Felix Reznik is the co-owner of eJuice Direct, an online storefront selling an incredibly wide range of different e-liquid flavours and vape hardware. Being online has allowed eJuice Direct to maintain a diverse inventory that is constantly expanding to meet new demands and trends in the vaping world.

Felix answered some questions about his business.

Why is eJuice Direct different from other vape companies?

For starters, we’re different because we’re online and not a brick and mortar store. The real benefit to that, is that it allows us to carry a huge selection of e-liquids and vape hardware. If we had a walk-in store, we simply wouldn’t have the space to carry such a large amount of inventory. Another benefit is that, since we do have such a large inventory, we’re able to get substantially better pricing from our suppliers on vape juices and hardware. We can then pass that savings down to our customers.

The eJuices we sell are all top brands so, our customers get name brands for cheap! Everyone loves a deal! There’s always a sale going on with our site. Additionally, we are experts. Our staff are all vapers of some degree and our customer service is top notch. Finally, we are really good at shipping. Any orders placed before 3pm CST Monday through Friday, are shipped out the same day!

Why did you choose to start an online vaping shop?

Well, to be honest, as a smoker I was looking for a way to quit smoking when I discovered vaping and the vape lifestyle. A good friend of mine was also trying to quit and vaping really helped us. We were both able to quit smoking and we’ve never looked back. We’re happier, healthier and we have more energy. It really changed our lives in ways we couldn’t have imagined. One day we were discussing our journey and we decided that we really wanted to do the same thing for others. Opening an online vape shop just was a logical conclusion.

What do you suggest for people that are new and want to try vaping?

First off, I always want to understand their situation. If they have never smoked, then I would not recommend it to them. If they smoke traditional cigarettes and are looking for an alternative, I’d say kudos to them for making the decision. And then I’d ask them a few simple questions. They need to decide what their new vaping lifestyle will look like. This decision will be different for each person. There really is no right or wrong answer. It all comes down to their vape preference.

Full size vape mods may not be for everyone. They require more of a commitment by the user and dependant on how strongly they involve themselves in vape, it may be a lifestyle choice too! Buying coils, changing tanks, cleaning their mod, these are all daily functions for the vaper. There are vape mod kits that contain everything one might need if the mod route is chosen. There are vape pens that are a little less bulky but still require the standard maintenance.

But if a customer just wanted something that is small, simple and easy to fit in their pockets, then they’re going to want a portable pod device. These devices are quite a bit smaller in size and are super easy to use. They can choose between a pre-filled pod that they just plug in and the eJuice is already in the pod or they can buy a refillable pod system and choose from a much larger variety of e-liquids. Again, it all comes down to preference but at the end of the day we all have the same goal. We want to quit smoking.

With the new FDA Flavor Ban, what does the future of your company hold?

I think our company has come a long way and I believe that we will continue to be here a long time. My partner and I have been watching as this situation developed very carefully. Actually, our whole company has been keeping their eye on the situation for months. The Flavor Ban wasn’t a huge surprise and so we weren’t taken off guard. Also just to be clear, the Flavor Ban is only extended to closed pod systems and specific locations where they are sold. At this time, flavored closed pod systems (outside of tobacco and menthol flavors) are no longer allowed to be sold at gas stations and convenience stores. They, and all other flavors, are still allowed to be sold at traditional vape and smoke shops, as well as online. The reason for that is that convenience stores and gas stations were, and are, terrible at performing the necessary age verification that make sure these products don’t get into the hands of minors.

From the very beginning we’ve had a strong age verification system. We’re not worried. JUUL Labs recently announced they are removing their flavoured pods from retail stores with the exception of their mint, menthol and tobacco pods. We understand why they’ve felt the need to do this. They’ve taken a lot of flak from the FDA but honestly, while we never have and never would condone teen smoking or vaping, this really is not a new situation. It’s been around for a long time. Kids are determined individuals. I agree that they should not get their hands on these things and we here at eJuice Direct do everything in our power to keep our products only in the hands of adults, and I strongly believe we are succeeding. Our main objective is to help adults kick the habit of smoking and live healthier happier lives. If for some reason pre-filled pod devices were to go away entirely, the refillable devices will likely take their place.

So, you see portable pod systems sales getting stronger, what are some of these that you recommend?

I do think that the portable pod system will see an uptick in growth. They are easier to use, require less maintenance and are easier to carry. How much? No one can honestly say. With pre-filled pod devices such as the JUUL, the vaper really doesn’t have a lot of choices. They have to pick between the flavors offered by the manufacturer and while these pre-filled pod devices themselves are smaller in size than refillable pod devices, the amount of eJuice they hold is smaller too. Now, if you take something like the Aspire Cobble, the SMOK Novo or the Suorin Drop; all of these are ultra-compact refillable pod systems that hold more e-liquid then the pre-filled devices and these all fit perfectly in a pocket with no threat of leaking. The manufacturers of these devices have thought of everything and so I trust them all and so do our customers and staff.

Why have you made your shop only accessible online?

Being online allows us certain benefits that a traditional store just can’t compare with. We’re able to offer so many more products than we would if we were in a store front. And again, we’re able to give our customers truly phenomenal pricing on vape juice. With our selection, prices, customer service and shipping, we pride ourselves here at eJuice Direct knowing that at the end of the day, we’ve helped our customers live healthier lives and given them an outlet to save more of their hard-earned money for other things.