If you’re a vape shop owner and you’re looking at the news, you may be hearing discussions on what is considered an essential service and who are considered essential employees during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many varying degrees of quarantine have been set in place throughout the United States and worldwide, with some taking very aggressive approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic. One example of this is the “shelter-in-place” order in California.
We here at eJuices.co believe your vape shop is an essential service. You’re providing products and services to a community that is interested in alternative nicotine products for harm reduction. You’re creating jobs for those who wish to work in the vape industry and can convey that message. You may have some questions and you have come to eJuices.co to seek answers. What is considered an essential service? How can I keep my business afloat in these tough times? The eJuices.co team is here to answer some of your questions.
Defining An Essential Service
There is really no agreement on what is considered an essential service, but there are several industries that may be considered by the majority of people as essential. Companies such as GameStop tried to remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but many retailers have closed their doors to the public to stop the spread of COVID-19. In general, there are a few services that are considered as an essential service: the armed forces, healthcare, police, firefighting, transportation/logistics, utility services, grocery stores, the media, and gas stations. Other jurisdictions may consider other services as essential services. However, this has largely been at the discretion of state and local authorities.
Due to the variance of definitions of what is and isn’t an essential service, the United Nations’ International Labor Office (ILO) defines an essential service as such: “What is meant by essential services in the strict sense of the term depends to a large extent on the particular circumstances prevailing in a country. Moreover, this concept is not absolute, in the sense that a non-essential service may become essential if a strike lasts beyond a certain time or extends beyond a certain scope, thus endangering the life, personal safety or health of the whole or part of the population.” This still leaves the definition unclear and therefore subject to the interpretation of local and state authorities.
Your Vape Shop Is An Essential Service
Your vape shop may or may not fall under the definition of an essential service depending on who you ask. At eJuices.co, we believe your vape shop is an essential service. Prior to COVID-19, health authorities largely focused on vape products. Today, they have shifted their focus to COVID-19, as it is the biggest pandemic since the flu pandemic of 1918. You and your vape shop are important to the community. It is the focal point for access to alternative nicotine products and flavors that vapers use for harm reduction. That need does not stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic, just like grocery shopping does not stop. A return to traditional tobacco products may even compromise the COVID-19 recovery efforts because they both negatively affect the respiratory system.
How You Can Remain An Essential Service
It is important that you remain active in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. If legally possible, you could have your employees provide curbside pick-up or even delivery services if you have the resources to do so and it is legal in your jurisdiction. This ensures that your business can continue in these tough times. You can communicate with your customers via social media as well to provide updates on what is in stock or if you intend to add certain services.
If you wish to do so, you can contact the eJuices.co team about setting up a PoweredByeJuices.com store so you can use our inventory for your shop if you don’t have one already. All you have to do is contact us to set up your PoweredBy store and we’ll take care of the rest, including shipping products straight to your customers’ homes.
If you have any questions or concerns on how to continue your business during this time, you can always contact your eJuices.co account manager or sales representative. We are here to help your business succeed.