Hey there. Dawn again here chatting away on the A Clean Cigarette Blog. I love having the opportunity to share all the wonderful things going on in the electronic cigarette world. Amazing life changing events happen on a regular basis in this industry and getting to share stories and testimonials like this one below makes my job one of the best jobs that I could imagine!
“I was hooked on tobacco for 40+ years. Over the years I tried various quit-smoking products and failed miserably. A Clean Cigarette saved my life. I have been tobacco free now for 2yrs and 2 months. I no longer cough constantly. I breathe easier and I’m no longer winded while walking. This is an amazing product. I would either be dead or definitely still smoking if not for A Clean Cigarette. The workers are awesome at every store I have been to. I highly recommend this product to everyone I know who still smokes. A Clean Cigarette stands behind their products and they truly care about their well-being of their customers. ” -Maureen Smith
All that being said, when I hear about what some other electronic cigarette companies are doing, I get mad! What do I mean by that? Well, everyday I get up and check out the e-cig news that is floating around the internet. Staying informed on the topic seems like a good idea for a girl that wrights a blog on e-cigarettes. Typically I am really happy with what is happening in this industry that I love so much. Things like research being done, life changing changes, customer stories and a true shot at betting Big tobacco’s burning tobacco nicotine delivery systems makes my day. However when I keep seeing headlines like this one it strait out ticks me off!
The thing is it is irresponsible to market to the youth and non-smokers. It makes the whole industry look bad. It’s the same bull crap big tobacco pulled and it is absolutely not okay. But is this the industry norm? Well that depends. It depends on the company. Companies like the one a friend and past co-worker of mine ended up working at when he moved to Texas where we do not have stores that he could transfer too told him to “just make the sale” when he voiced concerns about a 12 year boy wanting to buy one of their Vapor hookah pens. My friend was beside himself. He could not believe that the safety of a non-smoking 12 year old was not more important than a sale for profit.
Not only is that strategy morally wrong in my opinion, its also incredible short sited. With the FDA and other public health organizations looking for a reason to frog jump this industry, business plans like this one open the door wide for arguments regarding the safety of children. As a mother I know full well how good an argument that is. If our children are not safe, mamma bears get real active. So why would any one want to poke that bear by doing things like marketing to youth.
Is it just to see how fast and strict the regulations can roll in? Why not self regulate like we do at A Clean Cigarette brand electronic cigarettes. You may have seen our image posted all over that looks like this. ⇒ It clearly details our business model. We do not sell to minors or non-smokers. We do not need the government to tell us to do this. It is just the right thing to do.
One quote from the above mentioned article really struck a nerve with me: “They’re not appealing to a 40-year-old, a 50-year-old two-pack-a-day Camel smoker,” DeWine said. He stressed that he has no issue with adult smokers who turn to e-cigarettes as a way to quit tobacco smoking.”
So I thought, “How many companies are really marketing to kids?” Is this just big media making a mountain out of a mole hill again, when only a very few companies are doing this childish marketing? Or is it an epidemic plaguing an industry that I love? I mean we at A Clean Cigarette have always kept a basic cig-a-like design that is meant to mimic traditional burning tobacco and we have always thought of our main demographic as long term 40 and 50+ year old smokers. So how can this gentleman say that electronic cigarette companies are not marketing to that demographic? We do…
With that in mind I started searching the internet for all this supposed child like marketing and products. I had hoped to be able to report that really it was very rare, and that most of my fellows in this industry are being mature and morally responsible with their products and business plans. I unfortunately can not.
Although there are a TON of very reputable companies that DO market only to adult smokers, there are a rather large amount of companies out there doing EXACTLY what this article claims that they do. I am going to post some pictures now to show you what I mean. Be aware we at A Clean Cigarette DO NOT nor will we EVER sell products like the ones you will see here. We strongly advise against every one of the products and marketing tactics I am about to show you. Strait out, these companies are deplorable and I do not care if they get mad at me for saying so.
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Topic 1 = Vape Mods and Toys:
If they are not marketing to children, whats with the toy looking vape mods? Do 40 and 50 year old long term smokers want a Lego mod? I doubt that even 30 year old smokers are out searching the market for a Mr. Potato Head device. There is NO WAY to deny that this is marketed towards the youngest of the young.
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Topic 2 = Candy and vapes:
We have all heard about candy flavors. It is something we at A Clean Cigarette have never done. We just do not think that people who have been smoking burning tobacco do so because it taste good. Since that is the case why would we push a huge amount of flavors on to a person that can get bubble gum flavor by chewing bubble gum? If you want to smoke, smoke if you want to eat, eat. Look at these images to see how it is more then just flavors that are marketed as candy.
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Topic 3 = The Shops:
At A Clean Cigarette the inside of our stores is designed with our customer demographic in mind. When you walk in it is plain to see that we are all about the long term smokers. From our “Wall of Fame” That pictures long term older smokers and their testimonies about our product to the simple chairs and pot of hot coffee, we are looking for a comfortable clean environment. We have even had situations where customers have thanked us for not looking like a “head shop” and being a clean and well put together establishment. Not all companies are like this though. Now understand that I know there are plenty of smokers who like the feel of a nice Vape Lounge. When done right, these lounges are NOT marketing to youth they are simply being the environment they feel best suits them. That’s all good and fine until some one goes over the line. Take a look at these examples.
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Topic 4 = Gangs and Weapons? What?
Yep you heard me right. This type of marketing is pretty awful. Products like these in my opinion can not have a good impact on the world around them. Now I am all for the right to bare arms, but as an adult I can get my arms with out nicotine involved. Who is buying this? Well I am guessing its not my 70 year old Great Aunt Barb, that’s for sure.
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So after all my tromping around on the internet to research this subject, I am left feeling a bit let down by some of my fellow electronic nicotine delivery companies. How can we as an industry argue against the claims that big media keeps making when some of us are doing exactly what they say we are doing? How in good conscience can a vapor store sell nicotine to a 12 year old? Just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD do it. It is time we speak out against the people in this industry who are not doing what is best for the entire industry. This blog post is my contribution to that fight.
Remember at A Clean Cigarette we DO NOT sell anything I have shown you here today. We also DO NOT sell to minors or non-smokers. That is our company policy and it is the way this industry should be ran, with out the need for regulations. At least in our opinion.
Sorry this blog ran so long!! If you have any questions or concerns feel free to drop me a line at AccAnswers@gmail.com. To find out more information about making the switch to A Clean Cigarette brand electronic cigarettes, Click Here to go to our website. If you are a company that uses these marketing strategies to entice young people and you are mad about something I have said here, send me an email at Dtevery@icloud.com. I never check that e-mail anyway, vent all you want. 
Thanks to all my loyal readers and to those who just swung by for this one post!! Have a great day every one!
Bye,
Dawn
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DawnACC
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