Vape shop

A vape shop is a retail outlet specializing in the selling of electronic cigarette products. There are also online vape shops. A vape shop offers a range of e-cigarette products. The majority of vape shops do not sell e-cigarette products that are from "Big Tobacco" companies. In 2013, online search engine searches on vape shops surpassed searches on e-cigarettes. Around a third of all sales of e-cigarette products take place in vape shops. Big Tobacco believes the independent e-cigarette market is a threat to their interests.

Effective August 8, 2016, under the Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) rules, a vape shop that mixes or prepares e-liquids, or makes or modifies any kind of e-cigarettes, is regulated as a tobacco product manufacturer.[33] The US FDA acknowledged that many vape shops will go out of business, but they also state many will stay open, despite hefty costs.[34] Vape shop owner Joe Baba in the US believes a ban on public vaping might put several vape shops out of business because taste-testing would be prohibited.[35] The revised EU Tobacco Products Directive came into effect May 2016 which regulates the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes.[36] Small business owners are concerned that the regulations will make e-cigarettes less interesting to consumers and that this means a downturn of their business.

Vape trade shows have an array of product vendors, seminars, social interactions with other vapers, parties, gifts, vaping contests, and other activities.[38] Vape shows are free to attend or have an entrance fee that cost from $10 to $25.[38] In 2014, vaping contests at vape trade shows such as "cloud-chasing" were rare.[38]By 2015, close to 50% of vaping trade show organizations promoted contests such as cloud-chasing.[38] Vape trade shows are increasing in popularity and regularity.[38] Vape shop owners, agents, distributors, and vapers attend trade shows.