United Wholesale Scotland (UWS) is to roll out bespoke vaping gantries to Day Today symbol stores in preparation for the disposables ban in June.

The firm’s managing director Chris Gallacher told Better Retailing the roll out would begin in March in partnership with vaping distributor Phoenix 2 Retail, offering retailers a 1m, 2m and 3m option.

They will be designed to help retailers effectively range compliant products, which will include rechargeable and refillable devices.

He added: “We’re going to be sending something to the customers with information on planograms. The gantries will be free of charge to the retailers and they will have digital screens.

“The store owners will need to sign an agreement with us where we will give them merchandise and advice on what they should be stocking in the gantry. It’s up to us as a symbol group to educate retailers and ensure they have the right guidance before the ban comes in.

“These gantries will have a lot of detail around how they can recycle vapes. It ticks all the boxes on how they can remain legal and compliant, while also driving the growth in the category because it will still continue. People won’t stop vaping, even after than ban.”

How to get your store ready for the disposable vape ban

Similarly, UWS is also gathering sales data from vaping suppliers to help retailers sell-through disposable vapes ahead of the June restriction through sales forecasting.

Gallacher explained: “This is data led by the suppliers. In a category like vaping, you need someone to do the heavy lifting for you. You need them to understand where the category is shifting to.

“We want to ensure retailers aren’t leftover with stock. We’re not taking any disposables back after the ban and we’ve told retailers this. It’s four months until the ban. We’ve given guidance. Let’s try and work together to get a smooth transition going.”

Meanwhile, Gallacher stressed to retailers the importance of ensuring retailers improve their knowledge of rechargeable and refillable devices as simpler to use disposable vapes become illegal.

He told Better Retailing: “Most vape customers going into a convenience store are different to those who go into a specialist shop.

“They won’t know what a puff count means and usually just wait until a vape runs out before buying a new one.

“When vapes first came out, it was quite a struggle for retailers to educate customers on what to do. You had so much you need to do with vapes with regards to assembling them together.

“We’ll see a shift back to this where retailers will have to inform customers more about certain products.”

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