South Island’s first vaping store has generated strong interest since it opened on April 13, the company, Vapo, said.
Located in the heritage-listed Duncan’s building, the store is Vapo’s eighth in New Zealand, but its first in Christchurch, where the founders, Ben Pryor and Johnathan Devery, are from.
They say interest in the store is party due to it being located in one of the last areas of the High Street to reopen after the 2011 earthquakes.
“To open a premier store in such an iconic Christchurch building when the city has lost so much of its heritage is awesome,” Pryor said.
“We’re both originally from Christchurch, and while it may be Vapo’s eighth store nationwide, this one arguably means the most to us.”
Pryor and Devery also own Alt New Zealand, which, together with Vapo, forms the largest New Zealand-owned vaping company, they say. The two businesses employ over 70 people across their retail locations, factory, laboratory and large distribution centre across two sites in Auckland.
More stores are on the way, as the founders seek to spread their ambition of a tobacco-free New Zealand.
“Vaping is all about getting Kiwis off cigarettes and into a practice that’s considerably healthier and more cost-effective for them and their families,” Pryor said.
“We know first–hand, and studies show that vaping is the most effective smoking cessation tool. So we’re very proud to now bring our passion and company ethos to Christchurch.”