EXCLUSIVE: Vape shop offers free e-liquids to NHS workers

A Birmingham-based vape retail business is offering NHS workers nationwide free e-liquids to say ‘thank you’ for their lifesaving efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ohms of the Ancient is one of the thousands of vape retailers to be badly affected by the lockdown and the failure of the government to recognise the industry as ‘essential’ along with grocery, hardware and some other retail categories.

Despite this, the retailer wants to show its thanks to those key workers who vape, in a very direct way. A message on the business’s Facebook page says all “frontline staff” including NHS workers, police, shopworkers and army are entitled to free “juice and nic shots as a thank you for your service”. Ohms of the Ancient said ID must be shown upon delivery to ensure against fraud, the company says.

Other vape retailers are also offering substantial discounts to keyworkers including Vape Club (50%) and NULVape (10%).

Jake Kendrick, senior director of the firm, co-founded Ohms of the Ancient with his business partner Charlotte Taylor in January and said the company has been hard hit by the close down of the economy, losing customers to supermarkets and more established vape shop brands.

“We had to close for two weeks completely, while we came up with a new strategy for the business,” he says. Ohms of the Ancient is now offering nationwide delivery via a team of motorcyclist friends who have stepped in to help deliver sales through the lockdown.

The company is also focused on building a fit-for-purpose website while utilising social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram to drive sales in the short term.

“If you’ve run out of vape juice or your device has broken, contact us on social media. If you live across the mainland UK then we will deliver to you free of charge,” Jake added.

While vape shops were not included in the list of ‘essential’ retailers able to keep stores open during the lockdown, Public Health England has said that vaping is more than 95% less harmful than smoking and independent medical experts have said they are disappointed with the government’s decision.