Issue 14

C a r r o t C a k e e m b o d i e s t h e c l a s s i c d e s s e r t y o u k n o w a n d l o v e w i t h s u c h - n e s s e , i t ’ l l b r i n g a s m i l e t o y o u r f a c e . E n j o y a w a r m s y m p h o n y o f s p i c e s m e l d e d w i t h f r e s h c a r r o t c a k e b a t t e r o n t h e i n h a l e , l a y e r e d w i t h d e c a d e n t c r e a m c h e e s e f r o s t i n g o n t h e e x h a l e S o c o m f o r t i n g a n d i n d u l g e n t , a d e s c r i p t i o n w i l l n e v e r d o i t j u s t i c e .

M a n g o L a s s i t a k e s y o u t o a f a r a w a y l a n d w i t h t h e t a s t e o f a n e x o t i c d e s s e r t t h a t i s s u r e t o l e a v e y o u b r e a t h l e s s . E v e r y h i t g i v e s y o u a v i b r a n t c o n c o c t i o n o f r i p e g o l d e n m a n g o e s b l e n d e d i n t o a g l a s s o f s i l k y s m o o t h y o g u r t W h a t y o u g e t i s a r i c h , c r e a m y t r e a t t h a t i s b r i g h t e n e d b y a p o p o f s w e e t a n d t a r t m a n g o . I t s f e s t i v e a v o r i s s o e x o t i c , i t ’ l l g i v e y o u a d a i l y d o s e o f w a n d e r l u s t .

another year has flown by so quickly.

JOURNALISTS

FINANCE

The

It seems like we have not had time to stand still for a moment for the entire year but this means that, once again, we have covered a lot of ground indeed.

We have had two more astonishing Vaper Expo UK events at the NEC and it has been amazing to watch this show grow and grow over the years. Vaper Expo is an amazing home-grown success story and it surely must be the biggest vaping event in the world now.

We had another great Expo in October which saw the launch of our brand new Vapouround Casino. This was such a huge success that we are bringing it back again in May and it will be even bigger and better than before.

Many thanks to everyone who supported the casino and it was great to give away so many big prizes to our lucky winners. It was also great to see such a diverse range of businesses at Vaper Expo as this really is the sign of a vibrant and thriving industry. There was diversity in terms of both the

various sectors of the industry which were represented and also in terms of a great mix of established, up-and-coming and brand new businesses too.

We also celebrated the first anniversary of our flagship Vapouround Vapelounge in Derby last month and it was great to see so many people at our party in the lounge to mark the occasion. Derby has a really strong and passionate vaping community and we were delighted to open a second location in November - Vapouround Lounge @Delboys. If you are in the city then please feel free to check us out at 35 Roosevelt Ave, Derby. It is also most encouraging that so many organisations inside and outside the vape industry are working to promote the message that vaping can help smokers quit and thereby save lives. This was demonstrated so clearly in October when, for the first time, the Public Health England Stoptober TV advertising campaign featured vaping.

If 2018 can see more official support and recognition that vaping is a powerful tool to help people quit smoking then we can look forward to a very good year indeed. UNTIL NEXT TIME.

Caplin - Editor paul@vapouround.co.uk

EDITOR

Paul Caplin

DIRECTOR

Dave Turner SALES EXECUTIVES Julie

Paul

JUICE REVIEW - P176

Filling the gaps.

Stoptober 2017.

A game changing study. New york, old attitudes. Footing the bill.

The Vype Dossier.

FEATURES

Diary of a vaper. Vaping entrepreneur.

The Vapouround story. Vape Warz.

NEW Vapouround Lounge.

RIOT LABS - interview. Vapouround Awards.

EVENTS

96 100 104 108 110 114 118 122 126 131 149

Vaper Expo - The return oct 2017.

My first Vaper Expo.

Vaper Expo: There and back again.

Johnnie Lovell: on the Vaper Expo.

Vape Dinner Lady: doubling up.

FRONTLINE: a stand to remember.

IBVTA: fighting for independence.

In it to win it.

The Vapouround casino.

VAPOUROUND ON TOUR.

VAPOUROUND BUS ON TOUR.

REVIEWS

Smok - Majesty kit.

Smok - TFV12 Prince tank. JAC vapour - Series-S22. Vapesoul - Vone kit.

Round Table e-liquid review. Burst e-liquid review. Unette packaging review. Twelvw Monkeys review. Thor Juice review.

Christmas & New years guide.

Harmony: CBD e-liquid. Vape with pride. FDA commissioners battle.

Sociological theory - FDA

FYI

Holly jolly vape gifts.

The Vapouround quiz. 10 of the best handchecks. Coil porn - Crafty Coils.

Pimp my Mod - Squonks.

GAPS FILLING IN THE

The UK’s Science and Technology Select Committee has opened an official inquiry into e-cigarettes. The Committee has described its mission as examining “the impact of electronic cigarettes on human health (including their effectiveness as a stop-smoking tool), the suitability of regulations guiding their use, and the financial implications of a growing market on both business and the NHS.”

The current Chair of the Committee is Norman Lamb, MP. He identified the significant growth, increasing mainstream acceptance and undeniable effectiveness of the UK e-cigarette market as factors behind the launch, but shows some trepidation over unknowns in research and unsettled regulatory issues:

“Almost 3 million people in the UK now use e-cigarettes, but there are still significant gaps in the research guiding their regulation and sale. They are seen by some as valuable tools that will reduce the number of people smoking ‘conventional’ cigarettes, and seen by others as ‘re-normalising’ smoking for the younger generation.

“As a relatively new innovation, we also need to understand more about the potential long-term health impacts of vaping and its impact on public health and the NHS. It is crucial that the public has access to clear evidence on the potential benefits and risks of these products so that they can make informed decisions…We want to understand where the gaps are in the evidence base, the impact of the regulations, and the implications of this growing industry on NHS costs and the UK’s public finances.”

On October 25, the Committee opened up the inquiry for written submissions via its official page at parliament.uk. According to the announcement, they would take in any material that could provide a thorough insight into: “the health, regulatory and financial implications of e-cigarettes.”

UK MPs have launched an inquiry into e-cigarettes in the hope of settling some key debates and aiding the progress of policy

The official sub-categories were listed as follows:

On Health:

• The impact on human health of e-cigarettes

• The benefits and risks of e-cigarettes as a ‘stop smoking’ tool, any gaps in the knowledge-base on this, and whether any approaches are needed to tackle e-cigarette addiction.

• The uptake of e-cigarettes among young people and evidence on whether e-cigarettes play a role in ‘renormalising’ smoking.

On regulation:

• Whether there is any regulatory variation between the EU and UK, and across UK nations, and the implications of Brexit on regulation in this area.

• The effectiveness of regulation on the advertising and marketing of e-cigarettes.

• The impact to date of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations on the vaping industry and on the prevalence of e-cigarettes.

• The safety of e-cigarette devices, and any safety regulation requirements.

On Finance:

• The economic impact of the UK’s e-cigarette industry.

• The public finances implications of e-cigarettes, including how the rise in e-cigarette consumption could affect NHS costs.

Written submissions for the Science and Technology Committee closed on December 8. The results have yet to be released as of this publication date, but given how vape companies have proven time and again to have the experts and data on their side, we are confident that the industry can once again step up to the plate and provide the knowledge so many smokers so desperately need in their lives.

STOPTOBER 2017 THE SUCCESS OF STOPTOBER

THE 2017 ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN HAS SEEN A TREMENDOUS RISE IN E-CIGARETTE STARTER KIT SALES

The sixth annual Stoptober campaign was a special moment for vapers and advocates, as it marked the legitimisation of vaping as a smoking cessation tool from a government institution.

Public Health England not only expressed their support for vaping as an effective solution to bringing down the number of smokers, but cited the relative safety of e-cigarette use, and even featured the activity in its television advertising.

The endorsement went a long way, further than we could have hoped. Symbolic gestures and olive branches are good, but was Stoptober a measurable success and do we have the facts and figures to prove it?

The answer is a resounding yes.

The most encouraging statistic comes to us courtesy of Vape Club, who are the largest online retailer of vapour products. Fresh off such a milestone endorsement, the retailer offered a 15% discount with the code STOPTOBER and saw an immense 37% rise in sales of its e-cigarette starter kits.

Vape Club Director Dan Marchant said: “It’s fantastic to see the NHS finally backing vaping as a pathway to quit smoking. The industry has been backing this alternative for a long time, but with the evidence provided by Public Health England, endorsements from the likes of Cancer Research UK and the figures which are produced by Action on Smoking

and Health, there can be no doubt that vaping is the most effective method to give up tobacco.”

With just one NHS and Cancer Research-backed Stoptober under our belts, there’s no telling how many more breakthroughs are ahead for the UK’s many vape companies. Marchant added: “The NHS advocating vaping as an alternative to tobacco is an enormous breakthrough and will do an outstanding amount of good for public health and tobacco control in the UK.”

It’s a huge confidence booster for the vaping industry to see that the backing of PHE and a revolutionary step forward of e-cig use in TV advertising, marked so much more than just an indication of goodwill. After years of making the case for vaping to the powers that be who reside over the political and medical spheres, we saw that their cooperation made a tangible difference in people’s lives. Every new starter kit purchased is a potential smoker saved from the ravages of a devastating and addictive habit, and now vape companies can continue to escalate and reach out to would-be vapers and industry enablers in every relevant sector.

One little nudge – be it a personal recommendation, an individual choosing to make the switch, an ambitious brewer starting to make their own liquids etc. – is all it takes to get the ball rolling. From now on, vape companies can mark the month down in their calendars as essential, knowing that, once again, we’re a net gain for public health and once again, we have the numbers to prove it.

A GAME CHANGING STUDY

As 2017 draws to a close, vape businesses and their allies may fondly look back on it as The Year of the Study. The past eleven months have provided publication after publication refuting some longstanding claims about the supposed dangers of e-cigarettes and liquids. We’ve seen the myth of vaping as a gateway to smoking soundly unravel at the hands of Dr Lynn Kozlowski, and Dr Lion Shahab delivered a startling revelation with a snappy statistic to match: that vaping is at least 95% safer than combustible cigarette smoking.

This latest step may prove one of the biggest yet. Not just for 2017, but for the entire history of vapour products. As the leading conference of its kind, the annual E-Cigarette summit, hosted at the Royal Society in London, has been home to numerous influential announcements that have shaken up the global vape industry. The Summit for 2017 was no different. In a young, strong industry defined by its seismic events and leaps forward, this latest landmark comes to us courtesy of Professor Ricardo Polosa, who Vapouround first met at the IBVTA’s launch conference in April.

On Friday 17 November at 8am, during the summit’s press conference, it was formally announced that Professor Polosa had fronted “the first study on long-term regular e-cigarettes use in users who have never smoked.” The study,titled: Health impact of E-cigarettes: a prospective 3.5-year study of regular daily users who have never smoked – was completed in June and submitted for peer review. It was accepted by October, and debuted publicly that very Friday morning.

Always direct and clear, Professor Polosa tweeted out the study with the following statement:

The regulatory sphere in the e-cigarette trade is often a harsh, bitterly contested frontier, with its political developments shaped by public opinion and perceptions of vaping. There have been two consistent outliers that have defined such debates.

The first is the effect of vapour on the body compared with smoke. Vaping has had a hard time shedding its (often unjust) public affiliation with smoking. As a smoking cessation tool (and one typically not recommended to non-smokers) the e-cigarette is in direct competition with the combustible, and battles between vape and tobacco companies have been waged in the court of public opinion. By pursuing this study, Professor Polosa and his colleagues took an extremely rare “blank slate” of bodies untouched entirely by cigarette smoke, enabling them to focus fully on what vaping alone would do.

The second outlier is the lack of information regarding vaping in the long term. A quintessentially twenty-first century phenomenon, the arrival of what we know today as e-cigarettes came as the culmination of decades of failed attempts to deliver nicotine without tobacco. This study has covered a three-and-a-half-year period, keeping close track of the effects of vapourised nicotine on the bodies of its subjects. Though we still lack the multiple decades of hindsight attained by studies of tobacco smoking, this is a significant step forward.

See our main feature in this issue for an in-depth look at how this study unfolded and what it means. You can also read it yourself; the text can be accessed in full at www.nature.com/scientificreports

“In spite of previous health scares, our study shows for the first time no risk in long-term vapers who have never smoked in their life.”

Long-term vaping presents “no risk in long-term vapers who have never smoked in their life” says new research.

NEW YORK OLD ATTITUDES

Indoor vaping ban is a product of growing anti-vaping sentiment in US media

On Monday the 23rd of October, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill making New York the 11th state to enforce a ban on vaping in spaces where smoking is prohibited, joining the likes of California, Connecticut, Hawaii and New Jersey.

70% of New York State was already subject to a ban on indoor public vaping following the amended 2013 Smoke Free Air Act put in place by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Upon signing the bill, Governor Cuomo claimed that the measure “closes another dangerous loophole in the law, creating a stronger, healthier New York for all.”

Studies into the effects of second-hand vaping are few and far between, but last year the Royal College of Physicians published a study which found that the risks associated with passive vaping were negligible.

The ban is symptomatic of a growing hostility from the country’s media and politicians, largely fuelled by conflicting safety information and an understandable distrust of the tobacco industry.

Back in 2009, President Obama’s Food and Drug Administration formally deemed e-cigarettes and e-liquid to be ‘tobacco products’ subject to FDA regulation.

The Tobacco Control Act introduced strict regulations that made it harder and more time-consuming for new products to be released onto the market.

At the time, President Obama claimed that this was victory against aggressive tobacco lobbyists, when in fact, Philip Morris, owner of the Marlboro brand, had worked on the bill, and would likely profit from freezing out the competition.

In August this year, the Trump administration signalled a softening approach to e-cigarettes.

Commissioner Scott Gottlieb granted vape businesses four more years to submit Premarket Tobacco Applications (PMTAs) to allow for their products to be marketed in the United States. Nonetheless, the fact that they are considered ‘new tobacco products’ rather than tobaccofree nicotine-delivery devices does little for the image of vaping.

Meanwhile, nationwide hysteria around a supposed underage vaping epidemic has reached fever pitch.

One trend that has repeatedly made the headlines is ‘Juuling’, where teenagers vape at school using discrete Juul devices that resemble USB drives.

A Newton high school email published in the Boston Globe in November sought to educate parents on the issue, beginning by describing how vaping devices function before moving on to suggest that e-cigarettes

“are the latest ‘gateway’ to harder drug use,” despite there being scant evidence to back up the claim.

Contrary to the scare stories, a study by Harm Reduction Journal found that the reported rise in teen vaping in the country was misleading and that figures were more likely representative of experimentation among people who currently or previously smoked rather than non-smokers trying e-cigarettes and becoming committed vapers.

Given the fact that sales of so-called tobacco products are restricted to those at least 18 years of age, vaping proponents have argued that sufficient regulation is already in place and should be enforced at point-of-sale and policed by parents and schools.

However, salacious newspaper headlines continue to peddle the myth that the vaping industry is actively targeting teenagers with attractive flavours like cookies and bubble gum, ignoring the fact that adults who’ve grown out of buying sweets and cookies still enjoy the flavours associated with them.

In the context of Public Health England actively promoting e-cigarettes as a tool to quit smoking, the UK vape industry and wider media have derided American legislators for downplaying the considerable positives of switching from smoking to vaping.

Unfortunately for the millions of smokers in the US who could benefit from vaping, the tobacco industry’s historic claims of embracing harm-reduction have tainted the image of genuinely less-harmful, tobacco-free alternatives.

All this adds to a significant misperception of the relative harm of e-cigarettes. A 2015 study showed that over a third of adult smokers perceived e-cigarettes to be as harmful or more harmful than combustible cigarettes, compared to just 12 percent three years earlier. Given the current media landscape, this figure seems likely to continue to rise.

Dr. Lynn Kozlowski of the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Buffalo addressed this issue following the publication of a paper in the journal Addictive Behaviours.

“Deception or evasion about major differences in product risks is not supported by public health ethics, health communication or consumer practices. Public health agencies have an obligation to correct the current dramatic level of consumer misinformation on relative risks that they have fostered.” Whether public health agencies live up to that obligation remains to be seen. But with another high-profile ban conflating e-cigarette vapour with second-hand tobacco smoke, it seems likely that more restrictive policies will follow.

CANADIAN VAPE BUSINESSES BRACE THEMSELVES AGAINST BILL S-5

Bill S-5, a controversial piece of legislation that has Canadian vape companies worried, has passed a second reading. If made law via Royal Assent, Bill S-5 will officially classify vapour products in Canada as a health hazard, and would pose a massive challenge to the prosperity of the domestic industry.

The bill, fi rst introduced in November 2016, was proposed as an amendment to several Acts of Parliament, among them were the Tobacco Act and Non-smokers’ Health Act. It would officially rename the Tobacco Act the “Tobacco and Vaping Products Act,” a clear indication of how vaping products are viewed in the political arena.

Clarification of the laws around vaping in Canada would be welcomed in the industry, but pro-vaping figureheads fear this bill would take it too far. The full text of the bill contains an ugly streak of anti-vaping rhetoric that has frustrated vapers by conflating vapour products with tobacco – a depressingly familiar theme within vaping regulation:

“The purpose of this Act with respect to vaping products is to support the objectives set out in subsection (1), to prevent vaping product use from leading to the use of tobacco products by young persons and non-users of tobacco products and, in particular,

(a) to protect young persons and non-users of tobacco products from inducements to use vaping products;

(b) to protect the health of young persons and non-users of tobacco products from exposure to and dependence on nicotine that could result from the use of vaping products…”

The bill is extensive, covering restrictions on advertising, packaging, flavours, outright banning free vape products, requiring child-proofing, and even banning “Promotions suggesting that health benefits may be derived from using vaping products or making comparisons with the health effects of using tobacco products,” though this statement comes with the note that such a restriction would “not apply to vaping products authorised for sale under the Food and Drugs Act.”

However, all is not lost; Canadian vape business owners and allies have hardly been passive. The ECTA (Electronic Cigarette Trade Association) have been working tirelessly to organise and mobilise greater support for the industry, uniting consumers, manufacturers and retailers and keeping the public abreast of S-5’s progress. ECTA have provided legal analyses of S-5 over potential constitutional difficulties, support for citizens on how to contact their MP about concerns over vaping, and have sent responses to consultation on “Proposals for the regulation of vaping products” opened by Health Canada in August.

Their efforts appear to have broken through to certain representatives, suggesting that the battle for fair regulation is far from over. In March, at the second debate over S-5’s second reading, Senator Marc Gold of Quebec made the following statement:

“Finally, I have concerns about how this bill will affect small and medium-sized businesses that want to penetrate the vaping products market, particularly with regard to the distribution of vaping liquid or juice…I encourage the committee to look into ways that SMEs can participate in what is and should remain a growing, viable market.”

The concerns of bodies like ECTA are being voiced and heard, but for now, small victories remain small. S-5 must pass through a committee stage, then a report stage, then a third reading before Royal Assent.

Concerned vapers have reached out to their representatives online: Sherwin Edwards of Brownsburg Chatham, Quebec, started an e-petition currently sitting at just under 9,000 signatures to “halt and review Bill S-5 currently making its way through the House of Commons” and “Create a fair and logical category for vape products apart from tobacco.” The greatest means of protection for Canada’s vape scene lies with consumers at the grassroots level, and there are no better methods than contacting one’s MP. As Bill S-5 progresses, we are hopeful that Canadian vape businesses, their consumers and allies can keep their leaders informed and accountable.

THE VYPE DOSSIER

Proving the reduced risk potential of an e-cigarette

By Dr Marina Murphy

e sell Vype ePen so not surprisingly, we spend a lot of time and money testing it. The result is that we have created the most comprehensive dataset of test results for any e-cigarette.

We have tested everything from how people use the e-cigarette, which includes looking at the minutiae of how often they puff, how deeply and for how long; to the content of the vapour, to what that vapour does to cells in the lab and many other tests in which we compare this vapour and what it does to smoke.

The results of any one of these tests on its own doesn’t mean very much, but when you take them all together, you may start to get a feel for the big picture. This picture reveals a very real potential for this product to be a substantially reduced health risk compared to traditional cigarettes.

This ties in with what several high-profile public health authorities such as Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians have said in the recent past, i.e. that they believe e-cigarettes are likely to offer in the order of 95% reduced health risk compared to conventional cigarettes.

While it is massively reassuring to have a dossier of test results that would seem to support that conclusion, not all products are the same. That said, given the pace of innovation in this category, it would be unreasonable, unrealistic and unaffordable to do this kind of testing for every new type of product.

For those jurisdictions likely to require this kind of testing (like the US), there should be a way to bridge data from one product to another fundamentally similar type of product, especially between generations of the same product. That way, new tests would not need to be performed every time a well-characterised product is tweaked, which would mean that new products, with better performance, better delivery and improved harm reduction credentials could be brought to market more quickly without the need to duplicate tests.

How was the Vype ePen dossier created?

This dataset was created using data collected from a series of scientific tests specifically developed by scientists at British American Tobacco to assess the products we are developing.

These types of tests could be used together to help support healthrelated claims such as ‘reduced risk’ compared to conventional cigarettes for e-cigarettes, as well as for other innovative next generation products, like tobacco heating products

“This is a very new consumer category and both consumers and regulators rightly want as much information as possible about the products available,” according to Dr David O’Reilly, Group Scientific and R&D Director at British American Tobacco.

“We believe a science-based approach is vital to gathering the evidence needed to demonstrate the reduced-risk potential of e-cigarettes and other products, which is why testing products like Vype ePen in this way is so important. We intend for this to be the first of many applications of our scientific assessment framework,” he said.

We have applied these tests to Vype ePen and over a period of eighteen months or so have published the results of 17 different published studies (a collation of these study results will also be published soon in a peer-reviewed scientific publication).

The tests used can be divided into three groups of studies: preclinical, clinical and population studies.

• Preclinical studies:

Pre-clinical studies are basically all those done before moving into the clinic for human studies.

The simplest test involves passing smoke and vapour through a filter that traps particles. These tests are routinely done with the same kind of cigarettes, a so-called 3R4F reference cigarette, produced by the University of Kentucky. This ensures that when comparing results from different groups in different institutions, you are always comparing like with like.

The results, which can be seen in Figure 1, are quite startling. On the left, you can see a filter pad through which e-cigarettes were puffed. The used pad is almost indistinguishable from an un-used filter pad. By contrast, on the right, you can see a pad through which the same number of cigarettes has been puffed. This simple example gives an indication that the vapour produced by Vype ePen e-cigarette is likely to be much ‘cleaner’ and compositionally much simpler than the smoke produced by a burning cigarette.*

for the 9 types of harmful components which the World Health Organisation recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke, our results suggest that there are around 95% less of those toxicants in Vype ePen vapour than in smoke from the reference cigarette.*

Further tests in the pre-clinical phase suggested that this vapour has either a much-reduced or zero biological impact on human cells in the laboratory, compared to conventional cigarette smoke, depending on the test used.

For example, certain tests suggest that Vype ePen vapour does not damage DNA, even at doses 28 times that of equivalent smoke exposure. Other tests look at gene expression, cell viability, tumour promotion and endothelial dysfunction (how easily the inside of blood vessels healed). In each case, e-cigarette vapour had little or no measurable impact.*

1: Filter pads with Vype ePen aerosol (left) and smoke from reference cigarettes 3R4F (right)

A more sophisticated test involves analysing whether certain chemicals are present in the e-cigarette vapour and the smoke. The results obtained can be seen in Figure 2. These results also reveal the relatively simple composition of the Vype ePen vapour compared to conventional cigarette smoke (Figure 2) – fewer peaks means fewer compounds. When testing the Vype ePen

Figure 2: Chemical analysis of cigarette smoke and e-cigarette smoke

• Clinical Studies:

The clinic is where human studies happen. Here we can look at many things, including, for example, how well an e-cigarette can deliver nicotine to a consumer. An e-cigarette is after all no good as a harm reduced product if people who would otherwise be smoking don’t want to use it. It needs to be a satisfying alternative to a cigarette.

Figure 3. Pharmacokinetic data illustrating blood nicotine profile for e-cigarette compared to commercial cigarettes and a cig-a-like e-cigarette.

One way to assess how efficiently nicotine is delivered is to measure changes in nicotine concentration in the blood over a period of time. We have done this and found that Vype ePen vapour effectively delivers nicotine in a manner similar to a conventional cigarette and more effectively than an older generation cig-a-like e-cigarette (Figure 3).

Figure

3R4F

ePen

Cigarette smoke EC aerosol

Figure 4: Population Effects Model Schematic

• Population studies:

E-cigarettes haven’t been around for a very long time so there isn’t a lot of information on how their widespread, long-term availability might impact a population, as opposed to an individual. To test this theory, we have developed computer models that use the information we have today, such as who is likely to use an e-cigarette: a smoker, an ex-smoker, a non-smoker, etc. This model tests various scenarios over decades (how complicated this can get can be seen in Figure 4).

Using this model, our studies indicate that the wide availability of an e-cigarette such as Vype ePen can have an overall harm reduction effect because more people may quit smoking or not start at all when e-cigarettes are widely available.

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration provided draft guidance for companies wishing to introduce novel reducedrisk tobacco products to the US market place. A dossier of scientific evidence would be required to support any submission for such a Modified Risk Tobacco Product Application.

Dossier

Taken together, these results form the basis of a comprehensive dossier of scientific data that lay the groundwork for establishing this product’s reduced-risk potential compared to cigarettes*. A dossier like this can take years to create – years of testing and years of analysing data.

But this category is very fast moving, and there are new and potentially improved products appearing all the time. If a dossier like this were to become a requirement for every iteration of every type of product for which such a dossier has already been created, this would drastically slow down the rate of progress and the variety of devices and e-liquids on the market. This would not be good for or acceptable to vapers and would not be good for harm reduction.

We think the framework of tests that we have created could help provide datasets for product families so that the whole process does not need to be repeated for every new generation of the same product. This would help get new products developed, assessed and brought to market more quickly.

It is important that this kind of testing be done. Consumers and regulators want this kind of information. It is also important, however, that innovators can continue to innovate and that vapers continue to be excited about and get what they want from their vaping products.

* Scientists at British American Tobacco tested and compared emissions from a Vype ePen e-cigarette and a reference conventional cigarette in laboratory tests. These results do not necessarily mean that the Vype ePen produces less adverse health effects than tobacco products.

Available in 25 flavours from 0mg - 18mg in a 50/50 blend.

Featuring Alex Grove FEATURE

DIARY OF A VAPER

has given me. Since the beginning of my vaping journey I have met some amazing people, made some incredible friends and been to a fair number of places, most recently the Vaper Expo UK The Return – A Celebration of Vaping in Birmingham. The feeling of being surrounded by a huge family is genuinely heart-warming.

A few things about me: I’m very passionate about photography and post daily on Instagram.

My favourite mod at present is the Vaperz Cloud XXX in plasma purple.

My favourite RDA is the Goon 1.5 by 528 Customs.

I am currently working with some close friends on bringing out our own line of juices to contribute to the community.

If you’d like to contact me or just support an aspiring Instagrammer, feel free to check me out, @cloud_diver1996

MEET THE MEN BEHIND BIG VAPES, A NEW NOTTINGHAM SHOP LIVING UP TO ITS NAME

The vaping world is often a fast-paced environment. A competitive, energetic business in bloom, we constantly see a rush of new shops, fl avours, mods, personalities and events come and go. Some prove more resilient than others, and we have every reason to believe that Big Vapes is here to stay.

Big Vapes launched just over a year ago and is proving precocious. The shop is highly regarded for its unique (often exclusive) hardware range, wide variety of liquids and prolific output of its own signature flavours. On Black Friday 2017, Director and co-founder Matthew White spoke to Vapouround Magazine about how he and partner Michael Decelis started Big Vapes.

The story begins, like so many others, with a vaper (or in this case, two) taking customisation to the next level by mixing their own liquids, discovering they have a talent for it, and realising they can turn their passion into a profession.

“Michael and I have been friends since we were at school together,” says Matthew. “By the time we started making our own e-liquid, we’d been vapers for six years and realised we had a knack for mixing.”

Combining their talents and savings, the two ambitious entrepreneurs set their sights on available properties, soon finding the ideal spot on Ilkeston Road. Hoping to not just end up as another vape shop, Big Vapes made sure their customers got a taste of something they wouldn’t find anywhere else.

“Right now about half our stock are Big Vape signature liquids. We’ve had great success with our Blueberry and Citrus Menthol liquid, and the ‘Funtasy’ range – especially the Raspberry and Lime, Lemon, Mango and Grape flavours. We never stop working; looking ahead, we want to put out a new flavour every week. We’ve got testers in the shop, so you can always get a taste of what’s on offer.”

Big Vapes haven’t just hit their stride in the liquid market, but in hardware as well. Vapers come from around the midlands to get their hands on rare and new hardware.

“We source hardware often before anyone else can get their hands on it,” says Matthew proudly, when asked on the secrets to their success. “A lot comes in straight from China. For the new year, we’ll be expanding our network, travelling to Hong Kong to mix with vape companies there. We’re also building our own website which will be up shortly.”

Big Vapes have been described as ‘The People’s Champion’ of vape shops, thriving on goodwill and good words. As of this publication, Big Vapes enjoy perfect reviews across the board, including hundreds of five-star ratings on social media and glowing praise from visitors and regulars within the Nottingham vape scene.

IT’S TIME

The Vapette

COST EFFECTIVE SAMPLING

Introducing the Vapette, Unette’s solution for vaping! The 2ml dose of E-Liquid is perfect for the on-the-go fill, or for cost-effective sampling.

The Vapette has many advantages in the vaping sector and can be used for samples, promotion or even as a retail item. As a promotional tool, The Vapette offers full tank samples, which can replace expensive 10ml bottle giveaways. Vapettes can easily be mailed out and with full colour printing of your brand identity.

As a retail item, consumers will have a convenient, pocket-sized, one shot refilljust tell your customers that they can leave the bottle at home!

THE VAPOUROUND STORY GROWING AND BUILDING A BRAND

In the second and concluding part of our interview with Vapouround founder Paul Caplin we look at how the magazine has grown into what it is today and discuss the importance of getting a good logo.

By Leo Forfar

Vapouround founder Paul Caplin said it was vital for the overall vaping industry that the good it does is kept at the heart of its identity. He said that the many positive effects of vaping was what the industry was all about and added that he felt proud that so many people in the business were working to make the lives of others better.

Paul added: “Yes there are all these diverse subcultures that we cover and talk about. Yes there are endless gadgets and tricks and competitions and all the fun that goes with it. “While that is all well and good, they are not at vaping’s foundation, they’re all growing from it. I see it as window dressing. Showmanship is only skin deep. For me, it’s about stopping people smoking; helping people who have got a destructive habit taking over their lives and giving them an alternative that’s healthier and safer. We’ve got something that can guide people away from cigarettes, and then away from nicotine altogether.”

For many smokers, vaping has been the only thing that has worked to break a depressingly

common cycle of addiction, even among people who thought they would never be able to give up cigarettes.

Paul, a former smoker himself, said: “You often hear people say that to give up smoking you have to want to do it but I have never wanted to do it, I gave it up automatically when I started vaping. I smoked a lot. Twenty a day for 20 years is no joke, giving that up overnight says a hell of a lot. If I could do it through vaping, anyone can.”

Vapouround is a testament to what can happen when a company is formed with the intention of promoting the positive benefits of vaping to as wide an audience as possible.

The magazine was initially going to be nothing more than a pull-out section in a local newspaper to coincide with the launch of the first Vaper Expo UK at the NEC.

Soon so many people wanted their organisation featured in this section of the paper that it grew to become a special stand-alone supplement which was handed out at the Expo itself.

“The growth has been insane,” said Paul. “When

I started the business with the Derbyshire Guardian, we were doing well. We were a nice, respected publication turning a good profit. But there was a roof on how big it could get. We worked well and worked hard and it paid off.

“When launching Vapouround, we suddenly had something that everyone wanted to be in. We could charge significantly more for a full page than we could for the Derbyshire Guardian and I instantly knew that Vapouround was the way forward.

“I knew we were onto something, but never in a million years could I have dreamed it would happen this quickly. We’ve gone from a two-person room four years ago (me and my partner at the time) to having a full head office, with fifty members of staff, a number of vape lounges around the country, our own juice line, a double decker bus, our own awards program, six main magazines a year with special editions and show guides, media partnerships worldwide. I’m still shocked.”

Becoming a global brand means adapting to new cultures, economies and political

sign merchandise and being thanked for what we’ve done for the industry. In America, we get a hero’s welcome and now, no matter where we go, people have heard of us and want to be associated with us.”

In a world where branding is everything — sometimes the difference between a friendly reception and deep consumer devotion — the smallest things can help in the largest ways.

Paul took this opportunity to highlight what he considers a huge triumph in the Vapouround story, the creation of the Vapouround logo.

“The story of Vapouround’s logo goes back to a very early business trip to the States when members of the team were in Las Vegas.

“The logo we used for our first magazine was a stock image because we wanted to get it out in time for Vape Fest and we had only around two-and-a-half weeks to get the magazine out there.

“I was unhappy with the logo and wanted it to be changed as soon as possible to something which reflected the identity of our business.

“In Vegas, you’re constantly surrounded by bright lights and flashing logos, all competing for your attention. I spent ages looking, trying to see what made them special and what I could learn. Then I saw the logo for a nightclub at the MGM Grand called Hakkasan and it was perfect.

“I was with Katie, our head of marketing, who has a background in design, and she worked on a number of logo ideas based on this

concept. After trying and failing to equal it by using the letters ‘VR’ we tried ‘VM’ instead. Katie’s design was an instant hit. Now those letters personify vaping.”

While a lot of ground has undoubtedly been covered in two years, the Vapouround team has no intention of sitting back and taking it easy. The idea is to build on the strength and success of Vapouround and then take it to the next level and the level beyond that.

Paul concluded: “We go to trade shows and exhibitions and see companies that had single stands when we met them, now enjoying huge boosts after advertising with us. We’ve benefitted from a boom and now we’re helping others to benefit from that boom also. We’re kingmakers; companies come to us and discover a whole new gateway of opportunity.”

It is clear that Vapouround has come a very long way in a relatively short time but there is no suggestion that Paul and the team will be taking it easy any time soon. If anything it is quite the opposite as new goals and new challenges are constantly being set.

“

“

I knew we were onto something, but never in a million years could I have dreamed it would happen this quickly.

A NEW HOPE FOR VAPING

One thing I’ve learned from my first month at Vapouround is that there is a lot more to this subculture than just the act of vaping. The expos, the cloud chasing, the ‘Smoking is Dead, Vaping is the Future’ the RiP Trippers song...

But after looking beyond the first couple of pages of a Google search I stumbled upon quite possibly the most intriguing vape spin-off yet – a three-part, sci-fi action flick called Vape Warz. This I had to see.

Set in a post-apocalyptic desert landscape, Vape Warz sees the cloud-chasing Vape Queen capture an expert juice-maker and recruit her to concoct a secret vape elixir. But with vaping outlawed and an adversary following their every move, making it to the Cloud Competition alive is far from easy.

The film is written and directed by Christy Oldham. Alongside her film work, Christy runs the Demi Goddess Vape which produces vape products targeted towards women.

Intrigued by the idea of promoting vaping and vape products in film, not to mention using vaping as a plot device, I sent Christy a few questions in order to find out more. Her answers are below.

Three-part streaming film could be a game-changer for the industry.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START DEMIGODDESS VAPE?

“Well, a few years ago, I was on set in a spooky old house shooting a short film when our smoke machine suddenly stopped working. The scene needed an eerie, iridescent look. The location owner, who was the only person vaping on set, started blowing big clouds for us before each take. It worked great!

I later talked with him about vaping and he told me that he had tried everything to kick his cigarette habit and that vaping was the only thing that had worked. After vaping, he never smoked tobacco again. I was intrigued by his story. I never smoked tobacco but I have used cannabis medicinally for years to alleviate stress and menstrual pain. Recognising the rapid growth of Cannapreneurship, I thought it would be cool to start a vape company and create products that are geared towards women.”

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A FILM ‘ABOUT’ VAPING?

“Once the company DemiGoddess Vape was launched, the creative flow just kicked in. I wrote the script for Vape Warz in about two weeks while my Director of Photography Brian Hanish was filming another movie in Thailand. I knew he would be the perfect guy to shoot the web series because in 2014 we filmed a gritty feature in the desert called Barracuda and I wanted that ‘look’ again. We met for lunch before he left and I told him my ideas. I didn’t have a script or anything in place at that point. However, just before he returned, the script was finished, the actors were cast and our first script read was complete. It all happened very quickly”.

HOW DID YOU ATTRACT SUCH A GREAT CAST TO THE SCRIPT?

“I’ve been a filmmaker for almost two decades and have met a lot of talented actors over the years. My producing partner, Clinton H. Wallace, has been instrumental in helping connect the dots too. He and I attended a film screening a couple of years ago where Natasha Blasick (All Star Weekend with Jamie Foxx) played a Russian spy. I always wanted to work with her after seeing her performance and wrote the sinister role of the “Vape Cloud Queen” with her in mind.

I cast a non-actor (Lulu Danger) in the role of a DIY manufacturer after spotting her in a crowded room at a party in Hollywood. The antagonist is played by a talented actor/filmmaker named David Lockhart and the vape cloud competition scene has great performances by my pop-culture iconic friends Ron Jeremy and Jeff Dowd (the inspiration for ‘The Dude’ in The Big Lebowski). My supermodel/musician friend Dustin Quick and her guitarist husband Medi eM, perform an original song in that scene too. It was a blast to work with all of these talented artists”.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM DEMIGODDESS PICTURES AND VAPE IN THE FUTURE?

“Now that season one of Vape Warz was picked up by Amazon and is streaming in four countries we have Season Two in the works. The vape community embraced us and we are forming strategic partnerships with various people and other vape companies who aim to showcase their products in our web series. Amazon has an audience of about 85 million subscribers. It’s all about exposure so it is a great time to be a vape entrepreneur and filmmaker”.

Vape Warz is available to stream on Amazon in the UK, USA, Germany and Japan.

By Gordon Stribling

With winter well and truly upon us, I made sure to wrap up warm ahead of my shift dishing out flyers outside of our flagship lounge in Derby to celebrate its first anniversary. Inside, Riot Squad set up for their first of two Vapouround events that day. Given their huge profile and our lounge’s reputation for dishing out bargains, my job was easy and soon the store was full of vapers, smokers and curious non-vapers. Despite spending three days in the same building as Riot Squad at the Vaper Expo the previous month, I somehow hadn’t taken the time to properly try out their juices. So before heading outside, I decided to put that right and get vaping.

I was instantly struck by how subtle the flavours were, given the intensity implied by the brightly-coloured bottles. While they certainly packed a punch, they didn’t beat you to a pulp with it. Even Iron Bruise was gentle in its flavour while still living up to its sweet, fruity namesake.

I headed outside and began talking to passers-by, my eyes now highly trained to spot vapers and smokers approaching from afar. After a lesson in patter from Reuben from our marketing team, I soon found myself chatting to committed vapers and speculative smokers.

Unsurprisingly, many of the vapers were already well-aware of Riot Squad, so they didn’t need a lot of encouragement to pop in to see the guys and try some of their flavours.

Things got a bit trickier when a very vocal evangelist started preaching right next to me, so I made sure to make our flyers as visible as possible to reassure potential customers that the only preaching I’d be doing was the gentle encouragement for smokers and vapers to pop into the lounge to see what we and were all about.

Midway through the day I hopped into a taxi with the Riot

Squad guys and headed over for the second of the day’s events: the launch party of Vapouround @ Del Boys.

This time, the iconic Riot Squad van was parked up outside. As they set up shop and began blasting music, I headed into the lounge, where the party was already well-underway. Customers, staff and the guys from Ultimate Juice filled their plates at the buffet table and sipped flutes of bubbly and bottles of beer.

Ultimate Juice were behind some of my favourite flavours at Vaper Expo UK, so it was great to have a chat with the guys so proudly ‘Straight Outta Coventry’ about how they came to be and what they like about working in the industry. It was a familiar story of falling into the scene as a consumer before deciding to give back to the community and helping educate vapers and speculative smokers alike.

After filling up on sausage rolls, I had a chat with a committed vaper who popped by. Since the day he took up vaping, he’s become something of an ambassador for the industry.

“I smoked for sixteen years. Since trying vaping two years ago I haven’t touched a cigarette at all. Never again!”

As always in the vaping world, it was encouraging to see competing vape companies having a laugh with one another, letting their hair down and supporting each other’s e-liquid flavours. That said, there was no love lost at the Riot Squad vs Ultimate Juice cloud contest, where each team of two attempted to fill the van with as much vapour as possible before opening the hatch, roughly measuring the size of the cloud and then totting up the judges’ scores. Everyone came away with a prize at the end, which was probably for the best, given the competitiveness on display.

Then it was time for the main event – the indoor cloud contest. Pairs stood back-to back before exhaling vapour the furthest distance possible, making use of the spacious shop floor.

Eventual winner Neil did pretty well for himself, walking away with a Limitless mod. Rather than having a maiden vape there-and-then, he looked forward to getting his new bit of kit back home.

“This will take pride-of-place on the shelf at home”, he said. As the cold afternoon gave way to an even colder evening, the day’s festivities drew to a close. It was a pretty intense day for all involved and further evidence of Vapouround’s growing presence in the city it calls home.

f o r f u l l F l a v o u r d e s c r i p t i o n s a n d o r d e r e n q u i r e s , p l e a s e v i s i t :

KO N C E P T X I X

VM: What does Riot Squad hope to achieve with this launch in the short and long term?

MC: Our aim is to have a wide range of strong and innovative brands which distributors and consumers hold in high regard to fit every vapers needs.

In the next 12 months, we will launch several unique brands to market. We recently launched Ghetto Penguin at the Vaper Expo Returns at the Birmingham NEC which was very well received. The next brand will be coming to market in December, so watch this space. Longer term, we will have a catalogue of a range of e-liquids with unique branding and bold flavour profiles that will be tested and approved by the network of vape shops we distribute to. Retailers can also expect some great incentives when purchasing from the Riot Labs catalogue.

VM: What were the foundational ideas behind the specific features of Riot Labs?

MC: With the success of Riot Squad and the impact we had as relatively new players in this industry; we realised that

our flavourists and mixologists had some great talents for creating diverse and interesting e-liquid flavours. We chose to invest in this talent and spread this influence on other brands to cater for all types of vapers.

Our marketing and creative team have a wealth of experience in bringing new products to market. Riot Squad branding is up there with the best and all our latest brands will be at the same level. We now distribute to over 750 stores in the UK alone and we remain sole distributors of our own brands. This ensures we develop and maintain strong relationships with everyone that stocks the Riot Labs brands.

All of the above gives us the capability to deliver original and unique flavours and brands.

VM: What are the upsides to using this particular business model?

MC: Firstly, we no longer rely on concentrate suppliers who also provide to other businesses, which means that we have complete control over our flavour formulations. It is also hugely beneficial from a safety perspective, as we can have 100% confidence that no high-risk ingredients have been added to the liquid, which may be present in some concentrates.

All our flavours are developed in-house from a molecular level. Being our own concentrate supplier means that our recipes cannot be replicated using the food and beverage concentrates that are widely used within the industry.

Retailers also have the option to stock a number of well marketed brands from one place, with guaranteed next day delivery, unparalleled retail support and great pricing.

All brands created by Riot Labs will be fully tested and registered under the TPD, even those that are available in short fills. It is very important to us to make sure every ingredient used is safe to vape. Riot Labs products will give vape shops and the consumers confidence that what they are vaping has no banned substances in and has been tested to the highest standard.

VM: Describe the process of its creation – What changed your vision along the way and why?

INTERVIEW WITH Matt Crann, Head of Sales on RIOT SQUAD’s new umbrella brand – RIOT LABS

BEN JOHNSON CEO

JOE MARTIN COO

GEMMA BLAKE ACCOUNT MANAGER

MATT CRANN HEAD OF SALES

UMIT KAVIA SALES EXECUTIVE

SARAH WAIN HR MANAGER

MAX BULLOCK HEAD OF ANALYSIS

MC: From the beginnings of Riot Squad, we had custom-built laboratories and performed all of our TPD testing inhouse. Riot Labs is essentially making the most of the facilities and expertise we have accumulated over the last couple of years. We originally imported concentrates from all over the globe, which can be expensive and cause delays in production. Why import concentrates from the USA when we can make them exactly how we want them here in our lab?

Part of our strategy has always been ‘supply amazing brands with great flavours’ and Riot Labs is the next stage to this. The main thing that changed our strategy was redeveloping our existing flavours. Riot Squad was launched in October 2016 and since then, we have launched an award-winning new flavour and reworked three flavours with remarkable success. It is so important to keep current in this industry and we intend to keep innovating rather than playing catch up.

o -the-shelf concentrates. Being the sole distributor of our own product has been hugely successful for us. We have a great relationship with our trade customers and we are often asked for new flavours or di erent types of liquids, from a premium 50/50 range to a dessert range; Riot Labs can deliver these.

VM: Without giving too much away, what are the biggest reasons potential business partners (and consumers) should be excited about the launch of Riot Labs? (What will it do for wholesalers, distributors, vendors, retailers etc.)

Everyone can expect these to get bigger and better with the riot coming to a vape store near you in the future.

VM: Are there any outstanding brands coming under the Riot Labs umbrella which you would like to highlight for any reason?

VM: Which previous Riot Squad successes and ventures inspired this particular project the most – or are you going into unfamiliar territory in any way?

MC: The success of Iron Bruise in May 2017 made us realise we can build and refine very complex and bold flavours using multiple ingredients, which results in a great liquid which is hard to replicate. Building flavours on a molecular level seemed like the next logical step in allowing us to innovate further and not be limited by

MC: Our trade customers can expect a wider selection of e-liquids to choose from and even better quality and stock availability. They can have confidence that everything is designed, formulated, tested, produced, packaged and distributed all in one place, so they know who is accountable. We will also be providing some amazing incentives within our catalogue. At The Vaper Expo Returns in October this year, we relaunched our Riot Tour to be bigger and better than ever. Our ‘vape meets’ have become hugely popular with stockists and consumers, with many retailers asking us to attend for a return visit.

MC: We are launching a brand in March 2018 which we are VERY excited about. It’s a collaboration with a huge company outside the vaping industry. We will be launching this brand with a Riot Labs party and all our stockists will be invited. It will be a party not to be missed.

RACHEL HOWES ANALYTIC FLAVOURS CHEMIST

SARAH CROSBY HEAD OF PROMOTIONS

ROWENA BROWN PROJECT MANAGER

LOUISE BRADSHAW BRAND MANAGER

MICHAEL FRISBY OPERATIONS MANAGER

EMILY MANSON BRAND MANAGER

JAMES CARROLL HEAD OF PRODUCTION

All companies, manufacturers, shops and distributors – big or small, chain or independent, can submit their nominees and votes. If you’re in the vape industry, you’re eligible.

VOTE FOR YOUR:

Visit www.vapouroundawards.co.uk/industry-awards/ to vote.

Voting closes 1st April 2018.

The public sphere is awash with competing studies on controversial matters, many of them cited and defended fiercely for partisan reasons. Vaping has been no exception, and a newcomer to the subject could be forgiven for getting confused; popular media’s relationship with vaping has been fraught with doom-saying headlines backed by single, often misread studies.

A common thorn in the side of allies and defenders of the vape industry has been the argument that the effects of vaping on the body in the long term are a “known unknown” – that no conclusive investigative studies have been conducted. All that may be about to change. Not only has this study followed its subjects over a long period of time, but it has dealt with a category never analysed in detail before: vapers who have

never smoked. Health impact of E-cigarettes: a prospective 3.5-year study of regular daily users who have never smoked can tell us new things about the effects of e-cigarettes on the body, and how they play out in the long term.

The study was formally unveiled by its head, Professor Ricardo Polosa at the E-Cigarette Summit in London. It was co-authored by Fabio Cibella, Pasquale Caponnetto, Marilena Maglia, Umberto Prosperini, Cristina Russo and Donald Tashkin. Professor Polosa has established himself as a formidable advocate of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation, citing its untapped public health potential as his main motivation. This study is already making waves throughout the e-cigarette industry. But how was it conducted, what does it prove, and what does it mean?

E-cigarette Summit hears details of major new study into long-term vaping effects on non-smokers

1.E-Cigarettes, harm and harm reduction

The study opens by clearly defining its terms, laying out how health outcomes are collected, and what the main health concerns typically cited over vaping are. For this study, changes in “…blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, lung function, respiratory symptoms, exhaled breath nitric oxide [eNO], exhaled carbon monoxide [eCO], and high-resolution computed tomography [HRCT] of the lungs) from a prospective 3.5-year observational study of a cohort of nine daily EC users (mean age 29.7 (±6.1) years) who have never smoked and a reference group of twelve never smokers.”

3.

How exactly were the subjects tested?

“Participants came in the mornings for their check-up visits during which vital signs (blood pressure - BP, heart rateHR, body weight) as well as measurements of lung function, respiratory symptoms, and airway inflammation (eNO and eCO levels) were recorded.”

In order to keep results on neutral ground and untainted by external factors, participants were discouraged from vaping or consuming caffeine up to an hour before their measurements were recorded. Check-ups were taken with a diverse range of medical devices and (upon being identified at baseline levels) any new, noteworthy changes in respiratory symptoms were obtained by asking the following questions:

“Have you had any cough in the previous 2-weeks?”

“Have you heard any wheeze when breathing?”

“Have you been short of breath in the previous 2-weeks?”

“Have you had difficulty in breathing like a sensation of pressure on your chest?”

5.

Where do we go from here?

As the very first study of its kind – factoring in the vaper who has never smoked, a neglected and often invisible category in vaping – this will hopefully prove a trailblazer, inviting further inquiry and opening more minds. The best we can hope for now is the encouragement of more research. Looking ahead, there may now be a solid foundation to defend the relative safety of e-cigarette use as a smoking cessation tool over a mid to long term period, and even new discussions on marketing to non-smokers.

2.

Who were the subjects and how were they chosen?

“Subjects were recruited from June 2013 to September 2013 and data collection completed in March 2017.

“Adult EC users (≥18 years old) were identified amongst a pool of regular Vape Shops customers. Vape shop owners who helped in a previous study were instructed to ask their regular clients a few questions about smoking history and EC use patterns. Customers who had never smoked or who reported having smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime were defined as never smokers.”

4.

What exactly did the study find?

The initial findings give us in the industry good reason to be cautiously optimistic, but mindful of this project as a mere beginning, and open to future findings in this field.

“…no pathological findings could be identified on HRCT of the lungs and no respiratory symptoms were consistently reported in the EC user group. Although it cannot be excluded that some harm may occur at later stages, this study did not demonstrate any health concerns associated with long-term use of EC in relatively young users who did not also smoke tobacco.

“This small study, the first of its kind to date, found no detectable changes in lung health in never smokers who have been regularly vaping for at least 4 years. Daily exposure to ECs aerosol emissions caused no significant changes in any of the health outcomes investigated, including measures of lung function and lung inflammation.”

VAPING BEHIND BARS

The UK prison system is in crisis. Massive budget cuts, staff losses and overcrowding have led some critics to declare that many prisons are simply not fit for purpose.

EBURN VAPE PEN

HAS ALREADY BEEN PICKED UP IN THE USA AND HAS BEEN TRIALLED AT A NUMBER OF SECURE FACILITIES IN THE UK.”

The UK prison system is in crisis. Massive budget cuts, staff losses and overcrowding have led some critics to declare that many prisons are simply not fit for purpose.

At the end of May this year, 76 of the 117 prisons in England held 9,496 more people than they were designed for and in the last 30 years the prison population has increased by 82%. Given that around 70% of inmates suffer from mental health problems and many of these are locked in their cells for extended periods each day, the fact that 80% of male prisoners are smokers is hardly surprising.

So the decision to make all prisons in England and Wales smoke-free by the end of August this year was a controversial one. And it was only a matter of time before stories of unrest hit the headlines. HMPs Haverigg, Drake Hall, Birmingham and Walton in Liverpool have all reported riots, with further violence and damage reported at HMP Cardiff, among others.

To outsiders it may seem odd that smoking has been tolerated in prisons for so long. After all, the nationwide ban came into effect everywhere else a decade ago. But as prison cells are considered ‘homes’ rather than workplaces, they were exempt from the law, much to the frustration of the minority of non-smoking inmates who opposed indoor smoking on health and safety grounds.

An unfortunate side-effect of the policy has been a worrying increase in the use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Drugs such as Black Mamba and Spice have been wreaking havoc on the prison system for a while now, causing users to react unpredictably and sometimes violently, leading many to be hospitalised.

The Independent Monitoring Board addressed this in January:

“Since the introduction of smoke-free there was almost a doubling of rulings against prisoners in which they lose benefits, predominantly in NPS related offences, resulting in a large increase in the number of days added to sentences.”

Given the dangers of depriving inmates of one of their few luxuries, it seemed logical that vaping could fill the void. But as some devices could potentially be misused, former Senior Prison Officer Darren Haley has come up with a tamper-proof, disposable alternative that’s good for 320 two-second puffs – the equivalent of 30-35 cigarettes.

E-Burn has been designed with prisons, NHS mental health secure units, private hospitals and nursing homes in mind. At first glance it looks pretty basic – just a plastic tube with a couple of wires intersecting on the inside. But considerable thought has gone into every element of its design.

The rigid body makes it very difficult to modify or weaponise and as it’s semi-transparent, any attempts to do so would be easy for staff to spot. Inside the tube is a serial number which can be traced back to the prisoner it was supplied to. The glowing green light at the end helps detect the presence of tobacco and other prohibited substances.

E-Burn has already been picked up in the USA and has been trialled at a number of secure facilities in the UK. Midway through a six-month trial at The Isle of Man Prison, Prison Governor Bob McColm is optimistic that the devices could help both prisoners and staff sharing their environment.

“Changes in the behaviour of inmates is being monitored closely; but anecdotal evidence shows that this trial has been a success. The Independent Monitoring Board has said that the environment is clearer and cleaner. All feedback from staff, inmates and IMB is positive”.

Even if pilots do prove to be successful, that doesn’t necessarily mean that E-Burn will be rolled out nationwide. But given the fact that it is a far a more attractive smoking-cessation aid than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy and is thousands of pounds a year cheaper for the taxpayer, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service would be foolish not to give E-Burn time to live up to its huge potential.

“E-BURN

Printed Label Specialists

Readability READ ALL ABOUT IT

HELPING VAPE BUSINESSES MAXIMISE THEIR PACKAGING POTENTIAL

Since their formation 25 years ago, printed label specialists Readability have produced labels for businesses as diverse as food and brewing, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, healthcare, hospitals and the automotive industry.

An increasing number of e-liquid manufacturers look to Readability to produce labels and packaging for their products. The Hertfordshire-based company has developed a reputation for working closely with their customers to produce high-quality packaging that is durable, TPD-compliant and attractive to the customer.

And now to celebrate their close links with the vaping industry, they have teamed up with Vapouround Magazine to offer a full page of advertising for one lucky potential customer. (See end of this article for further details.)

We spoke to Operations Director Philippa Griffin to learn more about Readability and to discover how they help vape businesses get the most from their labels.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR WAY INTO THE VAPING MARKET?

We took our first steps into the vaping industry five years ago. A small start-up e-Liquid company made contact because they could not find a label to fit around a small 10ml bottle which would stay stuck and allow thermal over-printing…Readability to the rescue. e-liquid labelling has since become a huge part of our business, mostly spread by word-ofmouth and on social media. This small start-up?……..Cuts Ice.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MAJOR INDUSTRY CUSTOMERS?

Vampire Vape has become one of our regular customers. We also work with Totally Wicked and many other major brands such as Vapouround, of course, and we have a growing number of customers in the US and Canada.

WHAT DO VAPE COMPANIES NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN IT COMES TO REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS?

This all depends on the type of e-liquid. Of course, if it contains nicotine, manufacturers are required to display the health warning. Nicotine-free liquids give companies more freedom regarding designs and so on. It is important to stress that we are not vape industry regulation experts, so we advise customers to talk to other businesses in the industry or consult ECITA or IBVTA to ensure that they include all the essential information.

WHAT COMMON MISTAKES DO PEOPLE MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO LABELLING AND HOW CAN YOU HELP BUSINESSES AVOID THEM?

Printing onto a paper label which will degrade as soon as it gets wet. Using inferior print equipment which allows labels to scratch, smudge and become unreadable.

Ignoring or omitting warnings and regulatory information – this could result in your product being taken off the shelves by Trading Standards. Designing the label on the back of a fag packet – a professional design gives your label real shelf appeal. Blindly following the herd with a generic label – ask and look at the myriad of label finishes available.

WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES UNIQUE TO LABELLING E-LIQUIDS?

E-liquid labels have to be durable and flexible enough to wrap around the small circumference of an e-liquid bottle. The label must stay on the bottle for the life of the product. We use materials such as polypropylene alongside a strong adhesive to guarantee a firm hold. The scratch-resistant over laminate on the synthetic material will not tear and the ink will not rub off from contact or exposure to the e-juice.

WHAT TPD SOLUTIONS DO YOU OFFER?

TPD regulations have increased the amount of information you are required to include with your e-liquids. To free up design space, some companies opt for peel-and-reseal labels. Others choose folded leaflets. Both contain the same information and it is up to the client to decide which is the best option for them. We also produce tactile triangle warning labels which can either be integrated into the juice label or affixed after it is printed.

WHAT ABOUT THE CREATIVE SIDE? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP WITH?

If clients already have an idea of what they would like their label to look like we ask them to send us a mock-up. The choice of finishes is impressive now. We can then offer advice as to what would work and the materials that would be required. We’re not designers ourselves but we can put clients in touch with trusted professionals we’ve successfully worked with in the past.

IS PRINTING IN-HOUSE A VIABLE OPTION TO SAVE MONEY?

It depends on the number of labels required and the timescales involved. There is a lead time to having labels printed by a professional company. The latest Epson colour label printers do offer a tried and tested option. The best bet is to contact us first and together we’ll come up with the best solution.

WHAT FINISHES ARE AVAILABLE?

Label finishes are limited by your imagination… and sometimes by regulation! Ask us for a sample pack to give you an idea of what is available for the e-liquid industry. Matt, gloss, metallic, soft touch, fluorescent, glow in the dark & tactile to name just a few.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WORKING WITH THE VAPING INDUSTRY?

We’re very proud to have been in the industry from the beginning and we’ve worked with some great people over the years. Our customers are young, vibrant and very enthusiastic about their products and the vaping industry. It is great to witness and be a part of the product development process from start to finish.

I’M LOOKING TO GET SOME LABELS PRODUCED FOR MY E-LIQUIDWHERE DO I START?

Contact us! We may have answers to questions that you didn’t even know you had. Sometimes customers get in touch later down the line and tell us they wish they had found us 6 months ago. Call Philippa on 01440 712273 now to discuss the options.

As part of our continuing commitment to the e-liquids industry we are partnering with Vapouround Magazine to offer a full page advert in April to one potential customer. All you have to do is get a quote for your printed labels before January 31st to be in with a chance to win. Just make sure you mention Vapouround in your initial enquiry. Good luck.

CALL READABILITY NOW ON: 01440 712273

Christmas New Year &

VAPING GUIDE

Make sure you stock up and plan ahead.

So, here we are. Christmas and New Year are just around the corner. While the festive period gives us a chance to let our hair down and have some fun, it does provide vapers with some potential challenges to consider.

I’ll spare you the annual clichés about family spats and the ceaseless passing of time and move straight onto our guide on how to get the most out of the festive season.

Supplies

Before the madness begins make sure you’re stocked up on juices, coils and any other consumables that you’re likely to get through over the Christmas and New Year period. Also, be sure to find out your favourite vape shop’s opening times. It may be that it only closes for 24 hours, but do you really want to spend Boxing Day fighting through the High Street crowds when you could be at home swigging eggnog and bingeing on Netflix?

Novelties Gifts

You’ve got the novelty socks and garish Christmas jumper. Why not go the whole hog and purchase some festive liquids? Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like Yorkshire pudding and gravy e-liquid!

There are so many ideas for vape gifts out there (SEE OUR FYI SECTION), ranging from mods and liquids to t-shirts, hats and keyrings. You could even purchase one of the many vaping subscription services which will send the recipient new juices every month. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Practice Stealth Vaping

Despite all the evidence indicating that vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking, some non-smokers would rather not be engulfed in sweet-smelling vapour as they sip their mulled wine. And while some pubs and clubs implicitly or explicitly allow vaping, it would be courteous to reign in the vapour clouds as much as possible. Consider the liquids you use and how you vape them.

Hangovers

Imagine you’ve woken up with a cracking hangover on New Year’s Day. You reach for your mod and take a hit of sweet, sugary juice. Is that really the kind of taste you want in your system when your stomach is angry with you? Perhaps you should opt for something a bit subtler until it has settled down.

Or maybe you could avoid that situation altogether by vaping some CBD e-liquid while you drink and recover? A University of Kentucky study found that administration of CBD can offset the negative physiological effects of alcohol consumption. Worth a try.

Do something good

Your New Year’s resolution could be to reduce your nicotine consumption or quit altogether, or maybe you could encourage a friend to try vaping. It’s also worth considering supporting the industry by becoming a member of IBVTA or donating to the NNA.

Happy Holidays

from everyone at

People who identify as LGBTQ are almost two-and-a-half times more likely to smoke than the rest of the population, thanks in part to decades of advertising by the tobacco industry.

Big Tobacco began advertising in the ‘gay press’ in the 1990s. Brands such as Camel and Lucky Strike adopted words like ‘pride’ and ‘choice’ to promote their cigarettes.

One notable example of this was a 2005 advert for American Spirit which read: “Freedom. To speak. To choose. To marry. To participate. To be. To disagree. To inhale. To believe. To love. To live. It’s all good”

Pride events have historically been flooded with free cigarettes and tobacco industry merchandise. But despite contributing to local and national LGBTQ organisations and painting themselves as champions of diversity, behind the scenes the tobacco industry has been accused of demonstrating views that strongly contrast with that image.

Socrush.com have reported that cigarette companies provide two to three times more support for politicians opposed to gay rights than those for them.

In 1995, internal communications by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) revealed plans to sell cigarettes in areas of San Francisco with high numbers of LGBT people. The scheme caused huge controversy, not only for its methods but also for the name ‘Project SCUM’, which was supposedly an abbreviation of ‘subculture marketing scheme’.

Kathleen DeBold, director of the Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer, said at the time:

Acknowledging the massive presence of Big Tobacco at Pride, LGBTQ community centres across Michigan joined forced this year in implementing a smoke-free Pride policy – a major step towards untangling tobacco from the LGBTQ experience.

Chris Lauckner, board chair of Perceptions, said: “One goal in making the event smoke-free is to send the message that we are proud enough to respect the health of all people.”

While the US hasn’t been hugely accepting of vaping as a safer alternative to smoking, one UK e-cigarette manufacturer has opened the conversation about undoing the harms caused by Big Tobacco at LGBTQ events. Blu eCigs sponsored this year’s Brighton Pride, engaging with current and potential vapers with their own float, numerous stands and a ‘vaping dating game show’.

“With the new EUPTD restrictions in place, finding the right platforms to connect the Blu brand with consumers is key. Our sponsorship of Brighton Pride 2017 allowed us to engage with adult smokers and vapers, keeping brand awareness high using an engaging and relevant event to capture their attention.”

Pride’s willingness to welcome e-cigarettes suggests that it sees vaping as an ally in the fight against harmful tobacco. Hopefully this will help pave the way to help the high number of LGBTQ smokers ditch tobacco for good.

FDA Commissioner Calls for both sides of Vape Debate to find Common Ground

By Tony Ottomanelli II

During his speech announcing the PMTA Deadline Extensions in July, the following comment certainly stood out above the rest.

“The ongoing divisive debate on the pros and cons of e-cigarettes. Precious little progress has been made as competing camps dig in on the benefits and risks of the harm reductionist approach of this new technology. Both sides are convinced that they are right, but we see very little progress and virtually no common ground.”

- FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb

Overall, the Commissioner is correct. Though only slightly, not entirely. These particular comments are true about the conditions surrounding the debate on vaping, but is it possible for a negotiation to end up reaching a consensus? That statement is surely an attempt at allowing some type of discussion to be held that results in a shared agreement. We need order and compromise from the anti-vaping establishment. Yet, how can you find common ground with a competing camp that denies genuine testimony from former smokers who quit by vaping? Time and time again the Tobacco Control Industry have inserted themselves into this industry without rhyme or reason.

The Vape Industry is not the tobacco industry, but the moral crusaders of numerous Tobacco Control groups insist on refusing to accept vaping as a harm reduction method responsible for saving countless lives. Those who support vaping are typically all former smokers that have moved on from the cancerous combustible tobacco sticks. Or, they are logical individuals who have

analysed the scientific evidence proving just how effective vaping is.

Repeatedly, the honest and genuine testimonials given by former smokers who attest to the effectiveness of using vapor products to help them quit smoking are ignored in such an insulting fashion by Tobacco Control fanatics.

In retrospect, it is entirely understandable and commendable that Dr. Gottlieb is attempting to open up a professional and productive discourse on the vaping debate. After years of refusing to hear-out the vape industry and all the claims of the significance surrounding progress being made, Gottlieb is absolutely a refreshing voice to hear coming from the FDA.

In his speech, he was merely laying out his agenda and his expectations. At the very end of his comments highlighted above, he also stated, “On the other hand, there’s a pathway forward that reframes the debate around nicotine.”

All in all, this is absolutely true, though do we honestly think these anti-tobacco enforcers in Tobacco Control will even listen? They

won't by any means take the vape industry expertise into consideration. It is not even outrageous to suggest they would slide on a pair of ear plugs during an open discussion with both “camps” present.

Common Ground Would be Preferable - Too bad It Is a Pipe Dream

What does that truly say about these antivaping affiliates in the Tobacco Control Industry?

It says far too much than we’d like to know, that is certain. The fact that they undoubtedly deny every single smoker-turned-vaper, reveals to us and everyone who is not blinded by ignorant propaganda is they only believe that people are telling the truth if they use a deadlier product?

Wow, that is fairly worrisome to reflect on and I would advise the FDA, are these the kinds of people you think can ever foresee a “common” ground?

The FDA is a major bureaucratic facilitator in the economic machine and the policies they create and enforce effect so much more than

we'll ever know about. It just so happens, the FDA inconveniently revises, updates and publishes whatever they want to, with no vote, by appointed officials that are never chosen by the people.

During his July 27th announcement, Commissioner Gottlieb spoke directly to his FDA colleagues, an audience of his peers and employees. Besides there being no opposition in the crowd, there were still countless challenges being addressed.

All in all, there are so many major players from our market-based economics system involved in the war on vapor. From Big Pharma, Big Tobacco, the Vapor Industry, the Tobacco Control Industry & all the hundreds of lobbyists who support these groups and Government officials they are affiliated with. However, this is merely a glimpse into the reality there are many more factors to consider within the grand scale of this scenario.

Thus, to theorise that perhaps the FDA is not always acting in the best interest of the public might be logical or it might be ignorant. Either way, there are elements included in this scenario that we will never know of or understand and

perhaps it is for our own protection. We are in a great game of unapologetic competitors. It’s difficult to imagine proper sportsmanship. It seems, then again, the FDA is a collection off highly influential individuals acting together as a very serious operator within an intense system of financial exchange, so if their strategies will become far more noticeable, it's most likely because that is what they what us to see.

Is the concept of finding common ground possible? Yes? No? Maybe so? Most likely, the answer is “no.” Was Dr. Gottlieb’s announcement a “well-intentioned sentiment?”

Yes, it was encouraging and reassurance. In all, it was a nice thought, but is it realistic? Could we find common ground with the antivapor establishment, specifically the Tobacco Control fanatics?

Feel free to laugh out loud as this may seem like nothing more than a pipe dream. Not to mention, feel free to ask this question to those who need to answer it and if you’d like, feel free to contact me to comment on this issue. Simply email whoarethevapersfilm@ gmail.com

“The FDA is a major bureaucratic facilitator in the economic machine and the policies they create and enforce effect so much more than we’ll ever know about”.

Sociological Theory on the FDA Deadline Extensions

By Tony Ottomanelli II

Many within the U.S. vape community are feeling satisfied about the FDA Deeming Rule PMTA Deadline being extended. Others are feeling rather suspicious about all that has gone into this process. Therefore, was the announcement to extend the PMTA deadline a PR stunt? Or, was it merely a press conference? Who did it benefit most? Perhaps it was both “Sensible Consideration” as well as “Strategic Distraction.”

One thing in particular that has been considered a major event throughout the vapor industry was the announcement of the PMTA deadline being extended four more years, which is just merely one piece of the puzzle — in this case the puzzle is, of course, the FDA's deeming rule and all that it requires. Furthermore, there are many more pieces of that puzzle that were not addressed in that particular announcement.

Basically, it is crucial to remember how the PMTA Guidelines are not what makes up the entirety of the FDA regulations. Though it is certainly one of the most feared components set forth by the infamous US-based regulatory agency that has established itself as a major social institution. In one sense, some could very well claim that our economic stability depends largely on, or at least partly, what the FDA decides and how the FDA operates. It is best to assume any decisions being made by government

agencies are in favour of doing what is best for our economy. That's not to suggest this is a bad thing, yet America is supposed to be a government for the people and by the people. Seemingly, perhaps it’s more accurate to suggest a government for the money, by the dollar.

For the people? That’s such a cute concept. If only it were not just another expression in the continuous tagline of American Advertising by Marketing the as a place citizens control. Cute, but not cute enough to be realistic.

Let’s Take a Step Back for a Moment.

If you rewind back to that point in late July, there were many articles released with very optimistic headlines. Whether it was mainstream media or articles and blog posts originating from the vaping community, it seemed to be the story was covered by publishing hopeful headlines, the reactions were so uncharacteristic of the behaviours usually displayed by vapers. Maybe it's the admiration for the new Commissioner and most likely the very promising comments he made.

Regardless, perhaps the bureaucrats were trying to see if they can create different behavioural reactions amongst the community. Which could mean many things. In one sense, we are merely guinea

pigs for some type of social experiment of trying to predict behavioural patterns and reactions to different stimuli presented.

It does not mean the American vape industry’s issues are over or decreased, simply because new FDA Commissioner Dr. Gottlieb also highlighted that the FDA was beginning to look towards the future by essentially heading in a new direction that would recognise harm reduction and smoke-free-alternatives as something beneficial for public health.

Considering the big announcement, it seemed there was a fairly large portion of the vape industry population who were responding to this news story on first impulse, certainly misinterpreting this event or, at the same time, the unfortunate information being spread about what exactly Dr. Gottlieb announced was not encompassing the entire picture accurately.

“The PMTA Deadline Extension is Merely a Postponement of One Deadline - NOT the entire FDA Deeming Rule.” This message should have been the main title and message of a secondary announcement or conference. But that message was never mentioned or made clear. Perhaps a secondary press conference for the industries in which the FDA is regulating and how it would affect business would be beneficial. One with such a huge message being delivered, it would be more

helpful to not only announce what is changing, yet also what is staying the same or not changing.

In essence, suggesting that the PMTA extended deadline announcement is merely another clever ploy to mislead the vape industry, confusing industry professionals, advocates and vapor product customers is absolutely theoretical on behalf of my own “Sociological Imagination.” That is not to say I wholeheartedly believe this to be true, I’m just exercising my right to analyse and question. I’m sure we can agree that any situation is far more complicated than what we are told about it by anyone.

“FDA Commissioner Dr. Gottlieb also highlighted that the FDA was beginning to look towards the future by essentially heading in a new direction that would recognise harm reduction and smokefree-alternatives as something beneficial for public health”.

“The PMTA Deadline Extension is Merely a Postponement of One Deadline - NOT the entire FDA Deeming Rule.” This message should have been the main title and message of a secondary announcement or conference”.

Salt of the Earth

Dr Salt give us an education on the rise of salt-based nicotine at the Vaper Expo

When it comes to the purpose, mission, growth, sustainability and benefits of vaping, nicotine remains the name of the game, the key to driving its role as not just any smoking cessation tool, but the tool. With regulation and new findings about nicotine making the headlines lately, vape company Dr Salt has successfully spearheaded the sudden emergence of the salt-based phenomenon, and are helping smokers discover a product with appropriate nicotine levels with none of the harshness. It’s impossible to trawl the gigantic floor of the Vaper Expo without finding something new and promising for the vape market, and this October show was no different.

Darren Burns of Dr Salt offered us a crash course on salt-based nicotine and what it means for the market consisting of current smokers and new vapers.

“We realised that the mass market now has gone toward short fills and sub-ohm juices, and we wanted to produce a product that would cater to the average smoker that comes into the shop and wants to make the switch to vaping,” Darren says.

“The major complaint about freebase nicotine is that in high amounts it can be harsh on the back of the throat, and we wanted to find a way to produce a liquid with high nicotine content and a smoother throat hit. And through research and

development, Ben – the owner of the company, sourced the product and started producing a salt-based nic. We had indepth testing done to make sure the PH levels were in line with freebase nicotine, so everything was within the limits of safety. The tests returned with no issues and we’re confident in the product going forwards.

“After trials and testing were complete, we found that even at a 20-milligram strength, it was extremely smooth, it gave good flavour and a stronger, longer-lasting nicotine rush.”

Amazingly, this breakthrough in nicotine delivery is less than a year old for

the majority of the UK market. It has, however, found great success across the Atlantic, and its best days are yet to come. The Vaper Expo in May was a turning point Dr Salt.

“Go back nine months, and nobody had really heard of salt-based nicotine. When we launched, nobody knew us or our product and the UK market at the time probably wasn’t ready for it, whereas it was massive in America. As the saying goes, what happens in the USA happens here eventually and salt-based nicotine was no different. We were confident that good marketing and persistence would get the message out; the benefits were obvious to anyone who tried it. And at the last Expo, which was only six months ago, we did extremely well; we had new shops and new distributors on board and it’s been a snowball effect since then.”

With a new audience and wider distribution network assured, Dr Salt did a rebranding of their product. “It was a bit bland and lacking appeal, and everything in vaping is in bright colours these days. We adopted a new image and haven’t looked back since. though we currently work with four main distributors, we feel that we shouldn’t saturate the market, working closely with those distributors and

supporting them as they support us. But we’re on board with an awful lot of shops now, so it’s growing all over the country. The awareness of salt-based nicotine, through reviews and marketing has risen massively.”

Sometimes the switch to vaping can come with a brief transitional period of getting used to the new sensation; using the device properly, adjusting to a throat hit. Bypassing the harsher throat hits can cut that step out and immediately initiate people into vaping with no obstacles. Darren put this to the test with a personal trial run involving smokers who had backslidden out of vaping.

“On our database, we had a lot of vapers that we marked off as having gone back to smoking, so we didn’t email market to them. I contacted them and brought them into the shop, sat them down and offered them a salt-based juice. They all agreed that it was a much better starting point for quitting smoking. We set them all up with brand new starter kits and enough liquid to last a month. Every single one returned to vaping and haven’t smoked since. They’re known to us as regulars now, coming back in to refill their salt-based liquid supplies. It works.”

A market for salt-based nicotine is now all

but assured, in the UK and beyond.

“It’s unique, and it’s going to become more and more popular. There are still only two companies in the UK specialising in this kind of nicotine, and we were the first.

We’re going from strength to strength at the moment.”

Whether salt-based nicotine will make significant in-roads into the wider vaping community remains to be seen, but it’s a strong niche nonetheless.

“We’re not even going to impact on the mainstream market because that’s not our target audience. The audience we care for is anyone who wants to switch to vaping or needs a higher nicotine level with a smoother hit. It could be a light smoker, it could be a five-a-day smoker, it could be a forty-a-day smoker, we can adjust the levels like any other liquid company.”

“The major complaint about freebase nicotine is that in high amounts it can be harsh on the back of the throat, and we wanted to find a way to produce a liquid with high nicotine content and a smoother throat hit”

VAPER EXPO UK: THE RETURN –A CELEBRATION OF VAPING

By Leo Forfar

For the global vape trade, all roads now inevitably lead to Birmingham. The biggest and best vape show in Europe (and quite possibly the world) for both businesses and consumers saw its second and final iteration of 2017 from October 27-29. Unsurprisingly, everyone came away from the NEC better off, bearing new hardware, juices, a renewed faith in the future and direction of the industry, and fresh motivation to continue our hot streak as a public health ally and celebratory community.

When the Expo ups its game for the third year running and you find yourself as its official media partner once again, you have no choice but to meet these new heights and up your game also. Vapouround pulled out all the stops and brought everything we have as a company to the table, forming new friendships and strengthening our existing ties. It was good to see the Vapouround Bus in the holding area which gave visitors and exhibitors alike a full, 360-degree view, enabling us to give away all our goodie bags and entice passersby to try a multitude of juices via our vape decks. We were also happy to contribute to the show’s theme of celebrating vaping by hosting the first Vapouround Casino, where visitors could enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the casino experience (with the possibility of winning great prizes) right inside the Expo itself.

When the Expo ups its game for the third year running and you find yourself as its official media partner once again, you have no choice but to meet these new heights and up your game also. Vapouround pulled out all the stops and brought everything we have as a company to the table, forming new friendships and strengthening our existing ties. It was good to see the Vapouround Bus in the holding area which gave visitors and exhibitors alike a full, 360-degree view, enabling us to give away all our goodie bags and entice passers-by to try a multitude of juices via our vape decks. We were also happy to contribute to the show’s theme of celebrating vaping by hosting the first Vapouround Casino, where visitors could enjoy the authentic atmosphere of the casino experience (with the possibility of winning great prizes) right inside the Expo itself.

Vaper Expo: The Return celebrated vaping by welcoming its established stars back, on form as always, and seeing the continued growth of tomorrow’s leaders. Exhibitors upped the pageantry, letting loose costumed and colourful mascots, offering the sweet treats and drinks which inspired their flavours, and putting on displays of

dancing, live music and giveaways (ourselves included) from the main stage, which drew adoring crowds.

Pukka Juice, who had officially launched at the Big Weekend, returned with three new flavours and a larger, superior stand, demonstrating the promotional power that the Expo holds.

The Expo serves as a microcosm of the business as a whole, and its new infusion of CBD and salt-based nicotine juices could well point to wider trends. The popularity of shortfills as a response to regulation was also prominent.

Some stands honoured Halloween weekend, though given the abundance of sci-fi, fantasy and horror stands at vape shows throughout the year (thanks again, Vampire Vape) it was to be expected. The Expo is overwhelmingly festive, to say the least, no matter what time of year it’s held.

It becomes more difficult each year to sum up the Vaper Expo briefly: it has to be seen to be believed. Like every exhibitor, we’re looking forward to coming back and helping continue our role in this inspiring, ongoing story.

EVENTS

MY FIRST VAPER EXPO UK AN EXHAUSTING BUT EXHILARATING FEAST FOR THE SENSES

BY GORDON STRIBLING

Having attended my sister’s wedding the day before the Expo began and consequently missing most of our prep work, I felt more than a little guilty when I arrived at the NEC just before 8.30am on Day One. However, I quickly realised that I’d have more than enough work to keep me busy over the next three days.

The dark walkway leading to the Expo was illuminated by red and blue lights, reminding me of the feeling of anticipation I’d experienced during my raving years as I walked into massive clubs and warehouses in the very late hours.

There, welcoming me at the other side of the tunnel, was the Vapouround bus in all its glory. It was staggering to think how many people would see the bus and meet the team over the next three days.

I grabbed some goody bags and began handing them out to the fast-flowing stream of people making their way into the exhibition hall. With so many people coming by it didn’t take long for us to get into a rhythm and we were soon a well-oiled machine – some people handing out bags, some liquid samples and others details of the inaugural Vapouround Casino.

With music further fuelling my adrenaline, I started making my way around. I soon noticed an interesting contrast unique to B2B day. You have the lively, customer-focused entertainment and attractions of the public days but, at the same time, hands are being shaken as business deals are sealed. Nowhere was this more apparent than the Riot Squad stand where a man in a suit handed over his business card while two penguins danced in a boxing ring beside him.

Keen to cement some fledgling business relationships of my own, I headed over to the see Duran of Canada’s Vango Vapes. It was his and Vango Vapes’ first visit to the Expo and it’s fair to say that he was as in awe of the place as I was. It was great to hear that he already felt accepted by the welcoming UK vaping community.

I realised early on that it was pretty much impossible to move through the Expo in a methodical fashion. Not because of any issues with the layout – quite the opposite. Wherever I went there was always some other sight, sound or (very often) smell to pull me in another direction.

One such stand was Vape Shlurp. The striking pinks and blues really drew me in. I loved the artwork. Anime isn’t the niche interest it once was and even though I’m not really into it myself it certainly caught my eye.

I made my way into the exhibition hall and stopped to take it all in. The sheer scale of the place was astounding. As it was B2B day, I assumed I would hear the banging and clanging of stands being put together at the last minute, but other than the odd cosmetic tweak, the Expo looked to be well underway.

Of course, ‘peacocking’ isn’t the only way to draw attention to your brand. The SMOK stand was comparatively simple and very professional-looking, but it was always busy. The visitors I spoke to over the weekend agreed that their reputation was solid enough to draw the crowds in.

“FINALLY, IT WAS TIME TO HEAD INTO THE SHOW ITSELF.”

DAY ONE LIQUID OF THE DAY: ‘WIMTO’ BY ULTIMATE JUICE

Day Two arrived and I knew what that meant – thousands more vapers and loads of giveaways. A siren blared and I hastily weaved my way to the main stage. Once the chant of ‘I Love VG!’ filled the area surrounding the stage, we were showered with liquids. This was my first experience of an expo giveaway so I was pretty chuffed to come away with a free bottle of e-liquid.

I reminded myself that I was there for business, not pleasure, so I made a beeline to the Vampire Vape stand to see what they had planned. Clearly, they weren’t going to miss the opportunity to bare their fangs over the Halloween weekend. I was impressed with how they represented their contrasting juice lines. They seemed to have quite a heavy rotation of performers throughout the weekend too, but one constant was their mascot, who revelled in creeping up on passers-by.

I decided to visit some stands that weren’t selling liquids or mods. I’d never thought about the need for label presses, display cabinets and cleanrooms. They were all represented by staff who were very grateful for the opportunities the vaping industry has provided them and it was great to meet them.

DAY TWO LIQUID OF THE DAY: ‘FROSTY SHAKES BLUE RASPBERRY MILKSHAKE’ BY DR FROST

Day Three rolled around and as my aching legs were apparently still working, I felt it was time to see what the Twelve Monkeys guys were up to.

As usual they had really gone to town with their set-up. Other than the dim purple and blue hue of the lights it was very dark and foreboding, with camo netting hanging from the walls like dense vegetation. The monkey walking around seemed perfectly at home too.

Over at the 13 Sins stand, a contender standing in a Crystal Maze-inspired circular glass booth desperately tried to catch the paper blowing all around him. Up close it was clear to see that it’s a lot harder than it looks on TV, so I sympathised when he left empty-handed.

Shortly afterwards I bumped into fellow Vapouround journalist, Patrick, who suggested we visit the much talked-about Front Line stand. I admit that I was sceptical when I heard how scary it was. But I soon discovered that they weren’t exaggerating!

As the Expo wound down I decided to see what was going on at the Vapouround Casino. It turned out to be perfect timing as a slightly baffled winner, who hadn’t gambled since his school prom some six years ago, was cashing in his chips to claim a 32” HD TV! Not bad for an afternoon’s work, John!

DAY THREE LIQUID OF THE DAY: ‘SILENCE’ BY TRANCE VAPE

Physically and mentally exhausted, it was time to say farewell to my first ever Vaper Expo UK. I’ll see you at my second in May 2018.

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT?

BY LEO FORFAR

With five shows and counting, the Vaper Expo’s twiceyearly format has been a resounding success and is here to stay. Visitors were pleased to find everything that had made May so special was back in top form: a complete selection of stands ranging from the simple to the complex, the efficient to the outlandish, and a party atmosphere combined with a serious wealth of business expertise.

So far so good. But what else did Vaper Expo: The Return – A Celebration of Vaping do differently from the Big Weekend in May? And what do these changes say about the vape trade as a whole going forward?

The vape industry’s growth and the multiplication of the ways it broadcasts itself to the wider world inevitably means greater mainstream attention, and we noticed an increased amount of press passes, including a visit from Matt Allwright of The One Show, who dedicated a segment of their November 1 broadcast to the weekend show, describing it as “Europe’s biggest ever vaping expo.”

A welcome addition to the expo was the Modders Gallery, a section devoted to every aspect of the craft of mod building, customisation and maintenance. With liquids under such heavy scrutiny (as was always the case on vaping’s many regulatory battlefronts) there remains a healthy spotlight on hardware at vape shows.

Noteworthy traits in the ongoing evolution of the Vaper Expo are not just found in how the organisers shake things up, but how exhibitors and visitors do when left to their own devices. And while we’re on the subject of mods and hardware trends, there has been plenty of buzz around squonk mods, which appear to have made a roaring comeback. See our hardware review for a full explanation of the squonker mod, as well as some recommendations.

May’s Expo came mere days after the full-blown implementation of the TPD. Though it went off without a hitch – bringing a well-prepared and aware class of exhibitors who had submitted their products for registration and review, all available in 10ml bottles with compliant packaging – it still hung over the show and dominated much discussion. With the storm weathered and October bringing the biggest Vaper Expo to date, “A Celebration of Vaping” was a worthy tagline.

There was a dominant theme of synergy for this year’s show, with each stand significantly ramping up the opportunities for bystanders to get involved and enjoy a more personal experience, incentivising them to identify more with a brand. Riot Squad and Cheeky Monkey were notable standouts, with prizes and opportunities available for anyone capable of beating challenges. The line between consumer and exhibitor remains intriguingly thin on the Expo floor. One will find as many exhibitors arriving for the sheer joy of the experience as consumers with their eyes set on ways to start mixing their own liquids and starting their own vape businesses.

Up on the main stage, the celebratory aspect of this Expo found its home. The TPD was the talk of the town back in May due to its relative newness; a big overarching political issue making its presence felt at the Big Weekend. This show was like our collective sigh of relief at having met the challenge, and the stage section devoted more time to giveaways than talks by guest speakers. The Expo remains the flagship for gatherings of vapers and businesses in Europe and around the world: always adapting, and still full of surprises.

Noteworthy traits in the ongoing evolution of the Vaper Expo are not just found in how the organisers shake things up, but how exhibitors and visitors do when left to their own devices.

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WHAT VAPER EXPO MEANS TO ME…

VAPER EXPO HOST JOHNNIE LOVELL OF BH VAPE ON HIS EXPERIENCE THIS OCTOBER

If you could take every quality of the Vaper Expo’s more amusing and ecstatic side and condense them into one person, you would probably end up with someone like Johnnie Lovell. A perpetual optimist with an infectious love of the vape business and the people within it, Johnnie’s presence at the Expo is indispensable. As the owner of Bournemouth’s BH Vape and now a host for vape shows around the country, Johnnie has cemented his place as one of the community’s most fun figureheads; always one to raise morale in trying times or get the party started. It’s easy to see why, considering his background. Johnnie has moulded his act and persona over the years into effortlessness, commanding a stage and captivating an audience comes as natural to him as breathing.

At Vaper Expo UK: The Return, Johnnie reprised his role one of the two masters of ceremonies – along with co-host, Ashley of Strawberry Queen. The lively duo saw us through a momentous Expo and Vapouround Awards ceremony in May, and had brought their A-game to this October’s Celebration of Vaping, helping the event live up to its tagline.

I FEEL AT HOME ON A STAGE

Johnnie says, speaking with awe and reverence of his experiences, with the usual animated flair. “Obviously there’s loads of great acts and speakers and companies that get up on the stage at the Expo, but I felt there was one gap that hadn’t been filled; something to welcome the newcomers in, make them feel more at home and keep them entertained throughout the weekend.”

It’s an ethos that carries over to his own business. At the BH Vape shop in Bournemouth, Johnnie combines a professional, informed service with a leisurely atmosphere, offering vapers free donuts and coffee every Sunday. Despite his approachable demeanour, and the ease with which he finds his merriment, Johnnie takes his duties very seriously and gives it his all at every Expo. It’s no easy task, fielding such a massive, lively crowd at the biggest show of its kind in Europe.

“I feed off the atmosphere,” Johnnie says. “I’m motivated by having seen first-hand how far the Expo and Vaporound have come. I came to the very first Expo at the NEC, and have kept track of Vaporound’s progress since it was a pull-out supplement. They started as seeds and I’ve seen them evolve and grow with the industry itself into powerhouses.”

Switching from smoking to vaping brings renewed hope for the people who do it. Along with the plentiful perks to their physical wellbeing comes the knowledge that they are massively reducing any harm to themselves, and helping others along the way. It’s a great boost to their mental wellbeing and lifts many burdens. Johnnie, a former smoker turned avid vaper (like countless vape business owners and VIPs) keeps this in mind, never forgetting the good that making the switch brings. Johnnie’s role as co-host of the Expo began at the inaugural Vapouround Awards in May 2016.

“I was called up to help with the raffle during the ceremony,” he says. “There I met Ashley and we hit it off. Now we’re the ultimate duo. We don’t use scripts, we don’t plan, we just go with the flow. But hosting something like this is all about the people, we’d be nothing without them.” Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine the

weekend without him. When we asked about what his personal highlights were for the October show, Johnnie had plenty to share.

“For me, it’s been innovation; watching how we’ve met the challenges throughout the year and it all came to a head in October. The use of shortfills and nic shots, the rise of mech mods, seeing how much certain companies have grown since the last time they were on the show floor, coming through the TPD. And the public are taking notice and appreciating what vaping can do. We’ve earned it. And I think the British vape industry has been a shining example, when you consider how the activity has been treated and regulated elsewhere. You don’t just see the boost at shows either, but in local communities. Everywhere you go, in places where butchers or convenience stores close, you’re seeing vape shops appear. It’s improving the lives of smokers and revitalising small business.”

With five shows under his belt, Johnnie is showing no signs of slowing down and hasn’t let his passion ebb one bit.

“We know – with the Expo and the trade in general – that no matter what we’ve accomplished and how far we’ve come –that there’s always more just around the corner. That’s what keeps me going. I’m always waiting to see new companies rise up, meet new staff and form those connections that will last. Bring on the next Expo!”

Vape Dinner Lady bring twice their flair to Vaper Expo: The Return

In May Vape Dinner Lady triumphantly claimed the coveted Vapouround Award for Best Trade Show Stand but they were not content just to leave things there.

With the arrival of the second and final Vaper Expo of the year, expectations were high. When the October show rolled around, Dinner Lady rose to the challenge in a way that can be summed up with a simple question. What’s better than one award-winning trade show stand? Two.

Vape Dinner Lady’s presence at the Vaper Expo UK is now so prodigious they flank both sides of the prized red carpet spot. Their stand at Vaper Expo: The Return provided a commendable contribution to its theme of celebrating vaping by highlighting everything there is to celebrate, both within their company and in the wider vaping world. Their stand was open, accessible and shone with the colours of a retro diner and bar, with a well-stocked sitting area for visitors to take a breather and enjoy their juices. The stands were connected

by an overhanging bridge bearing the well-known and much-loved Dinner Lady colours. Extra space meant extra content, extra treats and a more precise division of Dinner Lady’s products and practices. Like the show itself, one side specialised in B2B, the other in consumer needs. Vape Dinner Lady also divided their merchandise between the drinks range (with free cocktail samples) and desserts (with delicious complementary cakes). B2B day came with added intrigue: signs promising a special surprise at 1pm for Saturday. That surprise turned out to be the launch of three brand new dessert juices: blackberry crumble, orange tart and apple pie, which were unveiled to an adoring crowd and massive fanfare, including an explosion of golden confetti, pounding music and an adoring crowd diving for free samples during the giveaway.

Amidst all the liveliness and curiosity, Dinner Lady’s Haroon Rashid shared some thoughts on the ideas, motives and mission behind this unforgettable outing. “We’ve been doing a lot in Dinner Lady and it’s all come together just in time for the Expo,” Haroon says. “We’ve carefully timed their culmination just for this show,

because it’s the biggest showcase we have. For the first time ever, we’ve branched out into building two connected stands and we’re really proud of them; it’s been busier than usual and the feedback has been positive. We also have three brand new flavours which are apple pie, blackberry crumble and orange tart. We wanted to show everybody that as diverse a range we have, it’s all Dinner Lady, there are no other brands under us, it all bears the Dinner Lady name and lives up to its reputation.

“We added this relaxing B2B area to provide a place where we could take care of our clients, as well as all the retailers and distributors that helped us become who we are today. We’ve incorporated all of this stuff in the name if helping our clients, consumers and allies take a load off and smile.”

He also clarified that Dinner Lady’s methods don’t begin and end from a purely logistical standpoint, there has to be an overarching goal combined with a sense of adaptability.

“For us, Dinner Lady are always trying to be the trend-setters. We’re always trying to push boundaries, and doubling up was just one of the many ideas we had

to achieve that. We went in thinking: the Birmingham NEC is a big stage, we have to go big or go home.”

In closing, Haroon had some advice on the attitude which informs their approach. “It’s a little too early to reveal what we’ve got planned on the road to the May Expo, but I will say, just keep watching us, we never go anywhere without a lot of exciting things planned. The biggest thing for us remains the personal experience of our visitors. We’ve got everyone smiling and laughing, having a good time, telling us they love our liquid, our stands, our brand. They love the dinner ladies, the bags, the snapbacks. When we see a customer smile, we remember that that is why we do what we do. It isn’t all about what’s happening on the surface, in terms of presentation; none of that matters unless your mission is to provide a good memory for your visitor. It isn’t a single product, it’s the effect you have as a whole on the people who encounter your business. We’re not just exhibiting, we’re here to sell an experience. Every time someone leaves your stand, make sure they realise how much they matter.”

A stand to remember

On the Front Line of immersive branding

By Gordon Stribling

28/10/17

Putting a stand together for Europe’s biggest vape expo takes a lot of money and a lot of hard work, but vendors are well-aware of the potential pay-off. Increasingly, they are moving beyond just trying to grab our attention with something fun or unusual. They are creating fullyimmersive experiences that leave a lasting impression on their customers.

This is more than a sales gimmick. In fact, more and more industries adopt sensory branding practices every year. Traditional marketing presupposes that a customer’s decision to buy a product is based purely on rational thinking: I need one of these, this one is better and/or cheaper than the competition, so I will buy it. But the human mind does not make decisions in such a clinical or linear way. Sensory branding exploits our many senses, emotions, behaviours and cognitive thought-processes and in doing so encourages a deeper connection with the brand.

something touted as ‘scary’ actually deliver on its promise? This time, however, it more than lived up to the hype.

After some slightly unnerving health warnings we were ushered into the pitch-black secret military facility. Lights flickered and buzzed as we tentatively made our way through.

As we crept around corners, gun shots rang out and between moments of relative calm, a terrifying man in a gas mask popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, leaving us constantly on-edge. At this point I should probably admit that I jumped out of my skin on at least one occasion. The experience reminded me of my visit to a horror-themed escape room a year or so ago.

Finally, we made it through to the other side and my Vaper Expo experience ended on a high, or perhaps an anxietyinduced adrenaline rush. Either way, it wasn’t something I had expected to experience at a vaping event.

Front Line certainly used this thinking to their advantage at the Expo in October. If you attended the previous event in May, you will no doubt have seen the stand’s first incarnation. As we reported at the time, it was a highlight of the event. But the stand has since been supercharged, making it a worthy winner of the Best Stand Award. I got to try it for myself on the last day of the expo. I admit that I entered with some scepticism. After all, how often does

of the event. But the stand has since been supercharged,

increase, driving businesses to explore new ways of attracting

As the industry becomes more profitable, so competition will increase, driving businesses to explore new ways of attracting and retaining customers. No doubt virtual reality will play a part in the years ahead, too. Front Line set the bar of sensory branding very high at Vaper Expo UK. I can’t wait to see how they or one of their competitors top it

UK. I can’t wait to see how they or one next time around.

STILL FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE

The IBVTA – vaping’s strongest advocacy group in the political sphere, make their presence known at the Vaper Expo, and fill us in on every front In times of shared fun, celebration and new opportunities afforded to us by shows like the Vaper Expo, it’s important to never forget the men and women who tirelessly fight on the political and regulatory frontier for vaping’s right to exist and promote itself in this way.

Chief Executive Richard Hyslop represented the Independent British Vape Trade Association for the second time at the Expo. The IBVTA’s stand was brimming with informative literature and excellent news on the year they have had. When we last checked in with the IBVTA, Richard had just announced the organisation’s ambitious plans to essentially “write the bible” for trading standards among the UK’s vape businesses. Richard was able to update us on all the progress made since May.

“We’ve been continuing that work. The Department of Health and the MHRA are looking at it right now. We’ve just formed a primary authority relationship with Kent Trading Standards and we’ll be sending the final version of the document to them for approval and if it passes, it will become assured guidance that will go out across the UK. So hopefully we’ll see a uniform interpretation of the TRPR covering every trading standards area in the country. Plus, it gives our own members and the wider independent vape industry confidence into what the regulations actually are so that when Trading Standards come into their premises, they’ll have a document that can stand out. Plus, when buying products themselves from distributors and suppliers, they’ll

also know what they should be looking out for in terms of what compliant packaging should look like etc. so it’ll all be included in one place.”

Consultation on changes to advertising standards announced

by the ASA

In case you missed it, September 14 2017 saw an announcement from CAP and BCAP via the ASA website that they were “consulting on changes to their Codes to remove the current prohibition on health claims being made for e-cigarettes.” The IBVTA responded swiftly and thoroughly, laying out the case for relaxing such prohibitions. Richard was delighted with the announcement. “We think it’s a hugely positive move. We’re really interested in how advertising standards treat vaping. For the longest time, our members were able to advertise, but they couldn’t tell people what the product they were advertising was for. Now our members will soon be able to tell people what vaping is for, but they won’t be able to advertise, it’s such a strange situation to be in. Now we’re moving towards a place where our members – and the wider industry – will be able to make comparative health claims about their products. It’s a very positive move. However, they’ll still be restricted in how they can display and use that information. It’s a very welcome step forward, but the key thing is to get to a stage where the vaping industry can advertise and explain to consumers, to smokers, to existing vapers, the benefits of e-cigarette use and why such demographics should choose their products over someone else’s. The industry should be

allowed to go back to what it was doing prior to the TRPR changes, and advertise like any other business.”

Public Health England and the latest Stoptober Campaign

October proved a momentous month for vaping. Not only did the Vaper Expo UK put on another record-smashing show for the global industry, but vaping gained mainstream recognition and appreciation with the endorsement of Public Health England as a recommended smoking cessation aid for the first time.

“It was fantastic and we’re delighted that we were able to work with Public Health England and arrive at a situation where they were supportive of vaping openly for the first time, and that they could partner with us to produce some collaborative material. IBVTA have had a perfect opening Stoptober, our members all saw an upturn in sales. The key thing Stoptober has managed to do this year is counter the negative views out there about vaping. Unfortunately, negative views persist among the general public. You’ve heard it all before: too many feel that vaping is just as bad as smoking, or even more harmful.

“Stoptober gave smokers and existing vapers renewed confidence in vaping; not only is vaping a good thing to do, but now enjoys endorsement from major public health organisations in the UK, and as a result of that this Stoptober can be described as pro-vaping and a major boost for sales. Even better is remembering that each one of those sales means a smoker has substantially improved their situation.

What we have to do now is build on that going forwards and recognise the huge opportunity. There may be three million vapers, but there are still nine million smokers in the UK. That’s a vast potential market for all the businesses represented at the Vaper Expo and beyond. We must always encourage giving smokers the confidence to switch.”

Future plans for the IBVTA

“It’s always good to come to the Expo, especially on the heels of our Stoptober successes. Looking ahead, we’re already preparing for our next conference which will be in Reading in April. There’s a huge amount of work going on in the meantime; we’ve got a number of exciting projects in the pipeline which we’ll be releasing in due course. We’re also strengthening our relationship with Westminster. “All of our members have submitted a tremendous amount of data to the MHRA as part of the TRPR process. We decided to analyse that data and compare it to smoking, in order to objectively answer the question of “just how safe is vaping?” And that data gave us a very promising figure, and put us in a position where we could say vaping could be as low as 1% of the harm of smoking. Not just 95% safer but 99%. And we presented that data in Parliament on Wednesday 25 October to an audience of MPs and members of the House of Lords. This is all the data we’ve had to do, we assembled it for the TRPR, we’ve got it all together and it shows that vaping is significantly less harmful. And regulators, government MPs, Lords and the general public can put their confidence in vaping if they choose to make the switch.”

Freshly Baked!

IN IT TO WIN IT

Expo prize-winners include one lucky vaper who drove home in a brand-new Volkswagen Golf-R

As far as expos go, I was fortunate that my first was Europe’s biggest and most prestigious – the must-do, bi-annual Vaper Expo UK.

In the days and weeks leading up to the event I read loads of reviews of previous expos and trawled YouTube for videos to give me an idea of what to expect when I got there.

Alongside the models, the crazy stands and the endless sea of vapers, one Expo staple that that cropped up again and again was the main stage giveaway. Reps flinging t-shirts, e-liquids and occasionally mods into a baying crowd of vapers as music throbbed in the background.

But the videos didn’t show all the competitions going at the stands themselves. Of course, it makes sense to lure people to your stand with the potential to win big prizes.

For all the clever ways businesses try to attract potential customers these days, the ‘flashy car’ model is as effective as it is time-honoured, so I wasn’t surprised to see so many photos of vapers sitting in the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder beside the Vaporized stand.

We’ll find out at the end of the year if one of them won the Lambo (or indeed any of their other prizes, such as the Caribbean holiday and the ‘design your own juice’ 12-month royalties).

Some other big winners have already been announced. Vapeorders.com and Froot Vape joined forces to offer one lucky vaper and a friend an expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam. Instagram-user @devongirlvapes scooped the prize and will be jetting off to the Dutch capital in January.

Nasty Juice ran one of the most talked-about giveaway of the weekend. Prizes included headphones, Apple Watches and a PlayStation 4.

Their big prize was a Volkswagen Golf-R and Damien Robertson was the very lucky winner, having already won tickets to the day of his choice after entering a competition on the ECigwizard Twitter page. Needless to say, he left the Expo with a massive smile on his face.

“We purchased the Nasty Juice tins purely for the juice as we are massive lovers of them and have watched them grow from each Expo, from a small stall to a very big and exciting stall!” said Damien.

“We get on really well with them whenever we go to an event. I would have never imagined us winning anything, let alone the amazing car as we don’t really do luck. But when the number was called I couldn’t help myself – I jumped onto the stage and was thrown in the air by the Nasty Juice gang. I was literally in tears. We cannot thank them enough!”

All in all, not bad for someone who ‘doesn’t really do luck.’

P.S. There were also lots of cool prizes up for grabs at the Vapouround Casino - see separate story in this edition for more about that.

“DAMIEN ROBERTSON WAS THE VERY LUCKY WINNER, HAVING ALREADY WON TICKETS TO THE DAY OF HIS CHOICE AFTER ENTERING A COMPETITION ON THE ECIGWIZARD TWITTER PAGE.”

The Vapouround Casino was a huge success at Vaper Expo

By Gordon Stribling

There’s literally no way you could have missed Vapouround’s presence at October’s Expo. From the minute visitors made it through the entrance, there stood our iconic bus flanked by a team of eager Vapouround folk welcoming you to the expo with freebies, our official Show Guide and, of course, a friendly smile. We like to do things a bit differently at Vapouround and we decided that this event was ideal for a Vaper Expo first…we brought a fully-functioning casino to the expo and gave visitors the opportunity to win free bets for the chance of winning really cool prizes.

During the three days of the event we handed out thousands of flyers explaining how people could play for free. We had deliberately kept the full details of the Vapouround Casino under wraps until the opening day and some people did a double take when we explained there was a casino at the show. In the build up to the expo we did little more than leave the odd hint here and there on our social media sites about the new fun attraction we had planned. Some may have considered the casino itself to be a bit of a gamble because this idea had never been tested before.

With so much already going on, would visitors take the time to play blackjack or spin the roulette wheel? As with everything else that weekend, it turned out to be a massive success. Many thousands of people visited our casino over the three days and we have nothing but praise for our team of professional croupiers who were kept very busy indeed. I made sure to pop by intermittently. More and more visitors came by as the weekend went on and as news spread of the cool prizes on offer for a few lucky spins of the wheel or hands of cards. I noticed a few regular faces who kept coming back for more and it was regarded as a really fun addition which was right at home at Vaper Expo. While it’s always great to play the game, winning it is better still. The chips our players won over the weekend were exchanged for a whole host of prizes. It’s no wonder we saw so many smiling faces over the weekend. The £10,000 worth of prize up for grabs included:

Grand prize: A trip to Las Vegas! It seems a little odd talking about Vaper Expo 2018 so soon after the the October show has just finished, but if I was a betting man my money would be on the Vapouround Casino to make another appearance in May.

A G A Z I N E V A P O U R O U N D VV on tour

VAPEXPO, PARIS • VAPEXPO, KIEV • VAPE FAIR 2017, JAKARTA • VAPEXPO, BARCELONA • VAPITALY, ROME

BY ABIDA RAZAQUE

Vape Expo Paris. September 24 -

26.

Known as Europe’s chimney, it is fair to say that France has shifted away from the usual stereotype as tobacco haven. An unprecedented 47 billion cigarettes are set alight each year, a dramatic fall from the 84 billion smoked in 2001.

With tobacco cigarette sales declining since the increase in price, many experts believe the rise of e-cigarettes has become a secondary factor in reducing smoking in France. Today, around one million French people use e-cigarettes daily, so setting foot on French soil for business was an easy decision.

The two-day event was held at the Grande Halle de La Villette where the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes was evident as we made our way to the B2C opening day. We could see long queues formed in a straight line from afar - always a great sign of a promising show. As members of press, I recall thinking how fortunate we were to avoid standing in a queue for such a duration as most shows we attend give us direct access indoors. Alas, how wrong was I?

Proudly walking towards the front of the queue, we were told we had to stand in line with the public. Admittedly, the smugness turned quickly into frustration, the queue was ridiculously long and only expanded since we last saw it. So, it wasn’t the best start to the day with the morning sun blinding us in the eye. Nevertheless, we got it in, ultimately it wasn’t too bad.

As we entered the hall, we could see how big the show was, inundated with stands displayed over two levels. From a bird’seye view it probably looked great, however walking in between stands was a little trickier as there wasn’t enough room to manoeuvre in between the narrow space. It was filled to capacity. It was noticeable that the show was a tad overbooked.

Immediately you could see that the show had attracted companies nationally and internationally. We met some exhibitors who attended the show but without a stand, saying they had tried, but failed to secure a booth as the show had sold-out within two hours of being announced, a clear indication of how popular VAPEXPO Paris is for exhibitors globally.

Both B2C and B2B days was incredibly busy, however the former was undoubtedly a lot busier.

The location of the venue was pretty decent, offering a variety of cuisines nearby. One of the highlights was being served the most controversial red meat – veal. It was by far the most succulent and delicate veal I have ever tried!

In brief, I did enjoy the show and feel that it could have run across three days rather than two because there was so much going on, I spent the first day just getting around the expo. I definitely recommend attending the show and we look forward to returning next year.

The French are known for many things, but notably, good food, good wine, and now vape!

It’s always nice to revisit a city that has pleasant expo memories from a previous trip. It’s especially nice when that city is Kiev.

I’d previously visited Kiev in December of last year and found it a city that immediately pushed itself into one of my favourite locations, not only in terms of vape expos but also with its overall vibe. I am delighted to report that this time didn’t just match my first visit on both counts, but exceeded it.

The expo itself had everything you might wish for. A wide and varied set of exhibitors from both Eastern Europe and further afield, combined with a vibrant and sizeable selection of visitors, made for two days of what is best in the vape industry and its credit to the organising team for this.

From cloud-chasing to trick shows, competitions and more, the stage was a constant source of entertainment and, of course, included the vape awards for the show. This was of particular interest to me as I was a judge alongside my colleague Reuben.

Now being on stage on front of people isn’t exactly within my comfort zone but I’ve got to say that with the aid of the organisers and an excellent translator it not only ran smoothly but was thoroughly enjoyable.

VAPEXPO KIEV. SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 1.

Although expo trips don’t always afford much spare time, this one did and for that I’m glad. Central Kiev has a very unique style of architecture and thanks to a metro system that is both incredibly cheap and contains escalators that seem to never end, it’s very easy to explore.

If I had any concerns about the potential of the vaping industry in Ukraine it would be solely on the financial side. Everything is so incredibly cheap in Kiev it’s my personal opinion that price points on both hardware and juices would have to be very carefully thought through for it to be accessible to the masses. As ever though with an industry that is incredibly innovative I’m sure this is an obstacle that can be conquered.

It’s obviously easy for me to sign off with a generic, “looking forward to the next show”, but in this case there’s nothing generic about it. Smile-Expo have their next show in Moscow on the 8-10th December and I am looking forward to it…..immensely so.

BY PAUL CAPLIN

So we were back in Asia and myself and the team were excited to back in this part of world especially following the success we had in Malaysia a few months before.

The muggy heat hit us immediately as we disembarked the plane and we knew that we were back in familiar surroundings.

Set up day went relatively smoothly with the show’s organisers keeping the venue open for 24 hours for what seemed to be an extensive build session for many exhibitors. When arriving at the venue on set up day I think we were pleasantly surprised at the size of the show and now an air of excitement was genuinely upon us for what was shaping up to be a fantastic expo and amazing experience.

We were struggling to get into the correct time zone and jet lag seemed to be taking its toll on the majority of the team. However we battled through and arrived at our booth just past midday with the doors opening at 12. The show seemed to have a steady flow of people arriving throughout the day and people seemed genuinely interested in the foreigners that had descended on their show, namely us.

VAPEFAIR JAKARTA 2017 - OCTOBER 7 - 8.

To our surprise there wasn’t the usual mix of old faithfuls - in fact out of a possible 150 odd exhibitors we may have only recognised about ten. This was great news for us because it meant there was whole host of new people to meet and talk too, and a brand new market to penetrate. This is where the problems started. The noise was incredible. There were speakers all around the venue that can only be compared to full concert speakers and the MCs were literally screaming down the mic - they never let up. It was going to be hard enough anyway communicating with the vendors due to the language barrier, but this made it absolutely impossible - nobody could hear anything.

As well all of this noise, there then seemed to be a competition on who could play the loudest music. With 20 different tracks playing at the same time and two guys screaming into a microphone constantly, the noise and the atmosphere made this impossible to do any business. I’m not sure how anyone did anything. I will say that this seemed to be widely accepted and nobody seemed to mind - so maybe it’s a culture thing and this is what Indonesian people are used too, but for myself and my team we were totally out of our comfort zone and found the experience although fun, commercially a waste of time.

I mentioned the steady flow of people throughout the day, which was great to see, but I wondered if, like Malaysia, the event would stay open late, and more people would arrive. My fears were soon realised when at 9.30pm the show seemed to be just getting into full swing. The place was packed with possibly three or four times more visitors than had been there throughout the day. It was going to be another very long show and I soon realised why the doors didn’t open until midday.

Overall this seemed to be a good show and it was very successful in terms of visitors and atmosphere. The Indonesian people are both hospitable as well as very friendly, with a completely carefree attitude.

PROS - This seemed to be very well-organised, free for everyone to attend, very well attended, with new exhibitors, fantastic booths, innovating ideas, extensive show hours (if that’s your thing) and an amazing selection of hardware.

CONS - The show was far, far too loud with no idea on hygiene or health and safety. Young children seemed to be allowed to come into the event and there were a lot of rip off brands.

BY CARLY DAYKIN

We left the UK’s cool October temperatures and arrived just two hours later to take in a breath of the warm Mediterranean air which was a wonderful start to a great weekend. Vapexpo Barcelona was held at Fira de Barcelona convention centre which is located inside Montjuïc park, a beautiful urban location, surrounded by green zones but very accessible by the public transport network and the airport.

The expo set-up was slightly different to some of the larger shows that I have been to, with the business to business being conducted in the morning on both the Saturday and Sunday and open to the public in the afternoons. This complemented the modest set up of the show and it was great to see a large range of vendors there from all over the world.

We caught up with some of our friends from the USA, France and of course Spain to keep us all very busy in the mornings. The public then flowed through the doors in the afternoons to bring a new wave of excitement and liveliness to the day. The main stage was the point that everyone flocked to for the ever-popular giveaways and there was always something interesting going on at the show to keep everyone entertained from the time they arrived to the time the doors closed at 9pm. With this being the first international event for Vapexpo (which

originates from France) I would say it was a big success. The space was laid out in a relaxed and spacious way and all vendors and attendees seemed impressed with the whole event. The liquid on offer was on point with brands such as Corona Brothers, Fizzy Juice, Psycho Bunny, M Flavours and Nasty Juice and hardware from the likes of VGOD, Asmodus, Galactica Mod and Vapin Art made this show great for all involved.

I found most people at the expo, vendors and members of the public, well-versed in English which was great as we could all participate in conversations on one level or another. This is humbling for the travellers with poorer language skills (I fit in to this bracket), and the Spanish are readily prepared to go that extra step to help you and make you feel at home.

We were able to find time for socialising in the evenings and Barcelona exudes a Spanish romance that will long be remembered for anyone who has visited this great city. There are a vast array of trendy bars and speciality restaurants serving the freshest seafood you have ever tasted. I particularly loved the magnificent dance of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc and I most certainly look forward to returning to Barcelona for more vape events.

VAPEXPO BARCELONA - OCTOBER 14-15.

Barcelona was, without doubt, a fabulous trip from start to finish.

PRO

BY ROCHELLE WARSOP

With this being my first overseas show, I didn’t quite know what to expect but I was looking forward to the experience.

Just a few weeks earlier I had been to Vaper Expo UK, my very first show, and I was excited to find out what this one would be like.

My first surprise was that this show was to be held in a hotel rather than the more traditional exhibition hall or conference centre venue.

Unlike the Vaper Expo, this was a business to business only event (hence Vapitaly PRO) and it took place at the very sleek Ergife Palace Hotel in Aurelia, Rome. As a result it was a little quieter and far less hectic than the Birmingham expo.

The event itself took place at the hotel’s lower-level conference rooms which was very different. It was almost as if there were a number of smaller expos all taking place at the same time.

Because it was a business event there was not the loud music of many expos where the aim is to entertain and capture the attention of the public and my colleague commented that this really was not a typical live vape show. The expo took place over two levels and we found a mix

VAPITALYPRO, ROME. NOVEMBER 4 - 5.

of companies we knew and many new ones who we had not previously encountered.

I was keen to speak to as many people as possible and I really enjoyed meeting new people and hearing their stories. One thing I am discovering about the vaping industry is how friendly and passionate so many people are.

The language barrier was my main concern as I don’t speak Italian but I was able to find enough people who spoke English.

The lack of bright flashing lights and pumping music did make for a much more sophisticated and reserved event and this seemed really fitting for the surroundings in this great city.

The multiple room format did tend to detract from the atmosphere which a single-room venue might have had but I thought the show worked well despite this.

It was also great that even when communication was something of a challenge, that so many people knew

about Vapouround Magazine and spoke highly of it. It is always great to be recognised.

This was my first visit to Rome and I would recommend it to anyone. I was glad to have a chance to see the Colosseum in the centre of the city and take part in a guided tour which was fantastic. Just to walk around this imposing and historic amphitheatre was quite overwhelming.

I can quite honestly say that I enjoyed every moment of my first trip to Rome and my first vape expo outside of the UK.

THOR JUICE/THE VAPOUR ROOM, CRAWLEY 9

SEPTEMBER, 2017

Normally the Vapouround bus is the centre of attention wherever it goes. But with the Thor Juice truck pumping out vapour and Thor himself striding around dishing out liquids, we had stiff competition at the big opening of The Vapour Room in Crawley.

The Vapour Room is a family-run enterprise that began in 2013. Thanks in part to their iconic Thor Juice and Loki ranges and their sterling customer service, The Vapour Room has established a significant presence. The Crawley store is their tenth to open.

Owner Thoren Webster got into vaping while working as a tiler and builder. He was smoking 20-30 roll-ups a day and was looking for a cheaper and less-harmful alternative. “I started going to a local vape shop which is where I met Katy. I was her customer and now she’s my wife and business partner.”

The line between friend, colleague and customer has blurred over the years. It’s hard to tell which is which when I pop into the shop throughout the day. This welcoming atmosphere keeps Thoren’s customers coming back.

“We work hard but we also like to have a laugh with each other and with our customers”.

Local competition is rife – there are two other vape shops on Church Walk alone. While acknowledging the challenge, Thoren believes that his staff’s knowledge and friendliness makes The Vapour Room stand out from the rest.

“Opening a shop in a good central location is a lot more expensive than it used to be but it’s worth the investment and competition is good for us and our customers.”

Like many people in the industry, vaping is more than just Thoren’s bread and butter. He loves collecting mods and has really caught the coil building bug.

“Vaping is a job and a hobby. I’m really pleased to be part of this young and exciting industry.”

As Thor posed for selfies, I spoke to Ant who came to see what was going on at the Vapouround bus.

“I hated the stink of nicotine on my fingers and clothes. Now that I don’t smoke I can actually smell smoke and nicotine on other people. It makes me realise how bad it was for them when they came to my house.”

We’re always happy to answer any questions and if you want to know more about getting the Vapouround Bus to your store or event then contact either David Turner or Jorgie Shaw on 01332 895953.

Alternatively, they can be reached by email: dave@vapouround.co.uk jorgie@vapouround.co.uk

TAMWORTH ST EDITHA’S SQUARE SEPTEMBER

22, 2017

The Vapouround team brought our beloved bus to St Editha’s Square in Tamworth on Friday September 22. It was great to finally make this trip as the event had been booked and rescheduled in our diary a number of times.

Our bus really does seem to bring out the best in people and we received a really warm welcome from everyone we saw on the day.

In fact as soon as the bus had parked and opened up, we had the eyes and ears of the locals who were all curious about what was going on.

Perhaps the strangest reaction - and one I have never had beforewas from a group of pensioners who looked very excited to see us. They milled around for a while until a spokesperson was appointed to enquire whether we were here to promote holidays for senior citizens.

They said the bus looked so bright and colourful that they would have loved to tour the country for day trips with us.

We explained that the bus was in town to promote vaping and help smokers quit cigarettes and they agreed that was a really worthwhile cause to promote.

Tamworth proved to be a really pro-vaping town and throughout the day we saw many more people vaping than smoking, a rare but promising sight. We were encouraged by the fact that there are plenty of vapers despite a scarcity of vape shops around the area. One of these vape shops, Drip Tease, wasn’t far from where the bus was positioned for the day. The staff came out to say hello and express their thoughts and excitement on how good the bus looked.

Samples went down a treat as always, because let’s face it everybody loves a freebie, especially a blow-up flamingo that will hold your mod and juice!

Tamworth is a town that the Vapouround Bus will definitely be visiting again, as much by popular demand as personal preference. So, if you do live in the area keep an eye on the Vapouround Bus website to see when we’ll be returning.

We’re always happy to answer any questions and if you want to know more about getting the Vapouround Bus to your store or event then contact either David Turner or Jorgie Shaw on 01332 895953.

Alternatively, they can be reached by email: dave@vapouround.co.uk jorgie@vapouround.co.uk

LICHFIELD TOUR | 16TH NOVEMBER 2017

Still somewhat bleary-eyed from the early start, I peered through the small gap between two adverts adorning the windows of the Vapouround bus.

As you will have seen, our trusty bus can be spotted pretty much anywhere where there’s enough space to park, so I get to see all sorts of places of varying sizes, demographics and architecture while travelling as the official journaliston-board. So while the winter wind was far from enticing, the prospect of setting up shop in Lichfield’s beautiful city centre was most appealing.

With everything ready to go and coffee slowly working its way through my system I eagerly awaited our first visitor of the day. Passers-by certainly could not miss our bright bus among the cathedral city’s historic architecture and soon more and people came by to see what we were all about. The first puffed away on his mod as he shared his story of going from a 20-a-day smoking habit to low-nicotine vaping. He then checked his watch and zipped off back to work, before popping by again later to say goodbye.

People in high-vis clothing began showing up throughout the morning. I soon realised that they were putting the Christmas lights up, much to the excitement of the locals who stopped to ask questions. It was a shame that we wouldn’t be here at night a week or so later to see them in all their splendour.

After a brief period when the wind and rain seemed to be conspiring against us, things calmed down and more people approached the bus. As always, the goody bags proved to be a big hit with ardent vapers and newbies alike, even though one or two people were initially suspicious of our generosity!

Lunchtime arrived so I excitedly made my way to the other mobile business in the square – a mobile fish and chip shop. This may seem irrelevant to the story but, in my defence, the sweet, calorie-rich

battered Mars bar set me up nicely for the rest of the day.

Back at the bus, more people popped by to talk about vaping. While it’s rewarding to advise smokers on how to make the transition to vaping, it’s always enjoyable to chat with converts, even if some of the conversations about mods that my colleague Reuben was having flew over my head somewhat.

As darkness slowly crept in we wound down for the day. It’s a cliché to say this, but the people of Lichfield were some of the friendliest I’ve had the pleasure of meeting while on tour with the bus.

Even a vaping sceptic who turned up at the beginning of the day listened to what we had to say and left with a smile on her face. Maybe she’ll read up on vaping and be there as a convert by our side next time around.

We’re always happy to answer any questions and if you want to know more about getting the Vapouround Bus to your store or event then contact either David Turner or Jorgie Shaw on 01332 895953.

Alternatively, they can be reached by email: dave@vapouround.co.uk jorgie@vapouround.co.uk

E-LIQUID

VAPOUROUND REVIEWS

Specs:

Lateral fire button

510 threaded connector

Power range: 6W to 225W

Output voltage range: 0.5V to 9.0V

Power mode resistance: 0.1Ω to 3.0Ω

Temperature mode resistance: 0.05Ω to 3.0Ω

Temperature control resistance range: 200℉ to 600℉ or 100℃ to 315℃

THE MAJESTY KIT THAT COMES WITH A NEW TOUCH. STRONG AND CREATIVE.

This all-new kit from SMOK is a beautifully designed, simplisticlooking mod that comes in either a carbon fibre finish or a new resin finish with a creative twist. Personally I prefer these finishes to the painted devices as they don’t scratch or chip easily.

Pros :

- Compact and stylish

- Long battery life

Cons:

- paintwork chips easily

Standby current: < 500uA USABLILITY

The Majesty mod takes two 18650 batteries accessible by a strong hold battery door. The device features a full side fire key popular with other SMOK items and a nice square OLED screen with the new updated visual layout. I really love the feel of both the carbon fibre device and the soft touch resin finish as they both feel sturdy and look bold and impressive.

The device can produce a huge 220w which makes it perfect for a variety of tanks although the included X-baby tank is a brilliant tank for the Majesty.

The screen is very tidy with a lot of information about the current modes and battery status.

The interface is a lot smoother than previous SMOK models and works on a three press basis. This allows you into a mode setting that you can adjust through using the up/down buttons. The software includes wattage and temperature modes for specific materials. In this mode you can adjust the wattage like the main interface and also set the preheat modes. This menu also has puff count options and a colour customisation and on/off options.

Paired with the TFV8 X-Baby tank and the pre-installed Q2 coil, the vaping experience is very subtle but flavoursome. The airflow makes the vape very light and smooth making this coil set perfectly TPD friendly. The kit also comes with a T6 coil head which is much better for opening up the wattage range and personally I find the whole kit performs better using this coil at around 100w.

Overall the kit is well-built with a nice interface. The vaping experience is nice and flavoursome with the TFV8 X-Baby tank, but the Majesty mod will benefit from a more powerful sub-ohm tank to really test the wattage. This kit is a solid all rounder and personally I feel it is better than the popular ALIEN.

Now I’m going to start by saying this is definitely the best looking tank that has ever been released by SMOK. The tank is shorter than both its predecessors, the TFV12 and the TFV8. The tank has a 7 colour finish and a fat tank capable of holding a massive 8ml. The EU edition differs with a 2ml tank but the upgraded convex tank can be purchased separately.

The airflow holes at the base of the tank are tall and wide and perfect for excess airflow. The adjuster ring around the airflow holes is slightly stiff but wears in well. At the top of the tank there is a crown-style shaping and an all-new locking mechanism on the swivel cap. If this isn’t good enough the tank also features a new wide bore Cobra drip tip that really assists the large airflow.

Firstly, I used the pre-installed Prince-Q4 coil and I was instantly impressed. The wattage range is 40-100w and it gave a really smooth vape but not a spectacularly strong one. After vaping this for a while I just wanted a more powerful experience so I upgraded to the Prince-T10 which really kicked some ass. The range is from 60-120w and I ramped it up to 110w. The flavour that came through was perfect and smooth.

Overall I am extremely impressed with this tank which looks super cool and is very powerful. I prefer the tank with the wider glass as refilling the device isn’t as frequent by far. Personally if you like the TFV8 or TFV12 then this is the best of both worlds in a shorter tank. I would say this is the pinnacle of sub ohm vaping its that good, but the industry always excels itself.

Specs:

2600mah large capacity long-life battery

Quick fill tank (can refill in under 10 seconds)

Mouth to lung and direct lung capable

Compact cylinder form

USB charging

Pass thru (charge device and use at the same time)

High build quality

Simplified high-end performance

The S-22 is an advanced pen-style vape specified for that realistic mouth-to-lung vaping experience. The device is very slender and features a single button and a LED light indicator. The device looks smart and houses a 2600mah battery that is charged by the micro USB port at the bottom. The S22 TF tank that is attached has the same matt finish as the battery and features a small glass window for filling. The tank has a small vent at the bottom and an adjuster that is easy to open and close. The beauty of this kit is how quick and easy it is to fill. The tip just screws off which is easy for filling. The lower side screws off too for simple coil changing.

Now to the vaping… The first vape is excellent. With the resistance of the airflow channels the vape is easy to suck into the mouth then straight to the lung. Surprisingly enough the flavour comes through just slightly lighter than that of a subohm tank. Straight lung vaping is possible but it is clear that this device isn’t made for that, as the airflow resistance is too good and wattage is limited.

The experience of this vape is perfect for start out vapers and really delivers a similar experience that smokers are used to. If there is a device to quit smoking with, I would say that the S-22 is really up there. The exceptional experience with this e-cigarette paired with Nic salt e-liquids will mean that many smokers will be converted fast.

Overall this kit is smart and very user friendly so anyone could use it. The build of the S-22 is incredible with additional features such as the small glass display makes it much harder to break. It is compact and everything you need in on little box with a very lengthy battery life. I would highly recommend this to smokers who are looking to quit tobacco and begin vaping.

The aesthetics of this device are somewhat different to many on the market. The main outstanding feature is the large button which covers the entirety of one top corner. This button is a little strange to get used to, however once acquainted, it makes the device much more ergonomic and comfortable in the hand. The sleekness of the design doesn’t stop there, with a large coloured hexagon shape on the main face of the device, which highlights the near square screen. When not in use, the screen fades away behind the tinted casing above, making for a much cleaner look.

The overall build quality of this device is very good. The outside feels like a strong plastic coating on a metal chassis, giving this mod a slightly rugged feel. The battery lid too feels strong, housed at the bottom of the device the sliding lid locks into place very securely.

The Vapesoul Vone Kit comes with a medium size tank, which perfectly matches the aesthetics of the device. The tank itself offers a range of features, my favourite being the quick release fill top. On the upper half of the tank are two parallel small buttons, which when pushed release the top on a pivoting pin. Another feature of the tank is the anti-spin air-flow making it much easier to rotate the tank off the 510 connection. Two coils are included in the kit, both of which are 0.5 ohm flavour houses. The tank itself has amazing flavour and is comparable to other well-known tank makers. The Delrin drip tip is the icing on the cake for the tank. Also included in the box is a braided Micro USB cable to take advantage of built-in 18650 charging.

The function and menus on the device have been kept simple with a 3 fire button press locking the device, and a long press of the + and – button to access the menu. Temp mode, watt mode and DIY modes are your choices for device function, however another function is included along with a companion app. The anti-lost feature is a Bluetooth enabled programme working across either Android or iPhone devices. When connected and enabled, a background application can alert you to the device leaving your perimeter. Alternatively, and what I have found most useful, is the ability to find your phone from the mod itself.

In conclusion, this hard-hitting 230 watt regulated mod and tank combination offers something many others are not. This is the complete package, a great tank with amazing flavour plus a functional device with great aesthetics. However this doesn’t mean there aren’t any improvements which could be made. The pin on which the top section of the tank spins, has been found to be a little flimsy in comparison to the rest of the device but this doesn’t affect usability. Finally the background on the full colour screen is an image and I feel that user-assigned

JUICE REVIE W S

The scent of this juice is nice. It’s a mixture of blackcurrant and has a light creamy note.

The inhale sees a sweet creamy sensation on the tongue which is almost sour. The hit provided is light but noticeable. The flavours really jump out on the exhale with a strong almost bitter-sweet blackcurrant taste. This then develops a creamy meringue-like taste that subdues the bitter edge and makes way for a subtle biscuit after note.

The flavour is good but the bitter blackcurrant taste follows out into the aftertaste. 5/5

ORANGE TART

This e-liquid carries a very sweet and jammy orange aroma that’s pretty appetising to say the least. The inhale sees a sweet note on the tongue with a smooth hit and great cloud on the exhale. The flavour really develops into a full on orange jam flavour that tickles the tongue with sweetness. The orange has a slight creamy end to the flavour mixed with a very light biscuit undertone. The aftertaste is a mouth watering light orange tease that literally makes you want to vape more. Overall the flavour is pleasant and moreish. I would say its more on the fruity side of the scale. 5/5

JAmes PArnell

Fav’ Juice: Vape Shlurp - Export

Fav’ Mod: ASMODUS MINIKIN V2 My palette: Fruit and Sweets

PASSION

This e-liquid has a sweet fruity scent with a hint of alcohol. It smells just like a fruit cocktail. On the inhale the vape gives a light fruity taste that comes with a smooth hit. The exhale develops a very tasty passionfruit taste. It develops an alcohollike edge which pushes this to taste just like a porn star martini. The flavour also develops a very light cooling which just adds that special touch.

The aftertaste has more of a liquorice taste which personally I am not keen on but I know many that would love it. 4/5

FEAR

Fear smells absolutely great. It has a mixed scent of grapefruit and lime.

On the inhale a sweet lime essence touches the tongue with a sweet throat hit that has a slight cooling agent in it. The exhale begins with the light coolant undertone helping a sweet grapefruit ascend. This then takes a citrus turn and a lime flavour takes the limelight (excuse the pun). This flavour rollercoaster is assisted by a light absinth undertone. This is a really different vape and I would advise all to give it a try. 4/5

APPLE PIE

Apple pie smells amazing it has a sour apple scent that gets the mouth watering. Some light notes of pastry ease through too so I know that this is going to be good. The inhale has a light apple taste that is sweet on the tongue. This flavour is accompanied by a hit which was so smooth I was wondering if there was even nicotine in it. The apple flavours develop a sour sweet note like boiled down apples fresh from a stove top. This delicious taste is then accompanied by a biscuit taste that gives the flavour a distinct pie characteristic that is carried into the lasting aftertaste. This is the best flavour of Dinner Lady’s new range. It is a must try! 5/5

LOVE

This e-liquid has a light raspberry scent with a clear minty undertone.

On the inhale the vape produces a cold menthol and smooth hit. The cloud production on the mixed range is incredible. The raspberry flavour is the first to come through. It’s a rich flavour and carries a light undertone of mint leaves. This literally gives the experience of a mojito cocktail.

The exhale leave a sweet note on the tongue and a cold sensation in the throat.

This is a very impressive vape and one perfect for the adventurous vaper. 5/5

BLACKCURRANT CRUMBLE

SLOW BLOW

Slow Blow has a really intriguing soda scent. It has a lime note with a tropical fruit edge.

The inhale sees a cool sweetness brush over the tongue with a very light hit. The exhale delivers a koolada cooling fuelled by a sweet lime taste. The flavour has an almost fizzy feel to it. The lime taste has a sweet pineapple undertone that gives this vape extra depth and I really like the citrus vs tropical punch this vape delivers. Overall the vape is smooth and flavoursome with a refreshing cooling effect. A definite ADV for fruity sweet lovers. 4/5

A$AP GRAPE

This vape has one of the nicest black grape scents to date. It is similar to fresh grape soda. The inhale is very sweet and tasty carried by a smooth but cold hit.

The exhale really develops a fresh black grape juice flavour that is cooled by Koolada. The juicy grape flavour then becomes more sweet with a light berry undertone that mixes in beautifully. This is probably the best grape on the market in my opinion but only if you like menthol vapes. The beauty of this vape is the sweet taste stays on your tongue and lips afterwards. This is a great vape experience. 5/5

DEVIL TEETH

This has a great melon scent. It smells fresh and summery. Definitely an appealing aroma. On the inhale the tongue picks up a light melon note straight away with a cooling hit.

The exhale sees this honeydew melon taste really exacerbate, blessing the mouth with a cold sweet sensation all the way to the end. The taste is very good and mimics honeydew melon accurately leaving just the melon taste in the mouth long after vaping it. Overall the flavour is amazing but very basic. The taste has a summer vibe but will definitely be an all day vape for some. 4/5

SILVER BULLET

Silver Bullet has a fresh blueberry scent with a light hint of pineapple.

The inhale is smooth and tasty leaving a light sweet note of blueberries on the tongue. The blueberry flavour develops a slight cooling and an adventurous pineapple mix. The flavour is really refreshing. The pineapple taste also comes with a creamy coconut undertone that finishes it off with perfection. The aftertaste of this vape really makes you want more, leaving a Pina Colada taste for moments after.

Overall it’s a brilliant juice that has a lot of depth in taste, its definitely not one you will get bored of. 5/5

HAWAIIAN HOWL

This juice smells like a lovely tropical fizzy drink. It has strong notes of guava and orange.

On the inhale I was really surprised as the initial taste is light and brings a cool hit in the throat and lungs.

The flavour really bursts out on the exhale with a sharp passionfruit taste that blends nicely with a light sourness in an orange undertone. This flavour really kicks and wakes the taste buds.

It’s a sweet fruity flavour overall with an icy presence that gives this vape a summer feel but it’s definitely one that could keep you going all year long. 5/5

COTTONTAIL CREAM

Cottontail cream has a very sweet and creamy aroma that has a strawberry undertone. The juice has an artificial smell to it but it is quite pleasant though. The inhale has a light sweetness and a very smooth hit that leads on to a huge cloud production. The exhale sees a strawberry flavour rush the taste buds that develops into a sugary cream taste. The strawberry notes in the vape mixed with the creaminess give the general flavour a cotton candy profile and it is really delicious. The flavour is good but overtime can be too sweet but its definitely a flavour to check out. 5/5

This e-liquid has a lovely sweet shop aroma. It has a fruity tone but smells sweetly sour. It is most definitely a candy vape. On the inhale the flavour goes straight to the tongue leaving a sugary strawberry taste. The hit is very smooth with this vape too, no throat hit at all.

On the exhale the strawberry takes a step back and a kiwi flavour carries the vape out perfectly. The kiwi note lasts on the tongue and makes you instantly want to vape more. I have a sweet tooth and couldn’t get enough of this. An excellent vape and a definite must try. 5/5

SLOTTER POP O.G.B

O.G.B has a sweet raspberry and apple ice lolly scent which I find extremely appealing.On the inhale the flavour is very light but develops a raspberry note. The hit is smooth and satisfying.

On the exhale magic really happens. The raspberry note strengthens and develops a light citric note. This flavour then intensifies as a green apple taste comes through to complete the flavour.

This leaves a slight zesty tinge on the tongue and a great aftertaste but it doesn’t stick around for long which, in turn, makes you crave another hit. 5/5

This e-liquid has a very sweet aroma. A mixture of rich tobacco and a artificially sweet vanilla extract notes.

On the inhale the taste of sweet tobacco instantly identifies itself.

The hit is very smooth and easy on the throat. On the exhale the flavours are a lot stronger and start with a sweet vanilla pod taste. This then develops a light tobacco hint that blends nicely creating a rich and creamy vanilla flavour. Surprisingly the tobacco flavour is light but a very exact representation. Overall the vape is a good creamy tobacco that I could definitely vape day in and day out. 5/5

This tobacco blend e-liquid carries a strong sweet smell of strawberries. On the inhale the vape delivers a sweet taste that has a perfume-like note to it.

The exhale gives more of a tobacco taste. It is rich and earthy in flavour. The vape then mixes a light strawberry flavour with the tobacco taste that adds a subtle fruity shot to the bitterness of the overall flavour. The vape finishes on a softer note that carries out the strawberry undertone and lasts on the tongue.

Overall the vape is a sweet blend of tobacco but some flavours picked up are too bitter. 4/5

CARAMELO

Caramelo has a rich tobacco scent with a sweet creamy undertone that gives the earthy aroma a sweetened kick. On the inhale a bitter sweet taste brushes the taste buds and eases the vape into a soft throat hit. The exhale begins with a bitter taste of tobacco which then develops a sweet hint of soft creamy caramel. The caramel flavour makes the tobacco blend quite enjoyable and more like a desserttype vape. The aftertaste of this juice is quite bitter but also quite light so it doesn’t stick around for very long.

Overall it is a pleasant creamy tobacco that has a sweet kick. 4/5

SPACE ROCKZ

VAINILLA FRAGARIA

SIR GARETH

This e-liquid has a very light raspberry aroma that is quite hard to detect with frequent strong strawberry notes. The inhale has a very smooth hit and a light sweetness on the tongue. The vapour production is adequate but not a room filler. The exhale gives a red berry taste which is carried by a strawberry overtone. This is then assisted by a raspberry undertone that carries a sugary taste. The aftertaste on this e-liquid is fruity but subtle. Overall it’s a tame vape but one that will get you through any rough day. 4/5

Round Table

Premium E-liquid

SIR LANCELOT

Sir Lancelot e-liquid has a sweet cake scent that has a vanilla overtone. The inhale has a cakey flavour on the hit and produces a modest cloud. A vanilla sponge taste comes through strongly on the exhale with a vanilla extract note to complement this. The taste is quite creamy and sweet. This flavour is then kissed with a sweet blueberry undertone that finishes the vape perfectly. The aftertaste is a shortlived experience but gets you ready for the next hit of this lovely vape. 5/5

SIR KAY

This e-liquid has a lovely muffin-like scent. On the inhale a light cake-like taste brushes the taste buds and eases in a soft hit.

The exhale has a rich buttery cake taste. This then mixes with a sugary lemon icing flavour which is very subtle but enough to add the to sponge cake overtone. Overall the flavour of this juice is a basic flavour but perfect for an all day vape. This is a cake lover’s basic vape that they can rely on. 4/5

SIR GALAHAD

Sir Galahad has a lovely berry mix aroma.

It smells fresh and crisp.

The overall flavour of this vape is quite subtle and carries a sugary berry taste. The inhale is very smooth and produces sugary clouds.

The exhale sees a red berry flavour that is sweet and succulent. The vape has a hint of cranberries and other sweet berries. The aftertaste is very light but lasting, teasing you to take another hit. 3/5

SIR TRISTAN

This e-liquid has a rich scent of fresh tobacco. It has an undertone similar to a sugary South American coffee bean. There was no distinct flavour on the inhale, just a short hit.

On the exhale, a very strong tobacco blend flavour takes the limelight and lasts all the way to a lengthy aftertaste.

The tobacco flavour has a slight sugary caramel undertone that brings depth to the tobacco flavour.

Overall it’s a very good tobacco with a fresh rich flavour and a sweet additional hint. I would suggest anyone who is struggling to find a tasty tobacco vape should certainly try this. 5/5

KING ARTHUR

King Arthur e-liquid has an amazing sweet scent that carries a mixed aroma of peach and strawberries.

On the inhale the vape carries a sweet taste across the tongue. The exhale has a sweet strawberry flavour that is mouth-watering. The strawberry then softens and a ripe peachy taste blends perfectly, carrying a soft creamy appeal that finishes the vape perfectly.

The vape is a mix of sweet fruitiness but it may pass as a soft yoghurt. I actually really love this vape in all its sweetness.

The aftertaste is very creamy and has a sweet fruitiness that makes you crave more. 5/5

CITRUS-BURST

I was so surprised that this juice smells like everybody’s favourite green soft chew. It has the light sweet scent of lime and a sugary lemon hint.

On the inhale a sour lime flavour hits the back of the tongue followed by a light nicotine taste.

The hit has a slight roughness but has excellent cloud production.

On the exhale the flavours heighten and give a lasting sweet sensation on the taste buds. The lime intertwines with an equally strong lemon to give a fruity lemonade flavour with chunks of lime floating around. An excellent flavour with a lasting aftertaste. 5/5

SHER-BURST

Sher-burst has a tropical fruit scent with a slight lemon sherbet note. When inhaled the juice has a very light flavour which is almost unnoticeable, as is the hit provided. The cloud production is very dense, perfect for cloud chasing. The flavours are a sudden rush on the exhale starting with a sherbet taste followed by a fruit punch after tone. The taste is sweet and notes of strawberry are present. The flavour is quite unique and is best described as a strawberry-lemon sherbet mix. The aftertaste fades quickly but this just makes you want another hit as soon as possible. 4/5

MELON-BURST

This e-liquid has a very sweet honey dew melon/lemon mixed aroma. It has a sweet chew note too. The smell is definitely appealing. On the inhale a sweetness overcomes the tongue and then followed by a light bitter hit in the throat. On the exhale the taste of a strong sugary cantaloupe rushes into the mouth with a vengeance. I am literally in awe of the strength of flavour, its delicious. The cantaloupe blends with a honey dew which makes the juice even sweeter. The magic is the aftertaste as it rests on the tongue in all its sweetness. A solid melon vape that is more unique and tastier than the flooded market of watermelon vapes. 5/5

BERRY-BURST

MANGO-BURST

Mango bust surprised me with a earthy marijuana-like scent that peaks to a mango overtone. It has a light fragrance of mint leaves that come and go. The scent definitely surprised me. On the inhale a light sweet mango note passes the tongue with a smooth hit and thick vapour. The exhale sees the mango flavour strengthen and become sweeter. The mango flavour then weakens and an earthy note blends in. This final mix is carried out into the aftertaste that lasts. The mango flavour is one of the most realistic I have tasted but I wasn’t too keen on the earthy notes. 4/5

Berry-burst has a variety of notes in its smell. I picked up notes of blackcurrant, strawberry and raspberry but overall it has the characteristics of a summer squash drink. An overly sugary sensation hits the tongue on the inhale with no direct taste. The hit is sudden but light. The exhale starts with a raspberry overtone which then flips to a blueberry taste. This then mixes with light tastes of blackcurrant and strawberries. It’s a fruit lover’s heaven. All the sweet flavours combine but the sugary taste fades making this juice definitely an ADV. My personal favourite of the range so far. 5/5

STRAW-BURST

As expected, this juice doesn’t carry a strong scent just a light strawberry hint. On the inhale a soft taste of strawberries rushes the mouth and provides a slight hit. The exhale sees the strawberry flavour enhance with a soft candy note. The nice thing with this vape is that the strawberry doesn’t taste artificial. The aftertaste carries a soft chew taste that diminishes quickly. Overall a solid strawberry candy vape. 5/5

TEAR TOP TUBES

One of my personal favourite things about attending vape expo’s around the world is the fact that you get to meet people within the industry you’ve never met before.

It is always a pleasure meeting new people and this October at the Vaper Expo it was no exception. Whilst walking around near the Vapouround bus I was introduced to the guys from Unette Packaging Limited and introduced to them and their product.

The company dates back to the 1960’s and was founded by Stanley George Hudson. Although originally specialising in the filling of aluminium tubes, they expanded over the years into all forms of contract packaging. It was Martyn Hudson from Unette who in the 1990’s formed an association with the Unette Corporation in the USA which resulted in the ‘Saran’ tube and the innovation of the ‘Dosette Top Tear Tube’ which is designed for controlled dispense applications.

Packaging and presentation has always been of paramount importance to the vaping industry and this will always be the case. Whether it’s for the practicality of sending out samples to interested distributors and shops or for the finished product that each manufacturer hopes will stand out amongst the myriad of juices available to the consumer.

Though the vaping industry moves at break neck speed in terms of both innovation and legislation, packaging will always be something that companies are focusing on and it’s always good to see companies that originated outside of the vaping sphere offering their services to those within it – particularly in the case of Unette. Not only have we seen tremendous innovation within the vape community but many companies outside of the industry have seen ways to incorporate vaping into their product line up.

The Unette samples themselves offered a functional method of distributing juice at low cost. The particular samples I used had the facility to hold 2ml of juice – the maximum size of a tank as permitted under the TPD – in a colourbranded lightweight package. It’s probably obvious, but worth stating anyway, that any packaging that allows juice companies to send out samples in sizes smaller than 10ml will if course offer a reduction in your shipping costs.

Unette also offer a range of styles in terms of the presentation of samples that may suit what juice companies are looking for – as ever in the industry, creativity is key in terms of standing out.

Every single juice manufacturer in the industry is always looking to stand out from the crowd, some are more successful at this than others, and I’d urge every company out there to always be aware of how important image and branding is. Thinking outside of the box can make all the difference in getting you noticed and Unette offer a solution that may well work for you.

JUICE REVIE W S

ARCTIC DREAM

With a name like ‘Arctic Dream’ I automatically assumed that this was going to be a super icy minty menthol – but when I smelled it I noticed a very enticing and pleasant aroma of sweet, tropical fruits. As I inhaled, this liquid started out as fruity and sweet, then I noticed a zesty and sharp lemon flavour that brought this liquid to life. As I began to exhale, a cold and minty edge came into play, and really finished off the flavour in a wonderful and straight to the point way. I particularly enjoyed the minty, cool side of this juice, as it made it very revitalising and gave off lots of flavour. It wasn’t too powerful though, it was in just the right amounts to make this a very palatable and more-ish all day vape.4/5

PEACHES

Fav’

My

DREAM JUICE

ROYAL DREAM

Even before I opened this bottle, I could smell a faint yet alluring touch of fruitiness. That meant that the flavour must be much stronger than I could imagine. I tentatively dropped some of this e-liquid onto my freshly wicked RDA, and took a long, calculated inhale. Instantly, there was a super strong hit of ripe and aromatic mango, enough to send my taste buds into overdrive. I found that there was a pleasant coolness on the back of the exhale, enough to enhance this juice, but not too much that it took away from the original mango flavour. There are only a handful of juices out there that could match the immense flavour found in Royal Dream. I think this is in part to do with the fact that this e-liquid is also 60% VG, meaning that this e-liquid has a higher percentage of PG and therefore a more pronounced flavour. 5/5

YUMMAY GUAVA

Fcukin Flava is a well-known and widelyloved e-liquid manufacturer, based in Malaysia. They are known for super fruity and slightly icy e-liquids. When it comes to the coolness found in many Asian e-liquids, Fcukin Flava knows how to get it right. There is a certain charm that will especially appeal to vapers who utilise coils over 1.0 ohm that are found in more basic set ups. This is down to the fact that the consistency of this particular e-liquid is rather watery - something I am not really used to, because I tend to go for a higher VG juice. But, in a way, I found that having a very decent and flavourful e-liquid in a higher

PG percentage meant that it is perfect for my MTL set-ups. So, on that note, I am going to be using a mouth-to-lung AIO device with a 1.5 ohm coil.

Onto the flavour. Obviously the name of this e-liquid immediately lets you know that there is a guava element in there, but you cannot judge a book by it’s cover, nor an e-liquid name for that matter. As I inhaled this beautifully fruity e-liquid, I could instantly pick up on a sweet, wholesome pink guava (incidentally my all time favourite fruit.) There is an unmistakable ripeness to the guava, that really carries all the way through, from smelling the initial fruity fragrance, to the

inhale and all the way to exhalation. There is also a very well-executed edge to this e-liquid, and that is a fantastically well blended and not overpowering kick of iciness. It doesn’t take away from the guava, if anything, the coolness actually complements it perfectly.

Yummay Guava tasted juicy and had a wonderful aroma on the exhale. It is a perfect juice for non sub-ohm users, and would appeal to many, especially fruit and menthol lovers. Definitely a must try. 4/5

Fav’ Juice: Little Havana - Miami Drip Club

Mod: Rig v2

palette: Desserts

As of late, I have been on the lookout for a decent and mouthwateringly delicious pineapple flavour, and then this arrived. Right off the bat, there was a brilliantly powerful blast of ripe, juicy pineapple. As I inhaled, the flavour intensified and began to blend into an equally powerful, sweet and candy-like strawberry. Together, pineapple and strawberry are a match made in heaven, and they complement one another beautifully, bringing notes of sweetness, sourness and an all round juicy flavour.But it does not end there. As I began to exhale, I sensed a rather muted yet still noticeable touch of iciness that I felt worked fantastically with both the pineapple and the strawberry. 5/5

Another pineapple flavour, yet this time it is carefully blended with a sweet maraschino cherry. The pineapple, again is very juicy and matches perfectly with the sweetness of the cherry. To me, this juice tasted like red fruit punch, delivering sweet and well rounded flavours, ideal for vapers who prefer fruity e-liquids. There is a touch of menthol, but only in the right amount as not to take away from the fruitier elements of this juice. The flavour as a whole is very powerful and offers a delectable and well executed juiciness that will make your mouth water. 4/5

BERZERK FLIPPED TURBO GRAND PRIX RED LINE

This juice has a very strong pineapple smell. It smells really good, like a fresh glass of pineapple juice.

The inhale delivers a very light flavour paired with a subtle icy hit. The cold sensation lasts in the lungs long after exhale then fades.

The flavour is a very sweet pineapple. The pineapple carries a sugary taste and a slight fizzy sensation in the throat. Overall it’s a solid pineapple that doesn’t carry the usual bitterness that I have found in some other pineapple juices. 5/5

This e-liquid has a very sweet fruity smell, which is similar to a sweet fruity candy. The tropical notes are very pleasing but also carry an alcohol-like undertone. Straight away the inhale delivers a sugary kick on the tongue. The hit is very smooth and sweet.

The exhale sees a development of tropical fruits. The most noticeable flavours are like a sweet melon and a pineapple mix blending out to a banana aftertaste.

The aftertaste fades quite quickly but overall the vape is really tasty and perfect for a sweet tooth. 4/5

Wow! This instantly reminds me of those gummy sour cherry coke bottles from a Pick ’n’ Mix. There is a definitive sour and almost fizzy cherry mixed perfectly with a sweet and equally fizzy cola element. I really liked the fact that it actually tastes bubbly and yet it still retains a powerful and well-blended flavour. On inhalation, the cherry is most prominent in terms of taste, and is both sweet and sharp, as you begin to exhale, there is a more obvious and unmistakable blast of cola. I found that as a cherry cola pop lover, I knew that I would like this juice, and it did not disappoint. Very tasty and a definite contender when it comes to being an all day vape. 5/5

Red Line has quite an artificially sweet aroma that does get you curious.

The inhale was a shock as it is very smooth but very cold on the lungs and it leaves a slight watermelon taste on the tongue. The exhale sees a surge in the watermelon flavour that then mixes with a very light strawberry note.

The strawberry doesn’t develop much but adds just enough to make the taste more interesting. I would say if you like menthol vapes then try this juice as the melon taste is great but it is very cold on the lungs. 3/5

DELERIOUS

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

REVIEWS

All these bottles are supplied in 30ml and in 3mg of nicotine with childproof caps in high quality and no leaks.

Matata

You open the bottle and your mind thinks “Hmm grape.” Now in my opinion grape is a tricky flavour to get right. No one apart from the odd few have got it right. It’s either way too sweet or very sickly. So I wicked up my coil and dripped it right on there. Boy was I surprised! The awesome people at Twelve Monkeys, I don’t know how you’ve done it but you have surely smashed it. Finally, a grape flavour that’s not too sweet and not too sickly! To inhale it, it’s like the best grape I have ever tasted but wait there’s more, did I mention there’s apple too that was a perfect surprise; apple and grape. The exhale is an awesome sweet with a taste of sour apple and my god, it’s amazing the two flavours complement themselves perfectly to make one awesome e-juice. Like most of my reviews I’m using a mech mod with a dripper and the throat hit is perfect, just enough to satisfy my craving without overpowering the taste. If I’m completely honest, I’ve vape like half of this bottle whilst reviewing this juice because I loved it so much. 5/5

Mangabeys

First of all, the name catches my eye instantly; Mangabey. For those who are unfamiliar with this word, please allow me to enlighten you. Mangabey is a type of monkey from the tropic islands so without even opening the bottle, I knew it was going to be a tropical mix of some kind. My first thoughts were “Well that can’t be right.”

Usually, tropical mixes smell very sweet with some kind of banana but no I was wrong it was creamy mango and I was in love immediately. As soon as you vape this you get a very smooth creamy mango with a sweet pineapple taste that dances on the tip of your tongue.

The exhale is more sweet with the guava mixing in with the pineapple to make an awesome tropical vape that drifts your mind away to sunny beaches, palm trees and cheeky monkeys. But then my wick gets dry and I am back in my office and I can hear the rain pitter pattering on the window, so I sit back in my chair and drip some more and my mind wanders off to the tropical island.

This juice is amazingly smooth, creamy and sweet all at the same time, top marks once again Twelve Monkeys, sweet and creamy with a perfect amount of throat hit. 5/5

Kanzi

This juice Is a lovely mix of strawberry and watermelon that deserves much praise. The vape you inhale from this juice is just awesome! It’s very fruity and refreshing, the watermelon is predominant in there although with a perfect amount of strawberry mixed in on the inhale. The exhale, however, gives you an added fruit just a little touch of kiwi will leave your mouth watering and while your tonsils will still be buzzing from the strawberry it will leave you very satisfied. Yet again, I cannot think of a single reason why you should not buy this juice it is simply perfect in my eyes and with that being said, I will always carry a bottle in my personal stash since the throat hit is so smooth and a great flavour overall. Twelve monkeys have done it again and made a juice that is simply divine! Top marks guys, keep up the good work 5/5

“Usually, tropical mixes smell very sweet with some kind of banana but no I was wrong it was creamy mango and I was in love immediately.”

K A B G l o b a l D i s t r i b u t i o n i s t h e m a r k e t l e a d e r i n t h e e l i q u i d m

t r a n s f o r m e d h u n d r e d s o f r e c o g n i s e d e l i q u i d b r a n d s t o b e c o m e g l o b a l l y r e c o g n i s e d e - l i q u i d b r a n d s t h r o u g h t h e f l a w l e s s e x e c u t i o n o f m a n u fa c t u r i n g , c o p a c k i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n a c r o s s t h e w o r l d .

M A N U FAC T U R I N G & C O - PAC K I N G

K A B p r o v i d e s b o t t l i n g , f i l l i n g a n d l a b e l l i n g s e r v i c e s t o t h e b i g g e s t e l i q u i d b r a n d s i n t h e g l o b a l m a r k e t , m a i n t a i n i n g c o s t ef f e c t i v e n e s s a n d q u a l i t y

K A B i s a b l e t o C o n t r a c t P a c k o n y o u r b e h a l f a n d s t o r e y o u r p r o d u c t s i n o u r w a r e h o u s i n g fa c i l i t i e s t o e n a b l e d r o p s h i p m e n t s a t y o u r i n s t r u c t i o n s a c r o s s t h e e n t i r e EU

K A B G l o b a l D i s t r i b u t i o n h a s h e l p e d s o m e o f t h e m o s t r e n o w n e d b r a n d s i n t h e m a r k e t e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r p r o d u c t s c o m p l y w i t h Eu r o p e a n T P D r e g u l a t i o n s a n d F DA r e g u l a t i o n s .

T P D & F D A R E G U L AT I O N C O M P L I A N C E

T H I R D PA R T Y F U L F I L M E N T & L O G I S T I C S

a r k e t . K A B h a s

REVIEWS

Fav’ Juice: Cheap Thrills - Glory Glaze

Fav’ Mod: Vaperzcloud XXX

My palette: fruits and drinks

JUICE REVIE W S alex shenker

WATERMELON RUSH

Watermelon Rush is a mouthwatering blend of sweet, juicy watermelon and ripe strawberries. The initial inhale is filled with the refreshing melon flavour we all know and love, and it’s soon joined by a sweet and superbly accurate strawberry that really ties the juice together, lifting it to another level of fruitiness. There’s also an impressive amount of cloud on display with this juice as well, and I found it held up really nicely at high wattages, filling up rooms in seconds with a watermelon haze.

To sum up, Watermelon Rush is 100% a juice that I personally could vape all day, all month, all year. 5/5

VERDICT – STRAWBERRY LIMEADE

This juice has a very sweet limeade smell. There is a fruity edge but the lime scent is too overpowering to tell.

On inhale the hit is very cool and fairly smooth, there is a slight harsh edge but that just adds to the citrusy experience. It starts lightly with the lime and gives a tease of strawberry.

On the exhale the lime flavour strengthens and lasts to the absolute end. The strawberry is more of a subtle undertone that comes and goes throughout the vape.

On occasion a slightly fizzy sensation is evident too. It’s a nice juice with a slight cold edge. 4/5

PATROL

Patrol definitely brings something unique to the table. I love coffee, and I love doughnuts. Turns out I love them together! The first thing to mention is that this juice smells amazing. I defy anyone with a sweet tooth to smell this liquid and not crave sugary things. Thankfully it tastes as good as it smells. Initially a strong yet sweet coffee flavour hugs your tastebuds, filling you with a warm and satisfying feeling, almost like you’re drinking it from a mug. Then you get the glazed donut....the sugary treat that is the perfect partner to the creamy coffee. I love Patrol, especially first thing in the morning with breakfast. I’m not sure if I’d want to vape it all day long, I prefer to savour it and keep it back for those moments when you need a little perk up from your vape. Pure satisfaction. 5/5

GOLDEN VGA

A smooth and nutty golden tobacco flavour. Not being the biggest fan of tobacco e-liquids, I thought I was never going to get on with this one. However it does feature an accurate tobacco flavour, so for that reason I can appreciate it for what it is. I’m sure if you like tobacco e-liquids this one will be right up your alley. 4/5

MENTHOL SENSATION

Menthol Sensation is the premium version of the classic Hangsen Menthol, featuring an impressive hit of menthol as well as different types of mint, making it a very icy liquid that’s nice and refreshing on the palate. I definitely recommend Menthol Sensation to anyone suffering from the dreaded vaper’s tongue. This liquid is almost guaranteed to cleanse your tastebuds. It’s worth mentioning that due to the high PG content in this liquid it does pack quite a punchy throat hit so keep that in mind! 4/5

BLOOD FUZZY DUCK

Dragon’s Blood is a seriously complex e-liquid. A sweet and fruity infusion that combines red berries like strawberry and raspberry with hints of menthol, aniseed and I can even taste a tiny bit of eucalyptus. There’s so many other notes on display here and it’s all blended together so effortlessly that they all shine out without ever stealing the show. Truly a juice that needs to be vaped to understand. 5/5

The recipe and flavourings for this liquid are a closely guarded secret, but to me it tastes like a fizzy, fruity cocktail mixed with different lemonades and so many other things, potentially the kitchen sink as well. Amazingly enough each individual component get’s a chance to shine. At first I wasn’t sure about Fuzzy Duck, but the more I’ve vaped, the more I feel I understand what my tastebuds are deciphering. 4/5

A real masterclass in sweet and sour here from Thor Juice. Sweet and slightly sharp blackcurrants, mixed with tangy citrus lemon and lime. I found this juice seriously addictive, probably due to it’s sheer amount of flavour and the refreshing feeling left in my mouth after vaping. Very tingly. 5/5

This one’s a real treat for the sweet tooth, a strawberry ice cream sundae. The creamy taste of vanilla bean ice cream fills your mouth on the initial inhale as the sweet, syrupy strawberry rushes in to lift the whole vape to another level of dessertiness. This liquid produces some seriously sweet and dense clouds, leaving the room smelling like an ice cream bar. What a treat! 5/5

This e-liquid oozes with berry scents. It smells delightful. My nose is blessed with an overtone of strawberries kissed with a note of blackberries, raspberries, cranberriesand blueberries. On the inhale this e-liquid is very sweet. It has a nice overtone mixture of strawberries and blackcurrant which is soft and lasts until the exhale. The exhale sees a savoury nut flavour blend with the sweet fruits. To finish off the vape a subtle cinnamon note comes in as a surprise. Overall this is a tasty vape. This one is for the unique dessert vape hunters, it isn’t like a vape I’ve tasted before. Nicely unique! 4/5

Another complex vaping potion on display here where fruits, herbs and spices like star anise all combined to create something truly worthy of it’s mythical name. There are berries plus menthol, aniseed, eucalyptus, citrus, sugar, the list goes on and on. I’m seriously impressed with Thor Juice’s ability to blend so many different flavours into a coherent and down right tasty e-liquid. 4/5

DRAGON'S

WOBBLY GOBLIN

HADES

A real blast from the past here. A blue slushie, the classic arcade treat. An icy raspberry drink that has been lovingly recreated in e-liquid form by Pysco Juice. The classic ‘blue’ raspberry flavour is featured here and it’s syrupy sweet, nothing at all like the fruit but tasty nonetheless. There’s also a fair amount of icy menthol/koolada in the juice that, for me, was a little bit too much. I would have preferred it a little less cold. All in all Puppy Slush is a tasty juice that fills me with nostalgia. 4/5

Walter White brings us a familiar blend of fruits and menthol with a hint of aniseed. If I’m honest there are so many different fruits blended into this icy crystal concoction that it’s hard to pick out any one individual flavour but it’s a pleasant concoction. The overall effect is a very refreshing e-liquid, but as with Puppy Slush, there’s a little bit too much ice on display here. 3/5

This juice is right down my alley. A fizzy pink lemonade that zaps my tastebuds with sweet and sour fruity notes. For me raspberry and lemon is the prefect fruit combo and when it’s tied together with fizzy lemonade it’s hard not to smile when vaping Crackbrained. There’s no doubt in my mind I could vape this juice constantly without ever getting bored and it’s so tasty and refreshing I’m almost scared to finish the bottle! As far as I’m concerned this is the highlight of all the Psyco Juice’s and a liquid I’m happy to recommend to any and all vapers. 5/5

This well-formulated juice begins its offering from the scent, delivering a smooth peanut butter smell with a hint of natural sweetener from a fruit. From the scent and the name of this juice it becomes clear what particular flavour you may get. Moving on to the inhale, from the get-go there is a smooth peanut butter flavour with an almost creamy texture, however at this point no jelly (or jam as the Brits would call it) is obvious. It is the exhale where the jelly flavour starts to kick in, slowly increasing in intensity the strawberry jelly flavour intertwines with the smooth peanut creating an impressively tasty juice. The after taste of this juice is almost non-existent with only the sweetness remaining for a short time after. 5/5

The scent of this juice before vaping is comprised of one sole smell; blackberries. The inhale offers a simple profile, being predominantly a cool blackcurrant flavour. With little in the way of tells to how this juice will taste, you may be shocked to hear it is very similar to an alcoholic cocktail. The exhale is where this juice gets interesting. The cool blackcurrant takes a quick turn, turning into something more fizzy and full with a hint of lemon, comparable to lemonade mixed with blackcurrant cordial juice. Along with this is an extra flavour which is mixed so much it becomes hard to define it’s particular flavour but it really is an interesting cocktail of juices. Post-vape there is little in the way of after taste with only a hint of blackcurrant remaining. 4/5

The abstractly named juice begins to escalate interest from the start with it’s milky vanilla smell. The inhale starts off with the same theme of a soft milk flavour and a slightly more intense vanilla. Through the inhale an undertone of American-style cookies emerges, adding a new dynamic to this juice. Onto the exhale where a cooling effect springs into the mouth which merges with milk and vanilla to create an impressively realistic ice cream flavour. Combined with the American cookie this juice creates a complex yet delicious flavour profile. Postvape this juice leaves a hint of vanilla on the tongue, forcing the need to smack lips together in an attempt to prolong it. 4/5

PUPPY SLUSH

WALTER WHITE

CRACKBRAINED

MUSIC

DELIRIUM DRINK

JELLY NUT

Our la -minute gift guide for the vaper in your life Our la for vaper in your life

Yes, Christmas is a time for giving. But what are you supposed to give people? There’s always at least one person in your life who is notoriously difficult to buy for.

In my cynical Christmas of the future we’d save ourselves the trouble by just moving funds between each other’s bank accounts on Christmas morning. But I see how that’s not exactly getting into the Christmas spirit. Instead, rather than taking the slightly less lazy option of giving people gift vouchers, I try to find them presents that they would actually like and would enjoy opening on Christmas day. My present-buying process goes something like this: Five or six weeks before the big day, I start making mental notes about the habits of people around me. Someone bangs on about a film or TV show, I plant a memory seed about memorabilia.

Someone else talks about football, I make a mental note to look at their team’s webstore. Another person busts out a mod on a night out, I decide that a vape product would be a good gift idea. Usually, a few weeks after that point and usually dangerously close to Christmas Day, I jump online and begin to whittle down my options. Somehow I never seem to remember how long this process takes. It’s rarely as straightforward as Googling some broad term and landing on something specific. More likely, you end up realising how vast your options are and how few of them are actually any good.

With that in mind, we’ve put our heads together and come up with some Christmas present ideas. You may be running out of time but if you get in quickly the recipient needn’t ever know that you left it this late.

Sto ing Fi ers Sto ing Fi ers

E-liquid multi packs are a perfect gift to stuff inside a stocking.

C l Vaping Gifts C l Vaping Gifts

The SMOK Alien kit took the vaping industry by storm becoming one of the most popular advanced vape kits around. The alien gives a solid perfomance and looks great. Definitely one for santa’s list.

Coil Master DIY kit V2

The Coil Master kits are an excellent way to push coil building to perfection. This would be a solid gift for any vaper who owns an RBA and wants to customise there coils and vape experience.

Battery chargers are a must have bit of kit that advanced vapers use. This nifty device is capable of charging a variety of battery options. Making it a good, unique gift for any vaper providing they use external batteries.

Guerrilla Straps Holster GeekVape Athena Squonk kit

Vapes in pockets can be a frustrating occurance especially at vape shows. Vape holsters are a great way to prevent this and can make you feel like a cowboy. They look cool they are a safer vape and more practical way to carry a vape.

Squonk mods are back (see Pimp my Mod also in FYI) and sales are on the rise with more and more companies making them. They are a great alternative to classic dripping and half the effort. This is a pretty good device from Geekvape and there are lots more on the market.

AsMODus Stabilised Wood

Stabilised wooden mods are a classy way to completely differentiate yourself. Asmodus mods are a great looking example of this. The Stabilised wooden market is one us vapers drool over but do come with an often costly price tag. This is why they would be an excellent vape gift.

CLUE: IGNORING THIS WOULD BE FUTILE

What’s the surname of the composer who scored the music for The Nutcracker?

In which city was Kevin left ‘Home Alone’ at Christmas?

What group kept X Factor winner Joe McEldrey off the top spot at Christmas 2009?

What seasonal name did The Simpsons give to their cats?

What name is given to the four-week period leading up to Christmas?

In which fictional land is it ‘always winter but never Christmas’?

Which iconic Christmas plant has the Latin name ‘Hedera’?

How many pipers were piping in the 12 Days of Christmas?

What traditional Christmas drink is comprised of milk, cream, sugar, eggs and alcohol?

What is the surname of the actor who played Lee Christmas in The Expendables?

Machine,

TO CREATE A WORD OR PHRASE RELATED TO VAPING

CLUE: POSITIVE IRRITATION

What is New Year’s Eve called in Scotland? What is the first name of the lead actor in Jingle All The Way?

According to myth, who banned Christmas in England between 1647 and 1660?

Which US President banned Christmas trees from the White House?

Where did Jack Skellington live in The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Which singer collaborated with Nicole Kidman for the 2001 Christmas Number 1, ‘Somethin Stupid’?

Which popular Christmas item gets its name from the old French word for ‘spark’?

Edward H. Johnson created the first electrically illuminated Christmas tree in 1882. Who is often incorrectly credited for this invention?

In which ocean is Christmas Island located?

FEATURING STEVE MASSINGHAM AKA CRAFTY COILS

Hello and welcome to another instalment of Coil Porn. This time around we’re going to look at the whys and wheres of installing your coils. But fi rst, I’m going to break the decks down into some basic groups:

The classic 3 post (fig.1) The 3 to 4 post (fig.2) The 2 to 4 post (fig.3) The classic 2 post (fig.4) Single hole 2 post (fig.5)

I know there are other types out there, but these form the basis of most decks, each with their own little oddities. And so, let’s begin.....

First and foremost, give your atty a good clean. This is a good habit to get into when you switch out your coils.

Once that’s done, let’s look at coil positioning.

Now this all depends on your coils: either wide or thin. Some decks (fig. 4 & 5 for example) lend themselves well to large wide coils, whereas fig.1 is far better for smaller coils given the distance between the positive and negative post. Fig. 2 & 3 are good all-rounders, enabling you to use different configurations to accommodate different sized coils.

Your main goal with positioning is to get the coils an even distance from the posts, level and in-line with your air flow. The first two will help to get an even temperature across both coils, and the third, a better vape.

When you’re moving and twisting your coil into position always put a core through it so as to not deform the coil. Once you have your coils in situremembering to do your best to have all the spacings even - it’s time to work out those hot spots and get the coils glowing evenly.

A pair of ceramic tweezers is a must here as they don’t conduct. This will allow you to pinch the coils while they are heated without causing a short. When you are pulsing your coils, you want to heat them up evenly and from the middle out.

You may have to pinch and stroke the coil with the tweezers in order to clear the hot spots (spots of intense heat and light on the coil caused by uneven electrical flow through the body of the coil). Put a core through the centre (not when powered) and give the coil a very gentle wiggle.

Once everything’s glowing nicely it’s time for some wick. Now, this can be tricky. However you choose to wick, you want it tight enough that it won’t pull out but you also want to be able to pass it through the coil without using force. And that’s about it for this coil lesson.

In the next issue I’m going to be looking at my favourite coil; the staple coil.

To those who don’t know what squonking is – today’s the day your vaping vernacular gets a little richer. It refers to a certain e-cigarette specially designed to reconcile the best of e-liquid storage and delivery with minimal drawbacks. The word itself comes from the mod’s squeeze bottle design (and that’s about as much as we know on the etymological front). A good squonk mod can circumvent the expected pros and cons of traditional mod setups, and squonking appears to have solved some seemingly unsolvable problems as old as vaping itself. One of the main divides in preference

when it comes to mods is RDA versus RTA, that’s rebuildable dripping atomiser and rebuildable tank atomiser. The former allows you to drip your liquid directly onto your mod’s wick, the latter has a refillable tank to hold your liquids. Proponents of the RDA model prefer the larger, more satisfying clouds and stronger taste. However, RDA use comes with the disadvantage of having to drip frequently onto a device with no tank to contain the liquid. The main appeal of RTA is its superior liquid capacity, reducing the vaper’s need to drip so often, at the cost of a slightly more suppressed flavour.

A squonker mod pumps new liquid up into your atomiser from its bottle at the base. To put it simply, you’re getting the liquid accessibility and longevity of a tank, with the enhanced taste of an RDA; potentially the strengths of both mod types, the weaknesses of neither. Also, the generous bottle size overcomes tank restrictions on most mods.

Squonkers may have very specific features where bottle size and storage are concerned, but that’s about as far as they go for exclusivity. Squonk mods can come in traditional regulated or mech form.

IJoy • KANGERTECH • GEEKVAPE • ASMODUS • C.O.V

FEATURING SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPANIES

THE CHANGING FACE OF THE VAPING COMMUNITY

Garry Golding of Vapourwise is ushering in a new, more inclusive kind of vape shop. What are the first things that pop into your head when somebody mentions a vape shop?

Clouds, vape decks, rows of brightlycoloured bottles and mods in glass cases are the foundational images for most. But beneath the surface, what kind of atmosphere and overall feeling do you envision? Is a vape shop usually relaxed, hospitable and open? We think so, but not every new vaper has had the best experience, and in this feature, we’re talking to someone trying to make these qualities universal to the UK vape scene.

Garry Golding is the founder of Vapourwise, and has made it his mission to run a vape business as welcoming and inclusive as possible, and he’s already seeing excellent results.

“I started vaping three-and-a-half years ago,” says Garry. “At first, I ordered all my liquids online, but had a pretty bad experience of it. After one too many cases of getting poor quality products, I started going to vape shops. There weren’t many such places in my area when I started vaping. I tried them out and found

a bit of an unwelcoming and intimidating atmosphere for a beginner. There were big clouds in the place, and it had the feeling of a tattoo parlour or piercing studio, very youth-oriented. I have nothing against that sort of thing at all, it’s a matter of taste, but I would have liked something for vapers who don’t fit into that traditional box.”

While we love the established image, attitude and subcultural traits of vaping as a business and a consumer activity, we should never discourage its continued diversification. Vapourwise stores hire young and mature staff, and see an enthusiastic influx of diverse regulars who reflect the company’s values. But how did this new addition to the industry get started?

“I ran my own plumbing company for twenty-five years. About six months after taking up vaping, I decided to start my own vape shop and haven’t looked back since.”

Garry passed the family plumbing business down to his son and soon had his first Vapourwise shop up and running. Vapourwise now has stores in Thatcham and Andover and the company prioritises helping smokers make the switch to e-cigarettes and have dedicated

themselves to the idea that anyone can take up vaping at any time, regardless of their background.

“It’s been really well-received by the local communities, and we attract all sorts. There are smokers who want to switch coming in, but also ardent vapers who have been cloud chasing and coil building for years, and they like our unique approach, it’s a nice break from what you usually get.”

With accessibility as his theme, Garry has taken Vapourwise online, building a straightforward, user-friendly site for visitors to navigate. www.vapourwise.co.uk

“We’ve now got two stores and an online presence, and are opening two more next year.”

With a trademark style cemented, Vapourwise has confidently expanded their brand to include their own selection of liquid lines, chief among them a 60/40 VG/PG mix compatible with any device, and test stations within stores.

Riding high on a well-nurtured good idea, Garry Golding’s Vapourwise is attracting attention from numerous vape companies who want to sell on its site and from its shops.

This year at Vapouround we proudly celebrated our second birthday. Keen to spread the good feeling to the wider community, we ran an anniversary social media campaign, offering vape business the chance to win an advertising package worth £10,000. VIP Vapers co-owner Ashley Cole was understandably delighted when his company was named the winner.

“We were of course delighted to win the competition, though understandably there were many other businesses who came away disappointed!”

Ashley’s journey from non-smoker to smoker and then vaper started a little later than many people. He was nineteen when his smoking habit began. And while he managed to ditch the cigs three years later, he soon found them back in his life, even though he himself was not doing the lighting up.

“I got into a relationship with someone who was a smoker and suddenly I was being exposed to tobacco smoke again. I really didn’t like being around it.”

It was around this time that Ashley began working for another vape company. Here he met the company’s wholesale supplier, Lee. They got on well and after a while they decided to go into business together. And so, the first VIP Vapers store opened for business. Now Ashley and Lee have a 50/50 stake in the company, with five staff manning their two main stores, plus a strong team across their five other franchises.

Almost as soon as Ashley and Lee started working together, they found that they had their own set of skills that complemented each other and benefited the company and its customers. Ashley was really into the community side of things, and particularly enjoyed discussing products and helping novices make the often-intimidating transition from smoking to vaping. Meanwhile, Lee thrived on the social business aspect – working with others and forging new business relationships.

These new relationships have led their aspirations to expand, both on the range of products they produce and supply and on the reach of VIP Vapers as a whole.

October’s Vaper Expo saw the launch of VIP Vapers’ mechanical mods line in the form of the 25mm brass and copper Depth Charge Mods – a solid piece of kit that went down a storm at the event.

Speaking of the expo, they guys had a great time at the event. And despite having some reservations about the initial outlay, it turned out to be well worth the investment. Being a real people person, Lee was truly in his element and was able to make some key industry contacts, ensuring the success of their juice lines.

“It was a huge financial risk but we are so glad that we bit the bullet and went ahead with it. One thing I liked was that, compared to previous expos, we were all in it together - there was no vendor monopoly. We were rubbing shoulders with the bigger guys right beside the red carpet.”

Lee and Ashley hope to open a further five stores in 2018, expanding VIP Vapers further up the country. This goal of appealing to a larger market will be evident in the products VIP Vapers are currently in the process of developing.

“As devices have got bigger, customers have had to fork out more cash to account for refills and other peripherals. But in the current market, this can cause some customers to miss out. Until now their only option has been to sacrifice on quality. We will soon be selling more affordable products that don’t skimp on quality, ensuring that customers come away happy, whatever their budget.”

This altruistic approach extends to the environment. Both Ashley and Lee are committed conservationists who do what they can to minimise waste wherever possible. As such, they have a policy that rewards customers for returning used liquid bottles with a 10% discount.

The guys are currently in the process of widening their juice range (which they manufacture themselves, as Ashley proudly explains.) By the end of 2018 we can expect to see another standard VIP Vapers liquid as well as a special charity range.

Sadly, Mark, a close friend of Lee and Ashley, died earlier this year. The ‘Angry Welshman’ line has been created in his honour with proceeds going to a charity relevant to his illness.

“It has, of course, been a difficult time. But the community have been very supportive of the charity idea.”

Ashley speaks incredibly fondly of the vaping community. As VIP Vapers further expands its reach, vapers shall no doubt benefit from their conscious approach to their products, their growing customer base and the environment itself.

In an era that demands ethical practices as well as customer services and quality products, VIP Vapers’ focus on their customers’ diverse needs and respect for the world we live in make them a template for others to follow. But with so much promise for the years ahead, they will be a very tough act to follow.

From the sunny beach town of Carlsbad California, Capella introduces their new SilverLine of flavours.

flavour alchemy

Makers of the gold standard in flavouring introduce a new line at a low price

Carlsbad California, USA. In a typical palm tree lined American light industrial park there’s a crew of flavour alchemists dedicated to creating the tastiest most concentrated flavours available. With the release of their new SilverLine of flavours we’re predicting more than a few discerning mixologists will be creating more DIY projects for themselves and beyond.

2005: The Capella Coffee Co. introduced their first coffee and tea flavouring drops. Starting with just 6 flavours, the original mission was to provide the finest post brew flavourings for coffee and tea - without any fats, calories or sweeteners. After a few years The Capella Coffee Co decided to expand on their flavor drop line and in 2008 they launched Capella Flavor Drops. One by one, they crafted delightful flavourings

to be used in food and beverage appli cations. Around this time, the emerging vaping industry discovered Capella Flavors were perfect for their vapes. The pantry grew and now Capella produces over 150 unique and delicious flavours.

“Our mission is to provide the widest variety of great tasting flavours,

Tom McMahon - CEO, Capella Flavors

flavours. Learn more about this new line, the people and history of the worlds most popular flavours.

“

A classic American success story: Tom McMahon started creating flavours for coffee and tea in his garage.

In our desire to support the Vaping industry, Silverline brings affordable pricing for excellent quality flavours. Our customers now can get, The BEST for less. ”

Omar

Afzal - Marketing Director

Capella Flavors are crafted “In-House” - nothing is outsourced to third parties. With state of the art facilities on the West and East coast of the USA, Capella is uniquely positioned to supply the world with the purest and most concentrated flavours.

2017: Many of the worlds best selling vapes are mixed with Capella Flavors. Capella is now celebrated as the “gold standard in flavour worldwide”.

In the vape world, safety and purity are paramount. You spoke, Capella listened. EU/SDS data sheets are pro vided for every flavour. All flavours are tested and certified by the 90 year old, Certified Laboratories, a leading food industry testing lab. Certificates of Analysis can be downloaded from the all new capellaflavors.com.

Capella’s new SIlverLine is providing a way the world can experience the gold standard in flavour, by helping bigger companies create new projects at a lower cost, and allowing alchemists at any scale to “turn a little silver into gold”.

All flavours tested and certified by 3rd party:

produced with the finest ingredients at the highest levels of quality and purity.”

om the mak s of