Back in 2011, the German Bundestag made a sudden amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act in an effort to modernise it. This resulted in an increase in tax for tobacco-containing products. But as of the 1st of July 2022, E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids, even those that do not contain nicotine, will also be subject to tobacco taxation.
The reform of the Tobacco Tax Act
On the 11th of June 2021, the German Bundestag made amendments to their Tobacco Tax Act with the Tobacco Tax Modernisation Act (TabStMoG). Originally it had been put forward that April but after various meetings, the Finance Committee further tightened the planned changes. The changes were aimed at increasing the tobacco tax for conventional cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and fine-cut tobacco, as well as heated tobacco and water pipe tobacco.
All of this, of course, is in aid of trying to meet the EU's demand for becoming smoke-free. Therefore, as of 2022, smokers will have to pay more rising to 10 cents per pack, with a further 10 cents being added each year until 2025 and 2026 when it will increase to 15 cents per pack.
The new update to include E-Cigarettes & nicotine-free products
The new changes also dictated the future of E-Cigarettes in Germany. At the time of the amendments, it was mentioned that E-Cigarettes and nicotine-free products would be included in the future. And as of 1st July 2022, these will now constitute as a taxable item.
These changes have resulted due to an assumption by the German government, that vaping products are equally as harmful to health as tobacco products. Despite the expert advice and countless pieces of evidence that suggest the opposite, they hope this new tax will reduce the usage of vaping devices.
Taxation is calculated on a millilitre basis based on the volume of the substance. Products with high ml counts such as shortfills are likely to become much more expensive. As of July 2022, the tax rate is 16 cents per millilitre, which will then rise to 32 cents per millilitre from 2026.
Possible consequences of the taxation
It’s no surprise that these changes are going to impact businesses and consumers. Wildly criticised for its demonising approach to vaping, there are obvious concerns that it may drive fewer people to quit smoking. There's also the possibility it may push consumers to purchase cheaper products from other places in the EU. Even more questionably, the inclusion of nicotine-free products in this agenda means that shortfills no longer are likely to be a popular choice for vapers looking to get more for their money.
For businesses, investing in smaller bottle sizes is more likely to become the go-to in an effort to keep prices low for consumers. Rather than the typical 10ml bottles, smaller sizes like 5ml are likely to become more popular. The new taxation is likely to impact the pricing of products which quickly becomes a battle of profit vs sellability. Will consumers pay a higher price point for the products they enjoy? Especially if they can buy them elsewhere, cheaper.
Helping businesses establish updated product ranges to suit market changes and regulations is a speciality of Xyfil. We constantly keep up to date on the latest from the vaping industry to ensure that we can cater to global needs.
Here at Xyfil, we offer a wide variety of E-Liquid types and sizes including small bottle concentrates. Already we are working with brands who wish to keep their products in Germany, to update their products and packaging to reflect the new regulations. If you want to take your E-Liquid products to Germany, get in contact with us today.
You’ve settled on your flavours and even possibly produced your batches of E-liquid already. But have you thought about the packaging? Sometimes the design of a product gets left until last resulting in hurriedly designed packaging and labels that can feel subpar in comparison to market leaders. But is it important to make sure your products have the best packaging and design?
Countless studies have shown that packaging has a superior influence on consumers, and can make a difference in acquiring and retaining customers for new products. Are your products receiving the attention they deserve? Here are our top tips for making sure that your product packaging is attractive and brings in the right attention.
Define your target audience
The first and most important step you should think about is your target audience. Who is your product for?
When it comes to vape products and E-Liquids, it's vitally important to make sure that your products are not targeted at younger audiences. One stigma that refuses to budge for vaping products is the claim that they are targeted toward underage audiences who shouldn’t be vaping. And it is safe to say there are some brands whose designs do lean towards those who are perhaps younger than 18. Making sure your products are not targeted toward younger audiences should be a priority.
Age isn’t just the only type of audience you should cater for; in fact, it can be more to do with the types of people and interests of potential consumers. For example, if you want to cater more towards the sort of vaper who enjoy parties, your design will be very different than if you were targeting vapers who enjoy chic and vintage products. Defining who you want to target will drive your design from the very start.
Using influences from other industries
Researching and referencing existing designs is a common practice by many industries and designers. Taking ideas from existing designs, and improving or tweaking them to create something new, is a great way to create attractive packaging that catches the eye. That’s not to say you should copy other designs, in fact, all this can do is potentially harm your own products which could be unfairly labelled as a lesser comparison. It’s important to understand influence as inspiration and not as a copy and paste. There are a lot of great designs already on the market but there will always be gaps between them that allow for new designs to rise alongside, and even overtake them.
Similarly, the vaping industry has a habit of falling into the stereotypes of ‘vaping design’. By using the same imagery and styles used by other typical vape brands may help your product become more easily recognisable for what it is but doesn’t help it stand out from a crowd. These sorts of designs also run the risk of appearing as child-appealing or cheap looking.
Instead, you can try using influences from other industries to create new, innovative designs for vape products. These could be designs for alcohol, beauty, food, travel and more. Many of these boast designs that don’t necessarily reflect their product literally, but the type of product/meaning consumers pay attention to. Some of the best designs for product packaging and logos are often simple, reflective of the brand and hold meaning.
Don’t be afraid to make something simple
Minimalism is a powerful way to make your brand stand apart from the rest. Especially in the vaping industry where designs can easily become overwhelmed with patterns, colours and graphics that swamp a product’s design. These may seem eye-catching but can often be too much to look at or vital information like flavour, brand name etc, can get lost.
With a minimal design it is much easier to single out important information, and especially clean designs that highlight a single focus, are much more eye-catching and can create a natural curiosity with a consumer. It should be enough to note that popular brands in a variety of industries are all looking at ways to make their logos more minimal. See for example the changes in designs from Amazon, Facebook, Starbucks, and Pringles to name a few.
Although many of these have stemmed from their brand awareness peaking, allowing them to simplify their designs, many are also aware that simple and minimal designs are much more digestible and memorable for consumers. A good practice would be to show someone your logo design and if, after a short period of time, they are able to recall your design quite clearly or at least the keynotes of it, then it’s a good logo design.
This also stems from the product labels and packaging. Overwhelming the vital product information with in-your-face graphics, patterns and colours can be a turn-off for many consumers. Your core product message can also get lost amid the graphical chaos. Simplicity doesn’t have to mean adding a logo and product information to a white background and calling it there (although this could be quite effective depending on the branding and logo). It means choosing what you want customers to know about your product and the first thing you want them to see that would draw them to your product.
Function vs form
It’s very important to understand the form and function of your product when designing packaging and labels. The form stands for the overall look and feel of the design from its font, graphical elements, texture and colour. The function is the practical element of the design that suits the purpose of the product. Form without function is merely pretty packaging, and function without form can’t achieve its goal. Establishing the purpose of your product, whether it be to offer impressive flavours, help smokers quit, or work best for sub-ohm vaping, will help lead your product designs form.
Considering finishing from the outset (what finishes you want)
Naturally most think of finishes as being the tail-end of the design process but in actual fact, it’s worth deciding on the finish of your product packaging from the beginning. Deciding on this can impact the actual design of your packaging and can make the finish feel more organic, rather than some fancy foiling tacked on at the end.
Exploring new finishes is also a great way of helping make your product stand out from the crowd. There is a wide variety of finishes from glossy to matt lamination, to soft-touch, textured and metalised foil, to UV varnish and even unique ones such as glow-in-the-dark lacquer ad thermal lacquer. Some of these may not suit the product type but introducing something different and unique looks more interesting than simple silver or gold foil.
Listen to your designers
Probably the most important aspect of the design process is to listen to your designers. Often it can be easy to have a picture in mind of how you think it should look, but rarely does the images in our mind translate well to reality. Designers are tasked with this venture and use their experience and expertise to try and translate your ideas to reality. Sometimes this may not match exactly with your original concept, but more than often these changes are purposeful. Make sure to communicate with your designers and listen to their reasoning behind the changes. The answers may surprise you!
Hopefully, this provides you with some food for thought on your next product launch, or perhaps if you’re thinking of refreshing your current product offers with new artwork. Whatever it is, Xyfil can help with our dedicated Studio team who have years of experience in helping brands develop their logos, labelling and packaging. Many award-winning brands have benefitted from our expertise, and you can too. Contact us to find out how we can help you.
Looking to expand and take your product elsewhere? Understanding the regulations for the country you wish to sell your vaping products, is essential as they differ around the globe. And it is certainly worth taking your product to other markets, especially if it’s already receiving great success elsewhere. Let’s briefly look at the different regulations that govern the three main territories, and how they might differ from those in the UK.
The regulations for other countries
If your products are already listed in these countries, then chances are you are already aware of the different regulations. Here’s a brief list of the key regulations across the EU, US and Middle East.
EU Regulations
Child-resistant & tamper-proof packaging
Must notify the appropriate regulatory body with ingredients in E-Liquids components in devices and refilling mechanisms of devices
Devices must be protected against breakage and leakage
It must be possible to refill devices without leakage
Devices must deliver a consistent dose of nicotine per puff
Capacity of tanks, pods and cartridges must be no more than 2ml
E-Liquids containing nicotine must be sold in volumes of 10ml or less
Nicotine strengths of E-Liquids must not exceed 20mg/ml
Legal age for vaping is set at 18 for most EU countries
E-Cigarettes and re-fill containers can’t be advertised or promoted, directly or in-directly
These TPD regulations guide the majority of EU countries in their handling of E-Cigarettes and vape products. However, there are some countries that have begun to implement flavour bans or ban vaping entirely. Find out more about EU regulations here.
US Regulations
Register your establishment and submit a list of products, labelling and advertisements
Submit data and pay user fees
Submit an ingredient listing
Apply to market a new tobacco product via one of three pathways
Submit quantities of harmful and potentially harmful constituents
Submit tobacco health documents
Submit a warning plan for smokeless tobacco
Include required warning statements on packages and advertisements
Submit a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) application
Age-restricted for those under 21 years of age
It’s important to note that some states in the US have also implemented flavour bans. This means they only accept tobacco-flavoured vapes and E-Liquids. Some of the regulations differ between states with some outright banning vaping altogether.
UAE & Middle East Regulations
maximum nicotine concentration is capped at 20mg/ml
maximum tank capacity is no more than 10ml
maximum capacity of refill packages is no more than 50ml
must display all health warnings in Arabic and English that must cover at least 50% of the main display area. English to appear on the lower front, Arabic on the lower back.
must also display a health warning in Arabic and English: “This product may pose a health hazard when inhaled, swallowed or gets in contact with the skin.”
must not contain a variety of harmful ingredients & additives including cinnamic compounds
Prohibited to those under the age of 18
Some of these regulations can differ depending on the country as some Middle Eastern countries have outright banned vaping.
Many of these share similar restrictions with the main ones to take note of, are the limitations on size, strength, and ingredients, as these have an impact on the product you manufacture. Products that do not abide by the regulations of the country for reselling, will be classified as illegal and could be disposed of by authorities. Find out more about UAE regulations here.
Regulations for the UK
When bringing your brand and established products to the UK, you need to take into account the regulations established by TRPR (Tobacco and Related Products Regulations).
E-Liquid bottles that contain nicotine can be no larger than 10ml
Tanks, pods and cartridges can be no larger than 2ml
The maximum nicotine strength allowed is 20mg/ml (2%)
E-Liquids must not contain any ingredients that are disallowed
E-Cigarette packages must include an information leaflet
Packaging must include nicotine warnings on the front and back, covering 30% of the size
These regulations are very similar to the EU regulations with only small differences, but it’s important to make sure that your E-Liquid products match the specified strengths, max capacity, and warnings. Find out more about UK regulations here.
It is also worth noting that in the UK, advertising E-Cigarettes and vaping products is strictly regulated with only a few exceptions. Similarly, vaping products are age-restricted for those under the age of 18 and it should be a brand’s interest to ensure their products do not appeal to those who are underage.
For those with brands that cross different countries with different regulations, it could become the norm to label vaping products with the country it is intended to be sold in. Products like ELUX vapes have now begun including a ‘not for sale in the UK’ to their packaging for products intended for US markets. This is intended to help retailers from accidentally stocking products not legal in their country.
How Xyfil can help get you into the UK market
As a leading British E-Liquid Manufacturer, we have over ten years of experience in manufacturing and the production of E-Liquids suitable worldwide. We have helped hundreds of brands to market in the EU, UK and Middle East and more. Between our in-house compliance team and highly experienced members in all departments, we ensure that the products you want are suitable for the market you wish to hit. Whether that’s from the ground up with our white label and OEM E-Liquid manufacture, or with your pre-produced E-Liquids, we cover it all.
Xyfil is equipped to bottle your products in compliant bottling solutions, and our creative teams are able to create/edit product packaging to suit your needs. We offer many white label products which are already created and compliant for EU, UK and the Middle East to help you hit markets quicker. Or alternatively, if you’re looking to alter your existing products to suit new markets, we are more than equipped to handle any changes in product capacity, testing, packaging and more.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you.
You may have already heard that the UK government is currently in talks about how to approach the fast-approaching deadline for Smoke-Free UK. Currently, there are plans to increase the legal age for smoking from 18 to 21 in a bid to bring smoking prevalence down in the UK to below 5%. But an alternative has been suggested by ex-charity boss Javed Khan.
Increasing age restriction year by year
There have been calls that raising the legal age of smokers to 21 is not likely to help the government’s plan to make the UK smoke-free by 2030. Instead, it has been suggested that we should follow in the steps of several other countries like New Zealand. There they have adopted a method of increasing the legal age to smoke by one year, each year. Effectively this is to make smoking no longer legal for any age, after a long enough period, but the hopes are that this could dissuade new smokers from starting.
At the moment, there has been no agreement by the government on these plans, and many believe they are unlikely to pass such a plan. More than likely the legal age will be raised to a fixed age unless the UK government listens to concerned parties. But what does this mean for the vaping industry?
Luckily, the UK government continues to back vaping and E-Cigarettes as a useful method for quitting smoking. Any proposed changes are not likely to affect the vaping industry too much.
What changes could occur in the vaping industry?
As mentioned before, the changes to raising the legal age of smoking should impact the vaping industry very little. Instead, the biggest push from these reforms should be in the government’s increasing positive stance on vaping. If the government does more to incentivise and correct vaping misinformation, we may very well see vaping continue to grow.
Although there have been talks about whether the TPD (now known as TRPR in the UK) regulations need amending post-Brexit, and currently there are no major changes involved, more must be done to help the UK hit the Smoke-Free deadline in time.
There have been suggestions from the NNA(New Nicotine Alliance) that many smokers are unaware of the various tools they can use to help quit, due to the inability to market such products. Among other issues such as tank sizes being too small to be of real benefit to smokers still struggling to quit. Perhaps the closer to the 2030 deadline we get, the more the government may rethink their stance on these regulations.
Currently, it is argued that strict vaping regulations could be in the way of stopping potential quitters from taking up vaping. With a change in tank size and nicotine strength, we could potentially see more smokers quitting for good. And with statistics showing that pod kits and tank kits are still the most popular method to vape it’s time for brands to start investing more in reusable methods of vaping like pod kits and E-Liquids for refillable devices to help with this push.
Market growth is still strong in the UK and has the potential to continue growing with statistics suggesting a 13% increase by 2025. With the continued momentum of pushing vaping as a much less harmful alternative to smoking, this can only grow.
As always, we continue to keep a close eye on the UK government and vaping industry news. Check our Info Hub for more information about Xyfil and what’s going on in the vaping industry.
The vaping market is often flooded with flavours, new variations of well-loved fruits, re-imaginings of flavours you thought you knew and inspired combinations that create new experiences. Last year the most popular flavour for vape juice was certainly raspberry, or blue raspberry to be precise. What’s not to love about the soft, sweet taste of raspberries or zingy blue raspberry?
Keep in the loop with the most in-demand flavours with us here at Xyfil.
This year’s in-demand flavour
It may come as no surprise that vapers are choosing to revisit beverage flavours this year. Maybe it’s the taste of nostalgia vapers are craving but soda/beverage E-Liquids are proving popular for 2022.
What’s great for brands is the variety of flavours available in the beverage section to choose from. The top two are certainly Cola and Lemonade, flavours that have been done before, but the introduction of flavours combined with these have taken the market by storm.
Flavours like Cola Lime and Pink Lemonade are dominating and it’s not hard to see why. These fun and fruity flavours can often be enjoyed all day long, as long as the sweetness is managed well. Creating the familiar fizzy taste is certainly a challenge for any flavour mixologist but making the flavours as accurate as possible is paramount. But you don’t have to stop just there with Cola Lime, there are a variety of flavours that compliment Cola perfectly and can be found in other places outside of the vaping market.
Have you thought about the next big Cola flavour? Perhaps the next flavour you should be creating Is Cola Cherry? Or perhaps Vanilla Cola for those looking to create a smoother taste? The possibilities are almost endless and Xyfil can help take you on that flavour journey.
Develop your next beverage E-Liquid with Xyfil
Our in-house mixologists create the flavours you want and vapers desire. We welcome the challenge to create new and never-seen-before flavours or impressive new twists on those familiar favourites that hook vapers from the first puff. With thousands of high-quality ingredients to create hundreds of flavours, every flavour we create is unique to each brand. We ensure that each flavour is somewhat unique in some way be it in sweetness, underlying flavours, strength and more.
Are you looking to develop your next E-Liquid brand with a leading UK E-Liquid manufacturer? Take the next step and develop your beverage vape juice with Xyfil for premium quality tailored to you.
Check out our white label vape juice beverage flavours, or work with us to create your own bespoke beverage E-Liquid.
One of the vital aspects of product development and E-Liquid manufacture is of course the flavours. Flavours are what set E-Liquids truly apart and secure brand loyalty with flavours that are well-received and well-loved by users. Of course, the vaping industry is full of products with similar flavours which can make it hard to get your products to stand out. That’s where we step in.
Suleman Umar, Product Developer Manager
“We are here to support your brand every step of the way. No matter what your product is or what services you require from us, I’ll be your first point of call in helping develop your products to the specifications you need.”
As a product development manager, I’m involved in most aspects of product creation. From market research, development, compliance, budget control, flavour creation, and working alongside our creative studio to get the perfect look that symbolises what the products are – I’m there the entire way.
Having in-depth knowledge of compliance within the industry, across various countries, helps accelerate the development of flavours that are guaranteed to be approved by consumers and respective authorities. Not only that, but I work exclusively with many of our clients to produce their award-winning brands, develop new flavours never-seen-before and provide insights into the industry.
What does the Flavour Development Department do?
The journey always begins with a customer brief handed to us by the sales team. This usually relays all the necessary information from a customer that they’re looking to receive from us, be it flavour profiles, certain ingredients, overall theme etc. We then create a checklist to go through for flavour development – is the flavour intended to be candy sweet or subtly sweet? Is the flavour complex or simple? Is it a combination of flavours?
This process itself can be lengthy as we must first develop the flavour, especially if it’s a new or a unique variation – this is often the most challenging and rewarding type of flavours to create. Once we’ve put together the flavour it must then be tested with the customer, and this can go back and forth a few times until the perfect flavour is made. Even the slightest adjustment can mean a lot in terms of flavour – if it’s not quite got that fruity sweet flavour the customer imagined then we work on it some more to ensure it does.
We specialise in providing what the customer wants and need. Every flavour we create will be somewhat unique to them; a specific flavour profile that won’t be available elsewhere. Even with common flavours like fruits or menthol, we like to ensure that your flavours stand out from the crowd. And with over 2000 flavours already created, there’s still a lot of room for variety.
What does the Flavour Development department have to offer?
Here at Xyfil, we offer a truly unique, customer-focused service that puts the customer at the forefront of every decision. No matter which department you are dealing with, including Flavour Development and R&D, our goal is to make sure that you get exactly what you need. I love tinkering with flavours so when customers come forward with requests for unusual flavours, I’m more than happy to get working on them. No flavour is too strange and making each flavour unique to a brand is crucial.
You can always expect communication with us as we are very hands-on with helping our customers. There’s a reason why our customers develop with us and keep coming back, and it’s our guarantee to provide customers with exactly what they want. Whether it’s white label manufactured E-Liquids and CBD, or OEM, we aim to provide any service a customer may need when looking to take a product to market. The Flavour Developmentteam is here to help you create unique flavours and, combined with our other departments, help you develop products that fly off the shelves.
The UK has recently become the first country to regulate orally consumed CBD products. Currently, CBD has been touted as a novel food group item or supplementary, but the new move to regulate CBD hopes to “de-risk” CBD (Cannabidiol) to spur innovation. With a clear set of guidelines for orally consumed CBD products, there is a growing likelihood of improvement in the sort of products offered.
In response to this move, the FSA (Food Standards Agency) and the ACI (Association for the Cannabinoid Industry) has created a list featuring CBD products. These products have been given the green light to remain on shelves in line with the UK’s new novel foods regulations. Products that do not appear on the list can no longer be sold.
Ensuring these guidelines are met by CBD products not only helps to ensure the quality and safety of products in England and Wales, but also for investors looking to take part in the CBD industry. Trading Standards will also be enforcing the new rules with immediate effect on retailers selling CBD products.
Regulating orally consumed CBD products
From February 13th, 2020, no new CBD extracts, isolates or associated final products using the novel ingredient CBD, are allowed to be sold until they receive the necessary authorisation. Products that were available beforehand were required to send an application for assessment by the FSA. The complete process of evaluation can take around a year to complete. One month is allowed for the validation process, then up to nine months for the risk assessment, and up to seven months for any subsequent risk management and authorisation decisions.
Most applicants will be manufacturers of CBD brands including us here at Xyfil. A detailed dossier must be provided for existing and new orally consumed CBD products.
There are three parts involved. Firstly, part one should contain all administrative data such as information relating to the applicant. Part two should contain information specific to the novel food (along with a list of references) such as:
identity of the novel food
production process
compositional data
specifications
the history of use of the novel food and/or its source
proposed uses and use level and anticipated intake
absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
nutritional information
toxicological information and allergenicity
Part three should include the glossary or abbreviations of terms quoted in the dossier, certifications (on the accreditation of laboratories, certificates of analyses), full copies/reprints of all pertinent scientific data (published and unpublished), full study reports and scientific opinion of national/international regulatory bodies.
Ensuring the quality of the dossier, and the information provided significantly affects the time needed for assessment and authorisation.
Xyfil makes the process simpler for you
Brands can apply for authorisation of CBD extracts and isolates via our compliance and White Label service. We will guide you through the process and secure your products ready for sale. Here at Xyfil, we have worked on countless successful applications for CBD-based products. Our market-ready approach means less paperwork and less hassle in getting your business off the ground.
By working with us you can benefit from our purpose-built analytical laboratory, including patent-pending equipment for generating accurate emissions samples. Work with our dedicated scientists and let us handle your brand compliance from end to end. Get in touch today to get started on your CBD brand.
Drop E-Liquids offer a range of fantastical fruit flavour combos that create sweet and sharp, refreshing vapes. Fruit Drop aims to create authentic fruit flavours that vapers crave and create exciting fruit blends you can’t get anywhere else. They also include a range of candy-inspired flavours called Sweet Drop, focusing on classic British sweet flavours.
Fruit Drop boasts flavours such as Citrus Lychee Ice, Passion Fruit Mango & Pineapple and Grapefruit Blood Orange. There are even a couple of candy-inspired flavours as part of their Sweet Drop range from Drumstick to the classic Rhubarb & Custard.
This range of E-Liquids is offered as 100ml shortfills with a 70/30 (VG/PG) ratio that is ideal for Sub-Ohm vaping.
With a simplistic design, these E-Liquids can seem unassuming, but the minimalist approach works well in drawing the eye to their signature ‘drop’ design. Each drop features a distinct blend of colours that suggest the flavours of each bottle.
Who manufactures Fruit Drop?
Drop E-Liquids are manufactured here in the UK by Xyfil Ltd, a premium UK manufacturer of E-Liquid and CBD products. We work with Drop E-Liquids to provide the base ingredients for their chosen flavour profiles, to create unique blends you’ll find nowhere else. To make sure the flavours are authentic we only use premium food-grade ingredients sourced from the UK and overseas. Some brands choose a specific flavour blend to create a very specific type of profile, while others choose a flavour for us to recreate. We are able to work with as much or as little information towards a brand’s vision to help them create the product they wish to take to market.
All E-Liquids are mixed and bottled in our ISO 9001 accredited facilities which go through stringent checks to ensure the safety and quality of each batch. Throughout the process we work closely with Drop E-Liquids to make sure that flavours remain consistent, and that the brand’s image remains the same throughout the process. A premium brand means premium quality. In such a large market where flavours mean everything, coming up with new and unique blends is what sets brands apart. Ensuring that the flavour blends match up to a brand’s expectations is key.
Drop E-Liquids provide their own artwork for their shortfill bottles, which we apply during the production process. Some brands require us to design and create their ideal packaging and logos. Drop E-Liquids however already had a clear image of their intended packaging. Applying a brand’s existing artwork to the products we manufacture for them is but one part of the bespoke service we can provide.
From the ground up to the store shelf
Xyfil offers a bespoke manufacturing service for E-Liquids and CBD products, with a choice of white label or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). No matter what step of the process your product is at, be it production, manufacturing, or development, Xyfil can help take your brand from paper to reality.
We work closely with our customers to ensure their vision becomes a reality whether it’s in flavour development, production, bottling, packaging, or any stage of the process. If you are looking for help with E-Liquid compliance and regulations, we are also able to provide this service by submitting compliance for you or guiding your brand on the right path.
If you’d like to work with us to manufacture your next premium E-Liquid brand, get in touch today to find out more.
Recently, vape stores in the UK are seeing visits from Council and Police members in a surge to crackdown on illegal vape products. Up and down the country some vape stores are finding themselves missing thousands of pounds worth of goods. This is due to some vape stores selling products that are illegal by UK trading standards. Which has left a few store owners with fines to pay and lessons to be learnt.
Stores around the UK cleared of illegal vape products
Vaping has reached all-time high popularity in the UK with new products added to the market around the clock. Especially with the rise in disposable vape devices, the market has certainly seen an explosion of interest from brands looking to add their own disposables. To keep up with demand shelves are being heavily stocked with the products that consumers are looking for. But in the midst of the rush it’s easy for non-compliant products to slip through.
In the UK there have been numerous cases of vapers using illegal and sometimes counterfeit products. Not only is this harmful to customers but also to brands of counterfeited products, stores that sell them unknowingly and the vaping industry as a whole.
Only recently, a vape store on Oxford Street, Westminster, was cleared of £100,000 worth of items from their shelves. These counterfeit and illegal goods were removed by Met Police and Westminster City Council with a variety of these products pertaining to vapes. These were disposables that were counterfeit along with products not suitable for UK retail due to not meeting compliance requirements.
What are the legal requirements for selling in the UK?
If products are TPD/TRPR compliant there will be several key factors that you can easily look out for.
Disposables and vape kits will have a max capacity tank of 2ml.
The max strength nicotine allowed in the UK is 20mg/ml.
Packaging should include UK manufacturer’s contact details and name.
Packaging should include all necessary warnings.
Must be registered on the MHRA’s (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) website.
Avoiding illegal and counterfeit products means you avoid potential losses and fines. The biggest issue in the UK vaping market is certainly high strength vapes or those with bigger capacity than is legally allowed. If a product is more than 20mg/ml (2%) or has a capacity greater than 2ml, then it cannot be legally sold in the UK. Check out these top tips on how to sell vapes legally in the UK.
Restrictions and regulations across the globe differ meaning that it’s quite easy for higher strength vape products to exist legally. For example, for products in the UAE the max capacity of vape tanks is no more than 10ml. Although these are legal for sale in the UAE, they are not in the UK, and sometimes this confusion can lead to incorrect products being stocked on shelves.
Compliance made easy with Xyfil
Navigating compliance can be challenging with the many regulations and differences between countries. Here at Xyfil we have a dedicated compliance team that ensure our brands and the brands of our partners, are compliant with whatever market they wish to sell in. If you’re looking to create your own UK-compliant brand of E-Liquids and vape products, you can contact us to find out more, and make the most of our award-winning, premium products. If you’re looking to stock the products we manufacture, you can talk with our sister company My Vapery who can offer you premium, UK-compliant products that customers want.
It’s fair to say that the vaping industry really is booming especially in the UK where vaping is positively approved by the government and health organisations. So, it’s no surprise if you’re looking to set up your own vape store and jump in on the action. With the industry continuing to grow there’s always room for more, but are there problems of oversaturation?
In some cities, it’s hard to not go more than 10 metres without seeing a vape shop. And let’s not forget that the pandemic has shaken the high street and retail as we know it – and not just retail but manufacturing has felt the burn of the pandemic. So, in 2022, is it still viable to open a vape shop and be profitable?
COVID’s effects on the high street
Many businesses are noticing that brick-and-mortar store traffic has decreased since 2020, and this is not limited to vape stores. Across the board, after the numerous lockdowns and worries of transmitting the virus, many stores have seen decreased footfall and unfortunately many have had to close due to this. However now, months after a very successful vaccine rollout some sort of normality seems to have returned and with it, shoppers have started to return to the high street.
Although it wouldn’t be pertinent to ignore the rise in online sales due to the pandemic. During COVID, online stores saw a massive boom in popularity and the new, convenient option that had become forced on people, has remained popular. But it’s not to say that brick-and-mortar stores are not viable anymore. On the contrary, there are many things a physical store can offer over online sites that are likely to have people walking in your store. And optimising for those reasons is certainly key to success.
The competitive market
The vaping market is probably one of the most competitive out there. Whether you’re looking to start your own brand or open your own retail store, there are undoubtedly many more like it, out there. Opening an online store is even worse due to the competition no longer being restricted to your area. Do you choose to open a shop in a city that already has ten vape shops, or a small village without a single one?
Launching into the vaping industry certainly has the potential to become a profitable one, but the road there could be long. And this industry often faces changes to regulations that could result in problems with products, stocking or selling. Yet navigating these issues are all part-and-parcel of the task of opening a business and turning profit. And the same can be said for those looking to create a new brand of E-Liquid to take to market. All it takes is finding what makes you or your product different and learning how to market it into something that creates profit.
How to start a vape store successfully
Here are some of the top ways that you can make sure that your vape store or brand take off successfully.
Complete market research
For your products and services to be well-received by consumers, you must know who your target consumers are and what it is they are looking for. Market research helps provide you with this essential information from your competitors and existing products. No one wants to launch a product that simply gets swept away by other similar ones. Finding your niche or targeting consumers’ un-fulfilled needs is key to success. Read more about the importance of market research.
Make things simpler & cost effective
Partner with an E-Liquid wholesale manufacturer such as Xyfil – we can provide high quality white label products to get on your shelves quicker, or OEM for tailor-made products. Not only this but you get access to our award-winning nicotine salts and high-quality ingredients. Our people become your people and our goal is to help you be the very best you can be. Don’t worry about having to source your materials, setting up a lab, testing and reporting of liquids, registering products for compliance – we sort it all for you. Whether it’s creating a new brand of looking for business insights, Xyfil are ready to help with over 10 years of experience in the vaping industry.
Get your branding right
We’re not just talking your shop name and logo, but also the layout of your store. Is there a particular feel you want to bring to your vape shop that sets it apart from others? Learning how to place products effectively around the store can naturally help a potential customer see products you want them to and entice them to buy. The creative studio here at Xyfil not only have years of experience in building brands, labelling, logos and POS material for products, but have also worked on designs for layouts within stores to help drive sales.
Sell quality, UK manufactured products – be compliant
It is vitally important that compliance be at the forefront of your thoughts when looking to purchase vaping products for your store. Although it might seem ideal to stock these ‘high demand’ products, many of them are illegal by UK guidelines. Recently there have been great shakeups within the high street to ensure that stores selling vape products not only stock only compliant products but adhere to the age restrictions for said products. Making sure to stick to the rules and regulations will mean you miss out on hefty fines or worse.
Products manufactured in the UK bring their own sense of quality and of course are TPD/TRPR compliant. Here at Xyfil we are proud to create premium UK manufactured E-Liquids that have gone on to win awards for our flavours and out nicotine salt formula.
But above all else, providing products that potential customers are looking for, and are in demand, is a way to ensure satisfaction. Listen to your customers for feedback and keep an eye on trends but don’t focus too much on short-lived trends that are likely to pass in a month – autumn inspired flavours aren’t likely to be popular once spring comes round!
If you want to talk more about setting up an E-Liquid business or looking to partner with a E-Liquid manufacturer, get in contact with us today to see how we can help.
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