Are you developing a cannabis vape adaptation of your product, or looking to buy e-cigarettes and related supplies? If so, finding the right cannabis vape distributor is essential. But with such a saturated market, it can be difficult to know where to start searching for one.
Before we get into some tips on how to find a cannabis vape distributor, let’s review what makes these distributors unique in comparison to traditional e-cigarette distributors.
Traditional vapes have been around since ancient China––roughly 1,000 BC––but while they work similarly to modern-day electronic cigarettes, there are a few key differences that set them apart from each other. For example:
Cannabis vape pens work by heating up a flower, oil extracts (such as wax or shatter), or liquid extracts (such as oil) to a temperature high enough to extract THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, but low enough so that the plant matter does not combust. This allows the user to inhale vaporized cannabis instead of smoke.
Traditional electronic cigarettes heat either nicotine or flavored liquids containing various flavorings, food-grade vegetable glycerin (VG), and propylene glycol (PG)—which is an additive found in many foods like ice cream—to produce vapor with no extracted cannabinoids. While your standard e-cigarette may contain nicotine or non-nicotine cartridges depending on your preference.
Since cannabis vape pens work differently than traditional e-cigarettes––and since they can be used to extract THC and CBD—they are typically only distributed by cannabis vape distributors, not traditional e-cigarette distributors.
But since this is still a relatively new industry (despite its ancient history), many cannabis vape distributors started out as traditional e-cigarette distributors who saw the potential for this market to grow. Thus, there are definitely some benefits to working with someone who already has experience distributing vapor products––which should make it easier to find a distributor if you do have experience with electronic cigarettes already. For a good example, we suggest you check out Cilicon.
In order to help you find the cannabis vape distributor best suited for your needs from all of these options out there, we’ll cover some of our top tips below:
1) Make sure they sell both individual pieces and full setups. Being able to buy just one component can be great for replacing lost or broken parts––but when you’re trying to start a business with your product, the most economical option will be buying in bulk and selling starter kits. Thus, look for a distributor that is willing to work with you on both individual piece sales as well as bulk setups.
2) Look for distributors who have been in the industry long enough to establish themselves. While anyone can open up an e-cigarette store these days, finding a cannabis vape distributor with years of industry experience behind them will help keep your customers safe by avoiding low quality knock off products––and it will also give you peace of mind knowing that they probably know what they’re doing.
3) See if the distributor offers customer service beyond just selling supplies. While you’ll have a dedicated team to provide tech support and answer questions for your business, finding a distributor who goes the extra mile and provides customer service beyond just equipment sales will help you stand out from other businesses––as well as demonstrate their dedication to providing customers with high-quality products.
4) Ask about what kind of warranty their products come with. The significance of electronic cigarettes is that they are reusable––meaning that you can replace parts instead of buying an entirely new product once it breaks. Thus, the last thing you want is a cannabis vape distributor that requires customers to buy a whole new setup when something breaks. Since most distributors sell their items without warranties, this should be one way in which distributors set themselves apart from one another.
5) Ask the distributor to send you samples of their products. A lot of distributors will be happy to provide free samples––and this is a great way for you to determine whether or not their products are high quality, and if they fit your needs. Additionally, it’s also a great way for customers to sample what kind of experience they can expect from using your business’ starter kit.
6) Negotiate with them before signing any contracts. This industry is still young enough that there may be plenty of room in which you can negotiate terms; thus, negotiating prices and profit margins before signing any contracts with a cannabis vape supplier should help keep both parties happy.
7) Look into any legal requirements in your state or country that must be met in order to distribute cannabis vape supplies. For example, a lot of distributors don’t sell e-liquid containing nicotine because it’s illegal––which is why many distributors only sell e-liquids that contain CBD or other cannabis extracts. Thus, finding a distributor who meets all of your needs legally will be important to the success of your business.
8) Compare prices with different distributors and negotiate based on your profit margins. Assuming you did get samples of what each distributor had to offer (see #6), you should now have some information about how much customers are willing to pay for certain types of products; thus, this is where you can decide whether or not certain distributors’ price points fit within your profit margins. If they do, great! If not, do some further research and see if you can find another distributor whose price point fits within your margins.
9) See how much experience the different distributors have in the industry. As with anything, the more people practice something, the better they get at it––which means that if a cannabis vape distributor has been around for many years, then they are likely to provide customers with high-quality products that stand up to rigorous use. On the other hand, if their experience is lacking––or worse yet, non-existent––and there’s no way of knowing how much sales revenue said distributor brings in each year because their website doesn’t include sales metric details or contact information.
