The essential journalist news source
Back
13.
June
2019.
Red Box Vape launches accessible store in Oakham

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

ISSUED BY: RED BOX VAPE LTD

DATE: JUNE 13, 2019           

 

Red Box Vape joins forces up with ex-army buddies to launch what is believed to be the UK's first purpose-built accessible vape store.

  

Nottingham-based Red Box Vape has launched a joint venture store in Oakham, Rutland, believed to be the first fully adapted, wheelchair accessible vape store in the UK.

Red Box, Britain's fastest-growing vape brand, has teamed up with vape enthusiasts Mick Fox and Jim Barton, who are running the High Street store.

Store manager Mick (44), a wheelchair user from Grantham, Lincolnshire, and assistant manager Jim (35), from Sleaford, both served at different times in the 2ndBattalion of the Royal Anglican Regiment and became good friends subsequently through army connections and their mutual love of vaping.

Mick was keen to take control of his own career path and so began seeking business opportunities in the vape industry. While attending a vape exhibition in Birmingham last October, the pair discovered Red Box Vape, which was planning major expansion through a combination of franchises, acquisitions and joint ventures. 

Once the deal and store location was agreed earlier this year, Mick was keen to ensure the business was accessible to everyone, as well as adapting it for his own needs as a wheelchair user.

Mick said: "Working with Red Box Vape was an easy decision; the team has worked with us throughout the process, included us in all of the planning and has valued our input.

"Red Box Vape shares our vision for high quality and standards. And we know our customers will love the products as much as we do."

He added that the store adaptations were particularly special in a town like Oakham, as access for wheelchair users could sometimes be a problem due to an abundance of older buildings, some of which were listed. 

Jim said: "The people at Red Box Vape were keen to remove any barriers faced due to disability. They worked with us to ensure that we were not only in keeping with the brand look and feel, but that we all worked together to ensure that everyone, as far as possible, was able to access and enjoy our store and products."

The Oakham venture is part of a plan to open at least 100 Red Box Vape stores by the end of 2020. It follows the announcement last week that the company had acquired 11 Barracuda Vape stores in Wales, Bristol and Scotland. 

Mark Shaw, managing director of Red Box Vape, said: "When we started conversations with Mick and Jim it was clear from the outset that they shared the same core values as Red Box Vape - which is to offer the highest quality and best value products in a welcoming environment, while making it accessible to all."

"We're delighted to be the brand that is setting the benchmark for accessibility in our industry."

Negotiations are currently underway with three other UK vape businesses to acquire another 30 stores between the Midlands and Scotland by the end of this year. 

Red Box Vape opened its first flagship store in Nottingham last July.  

 

ENDS

 

2 x Images (supplied):

1. (left to right) Mick Fox and Jim Barton outside their new Red Box Vape store;
Red Box Vape - Oakham Launch 1 

2. Jim Barton climbs aboard Mick Fox's wheelchair to celebrate the opening of what is believed to be the UK's first purpose-built accessible vape store.
Red Box Vape - Oakham Launch 2 

  

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

Red Box Vape Ltdis the retail arm of parent companyRed Box Liquids Ltd, which operates from its head office in Nottingham. The group also includesRed Liquids Ltd, the own-brand e-liquids manufacturing and distribution arm of the group. Red Box Vape is supported by an online storeredboxvape.com

The group of companies was formed with very big ambitions to expand a network of "a better class" of vape stores across the UK. 

Brand Philosophy

The Red Box enterprise was launched in March 2018 after the directors recognised a big gap in the retail vape market. Having already decided to create a quintessentially British vape brand with a focus on the sale of UK-manufactured liquids, their research quickly uncovered a distinct lack of quality among rivals on the high street. Too many stores appeared dark and intimidating, too heavily focused on younger vapers, and many not offering anything like the level of customer service excellence that Red Box was determined to provide. And so Red Box has created a vape store environment that is clean, friendly and non-judgemental, one that the team genuinely hopes will provide a warm welcome to the millions of adult smokers in the UK who are yet to find an alternative to tobacco but who may have been intimidated by the prospect of going into a vape store.

Facts & Figures

£1bnEstimated value of the UK vaping industry

£4.6bnProjected size of the UK vaping market by 2021

£111bnBenefit to the UK from people who have given up smoking as a result of vaping

2,000Approximate number of vaping outlets in the UK

95%Public Health England's estimate of the harm reduction of vaping compared with smoking tobacco products

7.6mSmokers still in the UK (according to the UK Vaping Industry Association)

2.9mVapers in the UK

20,000Public Health England's estimate of how many people could give up cigarettes every year thanks to vaping

1.5mVapers that have quit smoking altogether

5bnCigarettes not smoked due to switch to vaping

 

Contact:

For media enquiries, contact:

Nina Virdi

E:nina.virdi@redboxliquids.com

M: 07957 262978

___________________________________________________________________________