Vapouround magazine ISSUE 15 | Page 118

FEATURE A BREATH OF FRESH AYR REBIRTH OF THE CIGALIKE It’s amazing to think how far e-cigarettes have evolved in the past decade. With the box mod now making up a significant share of the market, the term ‘e-cigarette’ seems almost redundant. Nonetheless, around 17% of people in the UK continue to smoke. For many of these people to be convinced to try or reconsider e-cigarettes, there needs to be an attractive device that does more than safely deliver nicotine – it needs to deliver an experience that closely resembles the smoking of a cigarette. While cigalikes have largely fallen out of fashion, they remain a natural entry point for many smokers looking to get into vaping. With some significant tweaks to the template, AYR CEO Clive Millington may well have developed the viable alternative to cigarettes that smokers have been looking for. “I think that Cigalikes were on the right track, but they fell short on user experience,” said Clive. “They over-promised and under-delivered. Our aim has been to carry forward many of the ritualistic elements and heritage of smoking, leave the harm from combustible tobacco behind, whilst delivering a completely new digital experience to the user.” The team began working on AYR four years ago and while much of the device’s appeal lies in its intuitive simplicity, precision engineering and complex software run beneath the sleek shell. Many smokers find the vaping market overwhelming. It takes a determined and inquisitive mind to commit to learning the ins and outs of vaping. Committed smokers need a more complete and accessible product if they are to be converted. 118 | VM15