74
TOBACCO BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
are pushed all over,” said one
c-store respondent. “There aren’t
enough users today to support the
offering in the market.”
“There are way too many out
there,” agreed another respondent.
“I am starting to see price reductions
in the e-juice and components, so
it will be interesting to see where
it all leads.”
Overall, however, the category
continues to inspire enthusiasm
with the majority of retailers
surveyed expecting gross margins
from vapor products to exceed that
of combustibles by 2018. As one
c-store owner noted, “I think there
is [growing] consumer acceptance
on vaping. Unless the government
changes things drastically, it will
continue to grow. If they tax it, how
they do so will determine what
happens to this going forward. If
consumers think it is better for
them or a less expensive option, I
think you will have more people
trying it.”
TBi
20%
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
e-Cigarette Brand expansion
Companies/brands making the most progress in securing additional shelf space.
C-STORE CORNER
blu
MarkTen
Logic
21st Century
haus
Vuse
NuMark
Criss Cross
E-Generation
eGo
Faze
JustJuice
Lotus
Real
Seminole
Tryst
VaporX
17% 14% 10% 7% 7% 7% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Yes - Negative Impact
No Impact
No Impact Currently - But Expect
Negative Impact in Future
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
are Vape shops impacting C-stores’ e-Cigarette sales?
Most retailers see an impact now or expect one in the future.
47%
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
42%
46%
33%
35%
33%
19%
23% 21%
Q2 2014
Source: 2Q14 U.S. Tobacco Talk Retailer Survey, Wells Fargo
% Respondents Who Said this
Brand Gained the Most Shelf Space in 2013
% of Respondents
