China crises

[Crewella]

Only you can know where you were planning to go with this, but at the moment I can't see how anyone can 'clone' a mod of yours as the whole ethos of your 'brand' is about quality/bespoke/handmade. As @Biscuit says if it's not that, then to me it's not a Vapesmarter mod. However, you might have ideas and designs that you'd like to explore ........ in which case you'd be tempted by this. If you are, just be prepared to lose. Don't put a lot of money into it, and don't think you can protect your designs - the clones market proves that 'ownership' means nothing - if someone decides to copy your design it's almost impossible to fight it, especially for the little guy.

The other thing to think about is the people who have approached you - what's the quality of what they already put out like? There are Chinese companies with a good rep and I'd imagine they're less likely to break your heart by churning out shoddy goods?

Either way, good luck!

 

[KetracelWhite]

Maybe it's worth researching what happened in the similar case with VapeDroid & Sbody
And/ or even contacting Ayman for feedback/ intel... > https://www.facebook.com/groups/vapedroid/

 

[ed87]

@vapesmarter - I’m very similar in so much that I work full time long hours with a decent commute and I have a (very) young family.

I initially started knocking a mod or 2 out for myself as it’s a little hobby that I can do as when I find the time - some ‘me’ time in my garage. However, it is bittersweet, the looks I get from the wife after spending hours in the garage when I should be with my little girl and the +2am nights to finish a mod kill me but the response from you apes on here has been absolutely amazing and it’s such a great feeling seeing something you’ve toiled over come to life.

When I first started I had grand ideas of making loads of mods and building up a real business but it is truly hard work as you’ve said, I’ve invested a good couple of grand myself believe it or not but despite all of this I still enjoy making mods, when that begins to fade and it starts to become ‘just another mod’ then I’ll stop, simple. I’ll always support people that have bought my mods whether I’m making them or not as I couldn’t leave anyone out in the cold that’s just not me.

Take a look at whether the time and effort put into making them is effecting your quality of life. If so, then that’s the decision made in my eyes.

 

[vapesmarter]

^^^^ This. I’m sure investors would be falling over themselves and if those investors were vapers, it could result in something special.

I’m not sure that I’m reading some of your posts correctly but I get the feeling that you don’t really enjoy making mods. That’s a shame as I think most Apes are busy planning and saving for one of your creations. If it doesn’t make you happy, I’d scrap the whole China thing. Yeah, money is nice but being happy is priceless.

Yep I hate them that’s the weird thing the process of making choosing a name the colours the concept I love with a passion but after all the stress of that you end up hating what you make

2 examples

you spend hours cooking a fabulous meal lots of people can’t be arsed to eat it after all the work they put into to making the food in the first place

The other

I know a lady who paints racehorses she trained in landscapes but being down on her luck she started doing horses for well off clients

Many herds of horses later she says she feels like having a sticker in her car

“I speed up for horses in fact I steer into the fuckers”

But weirdly it works for me when I make a mod and don’t like it they get glowing reviews go all over the internet messages from people from all over like pink, wonko, Cuprum and raven (above) if I make for my tastes and say this is my mod it’s brilliant they die a death

In relation to business yes I am registered and pay tax owning your own business you have to, the days of cash and fast and free via PayPal are over the tax man isn’t stupid and if your not registered with HMRC you run that risk @ed87 if your serious about making mods I suggest you declare the earning you can’t offer a service as a customer/ maker and have a company name without filing accounts.

I had a conversation with a friend the other day he’s gone legit with the tax man after they caught him he’s done time in the past as he was a naughty boy. But being question by 2 tax offices was worse than the police they just kept upping the penalty on him in the end they took the lot house, car everything and still billed him for more money.

I think I will stay as I am making bespoke mods by me and Alfie

 

[conanthewarrior]

I think you should go for it, you mention that you hate mods in general so why not outsource? It could get your name a lot more well known.

I may of misunderstood what you meant though. You put a lot of work into what you create and they are all beautiful. Really have a think about it, and find out more of the details. Really find out as much as you possibly can, and remember it is China. They can make amazing things, or terrible things depending on the price and how much work is put in/scale of the project.

 

[shale84]

Can't you do both,like sell them a couple of versions for mass production and leave or design some for hand made?Maybe I'm talking nonsense but maybe you can earn some extra money and still have something that's just yours?

 

[eyeball kid]

I think we will see a lot of this over the next year. It feeds into another thread about what's going on with the DNA mods.
If indeed evolv are insisting that their boards only go into "special" mods we will see all of the classic Chinese brands buying right's to names and logo' s to utilize as their premium lines to access the higher end boards.

Ultimately you have to ask what is your usp. Yours is individually made mods to the specification of the buyer.
Can China do that in your name. No. What they can do (and already do) is make stabwood mods and then add your name and alfie' s paw print.
So ultimately they want the name and logo in exchange for cash (possibly).
The amount of collaborations between east and west in the vape world that have happy endings seem to be few.
Good luck with it all buddy.

 

[vapesmarter]

Can't you do both,like sell them a couple of versions for mass production and leave or design some for hand made?Maybe I'm talking nonsense but maybe you can earn some extra money and still have something that's just yours?

Not as simple as that I’m afraid

For a company to go into business over a product we are talking 1000s of units, advertising etc plus we have import duties vat tax etc

 

[vapesmarter]

I think we will see a lot of this over the next year. It feeds into another thread about what's going on with the DNA mods.
If indeed evolv are insisting that their boards only go into "special" mods we will see all of the classic Chinese brands buying right's to names and logo' s to utilize as their premium lines to access the higher end boards.

Ultimately you have to ask what is your usp. Yours is individually made mods to the specification of the buyer.
Can China do that in your name. No. What they can do (and already do) is make stabwood mods and then add your name and alfie' s paw print.
So ultimately they want the name and logo in exchange for cash (possibly).
The amount of collaborations between east and west in the vape world that have happy endings seem to be few.
Good luck with it all buddy.

Think your right it’s seems Alfie has more wallop then me ffs

They love Alfie he is “ most cute doggy”

Hmmm

Alfie paw is trademarked up to point but tricky to enforce but my other son is training as a barrister (earns loads more money than his poor dad) so at least I have free legal advice

 

[Michael jackson]

I think my mod should be your last mod then speak to Voopoo and get the genie chip and bobs your tea pot