Vaping is like high school

Vaping is like a giant high school. With that begin said this is why I am so tired of this community lately.  We have a large group and it seems like everyone has turned into a bunch of immature high school students.

This group hates this group for some unknown reason.

This person said this about so and so.

I think people should think before they speak.

I used to enjoy vape meets in the Orlando area. Usually ended up talking with someone I didn't know before. Now I dread them. The stores do nothing to motivate me to come in. OK it can get expensive to buy food, but at least have water and something to munch on.

The meets are less and less organized and the people tend to stand in their own clicks pointing fingers at other people.

This has to stop and I can't figure out how to stop this train wreck.

Are petitions really worth it?

There have been a lot of petitions going around lately. I have had to ask myself are they really worth it? So we get a million signatures on a cyber piece of paper?  What does that mean?

Personally I do not think that it means a lot.  Everyone signing is in different areas and districts.  I think the best thing we can do for our industry is to contact our Senators and representatives and let them know how vaping has changed our lives.  Help them see how it has helped our economy.  When a vape store opens up it has helped fill a vacant space, thus the landlord is making more money. Many of these stores are privately owned, helping small business get started. Not to mention being able to buy products locally.

Another thing that is bad politically is the over exaggeration of some of these bills by the community. If I am understanding the latest one we need to act to move the grandfather date of ecigs. Yes this is very important as the newest things (most of our items) would then not be grandfathered in.  However it does not mean (from what i understand) that vaping would be "illegal" I have heard so many variations of the meaning behind this bill that I feel like I am playing the old rumor game.

The end of my rant. Become politically active and voice your opinion, just make sure you are going to be heard.

Vaping Grounds a true class act.

I had the great pleasure of going to a new shop on Saturday.  The Vaping Grounds.  First off it is a coffee / vape shop.  When you first walk in you see the pastries and coffee menu.  After you get a chance to look around you will see what a great class act this place is.

The employees dress up already giving it a very professional atmosphere.  Everything from the coffee area to juice bar is first class.

I think when this industry is so on the edge and many outsiders jump to give it a bad name, if more stores were classy like this one it would help change the attitude.

The party is over.

Well after months of planning the Orlando Convention is officially over.   I am very pleased with how this event went. Yes we hit a few bumps.  We tried to warn the hotel that the fire alarm was going to be an issue. Once it went off and we had to evacuate, we were allowed to let everyone in as quickly as possible, and they fixed the situation so that it didn't happen again.

I was expecting to hear a lot of complaining during this time, but everyone including the vendors seem to handle it well.

Space was of course an issue.  But trust me we looked all over Orlando and that was it.

Although crowded, I thought everyone had a great time and I have heard very little negative comments.

I am left wondering why people come if they just want free things.  Lets face it half the juice we get ends up to be something we don't like.

Isn't the point of these conventions to have some fun and see what products are available?

Anyway, I hope everyone is ready for April in Daytona because that one will be a lot bigger.

Orlando Vape Convention

As we are preparing the night before the convention, getting gift bags ready, and other odd and ends.  I am starting to wonder what people actually expect from conventions?  When I go  I enjoy looking at what is out there and new in hardware, seeing and tasting new juice lines.

What makes a convention a success?  We have 10,000 square feet and I think 30 vendors.  We tried hard to have a wide variety so that it isn't just juice vendors out there.  Space will be a problem as I know it will get clouded and crowded.

I hope everyone has a good time and the vendors have success.  This will be are first of many (hopefully) with the next big one in April.   I wish everyone luck and hope they have a good time.

Pineapple done right.

Always in search of the perfect pineapple as this is my "go to" flavor.  Somehow this bottle landed in my hands. Not sure how since I didn't buy it.  Got it in a trade I think. Now it saddens me that the bottle is empty. This is truly an AMAZING pineapple flavor with just a hint of caramel.  I  tend to find pineapple flavors either to strong or to weak.  Never right where I want it. This one is PERFECT!  I love to buy flavors from local stores and rarely order online as I like to give the support to local businesses.  I might just have to break my rule to find this one.  It is good to the last drop.

Cloud Comps are a big snore fest

Every weekend there is a vape meet in Orlando. Well almost every weekend. I enjoy going and seeing the many people I have met.  Of course it goes without saying the chance to win something is always fun.

Lately I find the cloud competitions to be a SNORE fest.  First you have the same group always competing and winning.   Second.  Stores always turn off the air.  This means I am sweating so that I can watch the same person from last week win a competition. Third.  How is this fair to those of us who don't compete?  I would love to win the grand prize.

Please consider this vendors...............................

Perhaps have your preliminary competition earlier in the day and video the event.  Then have the final two rounds live in the store.  This would lessen the amount of time watching and did I mention suffering and sweating while we watch the same people win.

Maybe some different areas of competition to get bigger groups involved.  Perhaps a womens event, or even over 40 years old for those of us old folks.

Something needs to be done in my opinion because it is really getting boring and stopping me from wanting to go to events.  I know I can't be the only one who feels this way.  Please leave a comment or like this blog post so that I know  I am not alone.

Are vapors and smokers the same?

Should vapors be treated like smokers?

This is a great article and does bring up some interesting points.  Once again  I find myself if the middle of the madness.  I don't feel that vapors should have to be in a smoking area.  After all most of us have quit smoking and no longer want to be around the smell.

However, I do feel that restaurants and businesses do have the right to tell us not to vape inside.  I think originally when the e-cig was small and the clouds were non-existant, most people didn't notice if you took a hit or two inside. However with large devices and cloud chasers, come large clouds.

I do  think if a business is going to have you vape outside then a separate area should be made.  Not that "we" are any better than "them"  however since second hand smoke is one of the leading causes of cancer, we should not have to take a cancer bath every time we vape.

If you are allowed to vape in side............BE DISCRETE!  No reason to break a cloud that is 10 feet long and thick.  We have enough issues trying to convince people that  this is safe.

Orlando Vape Convention

http://www.orlandovapeconvention.com/vendors.html

October will soon be here and I am looking forward to this party.  As conventions go it will be smaller than the HUGE ones everyone is used to. But I think the turnout will be great and it will allow for a more "vape meet" atmosphere.

Most of  the local stores in the area are attending. What does that mean for customers?  Instead of driving all around Orlando to pick something up here and something up over there, you will be able to pick everything up in one place.

It should also give the stores an opportunity to make themselves known to the area and hopefully people from out of town too. 

I hope the weather is a little "cloudy" and the air is filled with many flavors.

Juice Juice Everywhere A New Juice

As the industry grows it seems like every day a new line of juice or e-liquid is coming out and quickly the latest and greatest.  Although many people are against the FDA coming down on the industry I have a different view.

So many of these great flavors are NOT made in a sterile lab.  Some of my favorites are from locals that have started a line and selling.  I love them don't get me wrong.  But I feel at some point there should be some standards for making the liquid.

Just because your apartment is clean that does not mean it is STERILE.   I am a big believer in small business and there has to be a way to mix  the two elements.

Sterile labs or some minimum standards would mean overall protection and safety for consumers.

It also allows for consistency.  Many times  I have gotten a bottle that I loved, bought it again and it tasted different.  I know I can't be the only one who feels this way.

My suggestion is this............sterile labs are expensive so why don't the local mom and pops come together in certain areas pool there money and make a lab in a neutral location?

Don't get me wrong  I think these makers do amazing jobs and I love that they can do something they love.  But I hope they are looking at the bigger picture and are prepared for what the future might bring.

These companies should meet the same type of protocols and require the same type of licensing that would require random health inspections to make sure everything is being done in a sanitary manner.

OK vapors................any thoughts on this one?

New Jersey Vape Expo

You certainly didn't have to attend this event to hear about it.  For what it is worth here are a few of my thoughts.  Someone who organizes a vaping convention where vaping is not allowed indoors.  You can't even vape IN a vape shop!  Dude...................What were you thinking?  

This has been a law since 2010 so it is not like you didn't know about it.  OK you really thought the "private club" thing was going to work?

Having been involved in organizing several of these events I can tell you the FIRST thing you do is your homework.

My personal feeling is that the people involved did not care and decided to go forward with it anyway.  

Hopefully this event did not give conventions a bad name.  We have 2 coming up one in Orlando and one in Daytona.  Florida does not have any laws restricting vaping indoors.  So VAPE ON FLORIDA!  

Spring Vape

It's official Spring Vape will be coming to Daytona Beach Florida.  This will be Daytona Beach's first large vaping convention with approximately 43000 square feet.  We are beginning to market this and hopefully will fill up fast.

Miami Vape Convention

Just curious what everyone thought of the vape convention.  I liked this one a lot more than Tampa.  I felt they had an excellent selection of juices along with mods.  A good balance.  It was also cool to see some things that were not available yet.  I did feel that there was a lot of empty space in the room however maybe that was for the best and made it feel less crowded.


Overall an enjoyable experience and I would probably go again.

FALSE Advertising

This commercial airing on Hulu is completly FALSE with no real information.  Just cute music and false teaser.  It offers no real information about why vaping can be bad for you.  There are two ways to look at this.
1.  Cigarette companies are taking a big enough hit from the rise in popularity to either quitting or vaping that they are trying  to fight back by using false advertisement to sway peoples opinions.

2.  Unless the vaping industry organizes quickly and gets some political representation we are doomed.

Either way I hate the fact that so many people who know NOTHING on the topic will see this commercial.

There is a giant cloud over vaping.

I don't know what it is like everywhere else. But  lately the Orlando area has had a vape meet at a store every weekend.  Now I have to admit this are more my partners world then mine. However  I don't mind going and trying new flavors and seeing what other stores have to offer.  It just seems like lately these meets have been taken over by cloud competitions.

Now I am not a "cloud" chaser. Could care less how big a cloud I blow.  I know others are in the same ball park as me.  Why are these competitions so bad?  I think they are bad for a couple of reasons.

1. The great grand prize is only up for grabs if you blow big clouds.  If a store wants to have a grand prize giveaway then do it with raffles where everyone has a chance instead of the same 4 poeple.
2. Vaping already is fighting for a positive image.  We already have enough negative articles on vaping that we already know are filled with misguided facts.  Showing huge clouds at social events is in my opinion just one  youtube video away from hitting the news and giving us a bad image.
3. Safety.  I can't tell you how many of these  I have been to where something goes wrong even though everything is "thoroughly checked"

So my rant is over but I hope that someone that agrees with me will read this and maybe together we can stop the cloud over the vaping industry.

To clone or not to clone

When I first started vaping all of the "original" mods were expensive.  Thus the clone was born.  I have to admit I feel both ways about it.  Yes it made it affordable, but I do not feel it is right when the logo is stolen and products is not presented as a clone.

However over the years original mods have come down to what I consider a affordable price.

The Orlando Vape Convention is banning clones from being sold.  I personally think this will not affect any purchases or attendance.  As  I said  I think most people can afford originals and most stores have started carrying them anyway.

If I have anyone that reads this I would be curious as to your thoughts on this topic.

Orlando Vape Conventon

Orlando Vape Convention

Orlando is FINALLY having a convention.  10,000 square feet with over 30 vendors.  Check out the website for more information.  This will be just  the beginning.

Fogium

Fogium is one of my favorite juice lines.  Locally made it has been a great experience to watch this company grow.  Their line is Hawaiian based names and mostly fruity types of flavor.  The newest one is called Kowai and it has a unique flavor.  Sort of different each time I vape it.  If you tend to like the fruity flavors this is one company you should try. 

Tampa Convention

So last year I went to the big convention.  It was crowded but there was a wide variety of juices, mods, and unique items.  I have to say this year that  I will probably not go again.  Although I did feel that the booths were more upscale, I was very disappointed in what there was to offer. Yes they had plenty of juice available to the tasting.  But as far as mods, drip tips, and a lot of the other unique items there was not much to offer.  I think for these conventions that is a big draw for me.  Being able to see things that I can't see in local stores.

Food prices are CRAZY so IF someone decides to go bring a lunch and some drinks.

Nope this ole lady is not going back.