‘Vape shops’ and ‘E-Cigarette lounges’ open across the USA to promote ENDS

Lee, Youn Ok; Kim, Annice

doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051437

Cited by 79 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The reasons provided by customers for preferring to buy their products from vape shops such as the environment, advice, and support from vape shop staff, were consistent with the unique characteristics that distinguish vape shops from convenience stores and online stores 9,13 . While the cross-sectional, uncontrolled nature of this study precludes any causal link between e-cigarette use and quitting, there was a high rate of self-reported smoking abstinence (66%) among this sample of vapers who reported smoking at the time of e-cigarette initiation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Unlike convenience stores, vape shops provide a wide variety of flavors, typically only sell newer generation devices (e.g., tank systems, mechanical mods, advanced personal vaporizers), and most do not sell e-cigarettes manufactured by the tobacco industry . 6,9 . Unlike online retailers, vape shops offer a more interactive experience for their customers such as personal interaction with staff members who often also vape, sampling of e-liquids, and customization of vapor devices [9][10][11] .…”

Section: Examining the Smoking And Vaping Behaviors And Preferences Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6,9 . Unlike online retailers, vape shops offer a more interactive experience for their customers such as personal interaction with staff members who often also vape, sampling of e-liquids, and customization of vapor devices [9][10][11] . Vape…”

Section: Examining the Smoking And Vaping Behaviors And Preferences Omentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Examining the Smoking and Vaping Behaviors and Preferences of Vape Shop Customers

Wagener¹,

Shaikh²,

Meier³

et al. 2016

Tob. Prev. Cessation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of vape shops has increased dramatically in recent years. Yet, few studies have examined the smoking/vaping behaviors and vaping preferences of vape shop customers and the reasons they patronize vape shops. The present study seeks to address this gap. METHODS A convenience sample of 100 vape shop customers completed a brief questionnaire assessing past and current tobacco/e-cigarette use, vaping preferences and reasons they patronize vape shops. Self-reported smoking status was confirmed via exhaled carbon monoxide measurement. RESULTS Participants reported health and the need to quit/reduce smoking as the most important reasons for initiating e-cigarette use. Approximately 62% were biochemically-verified smoking abstinent and 100% were using newer generation e-cigarette devices. A majority (91%) reported enjoying vaping more than smoking, 80% preferred non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors, though 60% reported they would still vape if the only flavor available was tobacco. Participants reported "battery life", "tastes good", and "curbs cravings" as the most important e-cigarette features; the least important feature was "feels/looks like traditional cigarette". A majority reported they preferred to buy e-cigarette supplies at vapor shops because of "access to staff that can help troubleshoot e-cigarette problems" (85%), and "enjoy the atmosphere" (74%). CONCLUSIONS Vape shop customers demonstrated a high rate of smoking abstinence and reported product preferences consistent with newer generation devices. Customers valued the atmosphere and the knowledgeable staff at vape shops. These findings suggest important avenues of investigation into the effects of unique characteristics of vape shops on smoking and vaping behaviors of their patrons, not only for clinical research but also for tobacco regulation.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Examining the Smoking And Vaping Behaviors And Preferences Omentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Examining the Smoking and Vaping Behaviors and Preferences of Vape Shop Customers

Wagener¹,

Shaikh²,

Meier³

et al. 2016

Tob. Prev. Cessation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…18,19,21 Marketing practices may affect which groups use e-cigarettes and influence vaping social norms or diminish attitudes toward nicotine. 12,13,22,23 The Internet is the major channel for e-cigarette marketing and the focus of e-cigarette marketing research. 22,24 Content analysis of commercial messaging on Web sites and Twitter revealed cessation and health benefits were the most frequent messages to consumers, 22,25 but Web sites, social media, and blogs also promoted messages of environmental responsibility or use where cigarettes were not permitted.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Marketing Practices of Vapor Store Owners

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives. We examined the marketing strategies for local vapor stores in a large metropolitan area in Oklahoma. Methods. Vapor store owners or managers (n = 33) participated in individual interviews regarding marketing practices in 2014. We asked owners about their marketing strategies and the groups they targeted. We transcribed the interviews and analyzed them for themes. Results. Store owners used a variety of marketing strategies to bring new customers to their stores and keep current customers coming back. These marketing strategies showed many parallels to tobacco industry strategies. Most owners engaged in some form of traditional marketing practices (e.g., print media), but only a few used radio or television advertising because of budget constraints. Owners used social media and other forms of electronic communication, pricing discounts and specials, and loyalty programs. Owners also had booths at local events, sponsored community events, and hosted them in their stores. Owners attempted to target different groups of users, such as college students and long-term smokers. Conclusions. Local vapor store marketing practices closely resemble current and former tobacco industry marketing strategies. Surveillance of marketing practices should include local and Web-based strategies.

show abstract

“…E-cigarettes have gained popularity in recent years, in part because of availability in a wide variety of flavorings 21 that may be appealing to adolescents and young adults, 22 the perception that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking, 23 absence or poor enforcement of regulations on indoor use, 24 and the recent popularity of product-specific venues that encourage use of these products in social situations, such as vape shops. 25 Such characteristics of e-cigarettes may be recruiting new users who are deterred from initiating cigarettes because of concerns about the health hazards of smoking and social stigmatization of cigarette use. 7 There is concern that the increasing prevalence of e-cigarette use could even lead to initiation of smoking among previously nonsmoking adolescent e-cigarette users in what has been described as a "gateway effect, " either as a result of social normalization of alternative product use and smoking behaviors more generally, leading to renormalization of smoking or by directly increasing use of cigarettes through establishment of reward seeking behaviors (eg, nicotine dependence).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%