How to Start an Online Vape Store


In 2021, the global e-cigarette market was valued at $18.13 billion and is expected to continue growing at a 30% annual rate. Why the steep growth rate?

Research shows that e-cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes, and the younger generation is paying attention to this. That said, vape products are most popular among the younger demographic.

Demand has increased even more as a result of a broad spectrum of customization features like nicotine concentrations and temperature control. Moreover, technologies like squonk mods and pod systems are making vape products even more appealing.

And because this demographic is synonymous with its online presence, there’s no better time to start an online vape store than now.

Do you have a physical vape store and want to take it online? Are you looking to start an online vape store without a physical location? Find out how.

1. Research the Vape Space

The first step when starting a vape store is research. Researching the vape space means knowing:

It also includes knowing how much profit margin there is in each product category (i.e., hardware, e-liquids, accessories) to know how much money you need to make from each sale to break even or make a profit on each sale.

You also have to find out where people go when they want information on vaping. Look at forums, Facebook groups, and other communities where people discuss vaping. See what kinds of questions they have and what types of answers they get from other vapers; this will help you create valuable content for new vapers who have questions about how things work or what kind of device is best for them.

2. Register your Business

It entails creating a business name, filing for a DBA (Doing Business As), and obtaining a business license. You can use the same name as your brand, but make sure you have permission from the brand owner if it’s not you. 

The DBA does not require any official documents; it just means that your company is registered in whatever state you choose to operate. You can do this through the secretary of state’s office or online sites.

Any business needs to register with the government to pay taxes and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN is a 9-digit number that all businesses need to open a bank account and receive customer payments. If you're starting an eCommerce store, you'll also need an EIN to accept credit card payments.

3. Develop a Brand Identity for your Online Vape Store and Product Line

Brand identity is the cornerstone of your business and will be the basis for all of your marketing efforts. Therefore, it must take time to develop a strong identity because it will help you stand out from other online vape stores.

Now that you have your name picked out, it's time to brainstorm some ideas for logos and images that represent your brand. You can start by looking at other vape companies' websites or social media pages and seeing what elements they use in their branding. It will give you some inspiration. 

4. Choose Products for your Online Vape Store

In a vape store business plan, you can choose any type of product, but if you want to sell many units, it's best to choose something that people use regularly and will buy again and again. For example, if someone buys a box mod for $150 and then finds out they don't like vaping, they won't return for another $150 mod anytime soon.

So, what should you sell? Well, there are two main types of products:

  1. Hardware (electronic cigarettes)

  2. e-liquids (the liquid that goes into these devices)

Hardware includes things like tanks, mods, chargers, and batteries. E-liquids come in flavors like tobacco, menthol, or fruity flavors like strawberry or banana nut bread. Some people get creative with their e-liquid flavors by mixing them to create a unique product.

5. Manage Inventory

Inventory management is critical to maintaining your vape store. It's essential to track which products are selling and which products you need to order. 

Good inventory management system, like eErply POS system, is cloud-based and works with multiple stores and locations. It keeps track of everything from sales, inventory, and customer data.

In addition to that, the Erply POS system allows you to have a mobile app that helps you process orders right on the spot. You can also run reports on anything you want at any time.

Try the 60-day free trial to enjoy smooth operations in your vape business.

6. Set Up a Website for your Vape Shop

Website design is an essential component of starting any business, especially if you plan on selling products online. In fact, according to E-commerce News, nearly half of all online shoppers begin their product searches on search engines such as Google. 

Therefore, your website must get optimized for these types of searches so that potential customers can easily find it when they are looking for specific information about your products or services.

Search engine optimization (SEO) increases the visibility of a website or a web page on search engine results pages. It includes strategies like looking for backlinks, blogging, improving the user experience, increasing page speed, and others. 

Be sure to use keywords related to your products - terms that your audience is constantly searching on Google - on product pages and blog posts. 

7. Market Your Vape Shop on Social Media

Social media is a powerful marketing tool, and the vape industry is heavily reliant on social media to market itself. The question is: how can you use social media to your advantage?

Here are a few tips:

  1. You need to be consistent. If you don't post regularly, people won't know what's going on in your shop and won't be able to see how great your products are.

  2. You should post photos of new products, promotions, and events at least a few days a week. You can also post videos of new e-liquids or other products that you have in stock.

  3. Try to keep the same style of photos and videos so that your customers can recognize them as coming from your shop. It will help build loyalty among your customers who feel more involved with the brand because they recognize it online.

  4. Make sure each image or video has a caption (or description) so that people can understand what they're looking at. The caption should also include hashtags related to the topic so that people can find your content more easily when searching on social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook.

8. Provide Outstanding Customer Service

It may seem like common sense, but it's something that many people forget when starting an online business. You'll likely be working alone, for the most part, so you need to make sure that your customer service is top-notch. This means:

Conclusion: Starting an online vape shop can be a gratifying experience if you're prepared to go the extra mile. First, you need to research the space, register the business, and choose products to sell before setting up a website. Next, you'll want to attract customers through SEO and social media marketing. Finally, you'll need to create systems to deliver your products safely and efficiently to customers. If all goes well, you should be able to start a profitable business that's sustainable over the long-term.