Home Business UK Vaping Association: The Vaping Industry Remains “Open For Business”

Business

UK Vaping Association: The Vaping Industry Remains “Open For Business”

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has issued a press release, reassuring vapers and smokers that despite the closure of vape shops due to the current lockdown, e-cig retailers are still “open for business”.

Diane Caruana

April 8, 2020

“Vaping businesses are by nature extremely entrepreneurial and agile and a number are repurposing their business models to continue to serve their customers. Specialist online retailers are also reporting significant increases in demand during the lockdown.”

The UKVIA, is the largest trade body representing the vaping sector in the UK. In an open letter to Nadhim Zahawi, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, small business minister Paul Scully and minister for prevention, public health and primary care, Jo Churchill, last month, the association urged local authorities to keep vape stores open across the country. The UKVIA pointed out that closing these outlets could encourage many former smokers to resort back to smoking.

Meanwhile, the association has issued a press release to remind e-cigarette users around the country, that they are still able to obtain their devices despite the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition to dedicated online retailers and manufacturing facilities operating as usual, physical store owners are looking to ramp up sales via their websites, and many have even set up home delivery services.

Adapting to current situation

Director at the UKVIA John Dunne, has pointed out that by nature the vaping industry is a dynamic industry. “Vaping businesses are by nature extremely entrepreneurial and agile and a number are repurposing their business models to continue to serve their customers. Specialist online retailers are also reporting significant increases in demand during the lockdown.”

“It is critical during these highly stressful times that vapers have access to vape products to prevent them from taking the backward step and reverting to smoking. Likewise, it enables smokers looking to quit to switch to vaping. The UKVIA has published a list of its retail members who provide online and home delivery services so that vapers and smokers can simply access vape devices and e-liquids during the lockdown period, ” he added.

Ways to obtain your preferred products

Dunne added that vapers should check the specific services that each retailer provides. “You will need to check exact services and order delivery times with each retailer – for example some operations are offering orders up to 6pm for next day delivery.”

To this effect, the association has issued a list of UKVIA retail members who are still open for business providing online and home delivery services: