply, and Brandon and John Denver from the Northern Nevada Vapers Club, who helped organize the volunteers who worked in shifts. Volunteers received goodie bags for helping take time out of their day to help the vaping personality put on a great hometown show. And, though Grimm is a vaping personality, he said while he feels some pressure to put on an excellent event, it’s not because of who he is.

“I’ve never considered myself to be more important than anybody else. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy in a hat who really likes vaping a lot,” he said. “I kind of cultivate a mellow, laid-back, fun environment. I think people who enjoy my videos are more likely to come to my events, but I don’t feel any extra pressure because it’s my event.”

For more information, visit http://www.vaperconwest.com/.

VaperCon West Was a Hit! “We’re at the show having a blast. Great turnout, great people and a very well-organized, put on show. Definitely top notch.” -Bert Sy, ISM Vape “It’s kicking ass. Loving it, great time here today. I was here last year, glad to be back again this year. I’m a local out here, so it’s always good to have something come here. Hopefully they keep this shit legal and we’ll be good to go.” -Dexter Hale, show attendee.

“I think the show’s been great. Seems the attendance is definitely up and the room’s a lot bigger this year, so that’s pretty exciting; it’s nice to see that growing. We are the Solution Brand, and we are an all-natural skin care and tattoo aftercare line. Turnout’s been good. There’s a fair amount of confusion as to why we’re here, but I think once I explain the connection it makes sense; I’ve gotten a really good response so far. The connection is I have tattooed Nick GrimmGreen forever.” -Mark Moots, Solution Brand “VaperCon West is a blast. This is our second time being here, and it’s really exciting—lots of people, and we’re looking forward to next year, too. We just heard that there were just hundreds of people lined up out the door, and it seems to be a good mix of a lot of people who are already into vaping, but also people who just happen to walk in and they are looking for an alternative.”

-Natasha Supancheck, owner of Nevada Vapor “I think the show has been fantastic. It’s been very busy from the start on a Friday afternoon. We got a lot of traffic at the booth; it’s just a good vibe. A lot of people, especially the California crew, is kind of living on a high from the veto of SB 140, so it’s a good atmosphere.

We’ve had a lot of positive response. It’s more intimate, more contact with the consumer. The bigger shows for vendors, most of us are small businesses and it’s expensive to do those. These are more affordable, and I feel like we get more one-on-one personal contact with the consumers, and it allows us to really market our brand in a more effective way. The big shows are still effective and they’re needed, but I think there’s too many of them, so we actually as a company have been leaning more toward the smaller shows just because you get a better response.” -Doug Hughes, Boilermaker Vapor “It’s awesome. Really fun, a lot of good people. It’s our first trade show as vendors and first time on the vendor side. We are a juice company, and we’re here for consumers. There are a lot of great companies out here and it’s been a very positive experience.” -Green Vapor

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Lights, Cameras, Cloud Comps Words and photos by Alyssa Stahr A mix of class and hip-hop, The Vape League Convention sponsored by MEC was a first-time event for this organization, and the show had a unique, unexpected flair.

Spanning two days at the Rosemont Crowne Plaza near the O’Hare airport, this event brought a much-needed base for the bevy of “mom and pop” vendors in the Midwest.

Now that the dust has settled, Kris Dayrit, show organizer and owner of VapeCity Chicago, said that he and his team wanted to create a first-time show for the area that allowed businesses to do business. Each booth had separate piping and draping, tables and chairs were decorated with coverings and table cloths, leather chairs allowed for an additional seating area, and the venue allowed for free WiFi during the event for the more than 300 vendors in attendance.

Dayrit, who also is an ER nurse, started his business to help

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smokers become vapers. The Vape League Convention was a chance to market to businesses and the more than 2,500 attendees. VapeCity Chicago has six stores in the Midwest, and the consumer side of the convention did not disappoint.

“I tried my best in terms of marketing to the businesses.

For my next event, I have a plan into drawing more businesses into the show and focus on the business side of the show. The consumer side was better, and we got the word out, and we were happy about that,” Dayrit said.

Day one of the show was B2B only, while on day two an old-school, hip-hop DJ opened the floor to the general public. While other booths did have music, Ban Ventura AKA DJ Beat Benda served up a helping of jams to get the party started, creating the show’s unique ambiance from the very start.

On the consumer side, Dayrit said that these shows are an opportunity for vendors to grow their business, not just to hype up vaping. It’s an opportunity to show off juices and to give people a taste of something they can then purchase at the local store, and not a clone from China.

“It’s risky, because if I give you a list of how many businesses that are in a 100-mile radius as opposed to the West Coast, it’s not as saturated. So, we have a lot of mom and pops out there,” he said. “I called a lot of vendors and they said, ‘It’s only me and my wife, so we can’t come to the show.’ They don’t understand that it’s an opportunity to get better suppliers and more reliable hardware.”

While there were two shows in the Chicago area in April and in June, Dayrit noticed that June’s show, which was strictly B2B, offered a lot of Chinese vendors and products.

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His idea of having a show at this particular time was to have a U.S. show with U.S. vendors and suppliers.

He also wanted to offer authentic mods—no clones.

“I said, ‘You can vend at my show, but it has to be all authentic mods only,’ and I’m really proud that our show only had authentic mods,” he said.

In addition, Ruthless, the show’s title sponsor, went “above and beyond” to get the show bumping and put trust in the first-time organizers. Since this was a new forte for Dayrit, he admitted that the fact that everything was well organized surprised him. However, in the preplanning process, he took steps to make sure that the Crowne Plaza was prepared for a vaping event. Proper ventilation and fans were at the ready for when the vapor rolled in. A security team was in place in the hallway to not only guide show-goers to their proper places, but also to make sure the doors stayed closed and the vapor was evacuated out the back door.

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“I know that The Vape League is going to get larger and larger. I wanted to make sure the venue was secure with us, and I wanted to give the vendors all the tools they needed to have a functional business,” Dayrit said. “It’s important that the vendors are happy and the attendees that were shopping are happy.”

Highlights of the show included a 32-person, singleelimination cloud competition, with the winner receiving prizes donated from show vendors in addition to cash supplied by The Vape League. Awards were handed out to the winner, along with awards for Best Cereal Flavor, Best Dessert Flavor, Best Candy Flavor, Best Fruit Flavor and Best Overall Line. After a blind taste test, Brew City took home the prize for Best Overall Line.

“We put a lot of thought into that. We had the awards made with our logo, and while there are prizes and money, to have a trophy, there’s a sense of accomplishment,” Dayrit said. “What’s great is, when everything is said and done, when I saw the best line going to a Midwest company, I was really happy and proud to say that out loud. They’re just overall great guys.”

So, what did The Vape League team learn at its inaugural show? First, they learned that they need to increase marketing toward businesses, which is a focus for the next show. Dayrit learned that the vape community is very strong and very happy, and that it wants to be together, talk and try products while bonding. One of the strong words Dayrit has pushed is “community.” He said that everyone in the community, especially in the Midwest, has to stand together.

“Chicago’s weather can be very volatile, so I have to keep that in mind. There’s a short period of time in Chicago, and you have to find the right weekend that’s available in that window of opportunity,” he said. “It’s a central hub; it’s a big city, and it’s very easy to get around. We’re not ECC or VPX, and these people may never get a chance to go to those shows. We’re just a couple of people who want to give them a chance to give them what we’ve created.”

For more information, visit http://mecshow.com/.

“There’s laws approaching in terms of electronic cigarettes and liquids; we need to be strong in terms of having people stand up to the government and have people stand up for themselves,” he said. “We had lobbyists there [at the show] speaking to everybody, and that’s what I like. I like to see that. That’s where we need to grow.”

As for the next show? Dayrit said that’s like asking a parent with one child when they’re going to have a second. He wants to take his time to enjoy this one, especially now that people know about the show now and the first one is under his belt. However, he is looking at an 8-10 month window for the next event, ideally targeting bigger companies and venues along the way.

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Vaping the Coast Brings Firsts to Alabama

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Carol Zambrano The first vape show to come to Alabama reflected the state’s Bible Belt origins, as a “no R-rated clothing” rule was implemented into the show’s contract, another possible first for the industry. Vaping the Coast, which took place July 31 to Aug. 2 at the Mobile Convention Center, was the brainchild of Foley, Ala.-based TLC Vapes owner Matthew Canceleno and family.

Canceleno, who also owns Blue Angel Vapes in Pensacola, Fla., got his first vape from his mother in 2011 for his 21st birthday. A little more than a year ago, he decided that part of the country needed an expo.

“Everybody forgot about this region of the country.

When people think about the Southeast and put on a show, they jump down to Miami and forget about Mississippi and Alabama,” he said. “They go for these big cities because they want these shows to blow up, and most of these companies see a dollar sign at the end of the rainbow. They want to see as many people come through the doors as possible, but if you keep doing the same destination, that will dwindle.”

“They wanted to do more shows with me, and they put on conventions every day. To recommend me to someone else made me feel good,” he said.

Apparently, the good reputation and image paid off.

The city of Mobile was completely against vaping, according to Canceleno, going so far as to passing an indoor vaping ban. The city lifted the ban for Vaping the Coast and has yet to put it back in place. Canceleno believes that the image his show presented was key.

“Like in New Jersey, they had girls on stripper poles in front of senators. There is no reason for thongs to be given out at vape shows. That has nothing to do with vaping,” he said. “I honestly don’t want some girl to come up to me and pull her pants down and have an e-juice company showing. I guess I’m old-fashioned.”

Vendor count stood at 127, with just under 10,000 attendees rolling through the doors of the convention center. Friday served as the B2B day, with Saturday and Sunday serving as B2C time.

Cyclops Vapor was the presenting sponsor, and the company has signed on for next year’s event.

“Everybody was stoked. They’re [Cyclops] based out of Mobile, and they still picked up new contacts. I thought that was pretty cool,” Canceleno said.

Plans include a yearly home event in Mobile, with an inbetween show every six months that bounces around the country. Possible areas include Salt Lake City, Kentucky, Indiana and the Carolinas. Canceleno wants to find the best convention centers in the country with vapers that haven’t seen a show. Canceleno’s biggest personal moment at the show came when he was pulled aside by the convention center’s district manager, who asked to give his information to other centers that wanted to collaborate in putting on a show.

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Canceleno also made a woman change her shorts upon arrival, deeming them too scantily clad and against show rules. “They were utterly shocked when I had her change her clothes because her ass was hanging out.”

Canceleno explained further that when looking at photos of other shows, it’s either a young man or an “old guy” next to some “floozie” with a company’s name on her clothes.

“That’s not the vape industry. Most are husbands and wives not trying to sell smut. We are here in the Bible Belt, and we can’t have a show here with halfdressed girls. I ike the industry and I like a lot of people in it; I just don’t like the way people think it needs to be represented,” he said. “I want it to be more of a community, more about the shops who are working hard, not trying to have sex sell. No one had models here; no gimmicks. It was just people who vaped and people who made stuff. Everybody who came out had a ton of new business contacts. It just proves that it can be done without it. We actually hired a female coil builder to prove that females can do coils just as good as men. We had her at the show the entire time. They paid attention to the skills that she has, not that she was slutty. Pretty women help, but if they’re a part of the industry, it’s better.”

A couple of random show logistic surprises happened along the way, which lightened the mood. A rigging company came in to set up a booth that had used duct tape. Ten minutes before the doors opened, one side of the booth came crashing down. On an unhappy note, however, mods were a part of the prize package for the cloud competition, and some were stolen.

“Little stuff happened, but we didn’t want people to see it; we wanted everyone to have a smooth show. It went well, as far as I’ve heard from everybody,” Canceleno said.

Cloud competition preliminaries started on Saturday, with 25 finalists competing on Sunday for their shot at a piece of $17,500 in cash and other prizes. The entry fee was $50, with a minimum resistance of .08 Ohm allowed for dual-battery devices and .10 Ohm for single-battery devices at 4.2 volts. No regulated devices were allowed, and the devices and builds were inspected prior to the competition. The top 25 received a box mod in addition to $10,000 cash to first place, $5,000 cash to second place and $2,500 to third place. Showmanship points were given as well, with additional prizes for winning personalities.

However, Canceleno is not planning on having cloud competitions in the future.

“It seems like there’s a lot of drama instituted in there.

There’s talk of there being a vape league started. It would be a vape circuit that does nothing but cloud competitions, but it’s governed like a pool league. We’re going to try to do it nationwide. It’s a lot of work and a lot of organization. We’re trying to give their own niches of what people like to do. So, if you create a league that has the same rules across the country, you have something to judge it by, like a standard.”

After the occurrences at the NJ Vape Expo, Vaping the Coast’s organizers took a proactive approach to their upcoming events, looking to the local health department and government officials on the state/ local level to have guarantees as to what to expect.

After speaking with state and city attorneys, even though the legal age to attend the event and to smoke/vape is 18, there was a foreboding bill on the Alabama table (HB 224). The bill included raising the legal age to 19. Canceleno took a proactive approach, as many other local shops did, and raised the legal age to enter the show to 19 in case the bill passed. If attendees under 19 had previously purchased tickets, they were offered a full refund of the ticket price and a care package shipped to them with apologizes.

“We feel like it is in the best interest of the industry and community to be forward thinking, and even where not legally obligated to do so, to make sacrifices for the sake of our image not being presented to the media or government officials in a derogatory manner,” he said. “The things in New Jersey kind of affected how we did things. Better to have to refund than having the whole show shut down.

Canceleno apologized for incovenience on an individual level, but he felt that it was in the best interest of all exhibitors, the community and the industry in general. Vaping the Coast vendors who also attended the New Jersey show received a 50 percent discount on their booth in Alabama.

“We were just trying to help people. We had eight different lines premiere at our show with new companies. If they shipped it across the country and they couldn’t showcase their line, they lost a lot of money. We didn’t like that,” Canceleno said.

The Vaping the Coast site read that the show believed in unity, education and advocacy, with the Breathe Easier Alliance on hand to gather petition signatures.

Canceleno said that the advocacy portion of the show went over really well, especially with the indoor vaping lift and the demolishment of a new proposed tax.

“We’ve met with senators who are backing the e-cig industry because it creates new jobs, and they said they’re backing it now,” he said. “I want to do what ECC did this year, but I want to pack it into a month-long event like the World’s Fair of vaping. That’s the end game goal.”

For more information, visit http://vapethesouth.com/.

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Hard rock band Saliva debuts e-liquid line

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Steve Sergent Photography More and more artists are stepping out from behind the microphone and diversifying into other industries, such as clothing lines, perfumes and even e-liquids. The Grammy Award-nominated hard rock band Saliva, known for hits like “Click Click Boom,” “Ladies and Gentlemen” and “Always,” have ventured into the world of e-liquids with their own signature line.

Frontman Bobby Amaru and Korynne Hatcher of 7 Stone Management recently spoke with VAPE about how the line came about and what life on the road is like as a rock star.

VAPE: Bobby, you just joined Saliva in 2012. Can you talk about that process and what made you want to come on board to a pre-existing band? maru: We had a mutual friend who is a lighting guy, and he used to work with Saliva back in the day. He lives about a mile from me, and they were looking for a singer, and he suggested me. They listened to my stuff that I had, and that was pretty much it; we clicked. atcher: A seasoned drummer, Bobby Amaru stepped from behind the kit and took his place as the new frontman after original singer Josey Scott’s departure. Bobby has injected new life and energy into this heavy-hitting, five-piece band. With Bobby, they released their eighth and ninth studio albums and managed to not only keep the signature anthemic choruses that propelled them into stardom, but also push themselves into new territory with their writing and song style,enabling them to gain new fans while retaining the love and loyalty of the longtime listeners. They are currently in the mixing stages of their 10th studio album and hope to release it in early 2016.

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VAPE: Can you give me a little taste of what the album you’re working on is going to be like? Amaru: We’ve got almost the whole record done; we’re a couple songs away from being done, and it’s great, and it sounds awesome. We’re kind of taking our time with it. We want to do it right. Bands can kind of go at their own pace and take their time and be creative.

Bands now … there’s a lot of bands like Metallica … will put out a record and not put one out for another five years.

Slipknot’s another one. You have to go away and come back, and it’s almost refreshing. People are really like, “Oh I want to really hear that.” Everyone’s got an opinion. It’s always

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one-sided; people either love it or they hate it. We’re used to it.

VAPE: Do you feel as a band or a celebrity that you have a certain responsibility to vapers/smokers at your shows? maru: No; I think we met people that just don’t like it.

They want to keep smoking. I think everyone’s got a choice.

I think it’s a lot harder for people who have smoked their whole lives to quit. But, I see more and more people picking it up [vaping] every day. I’m not one to try to convince everyone to do something; that’s not why we did this. I think the awareness is necessary for sure, but we don’t want to make someone do something. I ask people what kind of flavors they are into. Everyone’s got something different. Our top three changes at every vape shop.

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VAPE: Only Wayne [Swinny] and Paul [Crosby] vape, correct? maru: They definitely vape more than I would, per se.

More of our crew guys, our tour manager, sound guy, we got him off smoking cigarettes. That was kind of our thing; we wanted people to stop smoking on the bus. We got into the vaping thing when we knew it was becoming something that people were getting into, and vaping companies would come to us and bring us samples. One day they brought a whole bunch of stuff, and they were like, “Why don’t you do a line?”

The Saliva name kinda worked with the vape thing. We kicked around ideas, and it’s going pretty well so far. I think it’s cool for bands. Yeah, you want to make music, and your fans want to buy music, and we’re not trying to make a dollar on it. It’s kind of refreshing and different to have something else to talk about. I’m enjoying going into vape stores and hearing people talk about stopping smoking. What do you do, anyway, when you’re on tour? You wait around during the day, so we go into a shop an hour or two a day and hang with them and be personal, and it goes a long way.

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VAPE: Whose idea was it to start an e-liquid line? maru: I’m the one who enforced it more and brought it to the band’s attention. I don’t want to take credit for it, though.

I got it lined up, and Korynne got it lined up, and we had ideas.

Then you tour, and you’re busy, and you go home and the last thing you want to do is anything Saliva related. It’s sad to say that, but I’m probably not the only one in a band that’s like that.

In my off-time, I want to stay busy, and I’m always thinking of things. We put it in motion two months ago [as of press time], and it’s doing its thing. We don’t really want to attach it to the

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music part of it. We’re about to launch our new Saliva store, and we’ll have a link, but it’s not going to be next to our CD— here’s our juices too. We’re not going to force it on people. atcher: This whole thing started while I was doing some PR work for Bobby. I handle the booking/PR for his solo stuff.

7 Stone Management is the entertainment company that I also work for; however, they do not have anything to do with the Saliva e-liquid line. The only people associated with the line are me, the band and Molecule Labs. Bobby was on an acoustic run with Kevin Martin from Candlebox for a weekend, and I was on the road with them. Saliva had previously worked with a promoter who was getting into the vape scene. He was working with some people to develop a line, and Saliva happened to be one of his clients. That deal fell through right around that time, and since I had already started a business relationship with Bobby and I knew the other guys, he asked me if I could help them find a new manufacturer, since they had some appearances lined up about two weeks away.

maru: [With a laugh.] Once you inhale one in you’re Ahooked for life. You’ll want nothing else but this liquid. Nah,

VAPE: Tell me about the signature e-liquid line.

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atcher: They handpicked the flavors of Mint Chocolate, HVanilla Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake, Grape Soda, Green Apple and Watermelon. There are three nicotine levels: 0 percent, 3 percent and 6 percent with a VG/PG percent of 70/30. Currently, we are looking at distribution, as we have had inquiries from all over the world from shops and lounges that would like to carry our line.

VAPE: How did you decide on the handpicked flavors? : That was everybody who kind of had an idea on Athatmaru and had input. It’s based on what people like. Wayne really likes grape stuff. Strawberry cheesecake was a no brainer, and I hit up a friend of mine who owns vape shops and I asked him, “What are your biggest sellers?” The song titles just go with it. Just seemed like a cool idea. atcher: The band already had ideas with regard to flavors, but we all kind of brainstormed and came up with some ideas for Molecule and they made it happen!

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VAPE: How did you decide on Molecule Labs for the manufacturing? atcher: Molecule Labs, based in California, is the largest juice manufacturer in the country. I literally Googled manufacturers, frantically trying to find someone who could help us. I left messages and sent emails. A day later, I got a text from Mike Guasch, the owner of Molecule Labs, who said that someone had passed along my information and thought that he would be able to accommodate us. From there, we just started talking, and he was very excited at the prospect of a band releasing a line, as the only other band to do it was Gwar a while ago. He told me everything he could do, and I talked to the band and we agreed to go with them. They literally pulled everyone off of what they were doing in order for us to get labels, bottles and flavors done in time for the appearances, and we could not have been better taken care of. When all of this happened, the band formally asked me to come on board and handle everything associated with the line. As I mentioned, I have known them for a while and had been friends with Bobby already for a few years, in addition to doing work for him, so it just seemed like a perfect solution.

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VAPE: There are so many juice lines out there. What makes yours different?

I think every vape line and everyone in the industry should be for the same thing. It’s a billion dollar industry; I get that.

There’s plenty to spread around, and all for the same cause: to get someone to stop smoking. We put out our line and do our thing. If people try it and like it, great. If they prefer another line, great. They are still not smoking.

VAPE: Tell me more about these nationwide shop visits.

atcher: The guys have been traveling on the road since HMarch, and according to their tour schedule, have been visiting stores in the cities that they are playing in and talking about their line. They bring in product for people to sample and purchase, and of course, they always perform a song or two for their fans. We think that this is something that sets us apart, as it’s not only a way for people to learn about a new line and try it, but they also get to interact with fans and take pictures, which creates not only brand awareness, but is a fun time, as well! maru: We usually do a song acoustically; we mingle, we hang out with everybody. We sign whatever they want and they bring in Saliva merch, and it’s an hour- to two-hour-long meet-and-greet. We’re not like, “sunglasses on, too cool to hang out,” or whatever. Shops always make us feel at home, and it’s really good and overwhelming.

VAPE: How do you decide which shops to visit when you’re on the road? maru: Korynne handles all of that. We have no idea; we just know where we are playing at, and it’s easy to go into a shop. There’s 100 shops or more in every city. I don’t know how she picks them. I’ve noticed some of the stores that we’ve done, the people had multiple stores. She tries to go for those, I think. atcher: I schedule appearances based on their tour schedule. I reach out to stores in every city they will be appearing in and talk to the owners about our brand, and tell them about the “Saliva Vaping Experience” and ask if they would be interested in taking part. So far they have done almost 20, and they have all been great! We have stores that have already asked us to come back. These appearances are a unique selling tool, as it allows the fans to interact with the band on a personal level. It not only promotes our brand but also familiarizes people with the band who may not have known about them previously.

A

H

VAPE: What are some of your goals for the line? atcher: We are currently looking at several distribution companies, trying to decide which one is best for our needs.

Obviously, we have to go about things a little differently than your typical line, but I have been doing a lot of research so I can come up with the most effective marketing strategy for what we need. It’s been interesting, as I knew nothing about the vaping industry until all this started in mid-March of this year. Our goals are to get worldwide distribution, but we also want to make sure that our liquid is carried in high-quality stores, not just every shop on the corner. We are proud of the quality of our liquid and want to make sure that our brand is always considered as such.

H

For more information and to see if Saliva is coming to a store near you, visit http://www.salivavapejuice.com/.

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a p V ers l a

Turns ‘Meet’ Into ‘Fest’ With Research, Advocacy

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Christopher Mikovits

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Cheryl Richter started vaping in 2009 after being introduced to the world by a friend of her family. It took her a couple of months to think that it wasn’t a gimmick. Once she tried it herself, however, she was absolutely amazed. She bought an e-cigarette for herself as a birthday gift and never smoked another cigarette again.

Her business partner Chris went through the same experience at the same time, so they decided to start Cherry Vape, an e-cigarette vape shop and lounge in Westchester County, N.Y., as a way to help friends and family quit smoking. But, they didn’t stop with a brick and mortar. Chris and Cheryl have worked tirelessly for vapers’ rights, testifying at hearings, meeting with federal legislators and becoming founding members of the New York chapter of SFATA. Additionally, Richter is a board member for the National Vapers Club (NVC), whose humble beginnings have grown into a semi-annual event called Vapefest. Vapefest’s main focus is to raise money for e-cigarette research and advocacy.

Richter said that it’s miraculous that she quit smoking overnight after 32 years as a smoker. She started going to NVC meets when they were local to Long Island back in 20092010, getting more involved in planning. NVC started as a local Long Island meet, and the woman who was running it at the time, along with others, had hopes to take the club national. Around the same time, there was a proposed indoor ban happening in Long Island. The club wanted to take that moment as an opportunity to raise money for research.

“It was real grassroots,” Richter said. “The money from the first national Vapefest went to that. I wasn’t really involved in that yet, but the money that was raised from that one and then subsequent Vapefests went to fund the Indoor Air Quality research report.”

The Indoor Vapor Air Quality Study (IVAQS.com) research report was one of the first published, peer-reviewed studies that proved that second-hand vapor was not harmful to the vaper or the bystander. From that point forward, all of the funds collected at Vapefest go to advocacy work or research study funding, a tall order fulfilled from a once-smaller, Long Island-based club. When the club was happening in Long Island, it really was just meets, according to Richter, who now vapes an Eleaf 30 watt with a Nautilus Mini. When the first

official Vapefest launched in Virginia, booth space was sold to vendors to raise money for research.

“They wanted kind of a halfway point to have a meet, and I think the idea of doing it as a fundraiser to fund the research really made it a viable thing to do,” Richter said.

“Back in those days, there weren’t really any other vape meets. Now there’s one across the country every weekend.”

What hasn’t changed is that NVC and now Vapefest is still an atmosphere for friends to get together and for people to come in to start friendly conversations among vapers. Vapefest is now held in the fall and the spring. Spring Vapefest is held in Las Vegas, while the fall fest takes place somewhere on the East Coast.

“We do try to limit the number of vendors per show, because we don’t want it to turn into some kind of an expo.

We want the vendors to have an opportunity to actually make some sales. We haven’t went to a convention center on purpose; we keep it to hotels and a family type of atmosphere,” Richter said.

The next scheduled Vapefest was held in late September in Miami. As of press time, the Miami show was what the NVC was really focused on, and then the crew will turn right around and focus on Vegas in March. Richter predicted a laid back, Florida atmosphere on the beach in Miami.

“A lot of people say their best memories are made at Vapefest, and this time it’s on the beach. We’re taking advantage of the Miami atmosphere. Of course, we have a lot of traditions also. We’re trying to get Zen as our auctioneer this year; he’s hilarious. We have our infamous Vapefest karaoke. It’s the best karaoke ever. Whether you’re good or you suck, people love it and applaud it. Everybody is really up and involved.

It’s pretty hilarious. That’s a tradition going way back.”

Additionally, throughout the year, board members, who consist of Chelle Schlake, president; David Kapple, vice president; and Richter, financial secretary, work tirelessly on advocacy efforts when Vapefest isn’t happening. The board testifies at hearings, alerts people about upcoming events and assists on letters that vapers should be writing to their legislators. The board always is looking for volunteers to help out fighting the good fight.

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“One thing we started doing last year is, after the legislative sessions close across the states, we put together a list of all of the legislators, and if they voted on an issue, e-cigarette bill or if they sponsored a bill, we let people know,” Richter said.

Working closely with SFATA and The Vaping Militia, NVC has a software system in place where you can look up your representative and how he or she voted on a bill, or if he or she sponsored the bill.

Research

“A lot of vapers ... this is an extremely important issue for them,” Richter said. “Some have never voted before, and they don’t want these people telling them what to do. We’ll be doing that again this year, even though 2016 is the really big election.”

If Richter could speak to individual vapers about advocacy, the one thing she would say is that once your rights are taken away from you, then you start to care. In Westchester County, where Cherry Vape is located, she tried to get everyone to come and testify on a recent proposed indoor ban, and people were just not interested.

“The shop owners in Westchester met face-to-face, and a couple of vapers came out. We could’ve used so many more people,” she said. “Sure enough, it passed unanimously, and now when I tell people they’re not allowed to vape indoors, they’re shocked. I had to contain myself from getting ticked off when the question came to me, ‘What can we do now?’

Now? Where were you a month ago? It became law.”

Educate

For people who are somewhat interested, Richter urges them to write a letter to his or her congressperson; even better, to meet with them, talk with them and educate them.

“When we get those wins, it’s because we have educated our legislators. It sounds so intimidating, but they’re just people. They’ve been fed some really massive untruths by the American Lung Association, which is everywhere by the way. They are introducing all these indoor air bans. They get into these legislators first. We need to get there first,” Richter said. “Support the companies that are doing the right thing, that are out there hiring lobbyists or members of SFATA that donate to The Vaping Militia and CASAA. There are plenty of companies that you can buy juice from. Ask them, ‘What are you doing for advocacy?’ Consumers have the ability to drive that with their wallets.”

For more information, visit http://www.vapersclub.com/ and http://www.vapefest.com/.

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Unbroken, Purilum Harvest Sweet Rewards with Unique E-Liquids VAPE editor visits her first domestic e-liquid production plant.

By Alyssa Stahr Photos courtesy of Purilum Deep in the heart of Greenville, N.C., sits East Carolina University, a home for BMX riders and the first e-liquid cartridge bottling facility to produce automated assembly in the United States. In July 2014, I was fortunate enough to visit a number of Chinese clean room facilities; however, after a pitch from Unbroken’s VP of Marketing Justin Wiesehan at Chicago’s Vapor Expo International, I was on my way to my first domestic tour.

North Carolina certainly has some charming airports, from Charlotte’s bathroom attendants to Greenville’s two-gate waiting area, complete with table lamps and rocking chairs.

I knew flying into quaint Greenville was going to be a treat, and I was excited to begin the tour of Purilum’s facility, which manufactures and provides testing, labeling and bottling services for the Unbroken e-liquid brand.

Unbroken’s Origins Upon our arrival at Purilum, I met with Justin Wiesehan, Unbroken’s VP of marketing; Jake Wiesehan, global sourcing manager; Anthony Dillon, Purilum’s board member; Bianca Iodice, Purilum’s president and head flavorist; and Jessica Robertson, Purium’s business development manager, to get a healthy background on both companies before the facility tour.

Prior to working in the vape industry, the senior management team of Unbroken worked in a business that distributed many products to travel centers and convenient stores. Due to the company’s relationships with these types of retailers, they worked with a major e-cigarette company to help gain major distribution in this channel from 2007-2009.

When that partnership ended, they saw further opportunities in the

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industry and decided to start their own e-cig company.

The senior management team at Unbroken started their official foray into the e-cigarette world in 2012 with Justin and Jake’s dad John Jr., who is CEO; one of their dad’s business partners, Todd Millard, who is COO; other brother John III, VP of sales; and Bradley Trawick, VP of sourcing. Since starting the company as the Mistic brand, which is a cigalike product with a cartridge and rechargeable battery, the company has since evolved way beyond that. Mistic started in select retailers like Wal-Mart and Circle K, with a distribution of around 17,000 locations. It has since expanded to more than 70,000 locations nationwide.

In 2013, they developed the HAUS brand, which is a personal vaporizer with a tank, e-liquid and high-powered battery. At the end of 2014, they saw a shift in the marketplace going to vape shops, so that’s when they developed Unbroken, their line of premium e-liquids. Unbroken’s unique juice is based on the very distinct flavor profile of South American botanical fruit extracts.

A Partnership Formed The relationship between Unbroken and Purilum started because Mistic wanted to get its cartridges out of China.

Another reason was inventory purposes, and, for communication purposes, it’s easier for the Charlotte-based team to drive down to Greenville for an in-person visit.

Justin said, “We didn’t want to keep them there because of the quality. There’s not a lot of quality control, and we wanted to give people a product they can trust. We thought being U.S. made would accomplish

that; we think it has. The partnership we’ve developed was the key. They [Purilum] could’ve been in California and we still would’ve done it.” Jake agreed. “Probably the main reason we decided to switch our whole production to the states is FDA and what they’re going to regulate.”

Also, if you’re buying something out of China, you have a four- to six-week lead time. By the time it gets to the shelf, that liquid has been sitting in the cartomizer for four to six weeks or longer. With Purilum, lead times are days, so customers are getting a fresher product.

The company has a team in Washington, D.C., that deals with regulations and what to expect, and the team challenged Mistic and HAUS at the end of 2013 to switch everything from China to the States. Everything was switched in 2014, except for raw materials like batteries and hardware, where China still corners the market.

Thus, Purilum started filling Mistic’s cartridges Stateside, in addition to developing flavors for HAUS and Unbroken brands. The Unbroken line, which launched in May, has been a little different than what the Wiesehan brothers expected.

“I wouldn’t say it’s worse or better; the sale process is a little bit different than we envisioned it to be,” Justin said.

“I think a lot of vape shops are not sure who to bring in right now; they get a lot of different samples every day from a bunch of different companies.”

The key to the sale process is standing out, and Unbroken is doing its best to serve that with its square bottles, labels, branding and nic levels (they run an untraditional 0, 4, 8 and 16).

Unbroken’s Brazilian Roots Vaping, Justin said, is very subjective, like wine. Just because one person likes something doesn’t mean another one will. What Unbroken tried to do was separate itself from the normal custards, cereals and desserts. When they came to Purilum with an idea for an e-liquid, Iodice, who is from Brazil, had the idea of using fruits from Brazil.

“We started tasting different fruits, different flavors, and that’s how Unbroken came to be. Because of the market, what you have right now is sweet flavors and fruits, and we wanted something different. It’s fruits, all right, but it’s very different types of fruits,” Iodice said. “Inspiration is kind of a mix. You have to move to where your customer is. So you have to listen to your customer, but at the same time you always want to introduce something new in the market.”

They truly are like nothing else on the market, giving consumers something they haven’t tried before. Their taste is unique, from the fruit extracts of Brazil. Ripe fruits and also pulps were used during the development phase in order to obtain the unique characteristics of these fruits. While this isn’t too different for Iodice, she said that for Americans to taste something straight from the Amazon jungle, it’s very different.

“This could be a good thing or a bad thing,” Justin said. “They could be like ‘Whoa, that’s really different, but I like it,’ or, ‘Wow, I really like this because it’s not another cereal.’”

The group started out with 10-15 finalists for the brand in January, whittled them down to about eight and settled on the last five in February:

Aurora A best seller from northeastern Brazil.

Fruit: Carambola, derived from the starfruit, provides a sweet citrus flavor that can be compared to a mix of apple, pear and grape with caramel and sugary nuances.

Haven Another best seller from the northern Amazon.

Fruit: Guaraná and apple, which gives the flavor of a green apple, and the Guaraná, which is round, rooty and berry-like. Iodice said that you can drink and vape Guaraná. Justin explained: “The alkaloid present in Guaraná is equivalent to caffeine.”

Raw From coastal Brazil.

Fruit: Pitanga, which provides a delicate flavor with a hint of sweet, sugary cherry and is a source of vitamin C and calcium.

Rain Derived from the northern Amazon rainforest.

Fruit: Cupuaçu, which gives off a mint kick due to an added touch of menthol, and boasts a blend of pear, banana, chocolate and passion fruit.

Root From southeast Brazil.

Fruit: Perhaps the most polarizing e-liquid of the five, the Jabuticaba serves Root with grape and berry-like undertones. “Root people either love it or hate it,” Justin said. “It lives up to its name 100 percent. On the inhale, it tastes like dirt and root, but then on the exhale you get a really nice berry fruit. Jabuticaba grows from the trunk of the tree, so it moves up the trunk as it grows, so that’s why you get that earthy taste.”

Purilum’s Well-Oiled Machines Purilum was the first company in the United States that began providing automated cartridge filling and assembly.

Purilum focuses on manufacturing, production, bottle filling and flavor profiles, accomplished in its ISO 8 Class 100,000 fully automated clean room facilities. The facility prides itself on its fully automated bottle filling and assembly and cartomizer filling and assembly in its 19,000-square-foot plant.

Robertson explained that Purilum started about a year and a half ago as a joint venture between IOTO USA, a branch of a Brazilian flavor house, and Alliance One Specialty Products Investments Limited. Alliance One is an international leaf dealer, with its North American headquarters in Farmville, N.C.; IOTO’s facilities are in Greenville.

This served as medium ground for the minds of Dillon and Iodice to come together. The facility broke ground in April and started with production of the Mistic line in September 2014.

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The Tour FDA regulations are a huge part of how Purilum has set up its facility. The big things are covered, while the little things they can adjust to. The group asked themselves, when the FDA regulates, what standards may they require?

They brought in clean room, ISO and manufacturing environment specialists, and went with the ISO 100,000 class standard for the simple reason that they can upgrade purely by replacing the HVAC units without having to make structural modifications to the rooms.

Purilum conducts environmental monitoring tests of its cleanrooms with a petri dish to see if there’s any growth of bacteria or yeast.

Currently, testing is done by an independent third party, but as Purilum grows, it will have the capabilities to test in-house.

Purilum builds its own flavors in house. Iodice, whose background is that of a world-class flavorist, sets the flavor standards for all e-liquids.

The machines have a number of functions.

They apply the oil seal post filling and end cap, and then conduct a resistance test to ensure that the cartomizer is working. Then a label with a traceability code is applied. All products that Purilum manufactures are 100 percent traceable, and codes on the machines change daily and are segregated between machines. The same is true with Unbroken’s lot codes.

Purilum continues to add capacity, with generation three machines coming soon. Dillon was clear that when the company invested in this technology, it was going to have a short shelf life. “One of the great things in this industry is how quickly technology changes, and we had to make sure our equipment can deal with those changes and technologies,” he said.

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Nicotine is stored in either 10 percent PG or VG solutions. PG and VG are USP grade and flavors are food grade. Then, raw materials are issued into one of two ISO 1,000 class clean mixing rooms. Dillon said that they decided to segregate mixing of the liquids with and without nicotine. “If somebody buys a product from us that is zero nicotine, it must be 100 percent zero nicotine,” he said. “We took the human equation out of it. Mistakes are gonna happen with people, but segregating the mixing further eliminates the potential for human error.”

Once quality control has approved solvent ratios, nicotine levels and anything else they may need to, liquid is issued to production. Segregated drains were installed on the side of the Purilum building; the city of Greenville tested the output and approved it for direct release. Dillon said, “We choose to be good corporate citizens to adjust the pH of it to a controlled release. Under the ground in front of the building, we have big tanks that hold a tremendous amount of water; we do a trickle feed. All the waste from this side flushes out of the drains into holding tanks, and we control the release from there to ensure there are no mistakes or problems.”

There is controlled access to the mixing rooms. No single individual can mix on his or her own; it requires three people: one individual to mix, a second who is certified and a third to sign.

Purilum was the first U.S-based company to automate and assemble via its filling machines. Dillon said that filling is the easy part. The complicated part is all of the other pieces that go along with it. Previously, people were filling by hand, and now Purilum can fill with a high-grade precision. Pumps are accurate to within 0.5 percent. “If you consider what was being filled in China, we tested a lot of brands on the market and they had a variance of 20 to 25 percent, which is huge. We’ve eliminated that completely, accurate with a maximum deviation of 0.5 percent,” he said.

Once machines have applied the label and the laser code, two silicone implants are applied.

From there, it’s ready to go and sealed in bags.

Purilum continues to upgrade the machines, already working on version two as they find better ways to adapt. “The great challenge with this was working on how to automate filling at high speed without the liquid flowing to the center of the cartomizers. It looks very simple, but if you inject under pressure, it falls through the center and drips out; that’s obviously not good for the consumer.

We have systems to ensure that the cartomizers are not leaking; there’s nothing dripping, not even microdots of liquid. It’s a very robust solution we’ve come up with,” Dillon said.

The greatest challenge, according to Dillon, is reliability of components. “We’ve been dealing with millions of pieces, and they’re all being made in factories in China. Machines are only going to be as good as the quality of components you put in. We have a very strict quality control, and we learn as we go along.”

We suited up in our clean room booties, gloves, hats and suits and headed into the production facility. During the first part of the tour, Dillon explained that the facility was designed around the flow of goods and materials.

“We didn’t want a facility that was too big, because maintaining cleaner environments is a lot harder than building cleaner environments,” he said. “The bigger the space, the harder it is to maintain, so everything’s been designed around the flow of our goods and materials.”

With this in mind, all goods come in through the back and everything is held in quarantine until Purilum verifies purity levels of all incoming raw materials. They do not rely on any manufacturers’ certificates. They test everything themselves in-house. Once all incoming raw materials have been verified for quality levels (the same is true for bottles, components, cartomizers, labels, etc.), they are issued into one of the various storage rooms, and segregated for PG, VG, flavor and nicotine. Purilum receives its USP grade nicotine from Europe, the United States and, primarily, Switzerland.

“Our nicotine is kept in a locked room with restricted access, segregated from other e-liquid components. We anticipated initially handling pure nicotine. We have a lot of experience from Bianca’s background and my background with handling pure nicotine, but for safety reasons, we chose not to in this e-liquid manufacturing facility,” Dillon said. Thus, all nicotine purchased is diluted in VG or PG; Unbroken’s PG/VG ratio is 50/50.

Even though Unbroken is only a couple of months old, the company’s goal has always been to start in Brazil and move to the next region of the world. So, whether it’s Indonesia, China, the Caribbean or Mexico, the goal is to have fruits from those regions become the next e-liquid flavors in the line.

Justin said that they wanted to get the first five flavors out first and get reactions.

“This industry changes every three to six months. A flavor that is hot today, no one may even buy in six months, so you have to continue to evolve your product line, your offering, or you’ll just be stale.”

For more information, visit http://www.unbrokenvape.com/.

All of Purilum’s flavors and materials, including those for Unbroken, must be approved by a board-certified toxicologist. There is an eightstage toxicological risk assessment on all materials before Iodice can use them. Dillon said that it’s been a tremendous investment by Purilum to take that route, but they decided early on to do things to the highest standards possible.

“All materials—we can stand up and say there is some science. Because this is a product that people are bringing into their lungs. We don’t know what the long-term effects are, and that’s why our toxicologist is so critical to everything we do.”

Next on the tour was the quality control room, where the products they prepare are tested. Purilum tests everything in-house and does not rely on manufacturer certificates. The in-house lab is one of the things the company prides itself on. “We have people who come to us and say, ‘We love this flavor; we want you to replicate it,’” Dillon said. “It’s amazing what people send to us. After analyzing, we say, ‘No, we can’t, it has diacetyl in it.’ It’s very hard to replicate. We can come close, but obviously we can’t use diacetyl.”

The piston pump room includes a very stringent cleaning regime, so when Purilum changes out the flavor or nicotine, they switch out the pumps. Shifts run 24 hours a day, except for Sundays, in two and three shifts, depending on orders. Finished bottles are put in totes, normally 1,000 bottles per tote.

Purilum builds all of its own flavors, with the only component bought from a third party: nicotine. Natural botanical extracts is one of Iodice’s specialties.

Vaping Personalities:

10 Names to Know In the VAPE WORLD

By Leigh Oates The vape world is growing exponentially. Many of us do our best to inform the public, supply them with quality equipment and juice and work politically to keep the vape industry thriving. The following 10 people are just a few of the names to know in the vaping world.

10. Katherine Heigl - Katherine Heigl was one of the first celebrities to give vaping some attention on Late Show with David Letterman by vaping an e-cigarette on-screen.

In addition to her appearances on Letterman, Heigl has been photographed vaping on a few occasions. It’s always good when a high-profile celebrity can give awareness to e-cigarette technology. Heigl and other celebrity vapers provide relatability and recognition of the vaping world.

9. Azim Chowdhury - Azim Chowdhury, a partner at

Keller and Heckman LLP, is an lawyer whose area of expertise is in the FDA regulatory sector as it relates to e-cigarette and vaping issues. He represents many e-cigarette companies and e-liquid suppliers in the Washington, D.C., area, putting him right at the heart of important political and regulatory issues. You can find more details about his practice on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/azimchowdhury/1/aa/703), or follow him on Twitter @ECIGattorney, where you can see his frequent updates on issues related to vaping.

8.

Phil Busardo - One of the premier personalities of YouTube, Phil Busardo, known as pbusardo on TasteYourJuice.com, boasts more than 100,000 subscribers and more than 14 million views on his YouTube channel. Busardo is an ever-present face at vape shows and expos, and his thorough reviews of products are much appreciated by consumers. Though got his start primarily by reviewing e-liquid, Busardo recently moved toward product reviews, and his background as a radio personality and DJ gives him great presence on the air.

7.

Konstantinos Farsalinos, M.D. - The Greek physician responsible for much of the emerging e-cigarette and vaping research, Farsalinos approaches the study of vaping in a non-biased way. Instead of being funded by large agencies seeking specific outcomes, Farsalinos’ independent and crowd-funded research examines both the pros and cons of vaping. He sees the great potential of vaping as a harm-reduction therapy for smokers, and his scientific studies are published in medical journals worldwide.

6.

Brian Fojtik - Brian Fojtik is director of External Relations at NJOY, “America’s largest independent e-cigarette and vaping company.” NJOY is not owned by Big Tobacco, and they are a huge player in the overall e-cig game. Fojtik has extensive experience in politics and policy making.

Fojtik manages state and local government relations over 162

the eastern part of the United States. With so much legislation currently being written about e-cigarettes and vaping, Fojtik’s work is important to ensure that the environment remains friendly for vape shops and juice suppliers.

5. Nick “Grimm” Green - GrimmGreen is a vaping

promoter, reviewer, VAPE contributor and fellow Clutch fan.

His YouTube channel has more than 167,000 subscribers, and he also operates GrimmGreen.com, “A vape blog for vapers since 2009.” His website is a huge resource for vaping-related information and reviews, and GrimmGreen also plays an important role in keeping us up to date on current advocacy and political action needs through his Instagram: www.instagram.com/grimmgreen.

4.

Bonnie Herzog - Bonnie Herzog is the managing director and beverage and tobacco analyst for Wells Fargo Securities (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnieherzog).

Her research of the vapor market has led her to make predictions about future explosive growth of the industry.

She expects that vaping will overcome the e-cig industry within 10 years (http://www.economist.com/news/ business/21573985-challenge-big-tobacco-vape-em-if-yougot-em). Eyes look toward Herzog’s research for the best information about vaping as an industry.

3. Dimitris Agrafiotis - Also known as the Vapin-

Greek, Dimitris Agrafiotis, vaping advocate, YouTube presence and chief operations officer at Mountain Oak Vapors, the is a mover and shaker. The VapinGreek YouTube channel has more than 29,000 subscribers, and Agrafiotis also is operator of dimisphere.com, home of vaping “reviews, commentary, advocacy, rants.” Agrafiotis travels the world representing the industry and advocating for sensible e-cig policy. Follow him on one of his many social media sites for updates on current e-cig news.

2. Bill Godshall - Bill Godshall, director of Smokefree

Pennsylvania, has been “an anti-smoking harm campaigner … for decades” (http://www.ecigarette-politics.com/billgodshall-thr-updates.html). Godshall promotes tobacco harm reduction and endorses vaping. He keeps up to date on vaping news, court cases and hearings, and a vast library of updates and information provided by Godshall can be found at the E-Cigarette Politics website: http://www. ecigarette-politics.com/bill-godshall-thr-updates.html.

1. Gregory Conley -

President of the American Vaping Association, Conley is a seemingly tireless advocate for vaping. Followers of his Facebook page notice that he travels almost nonstop on a mission to educate legislators about the facts of vaping. A short description of The American Vaping Association via Facebook describes the group as, “Advocating for small- and medium-sized businesses against excessive taxation and regulation.” Conley’s speeches, written defenses of vaping and exposés of the dirty politics behind vaping are an invaluable resource to us as vapers. Conley’s work demonstrates the power of the political process in protecting the best interests of the people. The American Vaping Association can be found at www.vaping.info.

Shop Global Vapor Q&A with Founder, Mark Evans Jr. World Vapor Expo in May served as the launch of Shop Global Vapor (SGV), which extends B2B off the trade show floor and into the cloud. SGV is a free service open to vapor industry professionals, shop owners and exhibitors, allowing users to purchase products directly. More than 120 worldwide brands are available, along with a social media marketplace where users can get to know vendors and speak directly to owners and product operators.

VAPE: Why did you decide to start SGV, and how did that idea become a reality?

Evans: I am the co-founder of the World Vapor Expo. I love being a trade show operator. With experience developing both online and offline marketing strategies, we set off to build a wholesale vapor business-to-business network online for our exhibitors and B2B attendees. We spent more than a year of research, and along the way took my relationship with Balluun to the next level. We announced a multi-year partnership at Expo! Expo!, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) annual meeting and exhibition in Los Angeles.

Together, we launched SGV. VAPE: Can you take us through some of the exciting features of the site and what users can expect?

Evans: Vapor space retail shops, e-commerce and affiliate webmasters looking to purchase wholesale vapor products gain free access to network, connect and purchase wholesale from more than 100 brands with thousands of in-demand products SGV exhibitors utilize the platform to network, meet and conduct wholesale B2B trade. SGV has the largest selection of wholesale vapor products direct from the best selling brands in the vapor business. Additionally, as an SGV attendee

member, you have the ability to submit a purchase order for wholesale vapor products directly from manufacturers and distributors representing high-demand brands from around the globe. SGV members have access to private vapor industry social media and our B2B vapor marketplace on the secure cloud hosted Balluun365 online trade show platform. There are no membership or transaction fees.

VAPE: Are there any other requirements/qualifications to be a vendor?

Evans: New members must provide a business license, legal business name, DBA, business entity, business address, FEIN, Tax ID or corporate number to gain access. Call 1-844-VAPEB2B if you require assistance with membership verification.

Membership is restricted to businesses only.

VAPE: How many shops are on the site currently?

Evans: Since SGV’s launch, our attendee/wholesale buyer member base spread to more than 300 verified wholesale buyers. With more than 100 brands to buy direct from, SGV is a turnkey, all-in-one solution for both buyers and sellers of wholesale vapor products.

VAPE: What’s your goal(s) for SGV by the end of the year?

Evans: Future developments include more time saving, B2B commerce infused technology and the full release of SGV’s wholesale point of sale app, dubbed “orders pro.” The app is live on iPad pilot with a select group of SGV exhibitors. Full release is expected to be available cross platform. Join the revolution, join the community.

For more information, visit http://shopglobalvapor.com/.

Getting The Scoop On C

raig Scoppa, known as Scope666, is not just the owner of Scope Juice, which features popular flavors such as Apricot Dreams and Popping Cherry. He’s also an online host for the VULive (Vaping Underground Live) network on http://vapers. tv, a father, a husband, a systems engineer and a drummer.

Susan: How did your juice line get started? craig: Two people actually pushed me into it. There was a guy named Wayne, who goes by the screen name of VapeMedic, and also Robyn from the Vaping Militia. I met both of them at a meet here in Jersey about a year and a half ago. It was there that I also met people like Vapor Joe (Joe Petner), Smokie, TowerofVape (Rich Gavina) and a few others. At the time, I was still DIYing, and I let Wayne and Joe try my cola juice. They both liked it a lot. However, the one who pushed me really hard was Robyn.

After she tried my juice, she told me that it would be a sin for others not to try it.

Susan: What has been the best thing about creating Scope Juice? craig: I love the positive feedback and the direct connection with people that I interact with on my shows (Mod Envy and Squirreling Out). It is also from that interaction that I get feedback on the flavors, ideas for new flavors, enhancements, etc.

Scope it Out when I moved to VULive [on vapers.tv]. During one of the shows, Vapor Joe said, “You guys are always squirreling out.” So the name fit, because while doing a giveaway, we would start talking about something related to it and then just lose track of time and forget about the giveaway until someone reminds us we have to do one.

Susan: What about Mod Envy? craig: This was a weird one but also a surprise because I was just a viewer for a year and a half. When I first started vaping, I would watch the show on my laptop while my wife watched on her laptop. The first prize that I won on the show was a subscription to VAPE Magazine. Then one day, while the show was having tech issues, they contacted me and asked if I could help broadcast the show. This happened a few times and I was a guest quite a lot. At the time, I didn’t know Joe [Vapor Joe] well until we did a couple fill-in shows together and discovered that we had a lot in common. Thus, adding me to the show made sense because I had a good rapport with the gang. This also has given NitroBex a chance to be more of a host as he’s not tied up with technical issues behind the scenes. It still hasn’t sunk in yet ... Sometimes on a Saturday I catch myself thinking, “I can’t wait to watch Mod Envy tonight. Oh, wait ...”

Susan: How did you get involved with hosting? craig: I first got into this vaping thing Susan: What has it been like hooking up as a viewer and hung out in Nova where I with VULive or going to various meets to get would watch a lot of shows. I would watch exposure to your product?

Mod Envy all the time. Around the time I was Vaping Undergound Live craig: I love interacting with others that are getting into DIY, Mandycat of Timeless Vapor like me—into vaping on a level that is higher than most. It’s was doing a DIY show on the NOVA network where she asked fun to discuss the latest gear, newest juices, etc. with likechatters to come on as guests. After I was a guest on her minded people. show, it led to the idea of hosting.

Susan: How did you get hooked up to do Squirreling Out? craig: Originally, it was a show that I did myself. As I said before, after being a host on Mandycat’s show (on NOVA) and having other people push me to do it, I just decided to take the plunge. William from Maddcatt Vapors (who is my cohost now) was one of my first guests. Five or six months later, I saw ImahFokker in a hangout, sent him an IM and then started talking to him. Then it just kind of evolved and we had William as a guest again. Originally, the show was called

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Susan: How did vaping change your life? craig: I feel like I am one of those that is lucky to have discovered vaping. It’s made my kids [7, 10 and 14] happy.

Granted, my wife and I always went outside to smoke, but my kids would look outside the window at us while we did it.

It certainly wasn’t setting a good example. As for health benefits, I love that I can take a FULL deep breath in the morning without my lungs hurting, and having your taste buds come back to full strength is an added plus.

Juice Founder

By Susan Oser Photos by Michelle Valentino Name: Craig Scoppa Screen Name: Scope666 Company: Scope Juice Channel: VULive Shows: Co-Host on Squirreling Out and Mod Envy

Craig Scoppa I got my wife into vaping around the same time I started.

She had bought a cigalike and felt like it was pretty weak, but it planted a seed. Then, when I was on a business trip for work, I saw someone with a device and saw this rather large cloud of vapor it produced. I didn’t know that something like this existed at the time, and everything about his device fascinated me. He let me try it, and suddenly it occurred to me, “Ecigs don’t suck, just the cigalike that we tried to quit with did.” That’s when I decided to order from Halo. The day the Halo package arrived was the last day I ever smoked. The wife had tried a drag or two after she started vaping, but was disgusted by the taste and definitely preferred vaping more.

That’s when I really got into it and read everything there was about vaping, including hanging out in shows. I’d watch videos from GrimmGreen and Phil Busardo, learned how to build coils, rebuild tanks and then got into DIY. Smoking is directly responsible for the deaths of my mother and both grandmothers. The one thing that really kicks me and that I will never forget was when I went to visit my mom toward the end and showed her a device that I was using. I let her try it and she loved it. She said that she could’ve done this instead of the smoking. Had devices like this existed sooner, I think it would have saved her. That’s what drives my passion for this community.

Susan: What has been the biggest surprise you’ve seen with the vaping community? craig: How incredibly giving some vapers can be. I’m amazed at how generous vapers can be, especially with donating personal mods and auctioning those things off for those in need.

On the other side of that, the biggest disappointment and something that really pisses me off is how some people try to scam their way into getting free product, saying things such as, “I can’t afford to buy juice.” If you were a smoker, I’m sure you always found a way to buy a pack of smokes.

There’s no excuse for that.

Susan: How do you feel about vaping activism? craig: It’s unfortunate that there are people out there that constantly threaten our right to vape. We are very lucky to have people like Greg Conley and groups like the Vaping Militia. Where I am in New Jersey (the first one to ban vaping in the entire country on Nov. 13, 2009) is the capital of Big Pharma, and they would rather have us buy the patch, Chantix etc. and not lose that revenue.

Susan: So how have you managed to survive as a vaper? craig: I’m very good at stealth vaping.

Susan: Why should people care about the vaping community? craig: It might help others quit. A lot of people don’t know what it is. The average person thinks an e-cig is something like a VUSE (cigalike). They have no idea that devices exist today that can deliver far more satisfaction. That’s why I try to educate people and try to vape where the smokers are in public places. I have even let smokers try my mod and answer questions, like the guy who first introduced me to “real” vaping. Just take the time to explain how it works and that there’s more to vaping than using a VUSE. Susan: What do you see with the future of vaping? craig: Devices are going to get way better; those with temperature control will be able to use any kind of wire. I also envision a point where vapor can be produced without using a conventional wick and coil. It’s a big enough industry for companies to push the envelope. If I look at how far devices have come in the last two years, it blows my mind.

To catch Craig Scoppa on Mod Envy (Saturday nights from 10 p.m.midnight) and Squirreling Out (Tuesday nights from 10 p.m.midnight), visit http://vapers.tv/vulive or http://vapingundergroundlive.com. If you would like to check out his company Scope Juice, visit http://www.scopejuice.com.

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Moscow Hosts First Homeland VAPEXPO

By Alyssa Stahr Photos by Borya Galperin of the Wingle Group

The vaping community and industry is a disruptive one.

Ann Khomyakova, from international show company, Smile-Expo is an organizer of large business events.

Having been engaged in the exhibition space for nine years, Smile-Expo is an expert on global innovations and market drivers. While Smile-Expo mostly works with new market areas, namely robotics, VAPEXPO’s 3D printing, mobile health and organizers augmented reality, Khomyakova navigated in said that they are rarely surprised a fragrant fog when it comes to events planning. When they were tasked throughout with working with the vaping the event. community, they were calm and full of determination. And then they were faced with just that—the vaping community.

“We were really excited by their energy and commitment. Everything was turned upside down,” Khomyakova said. Young, positive vapers entertained the participants [of VAPEXPO Moscow] better than all those contestants and activities that we prepared for them. We even thought that we should rent a huge hangar, bring a lot of e-liquids and electronic cigarettes, and then everything would be organized by itself.”

There was more vapor than Khomyakova expected at the show, however Wingle Group photographer Boris Galperin was able to take clear photos—with great effort. VAPEXPO’s organizers navigated in a fragrant fog throughout the event.

To save time, just after the end of June’s VAPEXPO, the Smile-Expo team began to actively collect feedback from guests, exhibitors and partners. As a result, they made a list of obligatory changes for the Dec. 4-5 show, also to be held in Moscow: 1. Rent a pavilion with a large area and powerful air extraction system.

2. Invite international observers in order to give rise to the vaping industry in Russia to the maximum degree.

3. Divide the exhibition into B2B and В2С days. Thus, each audience (conference participants and vapers) will have free range of the pavilion without half measures and compromises on style. Exhibitors will be able to talk with partners in a calm atmosphere and visitors will test a large number of new models of electronic cigarettes and e-liquid.

The event venue, Sokolniki, is conveniently located, and many foreign exhibitors and participants already are familiar with the area and know what to expect. In turn, Khomyakova said that the Smile-Expo team is familiar with the administration and will be able to choose a large pavilion according to increased needs.

There were 35 exhibitors at the June event, distributed 50/50 between the CIS and foreign countries. There were major vendors from Russia and Belarus, regional stores of electronic cigarettes, as well as manufacturers from China, France, Italy, Croatia, India and the United States.

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All arrived with a huge range of products, liquids and electronic cigarettes.

“It is worth mentioning our main sponsor, Stand Point Vapor (SPV) opened the exhibition,” Khomyakova said.

The conference portion of the event brought together about 200 people, occupying all seats were occupied. The exhibition itself attracted about 2,000 visitors. Khomyakova expects the next event will grow by at least 20 percent.

“We would like to admit that the Wingle Group helped us with the organization of the conference. In fact, they were co-organizers of CIS Vapour Dialogues. The company has been operating on the electronic cigarettes market from its very beginning, so their knowledge and contacts helped us attract foreign speakers at the conference,” Khomyakova said.

As vaping industry in the CIS is only starting to develop, it is natural that show organizers wanted to get more experience and practices from abroad. For this purpose, the first day of VAPEXPO was completely devoted to the communication with foreign speakers.

Peter Beckett, public policy consultant with ECITA, moderated the first day.

Beckett, together with legislative committees of the European Union, are developing the rules to regulate the market and the norms of standardization of electronic cigarettes in the EU. Ray Story, CEO of TVECA, provided a program on the legalization of e-cigarettes and tips for dialogue with the vaping community along with Oliver Kershaw, the founder of E-Cigarette Forum (ECF).

The second day was entirely devoted to the reports of Russian vendors and marketing experts in the vaping industry, who shared their experience of work on the domestic market and talked about the specifics of relationships with government agencies.

For example, Anton Bakanev from Nektar spoke about ways of advertising of electronic cigarettes in Russia and dealing with providers in order to bypass the ban on advertising on the Internet.

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The owner of one of the largest stores of electronic cigarettes in Russia, Babylon Vape Shop, shared his thoughts on how to promote elite liquids for e-cigarettes.

In light of the popularization of medical research about electronic cigarettes’ influence, the representatives of the Russian Research Institute of Tobacco joined the group. They brought up for discussion a plan for the development of technical documentation on e-liquids and offered instrumental methods for quality control of vaping products.

Khomyakova said that officially, inhalers and electronic cigarettes do not fall under the prohibition provided by the anti-smoking law in Russia, but she had to verify this information by consulting with lawyers and sending requests for an explanation to the Ministry of Health. The only current prohibition concerns advertising.

“This fact makes VAPEXPO quite an attractive event,” she said. “All of our projects are groundbreaking. For our company, it is important to move forward and to organize new exhibitions, which are in the lead of the market. The same case was with VAPEXPO.” Today, the vaping industry in the CIS remains fairly closed niche according to Khomyakova, in particular because of the limited spread of information about electronic cigarettes. However, just within one year the vaping community has doubled without any support and diversity of products.

“Imagine what will happen if you open the market to foreign products? We have imagined and launched VAPEXPO,” she said. “It is true that some exhibitions have been already held for five years, and they are well known to visitors; everyone knows who is who. The first VAPEXPO was unknown, but it still managed to bring together a huge number of visitors and exhibitors.

Those who participated in it were real pioneers, and we thank them for their participation.”

The second VAPEXPO is the next opportunity to keep abreast of trends in the market. The market is opened, and next summer (the third VAPEXPO) it will be clear who you are—a beginner or an experienced participant with the customer base and the sympathy from the vapers.

For more information about the June show and upcoming December show, visit http://VAPEXPO.ru/en.

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