of the most recognisable names in the community .
However , now that her store is closed , Skip warned that many of her lower income customers could be forced back to deadly tobacco cigarettes .
She said : “ We ’ ve never been the highly polished , super hip big vape shop , it ’ s just not our market … we ’ re the working man ’ s place . “ And I ’ m really concerned that some of my really low-income customers will end up going back to smoking … and I ’ m going to feel responsible .”
Skip explained that many of her regulars came in on the last day to stock up with as many supplies as possible and , in a lastditch effort to help them stay smoke free , she secretly doubled many of their orders .
“ I knew it was going to happen , but I tried to pretend it wasn ’ t … one of the first stages of grief is denial and that ’ s where I was for a really long time .
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She said : “ Some of them bust out into tears they were so sad that we were closing … we ’ d built an attachment to each other . “ I knew when their grandkids were born ; I know birthdays , wedding anniversaries and funerals … we are definitely small town .”
Skip has since vowed to continue fighting for the right to harm reduction , stressing that that the only real ‘ winners and losers ’ in the war between tobacco control and harm reduction are smokers .
She stressed that vaping is saving lives and that quitting advocacy is simply ‘ not an option ’… not until these crucial products are more accessible for smokers .
Looking to the future , Skip said : “ I ’ ll continue advocating until I just can ’ t do it anymore , I ’ m not stopping while people are still dying every day , it ’ s not even a choice .”
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