4 Online Vape Shop Success Stories [2024]
Looking to tap into the booming e-cigarette market? Consider launching an online vape shop. This venture focuses on selling vaping devices, accessories, and e-liquids to customers through an online platform.
Setting up an online vape shop involves creating a user-friendly website, establishing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. It's a market with growing demand as more people turn to vaping as an alternative to smoking.
What makes this business appealing is its scalable model and the opportunity to cater to diverse customer preferences with various products. Whether it’s sourcing unique e-liquid flavors or the latest vaping tech, the potential to carve out a niche is substantial.
An online vape shop isn't just about selling products; it's about building a community of loyal customers. By providing valuable content and exceptional service, you can create a brand that vapers trust and turn your business into a go-to destination.
In this list, you'll find real-world online vape shop success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online vape shop that makes money.
1. Vape and Juice ($3.6M/year)
ithin the legal boundaries to creative marketing tactics, we have explored various strategies to attract and retain customers. One effective method has been our content marketing efforts, particularly through blogging. This has allowed us to educate and engage with our target audience while establishing ourselves as industry experts. Additionally, our physical vape shops have played a vital role in attracting local customers and providing a personalized experience. Through exceptional customer service and a wide range of products, we have been able to build a loyal customer base.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 20
A former ex-con launched Vape and Juice with just £5,000 and has since built a seven-figure vaping company with online sales increasing 800% during lockdown, by offering exceptional customer service and investing in talent.
2. Upper Limits ($1.44M/year)
Matthieu Fortin, the CEO of Upper Limits, started the company in 2013 with the goal of creating a place where medical cannabis patients could find education and guidance. Inspired by his personal experience with the health benefits of vaporization, he saw an opportunity to provide new product technology education and fill a gap in the market. With an initial investment of $30,000, he bootstrapped the business and focused on sourcing high-quality products and building relationships with vendors and customers. Word of mouth and a strong online presence, including Google tools, have played a significant role in attracting and retaining customers for Upper Limits.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 7
Upper Limits, a hybrid brick-and-mortar/e-commerce company located in Springfield, IL that sells dispensary, smoke shop products, and custom glass pipes, has succeeded in generating 366% greater sales revenue than their industry peers by facing challenges head-on and diversifying their revenue streams.
3. CaliConnected ($840K/year)
Nassir Silwany, Co-Founder of CaliConnected, came up with the idea for the online headshop marketplace after realizing that the cannabis equipment industry was untapped by large retailers like Amazon. With his background in the retail industry and knowledge of the cannabis industry, Nassir saw an opportunity to create a trustworthy and customer-friendly platform for smokers looking for quality smoking accessories.
How much money it makes: $840K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 2
California-based online headshop marketplace CaliConnected has grown its inventory to over $40m and generated nearly $2m in lifetime sales while operating without paid search advertising, instead focusing on SEO and affiliate marketing through platforms such as Affiliatly and Moz.
4. Vape Club ($720K/year)
Jeremy Ong, the founder of Vape Club, grew up in a traditional Asian family but wanted more than a 9-to-5 job. After saving up a runway fund, he enrolled in a coding bootcamp and saw the explosive growth in the vaping industry. He validated his vape subscription box idea using creative marketing tactics and launched with minimal inventory. Through SEO, blogging, and email marketing, Vape Club has attracted and retained customers, becoming a successful online business in Malaysia with a monthly revenue of $60,000.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How many people on the team: 8
Jeremy Ong built Vape Club from an MVP vape subscription box business to a top online retail store in Malaysia, earning a monthly revenue of USD 60,000 with only 2 team members, primarily through blogging, SEO and email marketing with a CLTV of $400.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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