Smoke shop

Hey RIU, I'm opening a smoke shop in the (209) ! Central Valley CA
I'm posting this thread to use it as kind of a comments/ suggestions box.
My lease has been approved and all legal licenses have been obtained.

I have 900 square feet to play with, store fixtures will consist of showcases and slot wall with glass shelves for display.

The shop will specialize in hookah/shisha and dab/oil rigs and attachments.
I will also be a licensed CA lotto vendor and maybe even metro!

Here's a brief rundown of inventory I plan to carry.
Hookahs/shishas
Wax/dab pens
Hookah pens
Scales/ grinders
Wax rigs
Water pipes (bongs)
Papers (raw, element, etc.)
Bubblers
Pipes
Misc. dab rig attachments
Pocket knifes
Cigarettes
Hookah tobacco
Vape mods

Give me some input I wanna know what all my fellow stoners look for in a smoke shop! Let me know what you would come to buy! Tell me what you would want to see at my store!

I look for nice worked glass for my bong or nice pipes, hate all the Chinese junk I see around my area.

Are you going to let customers call them "bongs"?

Lol I'm so down on my local head shop, I could go on for hours.

BDOGKush said:

I look for nice worked glass for my bong or nice pipes, hate all the Chinese junk I see around my area.

Are you going to let customers call them "bongs"?

Lol I'm so down on my local head shop, I could go on for hours.

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Thanks for your input, I will most definitely have quality glass in stock! I will even carry hitmans!

Customers can call them whatever they want it's what I call them that matters they will be labeled "for tobacco use only"
I would never be rude to a customer for referring to them as bongs.

Redvenom03 said:

Thanks for your input, I will most definitely have quality glass in stock! I will even carry hitmans!

Customers can call them whatever they want it's what I call them that matters they will be labeled "for tobacco use only"
I would never be rude to a customer for referring to them as bongs.

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My local HS has a sign "if it rhymes with wrong, it's wrong" they'll toss your ass out for saying bong.

Above everything, knowledgable employees is a big plus. If you don't know how a downstem is measured, you shouldn't be selling them (example of my local HS).

My gripes with headshops are usually always employee related and hardly ever over selection. Example, I can't say bong but whenever I ask for butane the kid behind the counter will assume I'm making BHO and try to push 14x vector on me.

Sorry I'm ranting, what I'm getting at is that how you treat customers and the character of your employees will determine if you're getting repeat customers, more so than selection.

BDOGKush said:

My local HS has a sign "if it rhymes with wrong, it's wrong" they'll toss your ass out for saying bong.

Above everything, knowledgable employees is a big plus. If you don't know how a downstem is measured, you shouldn't be selling them (example of my local HS).

My gripes with headshops are usually always employee related and hardly ever over selection. Example, I can't say bong but whenever I ask for butane the kid behind the counter will assume I'm making BHO and try to push 14x vector on me.

Sorry I'm ranting, what I'm getting at is that how you treat customers and the character of your employees will determine if you're getting repeat customers, more so than selection.

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Hmmm I might steal that haha
I totally agree with you, that's why the employees will consist of me, myself and I.

Thanks for your Input I really like that "if it rhymes with wrong, it's wrong!

I agree with BDOGKush, knowledgeable employees make a difference. The guys at my local shop suck. Nice shop, great atmosphere, but they don't know shit. They are not smokers. So one day I got full of haze and went to the shop and spent about 4 hours teaching them what these things are, what there used for, and how to use them.

Knowledge is power.
Costumer satisfaction is key.

Polo

polo the don said:

I agree with BDOGKush, knowledgeable employees make a difference. The guys at my local shop suck. Nice shop, great atmosphere, but they don't know shit. They are not smokers. So one day I got full of haze and went to the shop and spent about 4 hours teaching them what these things are, what there used for, and how to use them.

Knowledge is power.
Costumer satisfaction is key.

Polo

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Thank you for your input, I think we can all agree that knowledge is power. Haha what a cool thing to do I bet they enjoyed that.

And yes number one is customer satisfaction! Because if the customer isn't satisfied neither are my pockets!

Redvenom03 said:

Hmmm I might steal that haha
I totally agree with you, that's why the employees will consist of me, myself and I.

Thanks for your Input I really like that "if it rhymes with wrong, it's wrong!

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Lol I hate that damn sign

I understand why they do it, it's just ridiculous when its next to a $1400 oil rig with a self heating nail and the guy is telling you "These products are for Tobacco use only sir!"

I'd try to find some local glass blowers and stock their work, I love my heady glass. Ice pinched chillums and pinched/diffused slides just came to mind. I don't even look at chillums unless they're pinched. Those 420 Jars are good sellers too.

I know right, when I was younger (still of legal age) I loved checking out the local head shops, sometimes not even to purchase anything but just to see all the cool stuff. I would always hate the fact that I couldn't couldn't refer to the "water pipes" as "bongs" now that I'm older and far more business minded. I understand.

I'm gunna take your advice and look into local glass blowers, thank you for mentioning chillums as they would have slipped my mind (for now).

420 jars will be there! In multiple sizes!

A broad with big tits hanging out

Kratom

With the knifes, be very carefull lots lof legal BS about sales I have seen lots of small business get F'ed over BS regulations , You mentioned ' pocket knifes ' in some areas their illegal by themselves simply becouse you said pocket which indicates a concealed weapon, It would be a folder with a clip

LIBERTYCHICKEN said:

A broad with big tits hanging out

Kratom

With the knifes, be very carefull lots lof legal BS about sales I have seen lots of small business get F'ed over BS regulations , You mentioned ' pocket knifes ' in some areas their illegal by themselves simply becouse you said pocket which indicates a concealed weapon, It would be a folder with a clip

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*noted

I expected a lot more feedback, bummer

Hey bud, if your gonna sell Hookah tobacco, might as well set up a lounge with a few Hookah tables ready to go which allows your customers to chill and try your product out. Like Starbucks, have you ever hung out at a Starbucks without buying a mocha frap or something? I havent see something like that in a headshop ever, at least stateside. I'd say a place to chill would be worth the extra $$ for couches, tables etc.. you could even sell coffee and munchies lol...

Dutchy018 said:

Hey bud, if your gonna sell Hookah tobacco, might as well set up a lounge with a few Hookah tables ready to go which allows your customers to chill and try your product out. Like Starbucks, have you ever hung out at a Starbucks without buying a mocha frap or something? I havent see something like that in a headshop ever, at least stateside. I'd say a place to chill would be worth the extra $$ for couches, tables etc.. you could even sell coffee and munchies lol...

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The city I'm planning to open shop in doesnt allow hookah lounges. Thank you for the idea though.

Most places that have 'sit down areas' also must have customer bathrooms by code

Need Glass??? I have downstems, adapters, drop downs, oil rigs, bubblers. etc.

anonymous13 said:

Need Glass??? I have downstems, adapters, drop downs, oil rigs, bubblers. etc.

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Yes!

get the fantasia hookah tobacco its bomb. roll ur own tabacco, humidors phillps and kings is a good cigar supplier there out of calli. we order from them. im part owner of a small smoke shop in a small town.

scales i like the ( my weigh ) brand from HBI TOBACCO all the my weigh brand has a 30 year life time warranty.