Vaping is a big business in the USA. Annual revenue of $8.3 billion and rising represents more than a third of the entire global market. It’s a far cry from 20 years ago, which was when the first vaping products appeared on the market. They bore little similarity to what you can buy today and were aimed at an entirely different market. Let’s take a look at how the market has evolved and where it is heading in terms of changing user habits, new technology, and evolving regulations.
Changing user habits
Chinese inventor Hon Lik is credited as being the inventor of the vape as we know it today, although patents had been applied for and granted for conceptually similar devices as far back as the 1920s. It could be that Hon Lik was the man in the right place at the right time.
We’ve all seen the old TV and magazine ads featuring characters like the Marlboro Man that were still common as recently as the 1970s. It was only as we reached the millennium that people started getting serious about finding a healthier substitute for his wares.
Over the first 10 years or so, vaping grew in popularity among people who had been in that particular cowboy’s thrall, and unlike the gums, patches and other products that had gone before it, vaping took off.
That was the exact market that Hon Lik had in mind. His father had died from lung cancer, and he wanted to do his bit to prevent others from losing loved ones in the same way. But a decade on, something odd started to happen. Millennials who were not looking to replace anything took vaping as a lifestyle choice. The new vaping culture developed with cloud-chasing competitions, vape conventions, and an influx of online content related to vaping.
New vaping technology from CCELL cartridges to new disposables
The initial devices have evolved to more advanced vaping systems. This is partly due to the above changes in user profiles, which have inspired manufacturers like CCELL to invest in new technology to improve user experience and offer more varied options for consumers.
For example, the very name CCELL stands for ceramic cell and refers to the ceramic heating element in a CCELL cartridge. This replaces traditional cotton-wick heating technology and offers superior performance, consistency, and taste.
These vapes come in different formats, including traditionally shaped cartridges and innovative pod systems that include Uno and Dart. These look far more sleek than traditional vape pens and come in different shapes and colors.
At the same time, they are gradually transforming the disposable vape market, too. Product lines like Klean, Voca, Flex, and Pike are all highly distinctive and provide the same CCELL performance with numerous customization options.
Ongoing regulatory actions and adjustments
There are still unknowns surrounding vaping. The indications of all the studies to date are that it does not carry the serious health risks that are associated with the traditional alternatives to vaping, but studies are still ongoing.
Regulators in different jurisdictions have imposed various restrictions over the years, especially relating to flavored vape products. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also implemented a premarket review requirement for vaping products to remain on the market, evaluating their impact on public health.
All these factors will continue to play out, and the future of the vaping market in the US will be shaped by many factors, including regulatory decisions, ongoing research about health impacts, technological advancements, and the economic landscape worldwide.
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