Editor’s Note: Welcome to our newest blog series, created in our ongoing quest to provide knowledge to help NATSO members make good business decisions. Guest post contributor Jessica Miltier of METRO Electronic Cigarette will be writing monthly on electronic cigarettes. As Jessica shares, retailers saw upwards of $150 million in profits from electronic cigarette sales in 2012 and sales continue to grow. While most travel plaza and truckstop owners are aware of electronic cigarettes, they may not realize their potential and may wonder how to sell them. I'll let Jessica set the stage by telling you more about the potential in this exciting new product line. – AT
/// Guest post by contributor Jessica Miltier, METRO Electronic Cigarette
Electronic cigarettes, also referred to as e-cigs, e-cigarettes or smokeless cigarettes, are a fairly new product to the truckstop market, but they are definitely an exciting one — a product that brings real profit margins and a steady customer base. The fact is, if your truckstop is not carrying electronic cigarettes, you should be. With significant profit margins, electronic cigarettes are the next big money maker.
E-cigarettes are growing at a rate that is unbelievable – a rate no one would have believed back in 2006 when they were first introduced to the United States. While there is not much reportable data between 2006-2009, in 2010, e-cigarettes really rocked the charts – bringing in a surprising $7.5 million in sales for one single year, not bad for a new “trend” as experts were calling them. By 2011 the growth of e-cigarettes was astounding retailers, experts and consumers alike. This product that no one thought would take off, reached an overwhelming $50 million in sales for 2011. With a growth trend like this, skeptics were sure that sales would plateau – besides, so many anti-smoking groups and government groups were opposing them, how could they survive? Despite the controversy though, e-cigarettes took the gold in 2012 with $300 million in sales – nationally.
As one can see, the growth rate is remarkable. Retailers saw an upwards of $150 million in profits from electronic cigarette sales in 2012. As a truckstop owner/operator, if you have not jumped on the e-cig bandwagon, now is definitely the time. Sales are projected to soar to at least $1 billion in 2013 – don’t you want to be a part of that growing trend? Do not get caught in the downward spiral of traditional tobacco cigarettes without an avenue from which to bounce back.
By staying tuned into these blog posts, you will be well on your way to becoming the information powerhouse for e-cigs in the truck stop industry. Until next time!
{Guest Post} Guest post provided by Jessica Miltier of METRO Electronic Cigarette, a product line provided by NATSO Allied member TNT Sales. METRO Electronic Cigarette offers quality and affordable e-cig disposables, electronic cigarette starter kits, e-cigarette build your own kits, smokeless cigarette cartridges and more. To learn more about electronic cigarettes and METRO Electronic Cigarette visit www.METROEcigs.com.
The opinions and advice given by guest post contributors are not necessarily those of NATSO Inc. The posts should not be considered legal advice. Qualified professionals should be sought regarding advice and questions specific to your circumstances.
Subscribe to Updates
NATSO provides a breadth of information created to strengthen travel plazas’ ability to meet the needs of the travelling public in an age of disruption. This includes knowledge filled blog posts, articles and publications. If you would like to receive a digest of blog post and articles directly in your inbox, please provide your name, email and the frequency of the updates you want to receive the email digest.
