It’s time to highlight another local business I got to work with recently as part of my Sussex small business collaboration.
Disclaimer: I don’t smoke, never have and I don’t vape either. However, this business is doing something incredibly well – looking after its clients which is how it appeared on my radar.
So here we go… an interview with the owner of a fantastic local shop that’s out there trying to get people to make healthier choices.
Breaking unhealthy habits and providing great service:
A conversation with a Worthing-based vape shop owner
This is Simon. He’s the owner of Kwik Vape, a vape shop in West Worthing. He’s very active in the local business community and managed to steer his shop through the pandemic.
Can you tell us a little bit about your business please?
After spending 20+ years working in sales, driving 200 miles per day and staying away from home for 2-3 nights per week I decided that it was time to hit the reset button and reclaim some time to spend with the family.
My last 4 years in sales were spent working for e-liquid manufacturers, I dealt with a large number of Vape Shops across the UK and quickly realised that many of the stores failed to deliver excellence and did not understand the true value of putting the customer at the heart of everything they do.
I opened Kwik Vape in February 2020 on Tarring Road in Worthing, initially operating from a small lock-up shop. Little did we know that just 1 month later we would start the Covid lockdowns.
Throughout the numerous lockdowns, I opened every day to enable click & collect orders and also offered same-day local delivery. This proved to be very popular and made Kwik Vape stand out from the crowd. As a result of the success I moved into a far larger shop directly opposite and here we are today.
How did you come up with your business idea?
As a former heavy smoker, I found vaping to be the most successful method for me to break the 40-a-day habit. I believe passionately in the good that vaping can do, I enjoy being a part of people’s quitting journey and seeing them eventually go back to breathing nothing but fresh air.
Who is your customer?
I am lucky to work with a wide range of customers, ranging from those who are just starting their quit-smoking journey to those who have been vaping for several years.
Improving people’s health and well-being is an important part of what we do, helping people escape the trappings of nicotine dependence and walking the path with them to a smoke-free future is a privilege.
What’s the best thing about your job? What do you love most about working with your customers?
The best part is to see the positive difference in people’s lives and be part of their journey, seeing people move away from combustible products using ‘harm reduction’ alternatives, we work with quitters to gradually reduce their nicotine levels.
What questions do people come to you with? And how to you address those?
The main questions we get are whether vaping is good for you, whether it’s expensive and opinions about disposable products.
To those, I’d always say that nobody should ever claim that vaping or any form of nicotine replacement is good for you. Vaping is one of several ‘Reduced Harm’ methods to satisfy nicotine delivery. The safest option will always be to neither smoke or vape.
But if you wanted to stop smoking cigarettes, vaping can be an option to break the habit and it doesn’t need to be expensive at all. I believe that the key to ensuring new users make a successful transition to vaping is to listen to their exact needs and their own personal relationship with tobacco/nicotine. After discussing your needs, I can present what I believe are appropriate/suitable solutions, this can be from as little as £3.50.
In terms of disposable products… they have a place and can be useful for days out and settings where a larger device cannot be used BUT they should be used with caution and as a backup only. They are a costly method of quitting smoking, they are generally very high nicotine strength which can increase nicotine dependence. They are also incredibly wasteful, destructive to our environment and mostly filled with Chinese fluids that are heavy in artificial sweeteners and other potential/unknown contents.
What makes your business different?
At Kwik Vape we listen to our customers needs, we work hard to ensure that our customers leave with the right products for them.
We have many customers who walk in quite happy to spend £100 on a set-up, after listening to their needs they will quite often walk out with an effective solution and have spent £25-£30!
What is your aim working with your customers? What do you want them to walk away with?
I want customers to leave us happy and with a solution that works for them, I am not interested in short-term profit. I want my customers to know they cant trust Kwik Vape and give them every reason to stick with us. Happy customers tell their friends and this small business will continue to grow.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your business?
The single biggest lesson I have learned is that ‘One size does not fit all’. Every customer is different and has their own needs. Listening is the key to delivering an accurate and effective solution.
Where can people find you?
Our shop is in West Worthing: 58–59 New Broadway (Tarring Road) BN11 4HS
Or you can visit our website www.kwikvape.co.uk
We are open 6 days a week, customers can walk in and ask for advice/support at any time, we will always aim to offer jargon-free advice and make it simple.
So if you’re local to Worthing and are either looking to break your smoking habit or want a supplier who really listens to what you need and give you qualified recommendations, have a look at Kwip Vape and let Simon and his team help you.
