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Time | Topic | Notes |
| 9m55s | What we’ll be covering: The Realities of the E-liquid Market | Upside & downside, manufacturing options, ISO standards and much more. You may need 24 hour security to manufacture-liquids, similar to alcohol and tobacco guidelines. |
| 14m30s | Caveats, things to avoid: | a) Diacetyl (popcorn flavoring)b) Acetyle Propynol, which is similar to Diacetyl Formaldehyde is controversial and can be generated from excessive heat, but is not usually in e-liquid formulations. |
| 15m10s | Labels and chain of custody | Labels are important and must list any carcinogens and be clear on contents and ingredients; be aware of state propositions and restrictions. |
| 18m25s | ISO standards are international guidelines for air quality | ISO 7 is a high quality room that is tested and monitored for contamination. The lower the number the more clean, but requires more restrictive access. |
| 20m20s | There are three levels of watchdogs: the FDA, your state and your city. | Indiana is considering guidelines to restrict the sale of nicotine products from out of state. Hawaii has new age restrictions to age 21. Check your state. |
| 23m05s | What is done in the clean room? | Everything before the bottle is capped. |
| 24m30s | How did we get here? A brief history and a lesson in measuring. | The proper way to measure liquids is by weight (gravimetrically), not volume, especially with larger volumes. Contract manufacturers should use this technique since it is difficult to calibrate between volume and weight. |
| 26m20 | The challenges of building your own line | Easier today since it can be outsourced; harder since there is more competition |
| 27m20s | WHY are you building your business? | You must have passion, not just dollar signs in your eyes, or for ego |
| 28m30s | The vaping business will not go away… | It will morph into something else; highly regulated, run by fewer large players |
| 29m25s | Keys to e-liquid success | Great customer service, high quality formulations. They are a reflection of you. Find your niche. |
| 30m40s | Branding and market penetration | Empathy means understanding what your customers want; focus on your chosen path. Don’t get fancy. Packaging is important but not sustainable if flavor is lacking. FOCUS on what you do. |
| 33m00s | Pay attention to your ingredients | Not all PG, VG and nicotine are the same. There are dozens of variations; find what works for your formulation |
| 33m55s | Questions: are there concerns about colorants negative effects? | Do not add colorants, they can be harmful. Request ingredients without added color. Be aware of what goes into those ingredients from your supplier. Replacing one component with another is time consuming. |
| 36m10s | Who is your customer? | What do they want or like? Look for trends and provide flavors that your customers want. |
| 37m25s | How will your flavors differ from well-known brands? | Those flavors are designed and well known for a reason. It takes time and patience; make and take notes to get it just right. Small differences can result in different outcomes. |
| 39m45s | You must be consistent | With your packaging, your look, your flavorings (including VG/PG); they all must align. Taste and vapor production must also be consistent. Make all batches the same, especially higher volumes. |
| 43m09s | How do you compete with the “Big Boys?” | It can be done: events & trade shows, be part of the community. Be professional, network with competitors as well as friends. Develop relationships. It is not too late! |
| 46m25s | Run like a business, not a hobby. | Find professional help with accounting, taxes, distribution, marketing, etc… You cannot do this alone. |
| 46m50s | What are reasonable volume goals? | That will be based on you. Determine how big and uncomfortable you want to get. Are you looking for world domination or a comfortable lifestyle? Most of Michael’s clients start at 10K bottles. Some have 100K bottles. |
| 49m20s | Michael’s opinion: this market is untapped | The vape business will remain, but the mechanism and guidelines may change. You must change with them. Will open tanks be around in five years? |
| 50m15s | WHY create your own flavors? | What is your motivation? You must build momentum to be sustainable or to be a target for acquisition. |
| 51m15s | Questions: Glass vs plastic; which should you do? | Glass is impermeable, allows no leeching; amber and cobalt blue bottles are the best since they are tinted against light diffusion. Child resistance caps are highly recommended. Use a certified cap, do not use imported products. |
| 53m20s | How often or should you change your formulas? Should you vary them? | Develop different lines or brands rather than changing the original formulation. The only reason to change the original is if it had something in it that should be removed. NOTE: customers like to see the liquid levels |
| 56m10s | There are different types of plastics | The best are the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles which are firm; don’t use soft plastic |
| 57m20s | Pros & Cons of in-house manufacturing | Pros: higher profit margins (?), may be easier to build a brand, more controlCons: expensive, working with hazardous/ dangerous chemicals, liability exposure, EPA regulations, proper attire required to work in the clean room. |
| 1h,00m10s | Some high profile companies are being investigated. | Insurance is a must, protect yourself whether you make it yourself or outsource it. |
| 1h02m05s | Some terminology and organizations to know | GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice), AEMSA, American Vaping Association, TVECA |
| 1h02m05s | A quick primer on the components in e-liquids | What to look for in each. If you buy from a third party, know the source they purchase from. Your components must be consistent. |
| Nic levels are down, the quality of hardware is increasing | ||
| 1h07m30s | Warning: e-liquids can be prone to theft or high-jacking | Wrap in black plastic, use generic labels, treat it as a valuable product. |
| Questions & Answers | ||
| 1h08m45s | Can you reverse engineer flavors? | Formulations can be reverse engineered, but not candy or finished products. Michael stares a story about trying to be too “unique.” |
| 1h11mo5s | What are the options for steeping? | It can be done with heat and different agitators with proper speed and RPM. Use low RPM, do not aerate! Do not steep with nicotine; add it later. Can be done with ultrasonic and even excess cold. Steeping is a valuable part of the process. |
| 1h13mo40s | Do you need to clean or sterilize the bottles first? | If you get them from the right sources you may eliminate the issue. |
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Jesse is the Digital Marketing Director at VapeMentors and Chief Technology Mentor. He is an ecommerce and internet marketing expert with a background in business and technology.