30. Vape Emporium

Founders: Andy Logan and Amar El-zayat
Founded: March 2013 (launched May 2013)
Website: www.vapeemporium.com

Predicting the huge future market of vaping, Andy Logan and Amar El-zayat got into the game early with Vape Emporium, a multi-channel retailer selling everything from vaping devices to e-liquids from its Hampstead and Richmond sites, as well as online, via wholesale and through third party events.

This is the second appearance in the Startups 100 for the vaping brand which now sells to thousands of customers every month around the world. Vape Emporium takes vaping seriously: their customer-focused approach includes in-shop ‘Vape Consultants’, to help people buy the product that meets their requirements, as well as a testing station and bar allowing customers to sample the dizzying array of flavoured e-liquids such as strawberry sundae, cappuccino and chocolate and mint.

As well as the opening of several new shops in the UK, Vape Emporium is currently in talks with foreign partners about the possibility of supplying or opening international stores. The young business is also in the process of developing and manufacturing five new products alongside a big push to drive its wholesale arm forwards.

Having turned over an impressive £550,000 in 2015, the brand is already on track to more than double that this year, with revenue projected to hit £1.2m for 2016.

With e-cigarettes constantly in the news at the moment, it will certainly be an interesting 12 months for the start-up…