STRAWBERRY QUEEN
SEASON
Marketer and pro-vaping champion on taking Strawberry
Queen E-liquids to the next level.
by Ashley Hansen
The blazing heat of August has
arrived in Southern California and the
Strawberry Queen’s fields are ripe for
the picking. Fresh on the market
since early 2016, our reach has grown
in this short amount of time around
Vape communities across the world.
The Strawberry Queen mission is
to provide a premium e-liquid lineup
that you know, love and trust with the
marketing and integrity to back it up.
So, who’s the spearhead behind all the
commotion? That would be me, Ashley
Hansen, Vice Operating President of
Strawberry Queen E-Liquid, based in
sunny Los Angeles, California.
My journey here did not happen
overnight, so I would like to use this as
an opportunity to reveal the experiences
that have brought me to where I am
today and why I am so passionate
about what we, as a worldwide
community, are doing.
Born and raised in the metropolis of
suburban Detroit, I quickly became
fascinated with the culture, art and
32 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE USA
hustle of a city that is continuously
reinventing itself. The most obvious
truth i s, in a city driven by determination
passion reigns supreme to ignite the
fuels of its fire. My time in Detroit taught
me what true work ethic is... and all that
it can accomplish.
As a University of Michigan alum with
a diverse experience in a multitude of
industries, the vape community has
proved to be the most substantial.
When the position presented itself to me
in the form of Lead Marketing Director
in LA, I couldn’t resist. The client: a Big
Tobacco company aiming to activate a
nationwide campaign. I’ll never forget
the day I packed up my Ford and drove
the 2,000 miles in less than three days
to start the opportunity of a lifetime.
My introduction to vaping. Now, back
home in the groups that I associated
with, the only electronic cigarettes I
came across were Blu, and even then,
they were few and far between.
My very first week in LA I found e-liquid
and its accessories everywhere.
Within the second month of living in LA,
I turned down the next phase of the BT
activation. I have stared in the face of
BT, and I was not impressed by what
I saw. As a former smoker, I found
myself more compelled to advocate the
alternatives to BT, and show people
that vaping is the future.
I ventured into different tobacco stores
that carried a variety of vape products
and brands. At first, I was intimidated
by my lack of knowledge, a common
symptom of venturing into this industry,
but as I explored, my knowledge grew
to understanding.
At a second glance, I am reminded of the
many people I’ve spoken with along the
way who have felt similarly. I realize now
that there is NO SHAME in the quest
for vape knowledge. The information is
endless. When I finally spoke to vapers,
they were more than happy to share
their story. While momentum built, a
promotional marketing opportunity
presented itself to me in the vape
industry and I took it wholeheartedly.