Electronic Cigarettes – E Cig Werks

White Cloud high in the e-cig sky

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:42:00 +0000

Electronic cigarettes are clearly gaining momentum in early 2013 and White Cloud e-cigs are up there with the best of them. E Cig Werks has sampled a variety of electronic cigarette products recently, so this review and profile of White Cloud electronic cigarettes is also a chance for some timely insight into the bigger picture of the electronic cigarette industry.

With a wide array of quality electronic cigarette products, accessories and flavors, White Cloud seems to be as versatile as any of the top e-cig brands in the marketplace. White Cloud has both high quality starter kits and disposable e-cigs. The Cirrus2 Starter kit we tried from White Cloud comes with two batteries, a charger, five cartridges and a carrying case going for $49.95 online and progresses up to a Phantom Kit with more batteries, charges, cartridges and premium case for $199.95. The batteries come in long and short sizes, white or brushed metal colors, and three different ash tip colors depending on preference.

White Cloud one-piece disposable electronic cigarettes come in the Fling brand with some 16 flavors now listed online, but more on that later. Online prices range from $5.95 for a single e-cig all the way up to $325 for a large quantity of 100.

While you might expect the draw or flavor quality of a disposable e-cigarette to be less than that of a rechargeable battery, White Cloud products seem pretty comparable, which is a good thing. One of the many advantages of e-cigs is their versatility, which includes differences between product functionality, but not necessarily in quality. Each Fling disposable provides about 300-400 puffs, according to White Cloud, while the cartridges on the two-piece Cirrus models equal about 40 traditional cigarettes.

In sampling the about 10 of White Cloud’s 16 flavor and strength levels, E Cig Werks concluded that the Apache, Bora Bora, Kick and Espresso flavors were among the best. In particular, Espresso seemed most realistic and strong, while Kick and Bora Bora were very flavorful. Others like Vanilla and Moscow Male (kind of a strange, but appropriate name) were not really to my taste, but flavors can be especially subjective, which is probably why they have so many. White Cloud recently rolled out a new Cin (cinnamon) flavor for its Fling disposables. It’s starting to seem like good old Menthol gets lost in the shuffle with all these new e-cig flavors.

White Cloud labels their nicotine strength levels with appropriate letter codes and we tried Double Extra Strength (XX), which is their strongest and Full Strength (F), which is in the middle. White Cloud has lower nicotine levels and a nicotine-free option like some other brands.

Tarpon Springs, Fla.-based White Cloud emphasizes that their products, while using some components from China, are assembled on site here in the U.S. White Cloud’s website also provides clear and detailed description of its products, including one of the best graphics we’ve seen on how electronic cigarettes work.

Over the last few months, it seems that the public perception and media coverage of electronic cigarettes and vaping has been increasingly positive. Brands like White Cloud and others on the higher end of the e-cig market have been included in some of that coverage. Specifically, White Cloud was mentioned as a top brand in an October Forbes’ story on electronic cigarette growth which noted the company has experienced 77 percent growth since being founded by Michael Murray and Danielle and Matthew Steingraber in 2008.

Another area where White Cloud is among e-cig industry leaders is packaging and design. Their website provides colorful vapor jackets designs as well as NFL team tailgate accessory packs with color corresponding cases, battery and cartridge jackets. White Cloud also provides shot gun tips for those looking for more vapor and nicotine.

Besides a strong online presence with a recently redesigned website, White Cloud is available at retail locations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, while also looking at potential growth in the Nevada casino market.

Brands like White Cloud reflect well on the electronic cigarette industry as it continues to grow in popularity and increase acceptance.

88 lines about 44 e-cigs

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:09:00 +0000

E-cigs are the next big thing, smokin’ in a hi tech style.

Blu the color of the sky, ads with Stephen Dorff are cool.

Greensmoke seems organic, then again, aren’t they all.

V2 has a space age name, really smokes here on earth.

(humming)

Bedford Slims from NYC, handlebar mustachio.

Safe Cig is John Cameron’s deal, his bro has Titanic taste.

E Cigs Unlimited, name’s too long for this line.

South Beach Smoke, makes Miami free to vape.

(humming)

White Cloud keeps it high, in the sky with cool smokes.

American E-Liquid, lotta flavors from the States.

Metro has that city feel, in the stores and online.

Halo is so heavenly, angels might like this brand.

(humming)

Eversmoke lasts so long, orange tip looks like it’s lit.

Totally Wicked dual coil, cool cartoons on their site.

Johnson Creek has the Vea, Midwest flavors you can try.

Electronic Cigarettes Inc., boring name, exciting cigs.

(humming)

Red Dragon puff this slogan, Arizona is their home.

Volcano blows its top, Inferno, Magma, Lavatube.

ProSmoke rates high, really not for amateurs.

Smoking Everywhere is the goal, planes, trains and some bars.

(humming)

NJoy should be good, see them in convenience stores.

Gamucci an Italian name, but comes from the UK.

E-Swishers aren’t cigars, now they’re e-cigs that are sweet

Logics are disposable, Power Series is their line.

(humming)

Vapor Corp. has several brands, Fifty-One smokes anywhere.

EonSmoke from New Jersey, lets you change more easily.

Big Bang is the bomb, starter kits and much more.

Divine Smoke party flavors, they’re from out east.

(humming)

Jet Cigs has the flavor, starter kits with cool pack.

ROK they’re from Britain, bloody well good e-cig.

Evolve is disposable, really nothing wrong with that.

Ecigarator is no danger, just hanging in the swamp.

(humming)

MadVapes are they crazy, we sure hope they’re not.

Ginger’s E-Juice has the flavor, American made all the way.

Virgin Vapor is organic, no more comment needed there.

Alice in Vapeland, Lewis Carroll might enjoy.

(humming)

Vape Dudes must abide, many cigs in their stock.

Pink Spot Vapors hit the spot, pretty in any style.

777 not the Sunset Strip, e-cigs with some luck.

Highbrow Vapor ye e-cig, really isn’t from the past.

(humming)

Solar Cigarette always sunny, always in Florida.

Really E-Cig comes from England, must be a smashing smoke.

21^st Century Smoke in the stores, and online if you must.

E Cig Werks, that is me, I choose myself to end this list.

Can electronic cigarettes recreate retro rebelliousness?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:08:00 +0000

Try to remember the last time someone waxed poetic about the days when smoking cigarettes in coffee shops and bars was considered cool.

While it’s probably been a while, a recent Chicago Reader column by Tal Rosenberg lamented and lampooned how the 2008 Illinois smoking ban helped eliminate the once vibrant vibe of the Windy City’s coffee shop culture. On the same day, a Business Insider article predicted a possible bright and lucrative future for electronic cigarette advertising. A couple days later, the New York Times and Bloomberg Business ran stories on the growth of electronic cigarettes and their advertising.

The timing of these stories and comments got me thinking about whether electronic cigarettes could ever replace traditional cigarettes as an accepted social behavior with a tamer version of the once audacious act of smoking tobacco, or do the same in the mainstream advertising and marketing worlds.

Cigarette smokers have been relegated to the point where just catching a whiff of tobacco on the street sends one on a time warp to a Mad Men episode. It’s hard to believe there were times and places where smoking represented a sense of romantic rebelliousness such as Chicago in the ‘90s, Greenwich Village in the ‘60s, Casablanca in the ‘40s or Paris in the ‘20s. Yes, the times they are a changin’ at coffee houses around the world.

It’s certainly debatable whether smoking bans themselves, more health conscious attitudes or both are beating the drums of change at coffee shops, bars and other places formerly known for their smoky ambiance.

As much criticism as smokers endure for their habit, they tend to be on the eccentric, independent and nomadic side, which fits right in with that old school coffee house culture.

However, as coffee houses and taverns move ever farther from their Bohemian roots, is there a chance that electronic cigarettes can be part of either a rebellious or acceptable future social consciousness?

Whether or not we want to admit it, our basic cultural behavior is often driven by advertising, public relations and now more by social media. Much like the overall market for electronic cigarettes, brand and product advertising and marketing is currently very fragmented even though some major brands like Blu, Njoy and a few others might control larger market shares.

With all due respect to Blu Cigs with its Stephen Dorff ads and others, there just haven’t yet been enough major electronic cigarette advertising or high profile celebrity endorsements to generate significant public interest.

That could be changing now as the New York Times and Bloomberg indicated that Njoy is launching a major ad campaign in the $12-14 million range covering cable and local television, print, online, social media and public relations. A major breakthrough for e-cig advertising will come when ads appear on national broadcast networks.

Some of the latest numbers from the electronic cigarette world include an estimated 3.5 million users in the United States from the Tobacco Electronic Cigarette Association with sales of $500 million from Bonnie Herzog, tobacco analyst for Wells Fargo Securities, whose increasing media profile as an electronic cigarette market source is another sign of the industry’s growth.

Herzog estimates U.S. annual e-cigarette sales are now about $500 million while tobacco cigarettes are about $1 billion. She and others have compared the current e-cigarette market to where energy drinks were several years ago before dramatically taking off.

The fine line that electronic cigarette marketers have been walking might be widening when it comes to claims of being a “healthier” alternative to traditional cigarettes as some ads are using language like “Rise from the ashes” for Blu or “Cigarettes, you’ve met your match” for Njoy or “Make the switch today and change your life” from SouthBeach Smoke.

While those taglines might have “come a long way baby” from old school cigarettes ads like “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should” or “Come to Marlboro country,” they show that advertising will likely drive the growth of electronic cigarettes as a mainstream product.

American E-Liquid Store covers the bases

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:30:00 +0000

As an electronic cigarette manufacturer and distributor, the American E-Liquid Store is going a long way toward satisfying its customers with a variety of products.

While focusing on electronic cigarette liquid as its name suggests, American E-Liquid Store also provides customers and suppliers with batteries, chargers and other accessories. With a strong online e-commerce presence and some retail product supply support, American E-Liquid Store seeks to combine high quality products with a variety of more than 40 flavored e-liquids.

American E-Liquid Store prides itself on customer service and versatility in providing an ever-changing selection of e-liquid flavors.

“We have a lot of products and hardware, but the liquid and flavors are our bread and butter,” American E-Liquid Store Chief Marketing Officer Kyle Danowski said during a recent site visit with E Cig Werks. “We have a diverse line because flavors can be pretty subjective. Customer service is also a pillar of our business.”

Operating out of a relatively small location with offices and laboratories in Wauwatosa, Wis., just west of Milwaukee, American E-Liquid Store sells its products mostly in North America, but also worldwide.

Some of the more exotic American E-Liquid Store Flavors include Cheesecake, Champagne, Djarum Black Clove and HavanaX, American E-Liquid Store also provides more traditional flavors like Tobacco, Menthol, Chocolate and Vanilla. Liquid bottles range in sizes from 15 mL to 60 mL with prices from $9.99 to $29.99 with options for nicotine and base liquid levels.

While marketing the creativity of some of those exotic e-liquid flavors, American E-Liquid Store maintains a commitment to its customers with a straight-forward no-nonsense website at www.amercianeliquidstore.com and a 100 percent money back satisfaction guarantee. In addition, American E-Liquid Store adheres to ISO industry recognized standards for quality and operations, as well as Food & Drug Administration (FDA) current good manufacturing practices for pharmaceuticals.

“We take the time and make the efforts to keep improving our products, services and facilities,” Danowski said. “We do lots of testing and so our quality management system is ISO certified and approved, and continuously improving often above and beyond what is required.”

Other American E-Liquid Store products include eCigarette kits ranging from $19.99 rechargeables to $84.99 premium kits. Batteries, charges, atomizers, cartomizers also come in various styles and options, as well as accessories like cases, adapters, drip tips and do-it-yourself kits.

These options allow American E-Liquid Store to sell to a variety of customers whether they want to take more time to enjoy the e-cigarette experience or whether they want more convenience.

American E-Liquid Store started just over three years ago and markets mainly online. The company is also increasing its social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, and getting out meeting customers at local vaping events in the community, according to Dan Bartholow, American E-Liquid Store. “We fly under the radar a little bit,” Bartholow said. “We’re a growing company, but like to remember that we started small.”

Both Danowski and Bartholow see only a positive future for the electronic cigarette and vaping markets. “There are lots of products and brands available, but the message of what electronic cigarettes can do and how they work is really getting out there now,” Danowski said. “You get the whole experience of smoking, but without really smoking, and it costs less.”

Bartholow also believes that electronic cigarettes are moving toward increase acceptance. “You’re seeing more people using them (e-cigs) in social situations,” he said. “It will just pick up in the near future as you see more marketing to the general public.”

American E-Liquid Store sees and hears the direct results and benefits of their products from customers. “We get hundreds of calls about various things,” Danowski said, “Most of them are positive and many of them say it’s helped the quit smoking tobacco and saved them money. There’s definitely a sense of accomplishment and achievement there.”

South Beach Smoke electronic cigarettes stay true to name

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000

As its name implies, South Beach Smoke puts the emphasis on its cool location and does not back down from the smoke when it comes to its electronic cigarettes. Based in Miami, home of the famed South Beach, this brand combines both the realistic and stylistic elements of the electronic cigarette market.

South Beach Smoke electronic cigarettes replicate the look and feel of traditional cigarettes with a red-striped beige atomizer cartridge displaying the nicotine level, connected to an off-white 4.2-volt lithium ion battery with a gray and red logo. The batteries come in two sizes as either standard or larger with extra-capacity. The batteries should last on a charge for about 300-400 puffs or equal to a pack of traditional cigarettes or more depending on use.

One of the most distinguishing South Beach Smoke features is the orange high glow crystal style tip, which lights brightly within a silver ring on each puff. It’s definitely a less realistic, but more modernistic look that fits perfectly with the South Beach Smoke moniker.

Since its inception two years ago, South Beach Smoke has grown market share in the U.S. with a strong online presence and newly launched wholesale and retail channels. The company also has plans to expand online in the U.K. in the near future.

South Beach Smoke CEO Nick Molina believes his brand is leading the way toward educating consumers about the benefits of electronic cigarettes. “There are an estimated 2.5 million people who have already chosen e-cigs over tobacco cigarettes and that population continues to grow,” Molina said. “We’re working hard to raise awareness of the health, social, and financial benefits of e-cigs so that as many smokers as possible realize there’s a better alternative to what is truly an antiquated practice.”

Like other e-cigarettes, South Beach Smoke batteries contain a microcomputer smart chip, indicator light and battery cell that operate when the smoker inhales to vaporize the nicotine solution.

South Beach Smoke customers can choose from nicotine levels ranging from zero, six, 12 or 16 milligrams (mg). I sampled the 12 mg level, which provided consistent and smooth puffs strongly resembling traditional cigarettes. Each cartomizer is equivalent to about 20 cigarettes, according to South Beach Smoke.

The Deluxe Plus starter kit from South Beach Smoke contained two sizes of batteries, 5 cartomizers, carrying case, along with USB charger, wall charger and car charger. Currently priced at $89.99, the Deluxe Plus kit is a mid-range between the Deluxe kit and Deluxe Ultimate kit.

Other South Beach Smoke accessories and options include Reusable Express kits resembling a traditional cigarette pack, as well as disposable e-cigarettes in packs of four, eight or 12. As for flavors, South Beach Smoke offers as tobacco classic along with variations of tobacco blue and gold. Other flavors include menthol, vanilla, chocolate, cherry, peppermint, pina colada and peach, many of which are offered in variety packs.

Molina has a broad business background in technology, real estate and finance, while also contributing back to the community in the Miami area. He believes electronic cigarettes have a bright future.

“Many of those who use e-cigs are former smokers who I applaud for choosing a safer alternative,” Molina said. “With heightened consumer demand for a better lifestyle options across the board, the movement toward e-cigs came as no surprise to us. With numerous studies showing the use of e-cigs can dramatically reduce nicotine intake and in some cases, even help to remove nicotine from users’ daily lives, this movement is here to stay.”

Electronic cigarettes campaign toward increased acceptance

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:34:00 +0000

With the 2012 U.S. presidential election and Hurricane Sandy dominating the news headlines, several recent media stories and coverage of electronic cigarettes indicating their growth toward mainstream consumer acceptance might be lost in the shuffle.

These stories include items in Forbes.com and Convenience Store Decisions about the increasing acceptance of electronic cigarettes in the consumer marketplace, and another about actor Stephen Dorff’s video ad endorsing Blu Cigs as a major way to avoid traditional cigarettes.

In fact, the headline of the Forbes.com story used a rather loaded term in the e-cig world saying that “E-cigs are ready to explode.” Well, those close to the e-cig industry and others might recall stories from early 2012 about some e-cigs supposedly dangerously exploding. Those incidents apparently turned out to be more frivolous than factual as they were due to significant device modifications and little has been heard on the subject since they occurred.

The fact that the fledgling e-cig industry survived that early scare regarding possible product defects now seems like a distant memory. However, it may well be remembered as an early victory in the larger campaign toward electronic cigarette popularity.

The Forbes story focused on White Cloud e-cigs as just one of several of the more successful brands like V2, Blu, NJoy and Green Smoke. It also explores the issue of major tobacco companies becoming more involved in electronic cigarettes.

Some interesting numbers from the Forbes’ story include that White Cloud enjoys 77 percent annual revenue growth, Blu Cigs brought in $30 million revenue in 2011, the e-cig industry generates $250-500 million annually compared to the $100 billion overall U.S. tobacco industry, and 2.7 percent of U.S. adults tried an e-cig in 2010 compared to just 0.6 percent a year earlier.

While Forbes predicts that e-cigs are about to “explode” from a combination of technology and marketing, the trade publication Convenience Store Decisions (CSD) makes a compelling comparison to the energy drink industry.

CSD claims the e-cig industry currently generates about $300 million in the retail with the potential to grow to $1 billion within 10 years, while other industry experts think it could grow even faster.

The Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association says there are currently 1.5 million e-cigarette users in the U.S. compared to 46 million traditional tobacco users, with the big difference being that e-cig use is increasing while tobacco-based cigarettes are decreasing.

The story also summarizes regulatory issues facing e-cigs noting that while some smokers may use e-cigs as a way to cut back or quit smoking regular cigarettes, they are regulated more like traditional cigarettes than as a health care option to quit smoking. While government regulation and taxation of e-cigs is being discussed at various levels, it may also stay just talk as long as e-cigs continue remain low profile when it comes to marketing, advertising and promotion, which have been mainly online, word of mouth and smaller promotional efforts until recently.

One higher profile advertising effort in recent weeks is actor Stephen Dorff’s partnership with Blu Cigs on their “Rise from the Ashes” video. While other celebrities and athletes have either more casually endorsed e-cigs or openly enjoyed them publicly, Dorff’s video for Blu has received more media coverage. Blu was also purchased by Lorillard Tobacco earlier this year and helped contribute $14 million in third quarter sales.

Dorff, who has appeared in numerous films and television such as the movies “Blade” and “Backbeat,” was a smoker for 20 years. In the black and white Blu (get it) video ad seen online and on age appropriate cable outlets, Dorff says he now uses Blu Cigs as a “smarter alternative” to cigarettes and that e-cigs will let us “take our freedom back.” The YouTube clip already has more than 14,000 views.

So, as we move on past the elections, hurricanes and toward 2013, electronic cigarette brands and their customers should have reason to be optimistic. However, since nothing is certain these days, E Cig Werks will keep you posted and let us know what you think.

V2 Cigs keeps it real with variety

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:54:00 +0000

One of the many benefits of electronic cigarettes is their variety. Electronic cigarette users enjoy a range of products from more realistic or traditional versions all the way to the most unique and different vaping experiences.

Some electronic cigarettes definitely provide a more realistic experience than others, so whether that’s good or bad is really up to the consumer. While I’m usually fine with the most simple and basic versions of electronic cigarettes and vaping, other consumers certainly prefer more options.

A brand offering as significant a variety of products and accessories as anyone in the marketplace right now is V2 Cigs. The Miami-based e-cigarette company’s product portfolio includes starter kits, traveler kits, high-end e-cig products, a women’s brand (Vapor Couture), flavored cartridges, e-liquids and more.

Founded in 2009, V2 Cigs has rapidly grown to be the largest online purveyor of electronic cigarettes worldwide, with corporate headquarters and their own shipping facility in Florida and a staff of more than 100 employees.

Like other e-cig brands, V2 comes with a rechargeable battery, disposable cartridges and battery charges. Each flavor cartridge contains a solution of propylene glycol, water, flavoring and nicotine (in 6mg, 12mg, and 18mg strengths), as well as a nicotine-free option.

I found that V2 batteries held a charge for plenty of time. Combine that with the fact that the cartridges are dependable and long lasting provide for an excellent e-cig experience. V2 boasts an industry-high standard 4.2V battery across their entire line of e-cigs.

Since reviews of electronic cigarette cartridge flavors can be as subjective as those for movies or restaurants, I’ll start with two of the basic V2 flavors – Red and Menthol.

With Red as the most standard V2 flavor cartridge, I found the zero nicotine level to be as good as any I’ve sampled. The V2 Menthol was also very enjoyable in both the zero and light (6mg) nicotine levels.

My two favorite V2 flavors had a soda counter feel as I really enjoyed the Cherry and Cola cartridges, as the taste and feel was the strongest and most realistic.

Other flavors like vanilla, chocolate, coffee and peppermint were less appealing and realistic to me, but that is also a matter of personal taste.

Besides the flavor variety, V2 offers a robust line of functional and stylish accessories. While I find the standard flash drive charger most useful, V2 has car chargers, wall chargers and portable case chargers (PCCs). In fact, while other brands offer a traditional “cigarette pack” style charging case, V2 launched a proprietary PCC with a slim profile and ergonomic feel much like an iPhone. Again, more options and selections are available from V2 at reasonable prices. Other V2 accessories include e-cig neck lanyards, which can certainly be a popular feature. In fact, V2 is offering a free pink lanyard as part of its Breast Cancer Awareness promotions this October.

V2 also offers disposable e-cigarettes that were first introduced this summer. They come in packages of one, five, 10 and 20 flavor cartridges with flavor and nicotine levels options. I found the disposable versions comparable to other V2s and one of the best I’ve tried overall.

Like many e-cig products, V2 has a strong online and social media marketing presence, but is also adding retail outlets such as the recently announced Hudson News Distributors with 10,000 stores in the northeastern United States. V2 also recently announced their expansion to 7-Eleven, Short Stop, QuickStop, Navarro, Mobil, and Hess stores, among other vendors. V2 proudly offers a lifetime warranty and 30-day money back guarantee (if needed).

While I’m waiting for my wife and her friends to try the V2 Vapor Couture e-cigs for women, I’d expect the quality and variety to be similar to other V2 products, so hopefully more to come on that subject.

E Cig Werks celebrates first anniversary of vaping coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:04:00 +0000

Exactly one year ago today, I took the plunge and began the E Cig Werks blog, followed by a Twitter feed and Facebook page. To mark this milestone, here are some thoughts and numbers on how things have gone in the blogosphere so far.

First, as you can see from the blog banner, I am simply looking to comment on and analyze the electronic cigarette industry, write brand reviews and profiles, and provide some affiliate links or advertising to help support the site. Believe me, this last year has been a labor of love toward electronic cigarettes and certainly not a profitable one.

The electronic cigarette industry is relatively new, but rapidly expanding with a plethora of brands, companies and others competing for a growing customer base, as well as monitoring government regulation and a volatile economy and marketplace.

This is my 26th E Cig Werks post in the last year on electronic cigarette topics ranging from entertainment, celebrities, sports, politics and more. E Cig Werks has attended vaping events in Chicago while personally visiting with brands like Bedford Slims and Johnson Creek Smoke Juice, and profiling or reviewing several companies and brands.

The E Cig Werks blog has totaled about 12,500 page views in the first year or an average of about 34 per day. While 70 percent of the traffic is from the U.S., other countries with the most visits include Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Russia and India. I’ve received more than 200 comments from readers with some being much better or more coherent than others, but all are appreciated.

While the blog page itself only has three follows (thanks guys!), the E Cig Werks Twitter feed just passed the 400 mark for followers, most of which are related to electronic cigarettes, marketing, business or writing. Twitter seems to be the best form of social media communication these days as E Cig Werks recently started Facebook page and only has about 10 friends (sniff, sniff).

Over the last year, I’ve placed countless comments on other websites, forums and blogs attempting to generate interest. That practice is certainly open to debate, but I don’t really consider these comments as SPAM since I’m always attempting to make relevant comments about electronic cigarettes or smoking-related topics.

I enjoy working with the Blogger site to create and promote E Cig Werks. I also appreciate the design element paying tribute the Tubes’ Completion Backwards Principle album cover from 1980.

Since E Cig Werks started a year ago, electronic cigaretteshave become increasingly more accepted and popular, but still have a long way to go before we’re enjoying them in more traditional settings like business meetings, family functions or sporting events. However, you can count on E Cig Werks to keep you informed and feel free to let me know your thoughts while I go enjoy an electronic cigarette.

Lorillard expects success with Blu Cigs, but will others follow?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 22:19:00 +0000

It appears that tobacco manufacturer Lorillard and electronic cigarette brand Blu are still just getting to know each other. With its latest earnings report, Lorillard indicated general satisfaction with its acquisition of Blu earlier this year.

Lorillard said that Blu contributed $8 million to the company’s total net sales for the quarter, but didn’t have an impact on profitability. In addition, Lorillard earnings per share were $2.19 when adjusted for costs related to the Blu acquisition.

Murray S. Kessler, Lorillard CEO & President, expressed a strategic view of Blu and the electronic cigarette market after the first quarter earnings report. “I’m even more convinced about this opportunity now that we have gotten to better know the business and its management team,” Kessler said in recent earnings report coverage. “The business is rapidly growing, there is a clear patch to improving the technology over time, and consumer research supports that there is strong trial and repeat. Keep thinking of Blu as a long-term R&D project that we’re very excited about.”

As for electronic cigarette government regulation, Kessler seems to see things heading mostly in the right direction. “We are taking a leadership position in the industry regarding responsibility and quality control and we look forward to working with the FDA so that it allows this segment to responsibly grow. We also look forward to working with the FDA to assess the role c-cigs can play within a comprehensive hard reduction strategy. We are convinced e-cigs can, and should, play a major role.”

Besides Lorillard’s direction with Blu, it will be interesting to see where other major tobacco companies go with electroniccigarettes as they seek additional markets.

When asked about the Lorillard acquisition and electronic cigarettes during a conference call earlier this year, Altria Chairman & CEO Michael E. Szymanczyk remained rather cautious. “We pay attention to all of these emerging segments and watch what’s going on and do some research and so we’ve been monitoring this one for some time,” Szymanczyk said. “There is pretty high awareness, but it represents still pretty small business proposition and so we are mindful of it.”

While Szymanczyk indicated that Atria has done consumer research on e-cig technology, he also admitted the marketplace is wide open. “It’s not the kind of things that you would market test because it would be pretty hard to read among all the noise that exists in the market, but you really rely on consumer research relative to communication around the segments and the particular audiences.”

Phillip Morris also seemed to send mixed messages in electronic cigarette and alternative tobacco product discussions earlier this year when CEO Louis Camilleri said the industry could be heading for a “paradigm shift” with new products around the world. However, any details on where Phillip Morris is going with c-cigs or other products remains open to speculation.

The major tobacco manufacturers may also been cautious when it comes to electronic cigarettes since some companies experimented with them with little progress years ago. Only now that e-cig technology has improved in the last decade have they gained more significant popularity, acceptance and apparent success.

So, while Lorillard has taken that initial electronic cigarette plunge with the Blu acquisition, the other major tobacco companies are still sitting on the edge of the pool while countless smaller brands enjoy the water, or vapor, in this case.

Metro keeps its eye on the electronic cigarette prize

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:33:00 +0000

As the electronic cigarette market grows rapidly, the METRO brand is looking to continue cutting its way through an often hazy and cloudy marketplace with a solid line of products and a straightforward marketing approach.

The Colorado-based Metro brand was launched by Nicotek, LLC in January 2011 and is available both online and in retail outlets. Like many electronic cigarettes, METRO uses a simple two-part system with a rechargeable battery, flavor cartridge and battery charger.

Marketed in premium and standard starter kits with separate accessories, and now, disposables, Nicotek has closely monitored and watched the electronic cigarette market for about three years to help develop the METRO brand and products.

That research into both the benefits and drawbacks of electronic cigarettes led Nicotek to specifically focus on quality and consistency with the METRO brand. In addition, METRO closely follows suggested FDA e-cig regulations, including selling only regular and menthol flavors at standard nicotine volume strengths between 0 and 1.8 percent with water, propylene glycol and flavor.

“We continue to react quickly to market conditions, provide top of the line display and merchandising options, and of course, offer a quality product at a fair price,” said Mark Williams, business development representative for Nicotek. “These are all the things that retailers, distributors and consumers are looking for.”

METRO starter kits with a rechargeable lithium battery, two hybrid cartridges and a USB battery charger retails for a reasonable $19.99. They also come in premium kits with two batteries, 10 cartridges, three charges and a case for $49.99.

In April 2012, METRO launched a disposable one-piece electronic cigarette called SEVEN that retails for $7.99 delivering about 300 puffs or the equivalent of two packs of traditional cigarettes.

“This new item from METRO allows us to offer a more natural smoking experience through an e-cig that is about the same size as a traditional cigarette,” said Chris Colon, category development manager for The Pantry convenience story chain. “Consumers are shopping with their wallets in today’s economy and I feel the METRO SEVEN provides consumers with an option they have been looking for.”

While I find the various electronic cigarette comparisons to be somewhat subjective, my experience with the METRO 1.8 percent standard e-cig had it lasting quite a long time without needing a charge or cartridge change. Also, the battery and cartridge proved to be dependable with the flavor - one of the most realistic I’ve experienced when compared to traditional cigarettes. Finally, a functional and eye-catching tin carrying case gives METRO some added style, and they are now selling t-shirts online.

METRO seems to be striking a good balance between online and retail sales availability. Their website at www.metroecigs.com gives customers easy access and basic product information. With a presence in more than 10,000 U.S. retail stores, METRO should grow that area further with products like the disposable SEVEN.

“Our team is constantly researching and brainstorming new ideas to help grow the electronic cigarette market,” said Arthur Marquez, creative director for Nicotek. “2012 brings a tone of new and exciting concepts to the table.”

Competing in an ever growing, crowded and complicated electronic cigarette market, METRO is likely to succeed based on a combination of simplicity and creativity. “We definitely plan on longevity,” said METRO's internet marketing specialist Jessica Miltier. “Even as a company in its infancy, we have been able to stand up against some of the biggest competitors by following the market and growing with it. We know it’s not going to get any easier and controversy will continue, but that helps us stay on our toes.”

With starter kits and disposable products online and in retail stores, METRO hopes that strategy helps continue successful growth.

Lorillard and Blu Cigs take big electronic cigarette plunge

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:07:00 +0000

I think it’s safe to say that the electronic cigarette landscape changed was sufficiently rocked with today’s big announcement of the Lorillard Tobacco Company’s acquisition of the Blu Cigs electronic cigarette company for $135 million.

E Cig Werks first blogged about possible impending nuptials between smaller electronic cigarette brands and the major tobacco companies in December 2011. At that time, an article on the Seeking Alpha financial website described electronic cigarettes as a “threat” faced by major tobacco companies. The article by Paul Santos was one of the first to note the logical interest in electronic cigarettes for large worldwide tobacco companies.

At the time, Blu Cigs president Jason Healy made the following comment on Santos’ Dec. 7, 2011 column. “It’s good to see this topic being discussed, said Healy. “I am obviously betting on the fact that we have and will continue to make an impression on big tobacco.”

The impression was apparently a good one as the Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard will keep Blu as a separate company operated by its current management team in Charlotte while acknowledging Blu as the “best selling” electronic cigarette brand.

"This is a very exciting move for me and my team,” Healy said in a statement today. “I am particularly excited about what this means for the brand and our customers. It gives us access to the tremendously experienced team and resources at Lorillard and will allow us to move to the next level on our expansion and product development."

Having followed the growth of the electronic cigarette industry pretty closely for well over a year, I was just waiting for the larger tobacco companies to get involved as e-cig and acceptance popularity increased.

According to the CDC, the percentage of U.S. adults who tried electronic cigarettes quadrupled from .06 percent in 2009 to 2.7 percent in 2010. While those numbers are small, they have increased significantly since then, but still pale in comparison to those using regular cigarettes.

A New York magazine story had noted that the number of posts on the Electronic Cigarette Forum were at about 4.2 million for 2011 compared to some 30,000 three years ago in 2008. In addition, the online world of social media is full of websites, blogs, forums, Facebook and Twitter pages, and more outlets focusing on electronic cigarettes.

With benefits like health considerations, cost savings, decreased odor, improved access and more, it seemed that an unsettled regulatory climate might prevent faster growth. However, since a U.S. Appeals Court ruled that electronic cigarettes be regulated as a tobacco product and not a smoking cessation device in late 2010, the market has grown further.

As many smaller companies like Blu grew and competed in the online and retail marketplace, it was only a matter of time before the big companies like Lorillard came around to electronic cigarettes.

"For a relatively modest investment, we believe this acquisition can open up a significant avenue of growth for the company long-term,” said Lorillard Chairman, CEO & President Murray Kessler. "I'd say this because e-cigarettes is a rapidly expanding market segment, which is very early in development, and Blu cigs is the leading brand and innovator in the segment. We believe that Blu will benefit from Lorillard Tobacco Company's regulatory experience and sales infrastructure which are needed for it, and the category, to reach its potential in a responsible manner."

Of course, there are still many unknowns in the electronic cigarette marketplace like further regulation, production and even advertising and promotion. However, in attending recent vaping events in Chicago and talking to others in the industry, it appears to be poised for growth.

At a recent visit to Johnson Creek Original Smoke Juice in Wisconsin, which makes its own smoke juice flavors, as well as those for Blu and other brands, those interviewed said they welcomed legitimate regulation and competition.

While bigger companies may be slower to embrace new technology, it appears they have finally got religion on electronic cigarettes with the Blu acquisition by Lorillard.

Since “big tobacco” is likely the most demonized of global industries and hasn’t exactly done the best job in the area of public relations, it might learn from the electronic cigarette companies like Blu, which have done a pretty good job on the PR and regulation front.

Only time will tell if electronic cigarettes can actually replace tobacco, but the news of Lorillard’s purchase of Blu sure makes for an interesting marriage of new and old industries.

Vapefest, Vapebash bring vapers together in Chicago, sort of

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:45:00 +0000

E Cig Werks wasn’t the only vaper a bit confused by the dueling vaping events in Chicago last weekend.

There was Vapefest organized by the National Vapers Club(NVC) at the Chicago O’ Hare Hyatt and at the same time, there was Vapebash at the O’ Hare Holiday Inn Express organized by the Windy City Vapers Club.

I’ll let the various vaping forums cover the details and politics as to why there were two similar events only a couple miles apart on one weekend in Chicago. E Cig Werks is simply going to provide a more general review and some observations from the crowds and vendors who were there.

Both events were pretty well attended with about 20-30 vendors each and hundreds of vapers, but a major difference was that Vapefest had a $10 entry while Vapebash was free. It sure would have been better to have everyone at one location, but it still worked out fine, especially thanks to a shuttle bus between the two that was apparently provided by the folks at Cignot.

Even though many of the vendors and attendees were from the Chicago area like Cignot, Vapor4Life and Instant E-Cig, some had come a pretty long way including VapeNY, VapeRite from Georgia, MapVapes from North Carolina, and White Stag Vapor from Ohio.

We spent Saturday afternoon mixing with attendees and talking to vendors, suppliers, manufacturers and other media. While E Cig Werks tries to focus its coverage on electronic cigarettes, it was interesting to see the wide variety of vaping products, e-liquids and smoke juice products and services.

There were plenty of examples of the growing variety and popularity of e-liquid flavors in Chicago with samples from bold coffees to exotic spices to homegrown organics from vendors like VapeNY, Vapor4Life, Clouds of Vapor, Century 21 Smoking and others.

One new product making its debut at Vapefest was Century21 Smoking’s unique liquid dispensing device with a juice canister and cigarette dispenser. We noticed the “cool” factor of setting it on a bar or conference room table, as well as the potential hygiene benefits. The device is loaded with juice, flipped over and is then ready for vaping.

Other popular products were larger battery “mods” with drip tips or specialty flavors from vendors like VapeNY, Cignot, MadVapes and others. Smaller disposable e-cigs were not as prevalent although Instant E-Cig from Chicago had some quality reasonably priced products available.

Among the observations from Vapebash and Vapefest in Chicago were that the electronic cigarette and vaping industry is growing and growing quickly. The big question on many minds was just how big can it grow and when will it become more accepted and mainstream? Hopefully, it will be sooner than later, depending on factors such as regulation, marketing, advertising, endorsements and more.

Another takeaway from the Chicago events was the competitive camaraderie that seems to exist in the vaping community. Despite the obvious issues of the competing Vapebash and Vapefest events, everyone seemed to enjoy and appreciate the chance to socialize, spend and make money, and discuss the state of the industry.

As much as most vendors were in Chicago to market and sell their products, some provided interesting success stories about how e-cigs had improved either their lives or the lives of their customers by allowing them to quit smoking regular cigarettes. Several vapers were also quick to share similar stories.

So, hopefully, Vapebash and Vapefest organizers can figure out a way to combine forces for future Chicago events. E Cig Werks thoroughly enjoyed attending its first electronic industry trade show and hopes to get to more in the future.

Please feel free to provide your comments on either event or anything else!

Vapefest 2012: Won’t you please come to Chicago, just to Vape

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:41:00 +0000

E Cig Werks is expecting to make Chicago Vapefest 2012 “sweet home” for at least a few hours this weekend and will be looking to cover the event with blog posts, as well as with posts and photos on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Sponsored by the National Vapers Club (NVC) and others, previous Vapefest events have been held in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Virginia. The Chicago 2012 event takes place Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at the Hyatt Regency O’ Hare at 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, Illinois.

Chicago Vapefest 2012 runs from noon until 9 p.m. followed by the XFactor band on Saturday and during the same hours on Sunday followed by a DJ. Raffles are also held hourly during the event from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. It’s only $10 for weekend passes or daily entrance at the event and attendees must be over 18 with an ID to get in.

Entry fee and raffle tickets proceeds will be used for electronic cigarettes research and other activism, as well as promotion on an e-cigarette documentary project called “We are Vapers.”

NVC is a consumer-based electronic cigarette organization that encourages responsible self-regulation by e-cigarette retailers, works with public health professionals on public information, encourages cigarette smokers to switch to electronic cigarettes and is fighting efforts to ban electronic cigarettes in various locations. The group formed about three years ago in Long Island, N.Y. to discuss electronic cigarettes and has grown nationally at the same time electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular and accepted.

More information on Vapefests and NVC is available on their website at www.vapersclub.com and please provide any comments or feedback here.

Xcig focuses on disposable quality e-cig option

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:53:00 +0000

Disposable and quality are words that don’t necessarily go together, but don’t tell that to the makers of Xcig electronic cigarettes.

After recently trying the Xcig tobacco and menthol disposable electronic cigarettes, E Cig Werks can report that their disposables work very well. In fact, Xcig products demonstrate the increasing overall versatility of the many emerging electronic cigarette products and brands.

As you might expect from a disposable, Xcigs are one of the lightest weighing electronic cigarettes around. In this case, less is really not a bad thing as Xcigs still provide plenty of vapor and with consistent puffs. The unique feature of a soft tip also contributes to less weight and a more realistic cigarette feel.

The Xcigs come in a very simple, one-piece disposable lithium battery and cartomizer in both regular tobacco and menthol flavors, which Xcig describes as “non-radical.” While other brands are focused on providing more flavor options, Xcig prefers to keep things back to basics when it comes to flavors.

Like most electronic cigarettes, the negative air flow activates an internal atomizer to release nicotine filled water vapor similar to traditional cigarettes. However, the Xcig contains only five non-toxic ingredients compared to the estimated 3,000 chemicals in tobacco cigarettes. Xcigs contain nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, distilled water and artificial flavor.

I haven’t been counting, but it’s hard to dispute Xcigs’ claim that each cigarette last for about 500 puffs. With a 1.6% standard nicotine level, Xcig seems to provide an appropriate level of vapor for most almost anyone, depending on their preference.

With an online cost ranging between about $6 to 8.50 per cigarette, Xcig is certainly comparable to a pack or two of regular tobacco cigarettes, which ranges from $4 to $12, according to a recent report by the Awl.com. Xcigs are also marketed in retail outlets such as Hess, 7-11, Circle K, Mobil and more. Xcig currently has about 4,600 likes on Facebook and 220 followers on Twitter.

According to their website, Xcig has a team of individuals with an overall unique skill set. With over 20 years of experience in the electronics industry, 10 years in the tobacco industry and four years experience in the electronic cigarette industry, Xcig was formed to offer a product that no one else had. The soft-tip, realistic-sized electronic cigarette puts Xcig at the forefront of modern technology. Losing the chargers was a bold move in the industry, but Xcig believes recharging the electronic cigarette is a thing of the past. Disposable units are the wave of the future and offer a much needed care-free approach to the electronic cigarette.

As for Xcig’s goals, their website states the obvious that one of the leading causes of lung cancer is carcinogens, which are contained in traditional tobacco cigarettes available at any gas station, grocery or convenience store across the world. From a health standpoint, they ask why cause more bodily damage than is necessary? In essence, Xcig’s goal would be to rid the world of lung cancer. Since they do not have that ability, they prefer to play a small part in converting traditional cigarette smokers to a healthier alternative and offering people a lesser chance of developing lung cancer.

So, Xcig seems to provide an affordable, quality and disposable electronic cigarette option in what also appears to be a quickly growing market. Feel free to let E Cig Werks know if you’ve tried Xcig or other brands anytime. For more on Xcig, just see their website at http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.xcig.com%22%3Edisposable%20electronic%20cigarettes%3C/a%3E.

Getting a good lesson on electronic cigarettes in the heartland at Johnson Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:06:00 +0000

With such a huge number of competing electronic cigarette makers and brands, leave it to a company in the Midwest to get to the heart of the future of the global industry.

On a recent visit to Johnson Creek Enterprises, makers of Johnson Creek & Red Oak Original Smoke Juices, in the aptly named Hartland, Wis., E Cig Werks had the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at one of the electronic cigarette industry’s many growing companies.

Following a guided tour of Johnson Creek’s recently built state-of-the-art facilities, I met with two of the company’s leadership team for an impromptu discussion of the state of electronic cigarettes and vaping.

After seeing the painstaking level of both detail and fun that goes into the making of Johnson Creek products, consumer education was a common theme and important part of the company’s marketing program.

“It’s a matter of educating people about what the products are, and just as importantly, what the products are not,” said Heidi Braun, Johnson Creek Chief Operating Officer. “We need to provide the facts since we’re in this industry for the long term.”

Along those lines, Johnson Creek has a “Learn” section on its website at http://www.johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com/ solely dedicated to a beginners guide to electronic cigarettes, while also providing detailed testing reports and analysis on other sections of their site. Johnson Creek strives to be the destination new e-smokers turn to in order to learn about the industry as a whole. "Education is an integral key to the success of this industry," Braun said.

Johnson Creek has quickly established itself as a major player in the electronic cigarette and smoke juice industry. Founded by Christian Berkey in Johnson Creek in 2008, the company has grown steadily and moved to their new location just outside Milwaukee County last spring.

Besides creating original smoke juice products now totaling about 20, and providing flavors to electronic cigarette brands like Blu and many others. Workers in the 4,200-square-foot lab area were working on some large Blu flavor orders during my visit. Johnson Creek seeks to make their facility a fun place to work and be creative with an open environment including a large tiered training center, mini-baseball field, video games and more. In fact, I was so distracted and impressed with the visit, I forgot to take any decent pictures.

In an industry that is truly global, Johnson Creek supplies American-made smoke juice directly to its customers and other manufacturers.

One of the products Johnson Creek customers are awaiting is an actual electronic cigarette. Already branded as Vea, which is Latin for “the right way," the new e-cig should be available in the coming weeks and the Company has started Vea consumer education messages on its website.

While Johnson Creek is taking a bit longer than some customers might want for the Vea electronic cigarette, the company just wants to make sure their new product is ready to go when they are launched.

With hundreds of electronic cigarette brands now competing in the fast growing market, Johnson Creek Executive Vice President of Product Development, Bob Kieckbusch, believes FDA regulation and competition from major tobacco companies like Altria, Lorrilard or R.J. Reynolds will help legitimize the industry. “We welcome and expect legitimate regulation and competition,” Kieckbusch said. “We’re doing it right and the cream will rise to the top.”

Braun also cited increased retail presence, consumer advertising and sports marketing like NASCAR sponsorships as helping make the industry more mainstream. “We think that the electronic cigarette industry is ready to take off dramatically,” she said.

Electronic cigarette explodes into controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:43:00 +0000

One of the hottest topics in electronic cigarettes since their emergence into the marketplace over the last few years is the recent case of a man claiming that an electronic cigarette exploded in his mouth.

First, let’s start this commentary by stating that E Cig Werks is a blog working to provide information on the growing electronic cigarette marketplace as an e-cig supporter and industry advocate.

Like any decent journalist, I appreciate open discussion and want to give anyone with a differing opinion and position on electronic cigarettes the proper respect and benefit of the doubt.

In its first few days, the exploding e-cig incident in Pensacola, Fla., has been reported in the media mainly based on descriptions of an emergency call to an ambulance and paramedics, and some third party reports. Beside the fact that we don’t know whether the exploding electronic cigarette was even an e-cig or a cigar, it also seems that the battery of the device may have been modified by the victim, who appears to be someone who had been using electronic cigarettes to avoid tobacco cigarettes for a couple years.

So, considering that an estimated 2.5 million people are now enjoying electronic cigarettes, this is really the first high profile report of any serious mishap. I’ve been following the electronic cigarette industry and marketplace for well over a year and have just been waiting for the first e-cig “horror story” along these lines. There have apparently been other incidents mostly due to battery modifications, some of which are reported with additional detail on the Electronic Cigarette Forum (ECF).

It certainly is a sensational story, and is getting some sensational media coverage. So far, the headline “Electronic cigarette explodes in man’s mouth” has appeared hundreds of times in newspapers and on websites around the world. It doesn’t get much worse than that from a public relations and image perception standpoint.

Just how additional details on the exploding cigarettes story pan out will likely determine its level of impact on the electronic cigarette industry. Even if the facts of this story are essentially correct, there are some aspects that merit closer review.

First, the exploding electronic cigarette may have actually been more like a larger electronic cigar that was modified with batteries by the victim. Either way, it's still a tragic situation for the victim and his family.

Also missing from most reports on this story is the fact that this is one of the first reported electronic cigarette accidents after several years of overall industry growth. Yes, there have been significant debates on exactly how the industry and products should be regulated, but an objective review seems to point to a pretty good record when it comes to product safety.

While we can't downplay the impact of this individual incident on the victim, it should be kept in reasonable perspective to the bigger picture of electronic cigarettes as a legitimate product.

It will be interesting to see how this incident plays out in today’s over litigious society. The fledgling electronic cigarette industry doesn’t likely have the deep pockets of the traditional tobacco industry, yet.

So, even thought it doesn’t seem that this incident is somehow designed to extract some easy money from an electronic cigarette producer, it’s not hard to image it could just be the beginning of a rash of similar claims about electronic cigarette mishaps.

Maybe it is just as it appears as an accident brought about by modifying a product in a manner that it was really not intended. This is really no different than changing the parts on a car, a computer or any other appliance, tool or device. Unfortunately, in this case, there were significant consequences and injuries.

Finally, the incident may trigger further calls for electronic cigarette regulation from a variety of sources or agencies. This should be welcomed by the industry and its customers as long as the regulation is reasonable and fairly balances the best interests of consumers and the ability of electronic cigarettes to succeed in the marketplace.

E Cig Werks will continue to follow further developments on this story and please provide your comments and insights.

New York e-cig train making its way out of the station

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:08:00 +0000

A recent weekend trip to New York City provided the Wisconsin-based E Cig Werks blogger with the chance to see firsthand just how electronic cigarettes are being accepted, marketed and promoted in the city that never sleeps.

My main lesson from three days and mostly nights of vaping in the Big Apple is that while electronic cigarettes have come far, they remain a long way from being truly accepted as a commercially viable product, even in cosmopolitan New York.

The weekend began in Brooklyn with outstanding coal brick-oven pizza and Peroni beers at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria right under the Brooklyn Bridge. While we didn’t vape there, we went on to enjoy some e-cigs in Brooklyn’s fashionable Williamsburg neighborhood along Bedford Avenue. Appropriately, we enjoyed the Brooklyn-based Bedford Slims (more on that later), as well as Greensmoke and Blu.

Unfortunately, the night was a bit of a blur after that as I can’t quite remember too much more than the cab ride back to Midtown.

Somewhat surprisingly, the experience of smoking electronic cigarettes in New York didn’t seem too much different than that back in Wisconsin. I usually don’t ask anyone for permission to vape anymore, or maybe just casually ask the bartender or waitress in a tavern or restaurant. Then, it’s time to sit back to enjoy the experience and conversation.

I honestly expected more negativity and pushback on electronic cigarettes in New York since the city is at the hyper regulated forefront of the anti-tobacco movement. Instead, much like my current experience in the Midwest, New Yorkers either didn’t care about the vapor from e-cigs or were just curious about what they were and how they worked.

One of the more interesting places to be in New York is of course the Subway, which was the best way to get between my Midtown hotel and the Greenwich Village hangouts we visited. As comfortable as I felt vaping at the MTA stations, platforms or stairs, I couldn’t muster the guts to smoke electronically in the Subway train cars. Maybe I just didn’t want the hassle or some sort of Bernie Goetz moment.

Last fall, the MTA even banned regular cigarettes on some of their outdoor platforms. Meanwhile, I had no problem smoking electronic cigarettes in most indoor areas except for on the trains themselves.

After taking the train from Midtown to the East Village on a Friday night, we enjoyed burgers and Yuenglings at the Corner Bistro, followed by treks to the d.b.a. bar for some really good beer and then Otto’s Shrunken Head in the East Village for PBRs. All three had very different crowds and atmosphere, but varied little in their reception to electronic cigarettes. Essentially, nobody had a problem with them and a few people asked questions about the e-cigs and how they work.

My Saturday night in New York was spent with Bedford Slims Vapourette Co. founder Jesse Gaddis at the Revival Bar. While it would have been nice to meet in Brooklyn since that’s where his company is based, the East Village was a good compromise.

Since I had previously blogged on Bedford Slims and enjoy their products, it was a great opportunity to meet up and discuss the electronic cigarettes industry, as well as enjoy a few beers, Bravo pizza and oh yes, some Bedford Slims. Some of the topics of interest included e-cig products, marketing, acceptance and more.

While regular cigarette smokers on the street outside bars, businesses and restaurants are a common sight in today’s anti-smoking climate, the smokers are even more apparent in one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world like New York. Considering the weather was cold and windy, it just didn’t seem appropriate to bother many of the smokers with an electronic cigarette pitch or question.

Before heading back to the unseasonably warm Midwest, I enjoyed one last great New York meal at the Jet Rock Bar & Grill at my favorite old school airport LaGuardia. I’ve also had little backlash to electronic cigarettes in airports, especially in a bar. Vaping on the airplanes themselves is a different story (see previous post).

One of the female bartenders at LaGuardia noticed my e-cig and said she might be interested to cut down on her smoking, while the other commented “they’re in all the clubs, but just not the same.”

Feel free to share your experiences with electronic cigarettes in cites like New York, Milwaukee or anywhere else.

http://ecigwerks.blogspot.com/2011/09/airlines-and-passengers-already-keeping.html

Supposedly scientific smoking studies seem to defy logic

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:59:00 +0000

Some recent studies gaining different levels of publicity in the tobacco and cigarette space revolve around the impacts of marijuana and electronic cigarettes on the lungs, as well as the impact of certain smoking cessation options.

Of course, the study claiming that marijuana smoking does not harm the lungs is gaining the most significant attention. The study stating that electronic cigarettes can harm the lungs received considerably less attention and was quickly questioned by a health organization, while the smoking cessation study gained moderate media coverage, but did not include electronic cigarettes as an option.

It seems that just about any organization can find or create a study to justify or demonize whatever product or program they are trying to promote or shutdown. In addition, many of these studies seem designed to gain maximum publicity by coming to the most controversial or newsworthy conclusion. For example, there are studies that claim sheep and elephants can distinguish faces, women wearing red seem more attractive and women with better figures are smarter.

So, let’s start with the electronic cigarette study, which at least acknowledges up front that its sample size was “small.” In fact, the study in the medical journal Chest from the Center for Global Tobacco Control at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Hellenic Cancer Society in Greece had 30 healthy smokers puff an electronic cigarette to find that after five minutes, users showed signed of airway constriction and inflammation.

Electronic cigarettes are battery operated devices that allow smokers to inhale vaporized liquid nicotine in place of tobacco smoke and the accompanying burning toxins. Electronic cigarettes typically consist of nicotine, water, propylene glycol, glycerol and flavorings.

Besides that you would think any Center for Tobacco Control might start with an inherent bias, even the leader of the study admitted that more long-term studies are needed on electronic cigarettes. Do you think? Anyone who believes that having 30 people inhale anything for five minutes isn’t going to have negative effects might as well be smoking something else.

Speaking of smoking funny cigarettes, the marijuana study researchers followed more than 5,000 people over two decades to find that regularly smoking marijuana — the equivalent of up to a joint a day over seven years — did not impair performance on a lung function test that measured pulmonary obstruction as the amount of air a person can force out in one second after taking a deep breath, which is typically worsened by smoking tobacco.

So, have we come to the point where smoking pot is more acceptable than smoking cigarettes? This study would make it would almost seem so as it focused more on lung capacity and less of marijuana effects like reduced attention, lower motivation, risk of accidents and increased appetite aka “the munchies.”

At least the marijuana study used a credible sample size of 5,100 men and women in four major U.S. cities over a 20-year period and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study does come at a time of more common legal use of medical marijuana and increased use and acceptance among young people.

The smoking cessation study claimed that nicotine patches, gum or other nicotine replacement products are not effective at preventing former smokers from relapsing. Again, electronic cigarettes were not highlighted as an option. Using a sample of just under 800 adults who had recently quit smoking, nearly one-third apparently returned to using cigarettes. This study came from the Journal of Tobacco Control by researchers from Harvard and the University of Massachusetts.

While these studies can be lauded and questioned depending on your perspective, they really serve as little more than glorified conversation starters. If nothing else, electronic cigarettes may help avoid tobacco and help reduce nicotine, but they just won’t get you high.

Do electronic cigarettes count toward New Year’s resolutions?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:28:00 +0000

It’s time for those annual New Year’s resolutions like losing weight, exercising more and quitting smoking.

There’s no shortage of stories online, on television and in the papers about the best or most convenient ways to quit smoking in the days surrounding the arrival of 2012. So far, it seems that electronic cigarettes are almost intentionally left out of most of these New Year’s resolution stories. However, that might change next year or at least in the near future.

While it would seem to make sense to include electronic cigarettes in the quit smoking stories, most of the health care professionals and organizations asked to comment are hesitant to offer the option.

The biggest obstacle to electronic cigarette acceptance from the hard core anti-smoking crowd is now the presence of nicotine since they can’t complain about the smell or odor. Even though nicotine levels can be varied and changed by preference in many brands.

It’s not too hard to understand the hesitancy when it comes to certain groups advocating electronic cigarettes as an option to quit smoking, most likely due to the act of mimicking cigarette smoking, instead of an unseen patch, chewing gum or other medication.

In an earlier blog post regarding the Great American Smoke Out, E Cig Werks noted that the American Cancer Society (ACS) online Guide to Quitting Smoking included electronic cigarettes as a viable option.

While the ACS does not recommend electronic cigarettes, they at least put them in the list of available options to reduce tobacco use. The ACS hotline is 1-800-227-2345 and the Quit for Life hotline is 1-866-784-8454.

One only has to note the anecdotal social media posts and comments to see that a good number of cigarette smokers have moved to electronic cigarettes and are enjoying the benefits like less tobacco, odor, nicotine and cost savings. While nicotine levels are certainly a health issue to consider, most reports suggest that electronic cigarettes have significantly fewer toxins than tobacco cigarettes.

Since electronic cigarettes are relatively new option at this point, it remains to be seen whether moving to electronic cigarettes will take smokers to the next step of quitting altogether. However, if less tobacco is really the goal, then electronic cigarettes should be a realistic option.

Two prominent national columns recently criticized the anti-smoking movement for opposing the use of electronic cigarettes to decrease tobacco use without any real evidence. John Stossel of FoxNews and John Tierney of the New York Times noted that the potential for significant reduction and outright quitting of smoking with electronic cigarettes merits stronger consideration instead of lockstep opposition.

So, will 2012 be the year that electronic cigarettes actually become a viable alternative to tobacco cigarettes, or possibly an accepted legitimate step toward quitting smoking? Or, will they continued to be opposed and/or ignored by those looking to reduce cigarette smoking and tobacco use?

Considering that the Centers for Disease Control and other sources have reported that electronic cigarettes use is quickly growing into the millions as they become increasingly accepted in the marketplace, it seems more likely that they will become part of New Year’s resolutions for years to come.

If electronic cigs and vaping can make it here, they can make it anywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:33:00 +0000

Bedford Slims is growing their electronic cigarette brand from one of the world’s great cultural centers, but also from a city that has been a leader in the worldwide anti-smoking movement.

The Big Apple-based Bedford Slims proudly proclaims to be “Brooklyn’s Vapourette Co.” on its website, while the design, style and impact of their products clearly reflect a New York state of mind.

Starting with style, Bedford Slims calls its electronic cigarettes “vapourettes.” Certainly that’s a matter of semantics, but in a growing and sometimes cluttered electronic cigarette industry, brands and manufacturers are looking for ways to set themselves apart. The name “Bedford Slims” is unique and has an interesting story, but more on that later.

It’s one thing for an electronic cigarette to look cool, which Bedford Slims achieves with a plaid designer battery with their mustachioed logo and green LED tip, as well as attractive packaging, website and other branding. However, style only goes so far in the competitive electronic cigarette market.

Bedford Slims puts the vapor in their vapourettes with a full bodied and flavorful drag, including the Menthol and Dark Roast that I enjoyed. As much as the flavors, Bedford Slims offers a solid and dependable battery and cartomizer. After too many puffs to count, I have yet to charge the battery and have not missed a puff, which happens with some brands.

The battery and cart from Bedford Slims are also on the larger and longer side, which really comes down to personal preference. While I know that some folks prefer a lighter and smaller e-cig, I like the more solid feel of the Bedford Slims and a larger size is less likely to misplace.

In less than a year, Bedford Slims has grown from a start-up to a presence at more than 130 outlets in New York City. Founder Jesse Gaddis believes strongly in his products and brand, as well as the overall industry. “Electronic cigarettes are the single most important invention of the early 21^st century,” Gaddis said. “I firmly believe that our products and future lines of flavors and vapourette models could convert more traditional smokers than any brand currently on the market.”

Owners at some of the Brooklyn retail outlets seems pleased with Bedford Slims. One owner at the Grand Gourmet Deli has actually used Bedford Slims to quit tobacco cigarettes himself and another at Jack’s Fugettaboutit believes the flavors are the key to attracting customers.

As for the Bedford Slims brand, Gaddis began with a name combining a street that runs through the heart of Brooklyn that could also represent America’s heartland ala Capra’s Bedford Falls, and a descriptor that simply reflects the minimal nature of the vapourettes. “I thought about things that were relative to the golden era of cigarette smoking,” Gaddis said. “I visited that verbiage and tapped into the feeling of that time when no one was bothered when they enjoyed a smoke.”

Gaddis and the management team at Bedford Slims bring a diverse background to the table, including his experience in retail, advertising and design. Others team members with a combination of experience in chemistry, finance and design include creative officer Lisa Yen, financial officer Andrew Wang and strategy officer Nick Radice. Gaddis said Bedford Slims is also looking to support charitable causes specializing in smoking-related illnesses.

It’s apparent that businesses and brands like Bedford Slims are staking a big investment on the future of the fledgling electronic cigarettes industry and vaping market. However, the business is not without a strategic plan, according to Gaddis. “We practice market-based management,” he said. “So, as long as we are adding value to the industry, we see every reason to keep pushing the envelope.”

So, as Bedford Slims electronic cigarettes seems to be staying pretty true to their New York roots, it might not be long before they are competing with bigger national brands.

Indianapolis could be electronic cigarette marketing perfect storm for Super Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Sometimes, things happen for a reason and sometimes they just happen. In looking forward to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5, there might be a golden opportunity for some electronic cigarette brands to make their marketing bones.

Over the last five decades, the Super Bowl has grown into a massive marketing monster in America and worldwide. From the celebrated television ads to the exclusive parties and more, the Super Bowl has become an annual mission for a broad spectrum of companies and brands to reach billions of precious eyeballs.

While Super Bowl marketing and especially advertising efforts usually come at a huge premium, there might be a unique situation for electronic cigarettes in the coming weeks, especially since the game is being held in Indianapolis.

The state of Indiana and the Indianapolis City-County Council have been debating various forms of public cigarette smoking bans for months. While Indianapolis already has a smoke-free ordinance for restaurants, anti-smoking groups are looking to broaden the ban to include bars, hotel rooms and other hospitality-related businesses. As for the state, Indiana has so far left smoking regulations up to local governments like Indianapolis.

In recent days, Indiana officials, including Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, are specifically using the upcoming Super Bowl as leverage to push for a statewide smoking ban. Daniels and others believe that they can push through the smoking ban before the legislative session ends in early January just in time for the Super Bowl tourism rush.

Since no one knows exactly how the political football game will turn out, it seems like electronic cigarette brands could use the heightened awareness of public smoking issues in Indiana and around the Super Bowl to market their products.

Promoting electronic cigarettes in terms of traditional smoking bans can cut different ways. While some anti-smoking advocates are trying to include electronic cigarettes in the same realm as tobacco cigarettes, many people are starting to appreciate the benefits of electronic cigarettes, especially from the social and workplace perspectives.

Having talked to a number of people, including a Wisconsin legislator who strongly supported the state smoking ban in restaurants and bars, many of them are much less offended by electronic cigarettes than traditional tobacco. Usually the biggest question raised is whether there are any dangerous chemicals in the e-cigs, but it’s clear that the odor of tobacco cigarettes is what generates the most opposition.

Getting back to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, you would expect that some electronic cigarette brands may already be planning marketing activities there, especially in light of increased sports exposure during this past NASCAR racing season. We’ve come a long way since the days when athletes endorsed tobacco and cigarettes, but electronic cigarettes are a different animal with almost no tobacco, no odor and varying amounts of nicotine.

Electronic cigarette brands will each need to decide on the cost-benefit analysis of advertising, marketing or having any presence for the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. While some might be ready to capitalize on the already increased profile of the smoking ban issue in Indiana, others might be content with the status quo of keeping a lower profile. However, many brands may use online and social media outlets to connect with the Super Bowl and other sports.

Either way, it should be interesting to see if Super Bowl XLVI in a smoking ban war zone like Indianapolis is the start of something bigger when it comes to electronic cigarette marketing.

Taking stock of electronic cigarettes and big tobacco story

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Sorry for the hyperbole here, but as a close follower of the electronic cigarette industry for the past year or so, this could mark the dropping of a “bomb” of sorts.

Yes, using the Pearl Harbor analogy on the somber 70th anniversary of that tragic event is way over the top, but after pausing to remember the sacrifice of those who serve, today is simply the first time that I’ve seen significant and credible public commentary on any connection between electronic cigarettes and the big worldwide tobacco companies.

Paulo Santos’ article “E-Cigarettes: An Emergent Threat to Big Tobacco” was posted online today on the Seeking Alpha financial site. Santos is an independent trader and analyst, while Seeking Alpha is a stock market opinion and analysis site with more than 2.2 million unique visitors per month.

After analyzing the current state of the major tobacco company stocks, Santos describes electronic cigarettes as a “threat” faced by those companies along the lines of lawsuits and decreased consumption.

By then citing the most common potential benefits of electronic cigarettes like health considerations, cost savings, current state of regulation and growing popularity, Santos concludes that electronic cigarette growth will likely impact the real cigarette market by saying “I believe that this is a threat that should be considered, particularly in light of the not-so-low tobacco sector valuations.”

For the past year, I have been surprised by the lack of media coverage on the issue of electronic cigarettes and the big tobacco companies. As a number of smaller companies grow and compete in the online and retail marketplace, it seems like the big companies are keeping a low profile on electronic cigarettes and focusing on their current products. To me, that seems like an interesting story that hadn’t really been publicly addressed until today in Santos’ column.

Of course, there are still many unknowns in the electronic cigarette marketplace like government regulation of their use, production and even advertising and promotion. Public acceptance of electronic cigarettes is growing, but still minimal compared to tobacco.

However, at a time when it seems like hundreds of new electronic cigarette, vaping and smoke juice brands are competing for market share, it wouldn’t be too hard for the big companies to get involved.

We also know that “big tobacco” is one of the most demonized global industries and hasn’t been a bang up job in the area of public relations. It seems that the electronic cigarette industry has learned some important history lessons and is doing its best on the PR and regulation front.

In addition, bigger companies can be slower to move on new technology and it might only be a matter of time before they embrace electronic cigarettes and start swallowing up the smaller companies that are currently pioneering this industry.

In fact, an executive of one of the more well known electronic cigarettes brands was one of the first to comment on Santos’ column. “It’s good to see this topic being discussed, said Blu Cigs president Jason Healy. “I am obviously betting on the fact that we have and will continue to make an impression on big tobacco.”

Blu’s Healy then asks what the tobacco companies think of electronic cigarettes, which others like Santos and E Cig Werks are doing as well.

While Pearl Harbor Day is a day for remembering a historic event, those who lost their lives there and those who fought for freedom years afterward, only time will tell if electronic cigarettes win the fight to replace tobacco.

Comedian John Branyan on the future of electronic cigarettes?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

This two-minute YouTube clip from comedian John Branyan does a humorous and insightful job of nailing the possible future of electronic cigarettes. Could there be a time when people get back to smoking in regular family, business and social situations, but only with electronic cigarettes instead of the real ones?

As hard as that may be to imagine in today's anti-tobacco society, it's something to think about when it comes to the increasing popularity of electronic cigarette products and brands. Branyan's comments and smoking an e-cig here could prove to be funny and visionary, but also be another small step toward their acceptance as a legitimate product in our culture.

Branyan describes the electronic cigarette as his "new favorite toy" and smokes it on stage. He then goes on to mock the possibility of electronic cigarettes being used in some unusual, yet really commonplace and harmless situations. It appears that this clip recieved about 4,000 views in the first couple days with a 90% approval rating. Branyan's comedy is more clean and family-focused than most and he performs at many churches and schools in the Midwest and around the country.

Do you think Branyan is seeing the future of electronic cigarettes in this clip, just trying to be funny, or both?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql4VHKc3hLw

Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2011 electronic cigarette specials

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:10:00 +0000

Electronic cigarettes are gaining support, exposure and acceptance and should be a hot gift item for the 2011 holidays. Several electronic cigarette brands are promoting Cyber Monday and Black Friday specials and deals this year. They include Green Smoke 20 percent off, Premium 20 percent off starter kits, South Beach Smoke 15 percent off, Blu Cigs double reward points offer, E Cigs Unlimited Black Friday discount, Johnson Creek Original Smoke Juice 30 percent off and more.

NASCAR electronic cigarette sponsorships starting to race

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Morgan) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:30:00 +0000

With the 2011 NASCAR season having raced to a dramatic finish Homestead Speedway in Miami, several electronic cigarette brands used this season to take the sports advertising and sponsorship wheel for the first time.

Two NASCAR drivers, T.J. Bell and Mike Bliss, were sponsored by Green Smoke and Blu Cigs, respectively, for various races including those in North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Florida.

Bell finished 45th in the NASCAR Spring Cup standings while competing in only five races and is a rookie of the year contender having also raced seven times in the Nationwide Series. Bliss finished 12th in the Nationwide Series and 58th in the Sprint Cup.

Both Green Smoke and Blu promoted their sponsorships at the races on the cars and with the drivers, and also with press releases, Facebook and Twitter postings, and more. Bionic Cigs also promoted a sponsorship at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.

The electronic cigarettes currently growing in popularity simulate the traditional act of smoking by creating a nicotine and/or flavored vapor heated by a battery-operated device, which produces the vapor only when it is inhaled. The electronic cigarette vapor creates little or no odor and disappears almost immediately after it is exhaled.

Considering that NASCAR itself had Winston cigarettes as a title sponsor until 2003, electronic cigarettes seem like a natural fit in 2011 and beyond.

As a product, electronic cigarettes are relatively new, having really gained attention and traction in the last couple years. While some electronic cigarettes are sold in stores at the retail level, they seem to have a much higher online sales presence. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that electronic cigarette use has grown into the millions and online traffic on forums, review sites, Facebook and Twitter is also growing quickly.

Since NASCAR and other sports are increasingly popular online, especially via fantasy leagues and other games, there is a logical connection for electronic cigarettes, many of which are sold on the Internet. On the other hand, sports sponsorships can appeal to children and have been pushed away from tobacco-related sponsorships due to pressure from government, health agencies and anti-tobacco organizations. The difference with electronic cigarettes is that they contain no tobacco. In addition, most electronic cigarette brands are not trying to market to those under the age of 21.

Sports sponsorships like NASCAR help sell products and also increase the relevance and recognition of brands like Green Smoke, Blu or Bionic electronic cigarettes. There are a handful of electronic cigarettes now advertised on television, radio or newspapers, but usually not surrounding sports. Some of the reluctance for electronic cigarette sports and television advertising likely relates to the experience of the tobacco companies.

It will be interesting to see if electronic cigarettes continue to grow in NASCAR or other forms of racing. Possible logical marketing extensions along these lines include outdoor sports and activities like hunting, fishing, golf, skiing or horse racing.

While you can technically smoke electronic cigarettes at outdoor stadium events, especially in the concourses, it is hard to imagine sports fans vaping in their seats like they commonly smoked tobacco cigarettes back in the day. Even star athletes promoted cigarettes until the 1960s, so it will also be worth watching to see if athletes and celebrities start actively promoting electronic cigarettes.

With the number of electronic brands growing quickly and competing for customers and exposure in the marketplace, we can expect to see, hear and read about more of them promoting through sports sponsorship and even advertising.

Please feel free to comment on electronic cigarettes and sports sponsorships.