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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
into concern that they might actually be
too good. “Once I tried it, I knew some
of my customers would love to have one
of these, but then I was concerned that
I might lose some regular cigar business
to them,” he explains.
Over time, he found that not to be
the case—the electronic stogie was
incremental business for when “my guys
are at a place where they can’t smoke or
it’s illegal to smoke…they can take this
e-cigar out and puff on it a few times
and it satisfies what they need,”Lambert
says. “Guys, too, who don’t smoke in
their car, house and/or office—they now
have an opportunity to do that, as well.
I don’t see that I lost any cigar business
whatsoever to this.”
The E-Cigar King limited edition
is not an impulse purchase—it retails
for about $150 for the kit (one battery,
three pre-filled cartomizers, a USB wall
adapter, a charging cord and a USB car
adapter) at Tinder Box—so Lambert
usually sells it by letting customers
try it first. “Vapor4Life makes rubber
tips available so that many different
customers can try the E-Cigar King we
have in store; most will not buy it on the
spot, but many will leave and come back
about a week later wanting it,” Lambert
explains. “Once they buy one, they’re a
converted customer, [and] it becomes
another reason to shop [at] our stores—
for the replacement liquids.”
The e-cigars at Tinder Box are
merchandised in a glass showcase near
the cash register with a big sign that
says “TRY ME,” and when customers
inquire about trying it, they’re given one
that’s kept behind the counter with a
fresh rubber tip. Tinder Box also carries
the liquids, typically lasting for about
two weeks, up front for $17.95, which
Lambert says is “a bargain considering
most of our guys pay more than that for
two premium cigars.”
The e-cigar is a growing category at
Tinder Box, which is currently stocking
about six to eight units at one time with
the ability to order more in very quickly.
“We are close to the company’s shipping
area, so if I need more I can get them in
24 to 48 hours,” Lambert says.
So now that Lambert is sold on the
concept, will he branch out to other
brands and styles of e-cigars? “No,
I’m a believer in this brand and do not
plan on adding to it,” he says. “Like
myself, other customers who have
tried disposable e-cigars and other
rechargeable brands tried this and
couldn’t believe it. I don’t want to sell
anything that’s not the best.”
That rousing endorsement is why
Steve Milin, owner of Vapor4Life, took
four years to develop the product that
is now the Limited Edition E-Cigar
King. It is also being repackaged and
rebranded into a vaping item (which
many say is the way the market is going)
that looks exactly like the E-Cigar King,
available in three sizes: Zeus Royale,
Zeus Regale and Zeus Regalo, each
available in five colors, including black,
green, blue, brown (resembling a cigar
leaf ) and hot pink.
