2017 was something of a landmark year for e-cigarettes. From the technology levels in vape kits to the amount of media coverage and social reputation of e-cigs, to their stock market value, things have been rising faster than a plume of vapor in the night sky.
Of course, don’t expect vapers, e-cig manufacturers, or even your humble vape shop to start resting on their laurels. The past 12 months have allowed the world of vaping to become a global powerhouse, both socially and financially. Brands, sellers, customers, and advocates should be ready for 2018 to be yet another significant year. But what exactly can we expect to see in the new year?
We’ve put our thinking caps on, looked into the crystal ball, and studied the current landscape of e-cigs to give you a few pointers on what to look out for in the world of vaping in 2018.
2018 vaping predictions: more advanced e-cigs in vape shops
A look at the recent activity of a brand like VUSE gives you an idea of where the casual vaping market is heading. A specialist in entry-level products, VUSE focussed for some time on its VUSE cigarette: the Solo. In recent times, however, slightly more advanced vape kits have been rolled out by VUSE, such as the Ciro and Vibe. The brand has realized that, as vaping establishes itself worldwide, the demand for a higher quality of e-cig is growing.
While there will always be a place for the likes of a VUSE cigarette or a NJOY King 5-pack, more and more people are gaining more and more knowledge on e-cigarettes. Soon, vapers outgrow those products and look advanced vape kits, and this can only mean good things for vape kits at the top of the market.
Box mods, for example, were once thought of as purchases reserved for long-time, hardcore vapers. Slowly, but surely, these premium pieces of e-cig technology have been growing in popularity, and we expect to see much more of the same in 2018. We expect devices such as the tech-heavy SMOK G-Priv Kit to be all the rage over the next 12 months.
Once-casual and conservative vapers will turn to vape kits from the likes of Joyetech, Hilo, and Cue Vapor, with larger batteries, adjustable settings, and a greater delivery of vapor and flavor. Look out for e-cig brands such as BLU E-Cig or NJOY reacting to this shift in interest from customers by designing premium, tech-heavy vape kits. As an online vape shop that is dedicated to stocking the world’s best products, we’re looking forward to seeing what those brands come up with and delivering it all to you.
Vape kits aim to solve problems and become more refined
As far as e-cigarettes have come in the past decade, we’re still not hitting the apex of quality when it comes to vaping. There are plenty of boundaries to be pushed and issues to overcome when it comes to creating the perfect vape kit for modern-day e-cig users.
Factors once thought to be impossible to avoid are now being challenged in the latest vaping gear. For example, it used to be accepted that if you bought a pod-based vape kit, your choice of e-liquid would be limited to a handful of flavors. Now, though, things are different, as devices like the Wismec MyJet Express Kit allow pods to be refilled with any e-juice. Groundbreaking e-cigs like this will be all the rage in 2018, eliminating common problems in their quest to deliver ultimate value.
It only takes a quick look at the evolution of other pieces of modern technology, such as mobile phones and video games consoles, to see where e-cigs are headed next. Sleeker designs; longer battery life and quicker charges; ending issues with overheating or accidental activations. Look out for your vape shop to be stocking brand new devices that address these areas.
The e-cig business continues to rise in 2018
All signs point in the direction of vaping becoming a more vibrant and lucrative market over the next 10 months. In fact, that’s a trend that many are expecting to run through the majority of the next decade.
BIS Research has forecasted that the vaping market will grow at a “double-digit” annual growth rate until at least 2025, reaching over $47 million in total value. It expects the U.S. and China to continue dominating the market and, similar to our predictions above, advanced vape kits will lead the charge:
“…while disposable e-cigarettes enjoyed popularity till 2014, rechargeable e-cigarettes, followed by personal vaporizers and mods have taken over the top market positions in terms of revenue generation.”
Research & Markets, meanwhile, is even more optimistic about the rise of vaping. It forecasts a $20.8 growth rate over the next few years, with the market reaching an overall value of over $61 billion by 2025.
What does this mean for 2018? It means that it comes right in the middle of a serious period of advancement for vaping. Expect ambitious products, busy vape shops, and more visibility than ever, despite overhanging political issues. Speaking of which…
Crunch time for politicians on vape kits
“Envisioning a world where cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction, and where adults who still need or want nicotine could get it from alternative and less harmful sources, needs to be the cornerstone of our efforts – and we believe it’s vital that we pursue this common ground.”
Few would have believed just a matter of months ago that those would be the words of the Food & Drug Administration. The same FDA that, in 2016, finalized a set of crippling restrictions and requirements for vaping products that put intense pressure on the industry.
A handful of delays and adjusted deadlines for vaping manufacturers in July’s statement have given the FDA time to fully outline its stance on e-cigarettes, but this is not yet clear. While there are signs that it is willing to work with vaping, rather than against it, the impending regulations that are still set to hit the e-cig run counter to that idea. It’s almost a guarantee that 2018 will see the FDA clarify its position on e-cigarettes, either through sticking to those regulations or creating a new framework that encourages America to see vaping in a positive light.
The latter would put pressure on lawmakers across the country to reconsider a host of heavy-handed laws on vaping that came into force during 2017. Multiple states, including New York and California, have introduced laws or tax hikes on vape kits that handcuff manufacturers and deny customers to buy products at a reasonable rate. But, if the FDA were to commit to its current, cautious endorsement of e-cigarettes, 2018 could see many of those laws overturned. We can only hope.