Vapouround magazine Issue 03 | Page 212

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ULTRAVAPOUR.COM DYNAMO JONATHAN TYCER UltraVapour.com is a trail-blazing vape store making a difference by placing the vaping community at the heart of their business. Based in Birmingham, the two-store operation in Halesowen and West Bromwich is headed up by dynamic entrepreneur and passionate vaper Jonathan Tycer, a former smoker keen to show others the way to a healthier vaping lifestyle. T he business started out in 2012 when Jonathan first spotted e-cigarettes. He bought one for himself, saw that it worked after he successfully cut out tobacco cigarettes, then did extensive research on the market. With hundreds of different flavour combinations and varying nicotine strengths, he ordered his first batch of regulated vape products worth £500 from China. That was the turning point and the start of a beautiful vaping journey, as Jonathan found the products sold quickly. The next time, he ordered £1000 worth of goods, then double that amount to £2000, selling to people he knew including family and friends. Realising this was a good business idea, Jonathan moved quickly to get the foundations of the business in place, to help others quit smoking. From consulting with a web designer to launch a stunning website, to branding and marketing, UltraVapour. com was born. 210 ISSUE 03 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE The first store opened its doors in Halesowen 2012, with another store opening the following year in West Bromwich. Since then, UltraVapour.com have welcomed thousands of people into their stores to give sound advice on every aspect of vaping. Jonathan said: “Speaking to our customers and connecting with them is a very important part of the business, because we’re more than just a vape store selling products. We give advice and find that it is welcomed by all, in particular, the older members of the public.” Given the tremendous amount of misinformation in the public domain, UltraVapour.com see it their duty to educate people. In no small part, dispensing free, friendly advice has led UltraVapour.com to grow their customer base as people come back for the excellent service, whilst enjoying customer perks like the wildly popular loyalty card. UltraVapour.com is something of a family affair. Jonathan’s sister quit her lucrative area manager role for a fast food chain, and is now learning the foundations of the UltraVapour.com business. Her astute knowledge about franchising and area management means she is best placed to help Jonathan take UltraVapour.com to the next level. Jonathan’s mother is a finance whizz and is the official book-keeper of the company. At the heart of the business is the compassionate need to help others; as a former smoker, Jonathan knows what it’s like to want to quit smoking. He is now a full-time vaper, saying he crushed his habit of 10 tobacco cigarettes a day and now, he wants to help others do the same. Jonathan said: “I still have that box of cigarettes somewhere at home, gathering dust. When I chat to customers and tell them I know what it’s like to be in their position of wanting to quit cigarettes, it puts them at ease. It’s always different when sellers behind