Business is booming says Brighton e-cig shop boss

Jason Lee has opened a shop selling electric cigarettes Jason Lee has opened a shop selling electric cigarettes

Most smokers are always on the lookout for a new way to kick the habit.

But the owner of a new shop in Brighton claims they don’t even need to give up.

The Vapour Trail in Elm Grove is selling what owners describe as a healthier way to spark up – electronic cigarettes.

Owner Jason Lee said his store is the first in the city devoted to selling the gadgets.

He said: “Since we started it’s been crazy. People of all ages have been coming in to buy them.

“It appeals to a mixture of all ages, including young people who might have just started smoking.

“But I’ve even had a pensioner who has switched to electronic cigarettes after smoking 20 a day for more than 70 years.”

The e-cigarettes are filled with liquid nicotine which gives off a vapour when inhaled, known as ‘vaping’.

Instead of the 4,000-plus chemical compounds given off by normal smoke, electric |cigarettes produce just three, none of which are believed to be harmful to humans.

After giving up his own 20-a-day habit at the age of 40, Mr Lee now smokes his |electronic substitutes “constantly”.

He said: “The great thing is, I can smoke wherever I like, at work, in the pub or in the |living room.

“I’m in the warm and with other people rather than huddled outside in the rain with a normal cigarette.

“That’s the joy of vaping – it gives you the freedom to smoke however you want.”

Mr Lee said the new gizmos were exploding in popularity – and said business showed no signs of running out of puff.

Each cigarette costs from £29.99 to £34.99 with the rechargeable battery lasting for around eight months.

A bottle of liquid nicotine costs £4.99 and lasts a week.

Have you switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes? Tell us your story by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or by leaving a comment.

Comments(41)

Brighton pebbles says...
5:37pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Free advertising for all local businesses? Now we know why the price of the paper has gone up!

mikemorga says...
5:38pm Mon 10 Sep 12

I think that you will see more of these places in the UK as electronic cigarettes increase in popularity, and see http://ecigwerks.blo
gspot.com/ for more.

brighton-breezy says...
6:17pm Mon 10 Sep 12

I walk past there every day and there is never anyone in there!

sapphireblue says...
7:20pm Mon 10 Sep 12

These are the worst type of e-cig. The vapourizers burn out and the company doesn't like to change them under warranty. There are a lot cheaper and better quality ones out there.

Maxwell's Ghost says...
7:47pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Why on earth do you need a shop to sell this stuff. Surely online is easier.
He may as well open a Christmas cracker shop.

andy3466 says...
9:59pm Mon 10 Sep 12

well done mate and good luck to you. i think these are fantastic and have been a customer of your supplier for 2 years with no problems. i have been to the similar shop in eastbourne and youre lucky if you can get in that one on most days. so happy you have opened in brighton.

andy3466 says...
10:10pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
Why on earth do you need a shop to sell this stuff. Surely online is easier.
He may as well open a Christmas cracker shop.
do you actually know anything about ecigs?

Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:54pm Mon 10 Sep 12

No I smoked 30 of the real ones for years and used nicotine patches to kick the habit as I had some nasty nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as migraine, sweating and nightmares.
I am not sure carrying on the physical habit would help because the ritualistic behaviour of smoking was part of my addiction. The rituals had to go so I stopped coffee and other linked habits.

DanielJ says...
10:16am Tue 11 Sep 12

Are you all for real? This is one of the best up & coming businesses in the world. The whole stop smoking niche is only going to get bigger and better. I have been an e-cig user for a few years and to the person above that said they do not replace atomizers under warrenty you are a moron. I would really love for you right now to tell me an e-cig company that would replace an atomizer for you after you have been using it for say 3-6months? I no for a fact that Totally Wicked will replace anything under there warrenty system and if you have ANY problems at all they will help and replace when see fit.

To the person that said why do they even need a shop like this you are a moron also. I would like for you to go away and do a survery and ask people if they would rather buy something online that they cannot see in front of them or go in to a shop which actually shows you everything about the product, sits you down and explains everything you need to no to get started to help you kick the smoking habbit. The good thing about the Totally Wicked e-cig is that you CAN cut down on you're nicotine strength when you feel like you want to cut down and completly wean yourself off it.

I think before half of you comment you should actually research. The whole stop smoking niche is the biggest up and coming businesses in the world, so get off your high horse.

DanielJ says...
10:19am Tue 11 Sep 12

DanielJ wrote:
Are you all for real? This is one of the best up & coming businesses in the world. The whole stop smoking niche is only going to get bigger and better. I have been an e-cig user for a few years and to the person above that said they do not replace atomizers under warrenty you are a moron. I would really love for you right now to tell me an e-cig company that would replace an atomizer for you after you have been using it for say 3-6months? I no for a fact that Totally Wicked will replace anything under there warrenty system and if you have ANY problems at all they will help and replace when see fit.

To the person that said why do they even need a shop like this you are a moron also. I would like for you to go away and do a survery and ask people if they would rather buy something online that they cannot see in front of them or go in to a shop which actually shows you everything about the product, sits you down and explains everything you need to no to get started to help you kick the smoking habbit. The good thing about the Totally Wicked e-cig is that you CAN cut down on you're nicotine strength when you feel like you want to cut down and completly wean yourself off it.

I think before half of you comment you should actually research. The whole stop smoking niche is the biggest up and coming businesses in the world, so get off your high horse.
Oh I forgot to mention to the person that said buy online, get out more. Thanks.

andy3466 says...
10:20am Tue 11 Sep 12

im glad you have given up smoking and that you had the will power to do it the way you did, trouble is that many cant and dont. the ecig was not invented as a stop smoking aid but as an alternative way of getting nicotine without all the harmfull chemicals. i know hundreds of people that use this product and like myself feel so much healthier for not smoking, its not everyones ideal way of doing it but for those who find it hard it works and works well. i just get the hump when people comment on forums about something they dont know anything about or understand, but that is just my opinion. i think this guy will do well and will help a lot of people quit the old way of getting nicotine.

DanielJ says...
10:31am Tue 11 Sep 12

sapphireblue wrote:
These are the worst type of e-cig. The vapourizers burn out and the company doesn't like to change them under warranty. There are a lot cheaper and better quality ones out there.
Would you please tell me which 'vapourizer' you use that does not burn out please? I would love an ever lasting one. DOUBT IT. Troll.

Crystal Ball says...
11:06am Tue 11 Sep 12

Well done, have a cigar. Oh...

lorrie1 says...
11:32am Tue 11 Sep 12

Why dont you sell smokers some will power??

DanielJ says...
11:32am Tue 11 Sep 12

Crystal Ball wrote:
Well done, have a cigar. Oh...
If you like they do heavy cigar flavour (Y). Good one.

DanielJ says...
11:33am Tue 11 Sep 12

lorrie1 wrote:
Why dont you sell smokers some will power??
Considering quitting nicotine is proven to be harder then quitting heroin that's kind of a stupid comment, no? Troll more.

Archie Bun says...
12:33pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Looks like the owner has signed up here with a number of aliases.

F in L says...
12:43pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Archie Bun wrote:
Looks like the owner has signed up here with a number of aliases.
Unlike his dodgy cigarettes, he will probably get flamed.

DanielJ says...
12:56pm Tue 11 Sep 12

I am not the owner, i am happy with Totally Wicked. I don't live in Brighton but live in Eastbourne in which they have a shop there which is very popular. You call them dodgy cigarettes? You make me laugh! Do you smoke? If you do then how about you look up what is in a cigarette then come back and tell me these e-cigs are 'dodgy'. Idiot. I don't even no who the owner is and I will prob never go to the Brighton shop but I no what this company has and I no what they sell and I no how they work.

Archie Bun says...
1:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12

DanielJ wrote:
I am not the owner, i am happy with Totally Wicked. I don't live in Brighton but live in Eastbourne in which they have a shop there which is very popular. You call them dodgy cigarettes? You make me laugh! Do you smoke? If you do then how about you look up what is in a cigarette then come back and tell me these e-cigs are 'dodgy'. Idiot. I don't even no who the owner is and I will prob never go to the Brighton shop but I no what this company has and I no what they sell and I no how they work.
One thing you don't 'no' is spelling.

Archie Bun says...
1:06pm Tue 11 Sep 12

If there is a load of vapour or smoke coming out of it then you can't smoke it in pubs. It's still anti-social.

DanielJ says...
1:18pm Tue 11 Sep 12

See. You obviously don't no ANYTHING about this product so why bother even posting? You can smoke it were ever you want, it's just vapour, just like a kettle steaming. In Eastbourne alone there are 3 pubs selling the e-liquid behind there counter for there customers. You sir are a moron, why don't you learn and research before posting? Ok thanks.

DanielJ says...
1:34pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Archie Bun wrote:
DanielJ wrote:
I am not the owner, i am happy with Totally Wicked. I don't live in Brighton but live in Eastbourne in which they have a shop there which is very popular. You call them dodgy cigarettes? You make me laugh! Do you smoke? If you do then how about you look up what is in a cigarette then come back and tell me these e-cigs are 'dodgy'. Idiot. I don't even no who the owner is and I will prob never go to the Brighton shop but I no what this company has and I no what they sell and I no how they work.
One thing you don't 'no' is spelling.
And really? Grow up.

farang says...
1:55pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Just don't light up at the rear of a coach on the motorway!

F in L says...
2:17pm Tue 11 Sep 12

I am not touching them! One of the shop owner has a severe case of Rosacea from the look of it and the other is obviously out of his tree on what looks like a Biro

DanielJ says...
2:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Yeah it's better that you don't touch them, infact, i know a better option for you and they are called cigarettes which contain corbonmonoxide, tar, arsenic, annomia, cyanide, aceidone, butane, ddt, formaldehyde, sulfyric acid, cadmium, freon, geranic acid, methoprele, maltitol... ENJOY! :)

Archie Bun says...
2:44pm Tue 11 Sep 12

DanielJ wrote:
Yeah it's better that you don't touch them, infact, i know a better option for you and they are called cigarettes which contain corbonmonoxide, tar, arsenic, annomia, cyanide, aceidone, butane, ddt, formaldehyde, sulfyric acid, cadmium, freon, geranic acid, methoprele, maltitol... ENJOY! :)
How old are you? 12? You really can't spell for toffee.

DanielJ says...
3:09pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Archie Bun wrote:
DanielJ wrote:
Yeah it's better that you don't touch them, infact, i know a better option for you and they are called cigarettes which contain corbonmonoxide, tar, arsenic, annomia, cyanide, aceidone, butane, ddt, formaldehyde, sulfyric acid, cadmium, freon, geranic acid, methoprele, maltitol... ENJOY! :)
How old are you? 12? You really can't spell for toffee.
Sorry spelling police.

F in L says...
6:46pm Tue 11 Sep 12

DanielJ wrote:
Archie Bun wrote:
DanielJ wrote:
Yeah it's better that you don't touch them, infact, i know a better option for you and they are called cigarettes which contain corbonmonoxide, tar, arsenic, annomia, cyanide, aceidone, butane, ddt, formaldehyde, sulfyric acid, cadmium, freon, geranic acid, methoprele, maltitol... ENJOY! :)
How old are you? 12? You really can't spell for toffee.
Sorry spelling police.
I do not know what you are smoking Daniel but I would stop, your ramblings are becoming increasingly bizarre and vitriolic.

paul wynne says...
11:03pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Just to put a stop to the arguments I had smoked for 13 years and have tried to quit using patches and tablets from the doctor and neither worked, the patches gave me sleep disturbance and the tablets made me severley depressed. I have now tried the Totally Wicked 'torando tank'
e-cig and have not had a cigarette for 4 months with the support of the staff from the Eastbourne shop with no side affects and have also reduced my nicotine from 18mg to 6mg and planning to drop down again later this week. Thanks you Vapour Trail for all your advice, information and support
Apologies for the spelling as a particular numpty seem's to have a problem with spelling mistakes im Dyslexic so grow up you div! And don't comment on discussion you obviously know absolutly nothing about.

Honeybun23 says...
11:16pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Maxwell's Ghost wrote:
No I smoked 30 of the real ones for years and used nicotine patches to kick the habit as I had some nasty nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as migraine, sweating and nightmares.
I am not sure carrying on the physical habit would help because the ritualistic behaviour of smoking was part of my addiction. The rituals had to go so I stopped coffee and other linked habits.
So your answer is "No" then. Case closed.

Honeybun23 says...
11:18pm Tue 11 Sep 12

brighton-breezy wrote:
I walk past there every day and there is never anyone in there!
its open 9-5pm, walk past when its open then :-)

Honeybun23 says...
11:26pm Tue 11 Sep 12

brighton-breezy wrote:
I walk past there every day and there is never anyone in there!
Try walking past when its open then?

Honeybun23 says...
11:31pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Archie Bun wrote:
Looks like the owner has signed up here with a number of aliases.
.....looks like there is a lot of possible ex-smokers on here who are bitter they didn't have a e-cig to help them quit at the time! :-)

Honeybun23 says...
11:42pm Tue 11 Sep 12

F in L wrote:
DanielJ wrote:
Archie Bun wrote:
DanielJ wrote:
Yeah it's better that you don't touch them, infact, i know a better option for you and they are called cigarettes which contain corbonmonoxide, tar, arsenic, annomia, cyanide, aceidone, butane, ddt, formaldehyde, sulfyric acid, cadmium, freon, geranic acid, methoprele, maltitol... ENJOY! :)
How old are you? 12? You really can't spell for toffee.
Sorry spelling police.
I do not know what you are smoking Daniel but I would stop, your ramblings are becoming increasingly bizarre and vitriolic.
Archie Bun, whats your problem? why don't you get a life??? Im sure there must be another website that you could be on commenting about products you seem to have absolutely no knowledge about? May I suggest a 'pile cream' forum or 'venereal disease'........hold you you may actually know something about them???

Honeybun23 says...
11:53pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Smoked for 15 years at the age of 36 decided I had to quit. Bought a 'Tornado Tank' from The Vapour Trail Eastbourne 9 months ago, have never had a cigarette since and have now stopped vaping, have passed my Tornado Tank on to my sister to help her stop now. Goes to show how effective and well made these Totally Wicked Products are. Big Thanks to all at The Vapour Trail Eastbounre Branch who supported me. One last point I work in a local hospital and all the doctors and nurses are on them, they are the people who have done the research. Only constructive points please (Mr archie boring bum) and hope I passed with the Spelling Police!

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
9:09am Wed 12 Sep 12

Bought some for my wife (long term smoker) and she thinks they are rubbish. Anyone want to purchase a slightly used kit?

Also a number of my mates were using them briefly a few months ago and were raving about them at that time but have since reverted to normal cigarettes, leaving me to wonder whether is just a fad.

I personally think they are a great idea, just not clear how people make the transition

WakeUpYouFreaks! says...
3:17pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Archie Bun wrote:
Looks like the owner has signed up here with a number of aliases.
Yup. Getting rather obvious now isn't it. I also walk past the shop more than several times each day (during the opening hours) and I have yet to see anybody going in or out.

Not the best place to set up a business really, so i suppose this advert - oooops... i mean news item - could help drum up some trade.

That said, earlier in this same thread somebody mentioned that they have been a customer of the other outlet for 2 years... so perhaps this technology doesn't actually help a smoker to kick the habit after all....

Honeybun23 says...
10:14am Thu 13 Sep 12

WakeUpYouFreaks! wrote:
Archie Bun wrote:
Looks like the owner has signed up here with a number of aliases.
Yup. Getting rather obvious now isn't it. I also walk past the shop more than several times each day (during the opening hours) and I have yet to see anybody going in or out.

Not the best place to set up a business really, so i suppose this advert - oooops... i mean news item - could help drum up some trade.

That said, earlier in this same thread somebody mentioned that they have been a customer of the other outlet for 2 years... so perhaps this technology doesn't actually help a smoker to kick the habit after all....
.....in response to the last comment, regarding someone vaping for 2 years - Here' s another insight for you, e-cigs can be used EITHER to give up (by weaning yourself down through the various amounts of nicotine supplied) or as an alternative to smoking. As you are irradicating tar and all the other toxins that come with a normal cigarette. Thats the option an e-cig gives you.

F in L says...
2:00pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Receiving free adverts from the Argus on here is quite a Double Edged Sword as you have now found out. You are doing yourself no favours repeatedly defending yourself with these multiple personas.....it is becoming..A DRAG!

payne05 says...
7:29pm Fri 5 Oct 12

you can buy Totally Wicked e-cigs
in Rottingdean (Handy Hardware) my wife and I have not had a real cig for
over ten months. We love orange tic tac

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree