VAPE News Magazine October 2018 by Matt Schramel

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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

EDITORIAL Publisher Matt Schramel content@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x2 Editor in Chief Corey Noles Managing Editor Chris Mellides Social Media Manager Eric Vonheim Art Director Van Avazando Graphic Designer Anil Verma Director of Photography Ezra Zuniga Webmaster Axel Gillespie Contributors Corey Noles, Susan Oser, Norm Bour, Tony Ottomanelli, Chris Mellides, John Castle, Ray Norcross, Todd Richards, Allan Kwasnik

Letter from the Editor Dear readers,

ADMINISTRATIVE

It’s been a tumultuous time for the vapor industry since we last spoke. A lawsuit was lost. Surprising regulatory changes were handed down by FDA Director Dr. Scott Gottleib. An appeal was filed by Nicopure to the lawsuit that was lost weeks earlier. It’s a lot to take in. That’s why we’re here. With this issue, we’ve broken down the changes ahead — laying them out in a common sense way that’s easy to wrap your brain around. As always, even the good news comes with some caveats, so we’ll show you what this all means in the big picture. This issue also has some other surprises. We went all in on product reviews for a variety of devices/tanks/RDAs. There is a piece on the dangers of bad branding and another telling about a Facebook group that has set out to blacklist companies they deem to be marketing to children or infringing intellectual property. Make sure to check back in November as well, as we will be publishing a special commemorative issue focused on vaping in the military, in recognition of Veteran’s Day. We’ll have features on companies founded by veterans and also have a variety of articles on individuals in the military. As always, we appreciate you for taking the time to pick up a copy of VAPE Magazine. Thanks for reading,

Chief Executive Officer Matt Schramel Co-Owner/Vice President Jon Laverde Executive Assistant Erin Aly ADVERTISING Jon Laverde, jon@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x4 Jacob Barger, jacob@vapemz.com 949-910-2138 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

Corey Noles Editor in Chief

Employment jobs@vapemz.com VAPE Magazine is wholly owned by Starpixel Marketing LLC 6209 Mid Rivers Mall Dr,Suite 194 Saint Peters, MO 63304 info@vapemz.com 800-958-6427

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OCTOBER 2017

Contents columns

Vaping for your health: How much nicotine do you really need?

FEATURES

28 32 38 50 96 96

Bad branding and the aftermath Online vape shopping: Do’s and Don’ts An FDA Official walks into a local vape shop A new face and a new focus: Gottleib shifts FDA mindset on harm reduction Vaping Legion Advocates Blacklisting Brand Names Survivors in the vape space learn to adapt E-liquid with a “purpose”: The story of Tony Myers

EVENTS

100 Vape Shop Events: La Jolla

MODS & TECH

80 84 88 92 92 92

Anarchist Mfg: The Riot RDA Angry Cloud Mechanical Tube Mod Vaporesso Revenger Kit Wotofo Serpent SMM Tank Lazy Vapers: A new twist to high end mods Uwell: Valyrian The Sexy Tank

DEPARTMENTS

104

100 #VAPEMAGAZINE

12 26 67 74

Letter from The Editor Ask Grimm Green Just in Juices Vape Visionary: Glenn Bivins of Wraps Custom Coil Co.

www..naxx.com

DEPARTMENTS

Ask

By Nick Green

What’s your take on the shift in policy by the FDA? - Scott Wozniak Tampa, FL Hey Scott. It’s always hard to predict what the FDA and Federal Government have in mind for vaping and tobacco harm reduction. It becomes increasingly difficult to wholeheartedly trust the things that are being said and presented. This new shift in the FDA mentality thanks to the new commissioner Scott Gottlieb is certainly a welcome change. What we have to do as an industry is act responsibly with this new time we have been given. Stress the science of vaping, contact our senators and congresspeople, urge them to vote for pro-vaping legislation. Help them understand this life changing industry. What scares me more recently is all of the attention on flavors and packaging. I get the feeling that the feds are gearing up for a much more intense flavor ban, which would be catastrophic for the industry. As good as the news has been recently. We MUST stay vigilant and not let the Feds or the FDA get away with anything. Vaping is going to change the world. We need to protect it and help it change the world.

I have an odd question. I’ve kind of lost the satisfaction with vaping recently. I’ve tried different tanks, RDAs and even a closed system device, but I just don’t “get from it” what I used to. I’ve always enjoyed vaping, but am I using the wrong devices or is it just time to quit? - Kieran Miller, Paris, France Hey Kieran. What I would suggest doing is going back to a mod or tank/RDA combo that you really loved using. Just use it and enjoy it. Often times people get caught up in the “gotta have the newest stuff” mentality. Which isn’t a thing exclusive to vaping, but it is rampant in vaping. Sometimes that new tank or new mod isn’t the same or as good as the stuff you have been using. I’ve used sub-par tanks and sub-par mods on many occasion simply because I had spent money on them and didn’t want to feel like that was wasted. There are also people that are not hardcore hobby vapers. Lots of people get into it, watch some YouTube, maybe join a facebook group. Get a setup they like and then just kinda be happy with that. No one says you have to be a hobby vaper, you don’t have to enjoy building coils or mixing juice. At the end of the day vaping is about not smoking. If you once loved it, but lost it, go back to when you loved it and love it again. Quitting vaping is also a completely reasonable conclusion to come to as well. I’ve personally talked with dozens and dozens of people who have said the same thing. Vaping served it purpose, I don’t smoke, and now I don’t want to vape anymore. I think that’s fantastic. For a lot of us it’s a hobby and a business and a lifestyle. That’s the great thing about vaping. There are no rules, you can use it how you see fit. #VAPEMAGAZINE

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DO YOU REALLY NEED?

hy do you vape at 3mg or 6mg nicotine? More than likely, the first time you purchased e-liquid, someone behind the counter asked “how much do you smoke?” This has been a crude form of assessment for all vape shops, taking guesses in the dark as to how much nicotine you need relative to your tobacco use is a big deal for people switching over. Of course, there’s not much science behind the process, it’s really just a crude estimate. There are a few factors that can directly effect what a shop employee will recommend like if you’re purchasing a pen or subohm vaporizer. The recommendations can’t be perfect because the nicotine delivery is completely

By Todd Richards different and succession from smoking is a process that doesn’t solely rely on nicotine. Absorption of nicotine through the lungs is about the only thing that vaping and smoking has in common. Scientifically speaking, though they use the same mode of transport the rate of absorption is dramatically different from smoking to vaping. What’s more exciting is that the rate of absorption is significantly higher from older to newer products according to Dr. Farsalinos, one of the leading researchers on e-cigarettes. So how much nicotine is appropriate for you and your new vape? Comparing to cigarette use will likely get you close, but it will be hard to say exactly. Cigarettes have a boatload of nicotine, ranging between 10VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

20mg (depending on brand) per cigarette. An entire bottle of e-juice containing 3 or 6mg per ml doesn’t sound like much, so how does that little amount of nicotine go so far as to satiate those nasty nicotine cravings? As many of us know, it’s not just nicotine that we’re craving. We crave all of it, the smell, the taste, the motion, the pain in our throat and the fullness in our lungs. Let’s cover each of these before we go back to nicotine. The smell could be the scent of fresh tobacco, the actual burning of a cigarette or even the dank scent that persists on your co-worker. It doesn’t matter which, when you catch a whiff of that scent, it unearths a desire right in the pit of your gut that’s unmistakable. For a split second you would kill for

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V A P I N G F O R Y O U R H E A LT H

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0 mg

6 mg

a smoke, and as an ex-smoker I can attest to this. Albeit, it doesn’t get me often, but when I catch the smell of a freshly opened pack my brain still squirms like a toad. Unless you vape a tobacco flavor you won’t really get a replacement for the scent, however as time goes on you’ll find that most of the smells make you sick. Either way, a bit of willpower will go a long way with this one. The taste, somehow, becomes a focal point of the addiction to tobacco. Personally, I won’t vape a tobacco flavor for this very reason, it makes me want a cigarette. Supplementation of this has been the only option for me, and comes highly recommended. Get something tasty, something you won’t grow tired of quickly like fruits or dessert type flavors.

12 mg

By avoiding the tobacco flavors in general you’ll put ample distance between yourself and lighting up. For whatever reason a big part of sating those carnal tobacco desires is the “throat hit.” I didn’t really crave the throat hit for the first few days, but

The fullness of the lungs when you inhale is something that is seldom mentioned. A big part of why subohm vaping is so effective as a substitute for smoking is because of the large amounts of vapor you inhale when you take a hit. The feeling of fullness in the lungs is something you don’t really experience from e-pens or first generation e-cigarettes. When using a subohm vaporizer the sheer volume and thickness of the vapor creates a sensation unlike anything else (even smoking). Personally, I enjoy vaping more than I ever enjoyed smoking for this reason alone, and in regards to satisfying those craving, subohm really does the trick!

18 mg after a while it became really desirable. It’s a big part of withdrawal, and most vapes can’t synthesize the experience of a strong throat hit. Higher nicotine, or higher pg (propylene glycol), can supplement it, but it’s not a perfect replacement. It will pass after your third or fourth day without smokes, and if you’re vaping subohm you might not have the craving to begin with. Science has told us that we are as addicted to cigarettes as we are to the motion of smoking. Luckily for us, vaping replicates this process perfectly. Another part of the motion, the deep breathing, is also very important. Deep breathing is good for you, oxygen loading from deep breathing is very common in cultures around the world and has been linked to lowered stress levels and blood pressure. So if you vape or smoke, deep inhaling doesn’t have to be exclusive to your personal vice, instead do some deep breathing exercises and it might just help keep that monkey off your back.

RATE OF ABSORPTION AND DELIVERY A study called “Nicotine absorption from electronic cigarette use: comparison between first and newgeneration devices” by Dr. Farsalinos used participants that once smoked and had converted to vaping. They used two types of vaporizers, an original e-cigarette and a pen style (evod unit at 9 watts and evic tank) to compare the rate of absorption between the two, and then compared those to that of cigarettes. The rate in which a person will

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absorb nicotine from a cigarette is astonishingly high. Compared to vaping, nicotine absorbed from smoking is 286% higher in the blood than “new generation” e-cigarettes within 10 minutes, but only only 73% after 35 minutes. What this means to you is that it takes longer to absorb nicotine from pens than it does from cigarettes. This is important to remember, because the onset of satisfaction from using a vaporizer takes some patience. There are few scientific resources for subohm vaping absorption, so until we know otherwise we have to assume that subohm vapes deliver nicotine more efficiently than e-pens in the same ratio that e-pens deliver more efficiently than e-cigs. Overall, if you take anything away from this just remember that your body takes longer to absorb the nicotine from vapes than it does from cigarettes. The original e-cigarette had the lowest absorption rate overall, which inclines one to believe that the stronger the unit the better the

36 mg

If the ability to deliver nicotine is improved relative to the volume of e-juice vaporized by a unit then we can be hopeful that our nicotine levels can match that of cigarettes with as little as 3mg or 6mg. Some smaller units will have to use higher levels of nicotine to compensate for the lack of strong delivery.

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WTF?

delivery. Hopefully, we’ll see more research on subohm vapes soon. Unfortunately Europe has passed a law that prevents nicotine levels higher than 20mg, which may be debilitating for people that are still using first generation devices. Farsalinos’ study found that 50mg of nicotine would be required to compensate for the lower delivery capacities. That’s a whole lot of nicotine! If you’re currently making the switch, just remember that it’s not all nicotine, it’s mostly repetition. We’re all creatures of habit, and as such we should use it to our advantage. If you’ve already made the transition, it might be time to bump down to 3mg from 6mg, just remember it takes longer for your body to feel the effects of nicotine. This means most of the immediate satisfaction you feel from vaping is mental, so don’t let it go to your head. Take a few deep breaths, have your vape when you need it, and relax because you’re likely a hell of a lot healthier than your smoking counterparts.

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24 mg

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D A B G N I D BRAN AND THE

AFTERMATH I By Norm Bour

n the early sixties, the General Motors Company expanded their marketing for their new car, called the Nova, into Latin and South America.

A top seller in the US, it fell flat in South America and no one knew why, until it was pointed out that “no va” meant “no go” in Spanish. This story is used as an example of

“poor branding” and poor research, and has been shared for decades. But the story is only partially true and the Nova sold reasonably well. Regardless, the urban myth can still be used as a learning lesson. So, let’s use it as that.

Poor branding in the vape space has been an epidemic. The once popular “kid’s references” and candy name knock offs were the rage early on, but with a magnifying glass of media #VAPEMAGAZINE

watching everything we do, using e-liquid names like Pop Rocks, Count Vapula and such puts a sure-fire bullseye on your back.

The Copyright Line Some brands vagrantly flaunt their names and intentionally knock off larger ones.

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A “CEASE AND INTELLECTUAL DESIST” NOTICE PROPERTY CAN IN THE MAIL. SOMETIMES BE That is just the first step towards the THE LARGEST courtroom and the one you should AND MOST pay the most attention to. Depending the “accuser,” ie, plaintiff, and VALUABLE ASSET upon how aggressive you think they might be and how deep their pockets are, you A COMPANY can determine whether to fight or back OWNS, SO down. It’s usually better to back down. WHEN YOU GO New Jersey attorney Mark Ingber has experience in this area. UP AGAINST Since 2015, he has worked primarily BRANDS LIKE in the Intellectual Property (IP) area vaping and knows first-hand how ZIPPO, WRIGLEY, of the process works; he is personally trademarked as the “Vapor Attorney” COCA COLA, and has international protection. AND WARNER Ingber is not a smoker, but several BROS., DON’T years ago worked with Nicopure and defended one of their most BE SURPRISED well-known lines, Halo eCigs, from potential trademark violators. WHEN YOU GET VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

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Fighting Warner Bros Film Studio And Winning

argument that won his case he told us.

Beetle Juice Vapors owner and vendor Abdel Aboabdo got a cease and desist from Warner Bros. studio in 2014 and was asked to stop using their trademarked “Beetlejuice” name for his e-liquid product.

His initial logo design used the distinctive Beetlejuice font, which he was asked to change, and Aboabdo explained that “he cannot create any characters or represent anything related to the movie.” David beat Goliath this time.

The 1988 dark comedy movie starred Michael Keaton in the title role, along with Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder, and was directed by Tim Burton. The movie grossed $73 million and became fodder for a new black and white striped Halloween costume. “They had Beetlejuice trademarked for clothing, movies and film, but not for e-liquids,” and that was the

When asked if he was worried by the suit he replied “Of course! I was scared shitless.” Aboabdo consulted friends and attorneys, but responded “pro per,” which means he acted on his own, without an attorney.

I ASKED INGBER ABOUT THE SPECIFICS AND DANGERS OF COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK #VAPEMAGAZINE

INFRINGEMENTS AND WHICH BATTLES COULD BE WON AND HE SAID, “IF YOU NAME AN E-LIQUID AFTER A JUICE, CEREAL, CANDY OR ANY TYPE OF EDIBLE OR POTABLE PRODUCT, IT’S A RED FLAG. IF YOUR PRODUCT IS NAMED AFTER ANYTHING THAT IS NOT

AND THE

AFTERMATH CONSUMABLE YOU CAN PROBABLY MAKE A GOOD CASE.â&#x20AC;? But Beetle Juice Vapors were not the only ones sued for copyright issues. Chi-Town Vapers and Chi-Town Labs were sued by the Wrigley Company for using one of their brand names, Skittles, and creating a juice line. They were warned in 2014, took the product down, but later brought it back. We attempted to contact Chi-Town owner, Robert Wilson, for an update but discovered they went bankrupt and were purchased by another company. No one was available to answer questions since this is in process, but the legal battle is now part of history and hopefully a learning lesson.

A New Beginning Again The child attractive names and copyright and trademark issues are still here, but will go away in the years to come. As we are going to press the FDA has indicated that they are extending the PMTA deadline from August 8, 2018 VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

until 2022, which gives the vaping industry four more years to either: a)

Make as much money as they can, which includes flaunting rules, not following GMP practices or learning to work collectively or

Start working on (and figuring out how to pay for) PMTA approval plus learn how to operate a professional business.

This marathon is far from over and you can count on more changes in the years to come. But for now, e-liquid manufacturers, please do us all a favor, OK? Get your shit together on simple things like names and branding as well as the more complex area of manufacturing and collaboration. Comments, questions? Please contact the author below. Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors and creator of the VAPE U online programs. They offer services & resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the host of Vape Radio, the largest vaping radio show in the world with more than 1.3 M downloads. As a founding partner in the Vape Industry Business Exchange (VIBE), Norm is committed to supporting the vape space into this Brave New World. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com.

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D A B BRANDING

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SURVIVORS I N T H E VA P E S PAC E L EA R N TO A DA P T

ere it not for a nervous habit of biting his fingernails, Thomas Li might have never founded JSPR Technology or the Council of Vapor. That would mean that we might have never experienced the Royal Hunter, the Mini Volt, or many other brands that JSPR and the Council created since 2014.

By Norm Bour There are vape companies that seek the limelight, and others that don’t.

filled a unique niche in the vaping market.

“We never wanted to have a spotlight on us,” Li said. “We just wanted to create the best hardware we could at the most affordable prices and stay off the radar.”

They were one of the few companies that would allow someone to come to them with just a design or a concept, and they allowed vapreneurs from around the world to create their own product. In the last three years they have launched some of the biggest

And JSPR did stay off the grid, but #VAPEMAGAZINE

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sellers on the market, some on their own, and others with partners they cannot reveal. “We believed in being discreet,” Li confessed. Just a few years ago, clones were a much bigger problem than they are today. Knock offs were cheap to manufacture and cheap to buy, but they were garbage. “Council of Vapor focused on keeping costs low so the products weren’t worth knocking off,” Li shared.

In The Beginning Thomas Li was not a smoker. He worked for a company that sold consumer electronics, but when good friend Joey de la Rama showed him an early version of a vaping mod in

2009, Li thought this might be a big opportunity. He got an early version of a Joyetech eGo for himself and wasn’t impressed. Even though he wasn’t a smoker, Li did have that nervous finger-biting habit. The vaping pen took that away and he delved deeper. “I thought there were better designs, so I looked for them and opened my first shop, Activape, in 2010,” Li said. It was the fourth retail shop to open in Southern California, according to Li. With only 300 sq. feet of room, Activape took off and had lines streaming out the door. Stores number two through five followed, but Li knew there were bigger opportunities than retail. JSPR was formed in 2014 and was a partnership between Li and Hangsen, a major e-liquid manufacturer, and VAPEMZ.COM

others. His role was CEO and his partners remained in the backgrounduntil they didn’t. In 2015, Li saw that the quality of some of their products were not up to his standards, and the rejection rate was higher than he liked. “One of our most successful products, the “Mini Volt” had a bad batch and too many returns and I saw that quality control at our Chinese production facility was lacking,” Li said. “I tried to improve that, but had little success, which caused me a tremendous amount of frustration.” As the founder of Council of Vapor, a hardware design and production company, this was a problem. The Council was in the limelight, while JSPR stayed in the shadow. JSPR was primarily known as an e-liquid production facility and in 2016 built a behemoth 50,000 sq. foot facility in City

FEATURES of Industry, CA. It was designed from the ground up to be FDA compliant and was producing over one million bottles of e-liquid per month for some of the biggest names in the industry. A sleeping and quiet giant.

Not Unlike A Divorce A business partnership is often compared to a marriage or personal relationship, and not without reason. Both require trust, communication, understanding and the power to change and forgive. The rift between JSPR partners and Li finally reached the breaking point in 2017 and Li knew they had

to part ways. “By the vapers, for the vapers,” was the theme and slogan for Council of Vapor, but Li saw that being tarnished by cost cutting and lack of quality control. At one point they had over a dozen of their own proprietary products on the market. They produced the Wraith and one of their most iconic and game changing designs- the Royal Hunter. The Mini was facing quality challenges and Li saw that these issues would eventually tarnish his name along with his conscience. Quality was paramount. In early 2017, Li left JSPR and took some time off. He had to leave his baby, Council of Vapor, behind. His old team remained for a bit, but eventually a core group of about a dozen loyal followers joined him, including Joey de la Rama, #VAPEMAGAZINE

his friend that started this journey in 2010 and Keith Nash. De La Rama remains in charge of design and is recognized as one of the best in the business. Keith Nash, a managing partner, remains in charge of global business development.

From The Ashes Thomas Li no longer bites his nails and even though some anxiety is gone, it is replaced by a different one. “I have a lot of people to be responsible for,” he confessed. “We have 18 employees here and just started this business a few months ago. But so far we’re really busy and getting even busier.” His new company is named “Asher

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Dynamics,” and when asked why he picked that name it was because it was started from the ashes of his former efforts. “Asher will never be a brand in itself.” claims Li. “We are a service company. We design, manufacture and distribute. Period. We’re a bridge to China.”

the future. They have launched five successful products in just their first few months. And their e-cig brand, Ply Rock, will become more recognizable as they grow their presence in China. They may become a household name due to their newest venture: franchising in China.

When asked about the future of Asher in the cannabis space, Li acknowledged that they are involved with that as well and see that market as being where vape was just a few years ago.

Currently they have 19 high end retail shops open, but plan on 2,000 more over the next few years.

“History and experience is a great teacher,” he said. “People have to change whether we want to or not. It’s how you react to that change that determines how you move forward.”

l Be brave when starting a new business, Part I. Even though he never owned a retail store he found partners and took that first step.

Asher Dynamics is on the radar and will be a name you’ll see more of in

There are some lessons to be learned from vapreneurs like Li:

l Be true to your standards. All we can take with us is our reputation and our integrity. VAPEMZ.COM

l Be willing to change, Part II. His new venture eliminated all e-liquid production and focuses only on mod designs, engineering and production. l From adversity comes opportunity. Learn from others. Comments, questions? Please contact the author below. Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors and creator of the VAPE U online programs. They offer services & resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. He’s also the host of Vape Radio, the largest vaping radio show in the world with more than 1.3 M downloads. As a founding partner in the Vape Industry Business Exchange (VIBE), Norm is committed to supporting the vape space into this Brave New World. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com.

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E-Liquid with a “Purpose”

The Story of

Tony Myers

aping for a purpose is not a foreign concept to many of us. Whether it was to quit smoking, or to help others quit, we all started with something in mind. While most of us don’t drop our mantle, some of us pick others up, like Tony Myers. I had the opportunity to sit down with Myers, to hear this story and wanted to share it with the world. Myers’ story starts with talking about his sobriety. “I battled with my sobriety for quite some time, until I put down the bottle in June of 2009.” Myers said.

By Ray Norcross

Myers worked as a construction worker for many years. During that time, he suffered several injuries to his back, the final injury would cost him his job. Tony decided at that point to go back to school, to find a new profession. While going to school, and waiting for workman’s comp, he found a job working with special needs adults. #VAPEMAGAZINE

“I went through the 12 steps and received so much help during that time in my life, which is something I wasn’t used to,” he added. “It helped me realize that I wanted to help others live life to their fullest potential.” “I had taken a job working with special needs adults. I found that there was not a lot of programs that helped people with special needs past the age of 18, and the ones that did, was more focused on just placing them somewhere to work, instead of teaching them an actual trade,” Myers aid. Myers worked with a person that even had an accounting degree, but due to his condition the only job the company would give him was taping boxes closed

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VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE VAPEMZ.COM

FEATURES for shipping. “This guy had put in all that work to get an accounting degree, and this company that he is working for thinks that I am doing him some kind of justice,” Myers said. He added, “Coming and babysitting this guy so they can get a voucher and get paid by the state. I thought man, that is just so low for a company to do” He had to do something to help make a difference. “…what can I do to teach these individuals to help them be selfsupporting to their own contributions, get them off of the state assistance, and really just help change their lives in its entirety,” Myers said. He had already helped four or five of them quit smoking, while selling starter kits out of his vehicle, but wasn’t sure that a vape shop could support

“…what can I do to teach these individuals to help them be selfsupporting to their own contributions, get them off of the state assistance, and really just help change their lives in its entirety,”

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more than one or two people, while in a town of over 15 thousand people, and several vape shops as well. “I thought about it for a while, and had remembered that I ordered a sweatshirt online, and it took me about eight weeks to receive it, and when I got it, it made me research why it took so long,” Myers said. “I found out that they had to wait for a quota to be met, before shipping.” Tony prayed about it and spoke to his wife, and decided that he would teach them customized apparel. “It would be able to teach them design skills, shipping and receiving, computer skills that they could take to any other job and have experience that company could utilize,” he said. With that, About It All custom apparel and vaping supplies, was born.

“The first two years, we were making enough to get by. The third year was going really well, but I wanted to expand to do more. To help more people” Myers said. He had interest in making e-liquid, and using the proceeds to help fund About It All, and take care of his employees better. Myers started working with a company out of New York to make his e-liquid. “I set out to make a flavour for Autism, which would help fund About It All, another flavor directed towards breast cancer charities, and one for seizures.” “My neighbor is the one who helped me quit smoking. He owned a vape shop in the town we lived in and he would give me starter kits to take to the college campus to sell, to make some extra money,” Myers said. “When I told him the idea behind what I wanted to do, he loved it, and gave me stock to put on my shelf on consignment, because I didn’t have a lot of money to get started.” Adding, “I knew that running the printing company would get expensive, giving a livable wage to my employees,

and keep the prices low on shirts, that I needed something to help offset the cost. I didn’t care if it was profitable, as long as I could keep the doors open, it would be profitable sometime down the road.” “Not only am I helping others to quit smoking by informing them of alternatives available, but the vape side also supports the tee-shirt business. I want to instil people with a sense of purpose, which is also the name of our premium e-liquid line,” Myers continued. VAPEMZ.COM

“While this was going on, a local news article had come out about my company and how we were living life with purpose. I thought about it, and the name made sense. Purpose E-liquid,” Myers said. What is the purpose of Purpose? To get to the altruistic root of Myers’ project and why it exists, it is important to look at his background. His journey has been tumultuous to say the least. Once homeless and battling alcoholism, to now heading a successful vapor company, Myers is an inspirational figure in the industry and beyond.

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About It All employs special needs adults and welcomes volunteers with learning difficulties who may feel marginalised in society. The store is certified by the State of Pennsylvania to provide employment, creating fantastic opportunities for those who may otherwise lack support in the community.

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An FDA Official Walks Into A Local Vape Shop

By Susan E. Oser

ecently, a vape shop in the Detroit region was inspected by an FDA official for the second time within six months. Along with it, a few other shops in the area were also visited by this same official for one day. As the story goes, this FDA official said he was looking to see if everything was under compliance according to law. But it seemed as if he was only targeting vape shops and not the cigarette shop that sells vape goods down the street or the gas stations around the corner that have pop-up shops.

As you can imagine, this seems a bit odd already. When questioned, the FDA official had no idea about the other types of shops in the area that also deal in vape goods. In fact, from the conversation, this official only seemed to be scoping out pure vape shops. #VAPEMAGAZINE

COLUMNS

So why did this even happen and what is this situation telling us? VAPEMZ.COM

COLUMNS

Bonafide vape shops are being profiled. I know at least in the Detroit area of Michigan it is. But what about the rest of the country? If we logically look at the situation and the evidence, those shops that were inspected were the same ones that registered all their paperwork with the FDA to be in PMTA compliance. These are also the same stores that don’t really have manufacturing in the shop, they keep everything out front for all to see, and they hide no secrets. Also, they do good business. So, why are the good guys getting punished? Besides the registration aspect, I suspect that they might have been listed or discussed after a recent visit a couple months ago with federal officials in Michigan’s state capital of Lansing. They were there to discuss the proposed 81% tax hike. Could it have been the way they presented their argument that labeled these small business owners troublemakers? If this is the case, don’t expect these business owners that got inspected to buck down anytime soon. They put a lot of money into their shops. They care not only about their business, but their customers and the industry. They are not afraid to put in a good fight, and I’ve seen a few put this into action. The vaping fighters that we have in Michigan are something that I wish I could see more naturally and then some. And what about that anti-vape base? Was this being a way to appease them, and show them that they are doing their job? Well, it doesn’t sound like it if these same anti-vapers aren’t familiar with the combination vape and head shops that are popping up all over the place. These are the same places that not only do regular vape shops not want, but more importantly do not want to be associated with. The same goes for the tobacco shops selling vapor products. Not only do they not know about clean e-liquid, but I’ve seen at least one case where a mix-your-ownstation was out by the cashier in full

view. So, why aren’t these shops held to the same standards? If this all sounds a bit sketchy and concerning to you, it really should. The good guys are getting inspected while the “bad guys” selling vape products are not, and that seriously needs to be changed.

As a community, we need to contact the FDA and even the local health department about these other shops who are more than likely not following the law and perhaps putting some potential harm to their customers (and maybe even children if they are not checking IDs according to the law). Is it any wonder why the good vape shops are making a profit and gaining new customers by the day if not by the week? Is this something #VAPEMAGAZINE

the FDA wants to stop? I think this example should be a heads up to all of you who are reading this magazine right now. Your vape shop could be next. Thus, you need to be prepared and show the FDA official that you mean business. You might also want to ask them, as my friend did, if any head shops, tobacco shops, or gas stations selling vape products are on their list. If not, let them know professionally that you mean it and that their directives are not making progress without also including those types of businesses. Then, write to your officials, CASAA, and other organizations that you are connected to and let them know what happened. See what can be done to prepare for the next time the FDA comes around knocking on your door. Perhaps you can convert them into a customer if you educate them well enough. Anyone else with a visit worth sharing? What was your experience like? Any interesting discussions or issues? Contact me, at angelwritercreations@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ angelwriter78 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ angelwriter78/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ VapingTransitionsAngelwriter/ You can also catch my show on VapeTVLive at http://www.vapetv.com/vapetvlive

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Online Vape Shopping

Do’s and Don’ts By Susan E. Oser

#VAPEMAGAZINE

I know there are some of you out there that don’t have a vape shop near you or are hundreds of miles away. There are some who know of some smoke shops in the area that sell vape gear and vape juice, but you just don’t trust their prices or how they take care of the e-juice. Some like me, know some great friends who own a company, but are way too far away and still want to support them. Thus, shopping for online vape gear and e-juice is at our fingertips and convenience. Having said that, I had a chance to revisit some websites that I’ve shopped at before, still shop at, or have a business card of and just have not been to their website in a while. Some websites have closed. Others continue to thrive, but with just their products to sell. Others have merged or have become distributors of various e-juices. Brick and mortars have been doing the same thing to get their name out there in the Internet-sphere; there’s also eBay and Amazon. But what is the best way to do this online shopping or have a good experience buying vape things online. Well, from my experience, I have a couple ideas.

When I want to shop for vape gear or e-juice online, I look for a few important details: 1. Can I get around the site easily?

2. Are the prices comparable? 3. Is the owner of the product or company reliable? 4. If I have an issue, will it get fixed or will I get my money back? The most important aspect should be user-friendliness. This means the focus of your website and looking at products without getting a headache or a brain meltdown. For example, if I don’t have time to go to my local shop to buy coils or something I need, I go to Avid Vapor (www.avidvapor.com). This site is very clean, clear, and is categorized nicely. They sell some e-juice, but it’s not overwhelming. Adding products and checking out is easy. In addition, when they ship out, I get my orders within a week max. For e-juice, Gorge Vapors (gorgevapors.com) is the same way. Lance, is the owner and a host on vape net. He gives great customer service and will be honest with you if you need any questions answered. He only sells juice made under his name (with some help from a few fellow hosts), as well as a little bit of vape gear. The website is easy to understand. Juices are categorized well, and there are links to other vaperelated sites. Just like with Avid Vapor, it’s easy to shop, checkout, and your order comes into your mailbox within a week (unless it’s an international order). Having said that, on the flipside, there are those companies out there, and you know who you are, who seriously need a website overhaul. I don’t really want to VAPEMZ.COM

call anyone out, but I will suggest a few things: 1. Don’t add too many products to your site (especially e-juices). Not only is it overwhelming to look over all the names and flavors that you have in stock, after a while I get a headache from it. A few of the websites I visited to do my research for this article really took me by surprise. What was at once a simple website with one product is suddenly now this monster of a website with 10,000 vape juices from various companies, various kinds of mods that are not labelled as to which they are and for what kind of user, and a few extra things not vape related (or really shouldn’t be sold on an online vape shop). How is that user-friendly and conducive to a sale? It’s not. It’s just one big mess.

If you are a brick and mortar, why not just list a few name-brands as a teaser and then have a note about visiting your shop for more flavors (as well as gear)? That gets you a potential customer and sale in the door, and possibly someone who will return to your shop if you sell it right and give good explanations.

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ith the holidays around the corner and Christmas decorations clashing with Halloween décor, I wanted to talk about vape shopping a little bit, particularly online vape shopping.

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If you are selling strictly online, why not recommend customer favorites and just link to the company that wants you to distribute their product? That way you are linking to them and they are getting hits on their website and exposure. Plus, if they like the product enough from you, then they might be inclined to buy directly from that company. It’s a win-win situation. 2. Don’t create the website content yourself, or even build a website yourself. Hire someone or ask a customer who knows about website creation to help you.

Why?

give you feedback on the same things I’m mentioning in this article. Can they maneuver around it? Does it look neat? Are there broken links? etc. Then, after the initial testing,

Let’s just say that some websites do not have a slick, professional work. It looks like it was created on a cheap template and in some cases, the links that you’ve put on there have been expired. Have you tried using Wix. com or Weebly.com for your business template? Some websites have not looked like they have been updated for a long time. In fact, there have been times where I’ve clicked on a product or link and it seems like it’s been sold out for a while or the link is dead. In fact, it has the feeling of a website that was created as the vape boom started to hit. Then, either the one updating the site doesn’t have any time to keep up with it anymore, or they forgot to close it down because it went out of business.

3. When making a website, always have a second pair of eyes. Have a customer test out your website to

keep this person in your corner for accountability. Ask them for any feedback on problems or issues encountered on the website; because if they don’t, someone else will, and probably in a nonprofessional or polite manner. #VAPEMAGAZINE

4. Be careful of eBay and Amazon. Recently, I heard a complaint that a bottle of $20 30ml bottle of juice is selling for $2 on eBay because it takes away from the brick and mortar business. That makes sense because the shop has to pay for their overhead, taxes, and to keep the lights on. So, why go shopping to a website like that? Why even sell vape products cheaply when you are only hurting your own industry that you’re trying to support? That’s just plain greed. As a vape consumer and someone who’s been involved personally and professionally in website creation in other industries and areas, I can tell you that making a website is not easy. I’ve had to hire people to look at my personal website or give me free assessments to see what I need or possibly what I’m lacking. Not only is the feedback valuable, but it’s a great investment in your time and money. So, this holiday season, before the sales really pick up and you’re way behind on your orders, please do an assessment of your website. If you’ve made a lot of money at your shop or via your site, it should be in your best interest to invest some of that money back for website upgrades. After all, your website is a form of advertising. Thus, if your website is not focused and cluttered, you won’t get a sale nor returning customers. Take it from this vaping customer. Any suggestions for good websites? Any websites to avoid? Any tips you want to share that aren’t listed? Contact me at angelwritercreations@ gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ angelwriter78 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ angelwriter78/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ VapingTransitionsAngelwriter/ You can also catch my show on VapeTVLive at http://www.vapetv.com/ vapetvlive

G N I T S I L K C A L B S E M A N D N A R B

By Tony Ottomanelli II

PART I

he highly active, and often times highly assertive advocacy group known as the Vaping Legion, has been adding the names of specific brands to be included on a blacklist of their own design. Despite what labels have been placed on this group, mostly all are entirely irrelevant since all categorizations used against them are nothing more than reactionary, or rooted in a position whereby some people feel threatened. From this backlist operation, these advocates have caused some very effective mainstream changes. So much action has occurred since the announcement of the blacklist.

In refraining from naming any names of specific brands, it can still be revealed that since the official blacklist was released, the Vaping Legion provided minimal details as to what the precise plan was for the blacklisted brands. First, let me tell you exactly what it is that the blacklist VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

has come to represent and why the Vaping Legion is doing this. All of the brands are being compiled into a comprehensive list of companies that have neglected countless pleas, in-depth advice or courteous suggestions to ultimately rebrand their logos or labels due

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The Vaping Legion Advocates

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this topic was categorized and used against the vaping industry by the anti-vaping establishment, all vapers should have realized that when this was brought to the forefront, it should have been confronted.

Did you take action? to concerns that these products can be used as evidence that these companies are marketing towards children or are guilty of intellectual property theft.

This is extremely troublesome to reflect on since harm reduction and smoking cessation are considered to be the main functions of vapor products above anything else.

The primary goal of all vape advocates is to help others quit smoking, that involves preservation of the industry. Let us truly reflect as to who the real “bad guys” are in this equation—it is by no means any advocacy group. So, if your e-liquid brand consists of bright colored, cartoonish images or some kind of previously copyrighted brand name, then you’re most likely being labeled as a brand that is doing a disservice to the entire vapor industry. Regardless of how you feel about this blacklist, it may be absolutely necessary for the preservation of this industry. The vaping advocacy mission has been to confront this same conflict by actively engaging in this debate. However, since the time

Do we wish to continue witnessing nearly a half million Americans die from smoking-related illnesses, or perhaps should we try to halt such a preventative epidemic? The latter should be the appropriate response. #VAPEMAGAZINE

The Vaping Legion has been taking this issue head-on for several years and the blacklist is their way of allowing the community to understand the significance of true advocacy and why taking action is non-negotiable. The Legion’s message is: “The time is now.” In this case, it is time for vapers and vape advocates to unite on the fact that the blacklist is and has already proven to be an effective tool. Data Suggests the Vaping Legion Blacklist is Effective The Vaping Legion members are serious advocates who seem to care deeply for the protection of this industry. The group is made up of consumers, industry professionals and intense vape advocates from all over the US and abroad. Whether

in New York or New Zealand, this is primarily an underground advocacy group that deserves to receive more recognition for the unpaid, volunteer work that they actively participate in. The Vaping Legion may be considered “underground”, but they are growing and will continue to from their somewhat unconventional, yet undeniably effective strategies. The Legion has indeed, for several years, been warning countless brands everywhere that they must rethink their branding approach and develop some new designs or logos. It was right around the beginning of the summer that the blacklist was released, and at least 10 brands immediately began “rebranding” their labels. However, as of midAugust, there are now over 100 brands participating in the “rebranding” process.

As a community, it is important to understand just how many short-sighted, vapor product consumers and simple-minded enemies of sustaining the existence of the vapor products there truly are. vape industry. Overall, I’m sure it is extremely difficult to not interpret this blacklisting of your brand as a threat or attack from inside the community, but it is by no means anything personal against one particular brand. It is however an attempt to prevent these brands from going out of business and to maintain their position. Additionally, advocacy groups take such actions to not allow the opposition of the vaping lifestyle

Although unconventional, these advocates remain dedicated to the cause of defending VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

Time and time again, we see countless organizations and individuals who would thoroughly enjoy seeing vape-related businesses become nonexistent. This is not acceptable, thus brands with copyright-infringing labels and child appealing content in their designs becomes extremely concerning, especially if these brands wish to still do business in the vape industry. If their only remaining weapon is something vapers can take away, why wouldn’t we take action?

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to gain an upper hand in the only argument continuously used to ban flavors—they appeal to children and use previously copyrighted names and images, hence intellectual property theft. This one argument remains the only way for the anti-vaping zealots to attempt to destroy this life-saving harm reduction method.

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A NEW FACE AND A NEW

FOCUS Gottleib Shifts FDA Mindset on Harm Reduction By Corey Noles

On the morning of July 28, the Food and Drug Administration changed the game for the vapor industry — and it’s more than just a deadline shift. Dr. Scott Gottleib, the new Commissioner of the FDA, announced a shift in the organization’s approach to nicotine. The speech seemed to shift from an abstinence only style program, to one that understands there may be value to harm reduction among smokers. #VAPEMAGAZINE

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VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

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Following is the first statement from the FDA that

cigarettes are the problem, not the nicotine: But the nicotine in cigarettes is not directly responsible for the cancer, lung disease, and heart disease that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year,” Gottleib said. “Yes, it got them all addicted and kept them addicted for the long term. And it got most of them addicted when they were still teenagers. But it’s the other chemical compounds in tobacco, and in the smoke created by setting tobacco on fire, that directly and primarily cause the illness and death, not the nicotine. #VAPEMAGAZINE

Gottleib announced plans to focus on ways to lower nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes, while at the same time trying to find ways to foster innovation in possible harm reduction arenas. The key, according to Gottleib, is recognizing that there is a continuum of risk among tobacco products.

...we must acknowledge that there’s a continuum of risk for nicotine delivery,” Gottleib said. “That continuum ranges from combustible cigarettes at one end, to medicinal nicotine products at the other. VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

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That paragraph, that moment, signaled a new direction for the FDA — a plan to find a way to combat the problem of addiction to cigarettes that doesn’t take away what is believed by millions globally to be the most effective way to put traditional cigarettes down for good.

FEATURES The key, he believes, is for the FDA to foster innovation into less harmful products, including vapor products, that could be a part of the solution. He does believe that FDA oversight should be involved in the process, but that the potential for vapor products and other harm reduction methods shouldn’t be simply cast aside. “While there’s still much research to be done on these products and the risks that they may pose, they may also present benefits that we must consider,” he said. “FDA’s investment in regulatory science will eventually answer many of those benefit and risk questions.” “And at the same time, we’ve opened up a pathway to new product innovations that we think can potentially provide nicotine to people who still want to enjoy satisfying levels of nicotine without the risk of lighting tobacco on fire,” Gottleib said. While not going so far as to say the FDA is backing the use of vapor products, the possibility of quality scientific research backed by a more open-minded FDA is promising for the industry. While most vapers believe the research has been done, the FDA process involves continued research

for many years into the safety of all products.

It’s incumbent upon us as regulators to explore both the potential public health benefits and the risks of (vapor) technology with an open mind,” Gottleib said. “And I can assure you, from my discussions with the leadership of the Center for Tobacco Products, that FDA is bringing just that mindset to the task at hand.

The announcement included news that the final deadlines for the industry, originally slated for 2018, have been moved to 2022. All other deadlines, such as those for product registration, tobacco health documents and the use of appropriate warning labels will stand. In addition, the milestones that have already passed will remain in effect as well. The FDA will be delving deeper into many areas including product safety and the role of flavors believed to be more appealing to children. The FDA will be opening a question and answer period on multiple topics in the near future. Gottleib’s announcement shows a stark 180-degree shift from the approach of the FDA Center for Tobacco products, but there are many decisions still to be made. It will likely be years before the full scope of this change is put into play, but Gottleib said it is a process they FDA and CTP already have in the works. Corey Noles is the Editor in Chief of VAPE Magazine and the owner of Inked Up E-Liquid Co./Busted Knuckle Vapor Fluids. Contact him at corey@vapemz.com.

#VAPEMAGAZINE

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V I S I O N A R Y

O F W R A P S C U S T O M C O I L C O M PA N Y

P u n k R o c k e r, H a i r S t y l i s t a n d Va p e E n t r e p r e n e u r

By Chris Mellides

lenn Bivins grew up in Brooklyn, New York and would often spend his time sidewalk surfing and listening to punk rock music during his younger years.

down a number of different career paths. His newest business venture would come to fruition after his nine-year-old daughter told him that he should stop smoking and that cigarettes were bad for him.

Following his high school graduation, he spent almost a year living in the UK with a girl he met at a punk gig, and did his best to see as much of Europe as he could before returning stateside.

“I knew smoking was taking a giant toll on my health,” Bivins said. “I couldn’t even finish a yoga class without getting dizzy and gasping for air. The thought of being able to get my nicotine in a way that tasted and smelled good with no side-effects immediately drew me in.”

When he moved back to New York City he worked at a notable record store in Greenwich Village called Bleecker Bob’s, before turning in his records for a pair of scissors during his time as a hairstylist. Bivins would also enjoy a 10-year career as a music DJ.

After receiving his wakeup call, Bivins took up vaping about three years ago. After making the switch he began to realize how difficult it was to find handcrafted coils for sale.

It’s safe to say that Bivins, 45, has led an interesting life. One that has taken him to places overseas and has led him VAPEMZ.COM

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Glenn Bivins V A P E

DEPARTMENTS “This was about two or so years ago and there was only maybe one or two people who knew how to make coils and it was a daunting task to actually get in touch with these people and place an order,” Bivins said.

Bivins runs all his freshly wrapped coils through an ultrasonic cleaner to make sure that any dirt, debris or germs are free from the product. He also uses Kidney Puncher brand wire in the creation of all his coils.

With that in mind he began posting pictures on social media, of coils he had been working on and received a lot of attention and positive feedback.

“I would watch videos and build tutorials of people making coils and watch them vape on the coils, sneeze on the coils, wrap them up with dirty hands, and was completely disgusted that anybody would buy from them,” he said.

“I was posting pics of my coils and immediately I would get 20 or 30 messages asking me to sell them some!” he said. “I realized then that there was a huge demand.”

Shortly after coming to this realization he began thinking about building a company to meet the demand. Using his popularity on social media and the daily messages he would receive requesting premade coils as motivation, it wasn’t long before he took the plunge. From there, Bivins said that the company, which he dubbed Wraps “pretty much sold itself.” The Wraps owner says that he employs a single person, but that he represents 99 percent of the work needed to ensure that his buyers get what they pay for and that each set of coils is a work of art. #VAPEMAGAZINE

“Why would anyone want a set of coils with someone else’s germs on them? Coils are a work of art and should be treated as such!” he added.

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On average Bivins makes anywhere from 10 to 30 coil sets an hour. Alien coils, which are his bestsellers are more complicated to produce. Bivins admits that he can create 14 sets in an hour’s time, and with fused claptons, 30 sets can be completed in an hour. It then takes him 20 minutes to deep clean his coils using the ultrasonic cleaner before neatly placing the coil sets inside ring jewelry boxes, which are excellent for presentation and ensure that the coils tucked inside are protected.

the vapor industry. Through word of mouth people are drawn to his product and support his company in ways that amaze him. He says that advocacy is paramount and that vaping is saving lives, which is something worth fighting for.

“It’s a process and takes up most of my days, but when people buy my coils and get the Wraps coils delivered to them, they expect the best and I always over deliver!” says Bivins. There is an option on the Wraps website that allows shoppers to request custom coils for use with unregulated series and parallel mods to regulated devices. Bivins will usually receive three custom coil requests a day. “On my website people can request information on what type of coils may

be best for the gear they’re using,” Bivins said. “Many people aren’t as knowledgeable as myself when it comes to ohms, coil size, coil types, and I wanted to make it easy for anyone to get the perfect coil.” Bivins says that his greatest achievement since he started work on the Wraps brand is that he is now in a position to educate and promote advocacy. “Being an owner of a vape company allows you the unique ability to guide people in the right direction. I love it,” Bivins said. “Another big advantage or achievement would be being able to bring a fantastic vape to everyone who buys my coils. I love that fact that my coils help people enjoy vaping even more than they may already have,” he added. Bivins feels deeply committed to VAPEMZ.COM

“My goal with Wraps is to just take it as far as it can go,” Bivins said. “Where that is exactly I’m not sure yet, but with the release of my new squonk box and my new line of wire called Karma Wire, it’s sure going to be interesting.” “Whatever I do, or whatever I get involved in, you can be sure it’ll be only the highest of quality. People trust Wraps and I will uphold my reputation at all costs.”

Visit Wraps Custom Coil Company at: wrapscoils.com

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U w e l l

VALYRIAN THE SEXY TANK By Corey Noles

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not often that a new tank comes across my desk that is genuinely innovative. In fact, more often than not, I receive a new tank and then spend a couple days with it before tossing it into the drawer of forgotten vape gear. The Valyrian from Uwell has not and will not see that drawer. It came with a long list of features and innovations, as they all do. The difference is that the Valyrian is a legitimate game changer.

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APPEARANCE The Valyrian is a sexy tank — as are most of Uwell’s offerings, frankly. From the smoothtapered drip tip to the metallic finish, this is the tank that will unseat the SMOK TFV series. The tank is available in stainless steel, black, iridescent, sapphire blue (my personal favorite) and Purple. Unlike some other tanks on the market, the finish is quite durable. As a vaper who drops things regularly, I’ve been impressed with the continued luster of the tank. For a tank to look new three weeks after opening the box is a huge plus for me.

SPECS

Capacity: 5 mL (8.0 mL glass will be available to purchase separately) Size: 25 x 62.3 mm Resistance: 0.15ohm Connection Threading: 510 Airflow Adjustable: Bottom Fill Liquid: Top Filling Material: Stainless Steel, Copper, Pyrex Glass

The tank also features a push button cap release — reminiscent of the Mad Hatter RDA. The button is smooth with rounded edges and quite easy to operate. When I first opened the box, the button had quite a bit of resistance but it seemed to break in over time. It opens more than wide enough to easily accommodate a 120ml unicorn bottle, as has been a problem with other tanks recently.

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this world — and I’m a guy who was not previously a fan of Uwell tanks. My personal favorite pin is the spiral. It features a shaft reminiscent of a screw that forces the air in a spiral pattern throughout the coil’s surface area. I found this one to offer the best balance of flavor and vapor production. There is a marked difference between the performance with each pin, and I look forward to trying the other coils when they become available. The key to this is that the pins make it easier to dial in to your specific vaping style. This can literally be the only tank you own.

COILS Because we received a very early prototype to test, only the 0.15 Ohm coil was available. A representative of Uwell said they are still working to improve the coils before launch.

The Valyrian is just now hitting shelves around the country. MSRP is $34.95 and it can be picked up from most retail and online outlets.

The coil we tested used parallel A1 kanthal with a SUS316 stainless steel shell. It is technically a quad coil wrapped in parallel, which creates dual legs for the leads. One of the improvements Uwell is pushing for in the last days of development is improved cotton in the coils. With that said, the coil included had the lowest break-in time of any coil I’ve used. Ever. In less than a tank, any hint of cotton taste was gone.

THE

BOX

1 x VALYRIAN tank 1 x Extra pyrex glass tube 5.0 mL 2 x 0.15ohm coil (one is pre-installed)

THE PINS — A GAME CHANGER

Extra rubber O-rings

This is the truly innovative feature of the Valyrian. Packaged with the Valyrian are three distinct “pins,” each of which creates an entirely different vaping experience. I was skeptical at first, because this seemed like a gimmick on the surface. The tank comes with the unrestricted pin pre-installed. It’s the same pin as what is included in the Crown 3. That pin is intended to provide the smoothest vape and most vapor production. If you’re a flavor chaser, the wave pin is for you. It has a shaft that goes up inside the coil, further restricting airflow and forcing around the surface area. The flavor is out of #VAPEMAGAZINE

Extra drip tip (different color) 2 x Extra pins User’s manual Drip tip cover (different color)

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W o t o f o

By John Castle

t was just about a year ago that I reviewed the Wismec Theorem, a rebuildable dripping atomizer developed with the input of SuckMyMod. In that review, I noted that I would look forward to a Version 2 of that device. Well, this isn’t a dripping atomizer, but the Serpent may be the spiritual successor to the Theorem, all grown up into tank form. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it and review it here. The Serpent arrives in a colorfully accented black box which contains the RTA itself, not one but two spare tanks, a generous three prebuilt staple coils, other replacement parts, and a fairly comprehensive manual, which even provides diagrammed instructions for installing your coil and filling the tank.

Specs and Features The Serpent SMM is a 24mm RTA. It’s compatible with any regulated mod with a 510 connection and, interestingly, it features a deck that momentarily confused me; more about that in a moment. Starting at the top of the tank, you have a wide bore 510 drip tip made of a material called ULTEM. I hadn’t heard of this material previously, but it reportedly has an even stronger resistance to high temperatures than delrin. I very much appreciate the design choice to go with a standard 510 drip tip rather than a proprietary design. Under the threaded top cap, you have very substantial fill slots, which should make filling the tank even with less-than-convenient rounded bottle #VAPEMAGAZINE

Now to the deck: it greatly resembles a dual-coil deck at first glance, but is in fact a single coil deck with two “ledges”, each of which contains two screws, allowing the user to install a single coil with the leads in whichever orientation suits the user. To either side of these ledges, apertures accommodate the wick down into deep e-liquid wells. The 4ml glass tank, once fully assembled, is fed air through a trio of bottom-mounted adjustable airflow slots which direct air up from under the coil, producing the kind of flavor reproduction that reminded me from the very first hit that rebuildables are still the flavor king of the vaping world.

Performance The last rebuildable atomizer I used previous to the Serpent was, in fact, the Theorem over a year ago. Needless to say, I had become rusty when it comes to installing coils. All of that is preface for relating just how easy it is to install a coil and wick in the Serpent. Once the coil was installed and gently pressed into shape so that it glowed from the inside out as it should, then wicked and primed, it was time to fill the tank itself. This step once again very strongly reminded me of the Theorem. Filling the

The Serpent arrives in a colorfully accented black box which contains the RTA itself, not one but two spare tanks, a generous three prebuilt staple coils, other replacement parts, and a fairly comprehensive manual, which even provides diagrammed instructions for installing your coil and filling the tank.

l l l l l l

I found myself literally flabbergasted by the flavor and lung hit delivered by this tank, and although I swore off rebuildables after the Theorem, the Serpent has earned its place on my mod. It’s my first proper rebuildable tank, and it just might be the first one I’ve really fallen in love with.

Summary

Although rebuildables are for experienced vapers, this is one that should give the new vaper a very nice incentive to tackle the learning curve it takes to appreciate them. With such outstanding flavor reproduction, the only real complaint I can think about the Serpent is that, at a 4ml capacity, tank was as easy as unscrewing the top cap, there isn’t more OF the Serpent. then filling through one of the more than generous slots.

Price and Availability

Now to the question of performance You can get the Wotofo Serpent SMM — to me, there’s no question that the performance focus of the Serpent’s design from MyVaporStore in your choice was clearly all about flavor. The Serpent of Stainless, Black, Blue, or Rainbow color for $29.99 plus shipping.

Pros and Cons Pros:

delivers the most vivid and robust flavor I’ve experienced in a long time. I’ve been exclusively using sub-ohm tanks for the past year simply because their convenience outweighed that of any rebuildable, and their performance characteristics had advanced to the point where they rivaled or surpassed even my best efforts at building my own coils. But…

Ease of setup Aesthetics Build quality Standardized (rather than proprietary) drip tip fitting High Performance Good price

Cons: l E-liquid capacity (subjective)

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MODS & TECH

tips relatively painless; another practical and thoughtful design touch.

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w e n A L a z y

V a p e r s

to high-end mods By Corey Noles

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should start this review out by saying that I’m not generally a fan of many high end mods. While I have a deep admiration for them as pieces of art, as a vape, I’m usually left disappointed. The DNA25 and DNA40 life just doesn’t fit my personal style of vaping.

So, when I met Seth Catley of Lazy Vapers at VCC Tampa, I found myself pleasantly surprised. Instead of simply offering a single mod in different appearances, Lazy Vapers mods were available in more than a half dozen configurations — including a 75-watt rig. All of his mods offered a unique artistic look at the standard box mod. There are no crazy shapes, with Catley instead focusing on the traditional box shape but assembled via finger joints instead of carved out of a solid block. While it may sacrifice a bit of durability, it’s sleek appearance and the blending of different pieces of wood gives it a much sexier feel.

Look & Feel

The mod feels good in your hand. It’s surprisingly light, but still feels quite sturdy. A touch bigger than a pack of cigarettes, the bevelled edges make it easier to maintain a grip — a legitimate concern for me because of a thumb injury several years ago. My particular mod is made from pieces of multiple stabilized woods, and it definitely draws looks. The craftsmanship is solid and shows a strong attention to detail.

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Functionality

I have zero complaints about the functionality of the mod. It’s responsive and hits as one would expect. The rocker button isn’t my favorite design (in any mod, not this one specifically), but what it offers to the appearance more than makes up for it. The button being carved from the same wood as the box makes it a super attractive feature on a high quality mod. The door, which also includes finger joints and even a central magnet, always works smoothly and fits like a glove.

Durability

The durability of this little rig really surprised me. As I mentioned earlier, I drop things — LOTS of things. Thankfully, the Lazy Vapers mod only hit the ground three times and survived them all quite well. No dings or scratches and nothing that seemed to affect the mods performance. The mod has held up well over 90 days of daily use, with no obvious issues.

S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

Final Takes

This is a super sexy mod that lives up to its looks — and it survived me. The wide array of choices and options available on these custom mods make it a needed addition to any collection. It’s nice to not be locked into one mass produced model with a high end mod. For info about Lazy Vapers or to place an order, check them out on Facebook and visit lazyvapersboxmods.com.

Signature Lazy Vapers complex enclosure design SX350J V2 single 18650 75w mod Dual stabwood version Flamed maple internal dividers YiHi SX350J V2 chipset Built-in stabwood rocker switch Stainless steel screws/ Plexiglas screen protector Clicky stainless steel switch Low profile spring loaded 510 connector/ 22mm diameter 16awg high temp silicone wiring Keystone battery contacts High temp delrin battery contact supports N52 neodymium cube door magnets

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V a p o r e s s o

Revenger By John Castle

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KIT I can’t describe how thrilled I was to get my hands on this device for review. This is one sexy kit, from the mod itself to the included NRG sub ohm tank. The box contains the Revenger itself, the NRG sub-ohm tank, two GT atomizer coil heads, accessories including a spare glass tank and 510 mouthpiece adapter, a heavy-duty braided USB cable, as well as the usual documentation including safety warnings and a manual.

The Revenger kit is an extremely advanced piece of hardware. The mod itself is a dual 18650 affair powered by Vaporesso’s OMNI 2.0 board. This is actually my first experience with a Vaporesso product; as such, I was curious to see how the OMNI 2.0 compares to boards with higher asking prices. More on that shortly. From top to bottom, the mod features a standard 510 connection. Near the top, on the leading edge of the device, you’ll find a metallic firing button with very satisfying tactile feedback.

The 0.96” display seems to disappear entirely when the mod is powered down as it matches the faceplate’s black aesthetic, which is quite a nice touch. Beneath the display resides a cluster of buttons: up/down adjustment buttons in a semi-trapezoidal rocker switch, with a selection button inset at the top of the curve formed by the rocker. Beneath the control cluster you’ll find a standard micro-USB charging and firmware upgrade port. On the flank opposite the screen and VAPEMZ.COM #VAPEMAGAZINE

control, you’ll find the dual battery bay behind a plastic removable panel secured by four good magnets. Finally, at the bottom of the mod, you’ll find battery venting.

The Revenger can deliver a power range of 5-220 watts and temperature control from 200-600 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional modes of operation include Smart Variable Wattage, Customized

Curve of Wattage (CCW), which allows the user to select the wattage behavior of the device for each 0.5 second interval (up to 5 seconds) of firing the device.

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Specs and Features

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In practical terms, this means that the user who likes a good, hard initial hit that then mellows afterward can accomplish that — or, on the other hand, if you prefer a hit that gets stronger the longer you hold the fire button, that’s also equally easy to achieve.

get as deep as you’re ready for, or as simple as you need them to be. Just be aware that this absolutely is an advanced device and requires a good familiarity with regulated mods for a user to really get the most out of what it can deliver. One of the really striking things about the Revenger kit is just how light and comfortable it is in the hand. That comfort level is due principally to the well rounded edges of the body. When it comes to performance, the Revenger is world class, with one tiny caveat. While the vapor output, throat hit, and flavor are exceptionally good, I actually found that they’re even better if you use the 510 mouthpiece

Other adjustment modes include Customized Curve of Temperature (essentially the same as CCW, but for temperature), Bypass, and TCR. The included NRG tank measures 26.5mm in diameter, boasts a 5ml e-liquid capacity, and comes with two coil heads, the dual-coil GT4 and quad-coil GT8, both clocking in at 0.15 ohms. The tank utilizes a top-fill design similar to that of SMOK’s TFV-series sub ohm tanks, but notably features innovations such as a delrin insulator under its base to minimize heat, along with a proprietary wide-bore mouthpiece with integrated antispitback protection.

Real World Impressions Setting up and using the NRG tank should be instantly familiar to anyone who has used a SMOK TFVseries tank; in fact, the fill method appears to be practically identical: the top cap swivels open to display a rubber gasket with a fill slot. However, for users like myself who had never previously encountered a Vaporesso device, the menus can

adapter and your own mouthpiece rather than the one provided by Vaporesso. The anti-spitback design of the included mouthpiece seems to mute the flavor, which isn’t desirable. The Revenger was a first for me in one other way: Although I’ve reviewed and owned a few mods now that were technically capable of temperature control, I’ve never been much of an aficionado of this feature. The Revenger has changed that. This may be where the OMNI board comes into play: The Revenger doesn’t make me wait between pressing the firing button and the device actually firing — it just gets right to work. On performance and ergonomics, the Revenger is a solid winner.

s n o C d n a s Pro Pros l l l l l

Excellent performance Visually attractive Surprisingly extensive feature set Exceptionally comfortable to hold and use Highly competitive price point for a regulated mod in this class

Cons l l l

Proprietary mouthpiece slightly diminishes performance (subjective) Body panels lack fingerprint resistance Battery door may prove difficult to remove for some users

Intended for the experienced vaper, the Vaporesso Revenger provides one of the best 200 plus watt vaping experiences, and does it for a price that puts it well within reach of most users. You can get the Revenger from MyVaporStore in black, blue, or red, for $65.99 plus shipping.

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MECHANICAL

By Chris Mellides | Photos By Allan Kwasnik

t’s rare that you find a device on the market that looks the part, comes with a few usability options and has excellent safety features all built in. The Angry Cloud mechanical tube mod from Angry Cloud Vape Co. is exemplary of what makes a device like this a cut above the rest.

This mod is 24mm in diameter, is proudly made in the United States, and is constructed out of either brass or copper. The version that got passed along to me for the purpose of this review is the copper model. Ordinarily, I tend to shy away from copper mech mods, because of the constant cleaning and upkeep that’s involved, but the Angry Cloud mech makes a good case for owning a copper device. Build quality and the overall quality of machining on this tube are excellent. That along with the heft of the device and how substantial is feels in the hand are all qualities inherent of rugged workhorse mods. The Angry Cloud mech is an 18650 tube mod

that runs with either silver plated springs or beefy magnets. I’ve used both and prefer the springs for a stiff and harder throw. It is also nice that the mod ships with both the springs and the magnets and that you don’t have to purchase them separately. This mod is self-adjusting, so there is never any battery rattle to speak of. A delrin insulator in the switch adjusts for battery movement and hovers above your springs or magnets. The firing contact is made of copper and is slotted to ensure that at least one of four points will make contact with your battery, which should prevent arcing when firing the device. In the rare event that your battery should vent, the switch sports large vent holes on the button to ensure a clean escape of any gases. Additionally, the large thread size on the switch will provide some extra hold in the case of a venting battery. This is a mech mod that features a hybrid 510 connection, so only use safe high drain batteries and atomizers with protruding 510 connectors. With many other mech mods you’ll find that

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d u o l C y Angr Angry Cloud Vape Co.

MODS & TECH over continuous use, removing your atomizer from your device can prove to be a little difficult. The Angry Cloud mech mod has the answer to this common and sometimes frustrating occurrence. Additionally, a lip on the inside of the top cap restricts battery movement and prevents battery arcing as well. The Angry Cloud mod makes use of interchangeable sleeves. There are currently eight available and each mod ships with one of them. The sleeves are constructed out of a high-quality aluminum and are acid washed and anodized, resulting in some cool and often trippy patterns. The Angry Cloud sleeves are also the same size as the Avid Lyfe Able and Ringer mod sleeves, so they can also be used with this device—which is a huge plus. As you would expect from a premium device, all of the threads found on this mod are buttery smooth, there were no imperfections to speak of—no burrs, scuffs or scratches during the manufacturing process. So, if the mod I received is any indication, quality control from Angry Cloud Vape Co. is excellent.

T he surface of the mod’s top cap is primarily flat, but your atomizer won’t make complete contact with it because the tapered edges of the top cap are raised ever so slightly and line the circumference of the cap. What this means is that your atomizers can never heat seal and become stuck to the cap after repeated use. #VAPEMAGAZINE

A tasteful “Angry Cloud Vape Co.” script engraving is found on the outside of the switch towards the bottom of the mod and the Angry Cloud logo is laser engraved on the button of the switch. Overall, I think this mod is worth the asking price. It’s a stunning device from top to bottom. The firing switch is super responsive, there’s never any battery rattle, the threading is immaculate and above all, this mod has never run hot on me. I normally build or use premade coils that read around .1 to .14 ohms and they’ve worked great. When testing this device, I built lower and while the tube got warm, it never got too hot for comfort. At the time of writing this review there is no official website for Angry Cloud Vape Co., but you can find them on Instagram @angrycloudvapeco and on Facebook at: facebook.com/ AngryCloudVapeCo/ To the best of my knowledge there should be a preorder for the next round of mods and a website is in the works. A brass Angry Cloud mech mod will cost $189 and the copper version retails for $199.

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Anarchist MFG

By Chris Mellides | Photos By Allan Kwasnik

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There is no doubt that this atomizer was designed with the intention of clouding up a room or out-chucking a top gunner at your local cloud comp. The Riot is also a builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream, with post holes that are in every way massive as they are impressive. Without getting too ahead of myself here, this atty is 24mm in diameter and sports a two-post deck. Again, the post holes are large, and I have it in good faith that this thing can handle just about any build you can throw at it. Coil installation is a snap too, with large stainless steel screws that trap the

leads of your coils well and hold them securely. Backing the screws out on several other RDAs in the same class can sometimes be an issue, but that is certainly not the case with the Riot. Thanks to a useful Philips head tool that comes included in the packaging, securing and undoing the screws is

Since this is a two-post deck, achieving a perfect center post build is in the bag and allows for even wicking on either end of the deck.

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a snap. Of course, a regular Philips screwdriver will work as well, but the tool that is included with your purchase is a nice touch. Speaking of which, the deck is large and comfortably deep. It is also constructed out of ceramic. This feature is a first for me, and while the product advertising suggests that the ceramic brings out more flavor, that has yet to be seen. The flavor on the Riot is average. As previously stated, this atty is built for plumes so of course sacrificing on flavor is a given depending on just how open your airflow is. The airflow control (AFC) is dubbed #PunkAsFuck Airflow. I suppose the four slotted holes on either side of the barrel do resemble the logo flown by California punk outfit Black Flag, but who knows. Either way, I usually close my airflow down to two bars and that gives me a restricted, yet open draw,

MODS & TECH

vailable in either polished stainless steel or in a black finish, the Riot rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA) from the Anarchist line of products is an interesting addition.

MODS & TECH which allows for some decent flavor. Open this sucker up wide, and you’ll be disappearing in the vapor. Consequently, what’ll also disappear is the flavor of your juice. You have two top cap options. One is a black delrin chuff style Cloud Cap with a very big bore for maximum cloudage, and the other is a lower profile 304 stainless steel cap that is compatible with most 810 drip tips I’ve used. The vape on the 810 drip tip is airy enough, but if you want to go full tilt, then the chuff mouthpiece will definitely be up your alley. The Riot is hybrid safe with a nice protruding gold plated brass 510 pin and a brass gold plated positive pin. The base of the RDA has an electroplated gold coating, which is also nice. The RDA comes packaged in a nicely branded padded zipper case, which includes the Anarchist screwdriver,

Build quality and machining on this device are excellent. The RDA is manufactured by Digiflavor and I can’t rightly say that I’ve vaped on products from this company, but the overall fit and finish of the Riot is spot on. #VAPEMAGAZINE

both the Cloud Cap and the regular 810 cap, along with a baggy containing an assortment of spare parts. Is this the best atty on the market right now? I really don’t think so. Anarchist and Digiflavor aren’t reinventing the wheel here. However, this device serves a very specific purpose and that is to create mountains of dense, warm vapor and it achieves this in spades. The build deck is designed to accommodate monster coils, and should be a welcome addition to any builder’s arsenal. Having said that, the Riot RDA is not for everyone. If you want restricted draws and exceptional flavor, I think you’d be better off looking elsewhere. If instead you want to go ape with your vapor production then look no further than the Riot. You’d be hard-pressed to find a dripper that gives you this much bang for your buck. The Riot RDA sells for $65.00 and can be purchased online at localvape.com.

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vape shop events

Vape Shop By Norm Bour

Vape Shop Events has been offering B2B, closed door, “speed dating” type events since 2015. They hold their sessions in some of the most beautiful venues in the country, but the July event surpassed them all.

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Enthusiasm, optimism, and the peace of mind knowing that the vape space is not dead. The pall of fear from one year ago was gone and even though this event took place before the recent FDA announcement about extending the PMTA deadline four more years, attendees were happy.

vape shop events

L Events

ike most of us in the industry, they have ridden the roller coaster of optimism and fear that we have faced over the past two years, but there was no uncertainty about the mood this last time in La Jolla, California.

“This has been the best year we’ve ever had,” said many attendees, who came from all around the world, including Russia and Kuwait. First time attendees Mario and Nicole Jirjees from Just Juice visited from Detroit and were overwhelmed with the results of the two-day event.

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vape shop events

“We’re a family run company,” said Nicole, “and though we’ve been around since 2013, we’re still expanding and learning. And, we got great feedback about packaging and labeling from some of our meetings! Some of the overseas buyers gave us different perspectives on international markets that we’ll also take back with us.” When asked “Will you be back to VSE?” the siblings chimed in with a resounding “yes,” especially after getting orders from most of the buyers they met.

Not Your Normal Vape Show The international events landscape is changing worldwide with less US national events and more regional ones. Outside the US, there are events in new and unexpected places, including Mexico, Columbia (South America), Greece, and India. The UK, France and China continue to lead the larger shows,

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but new venues come up regularly.

These larger events are fun, but the question is, “How much business gets done?” One of the criticisms of large vaping events has been the distractions of loud music, excessive clouds and too many people there for fun and not for business purposes.

vape shop events

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vape shop events That is what sets VSE apart from others.

When 29 sellers/ vendors meet with 20 buyers from

around the world, orders get placed

and business gets

done. When you eat three meals a day SPECIAL SECTION

with friends, life-long relationships develop

and you can have fun at the same time.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS VSE HAS BEEN HELD IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ, ORLANDO, FL, PARK CITY, UT AND LA JOLLA, CA., BUT THIS NEW VENUE SURPASSED EVERYONE’S EXPECTATION. VAPE Magazine has been the exclusive media partner with VSE since the beginning and publisher Matt Schramel finally got a chance to see the show first hand. #VAPEMAGAZINE

“It was amazing, Schramel said, “and we renewed our commitment to them moving forward. That includes discounted advertising rates for attendees of the show and the opportunity to place their ads in specific sections of the magazine set aside for VSE participants.” “The sunset view from the 11th floor restaurant makes this even more worthwhile,” stated Brandon Nelson with Envii Mods, a regular at VSE events. The next VSE will be in Scottsdale, Arizona October 8-10. For more information visit www.vapeshopevents.com. Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors and creator of the VAPE U online programs. They offer services & resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. He’s also the host of Vape Radio, the largest vaping radio show in the world with more than 1.3 M downloads. As a founding partner in the Vape Industry Business Exchange (VIBE), Norm is committed to supporting the vape space into this Brave New World. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com.

vape shop events

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