Will Vape Stores Help To Save London’s High Street?

The number of vape shops in London has dramatically increased in the past few years. Vaping, with its smoke-free benefits, is attracting new users every day. Will this surge in the presence of vape shops help restore the high streets of London to its former glory?

According to data published by Action on Smoking and Health in 2019, there are now around half as many vapers as compared to smokers. With Public Health England maintaining its stance that vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than tobacco, a significant proportion of the population, looking to quit smoking, turn to vape. In 2019, around 54.1% of vapers were ex-smokers looking to quit. Vaping is one of the most popular quitting aids and is near twice as successful in helping smokers stop smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapy. Around 78% of current vapers have quit smoking, while a mere 19% are dual users.

So, What Exactly Is Vaping?

It is different from smoking. When smoking, the tobacco leaf burns, creating smoke. The smoke created is responsible for most of the harmful effects of smoking. On the other hand, vaping simulates smoking. It refers to the use of an electronic device that heats the liquid turning it into an aerosol which the user inhales. Earlier vaping devices looked like cigarettes itself. New and sophisticated vapes like pod systems and mod box have come up which allow the user to customise their experience according to their needs. With no second-hand smoke or burning tobacco, there has been an exponential rise in the number of people switching from smoking to vaping.

What About Vape Shops?

Correspondingly, there has been a thirty-fold increase in the number of vape shops in the UK over the last five years. The fall in smoking has coincided with a significant increase in the number of vape shops across the country. Vape stores are a one-stop destination to buy electronic cigarettes and related vape products. From the latest attractive box mods and pod systems to a wide range of e-liquids, vape shops are the go-to places for newcomers to the vaping world and experienced vapers for vaping products.

Online Shopping Vis-À-Vis The High Streets Of London

Online shopping has become the new normal since Covid began. Since then, we now prefer to get our groceries delivered with the click of a button. From daily-use items, electronics to clothes, our entire shopping experience is from the screen of our tablet.

The high streets of London are closing shop when it comes to retailers of electronic goods, clothing, groceries and online shopping has taken over. One out of every £5 spent in the UK is spent on online. Retail companies are shutting down almost 20 stores a day and around 6000 high street shops shut down their doors in 2018. Despite this trend, research says that there has been a surge in the presence of vape stores London. The number of vape shops in the UK increased from less than 100 in 2013 to almost 3000 in 2018. As a result, the sale of vape products almost crossed £1 billion in 2017.

How Vape Shops Led To A Decline In Smoking?

An important fact to consider here is that the areas with the most active and widespread vaping sector witnessed an incredibly high decline in smoking rates as people switched from smoking to vaping. This was seen in the North West, which is regarded as UK’s number one vaping hotspot. Between 2013 and 2017, smoking in this area fell by 4 per cent.

Saving London’s High Street

With their trendy décor, attractive advertising and customer appeal, vape stores London are bringing life to its high street with their extensive range of vaping products. If you googled ‘vape shops near me’, you are bound to find at least a couple within walking distance. 

Vape stores London are wildly popular among newcomers who would prefer to visit a store to get a complete A to Z guide on vape products and sample liquids before buying. Vape shops also teach you about coil building. These facilities are not available if you purchase vaping products online.

Apart from saving London’s high street, vaping shops have also had a significant impact on the economy. With the number of groceries, clothes and electronic shops rapidly declining, vape stores now employ nearly 6000 people across the UK. Around half of the vape shops currently present opened on premises that were left vacant. 

Changing Global Scenario

Increasing competition has posed a challenge to this new trend. Tighter profit margins and cut-throat competition have resulted in more and more shops coming up with new and innovative strategies to attract new customers. High-quality vape products, attractive offers and generous discounts are increasing customer intake every day. 

Despite these trends, vape shops continue to attract a significant crowd across the country. With vaping becoming a full-blown subculture, it is estimated that the number of vapours worldwide will reach 55 million in 2021.