Vape shop

A vape shop is a retail outlet specializing in the selling of vaping products, though shops selling derived psychoactive cannabis products have increased in the United States since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. There are also online vape shops. A vape shop offers a range of vaping products. The majority of vape shops do not sell vaping products that are from "Big Tobacco" companies. In 2013, online search engine searches on vape shops surpassed searches on e-cigarettes. Around a third of all sales of vaping products in one US state took place in vape shops. Big Tobacco believes the independent vape market is a threat to their interests.

Effective August 8, 2016, under the Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) rules, a vape shop that mixes or prepares e-liquids, or makes or modifies any kind of vape, is regulated as a tobacco product manufacturer. The US FDA acknowledged that many vape shops will go out of business, but they also state many will stay open, despite hefty costs. Vape shop owner Joe Baba in the US believes a ban on public vaping might put several vape shops out of business because taste-testing would be prohibited. The revised EU Tobacco Products Directive came into effect May 2016 which regulates the sale and marketing of vaping products. Small business owners are concerned that the regulations will make vapes less interesting to consumers and that this means a downturn of their business.

Vape trade shows have an array of product vendors, seminars, social interactions with other vapers, parties, gifts, vaping contests, and other activities. Vape shows are free to attend or have an entrance fee that cost from $10 to $25. In 2014, vaping contests at vape trade shows such as "cloud-chasing" were rare. By 2015, close to 50% of vaping trade show organizations promoted contests such as cloud-chasing. Vape trade shows are increasing in popularity and regularity. Vape shop owners, agents, distributors, and vapers attend trade shows.