Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Zach. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started working for a vaping company in the UK in 2012. While I was there, I realized just how successful vaping was in helping people cut cigarettes out of their lives. After working in the UK for a couple of years, I had a phone call from my Brother Max who lived in Houston at the time. He wanted to know if I’d be interested in starting a vapor shop here in Houston. I jumped on the opportunity to do something for myself, as I knew how successful vaping could be.
Our father passed away in 2006. He was a 2-3 pack a day smoker. The doctors showed us an X-ray of his lungs and the damage that smoking had caused, and it was absolutely mind blowing. If vaping had been popular back then, I believe our fathers story would be different today.
Even after everything that happened to our Dad, I still started smoking. I’m not sure how it happened, but it did. Vaping is the only thing that has been able to help me not smoke Cigarettes anymore.
After opening our first store and seeing how many people actually made the swap from cigarettes to vaping successfully, we decided to expand. Currently we have 4 retail locations on the East side of Houston.
All of us here believe that vaping is the best way to at least cut down the number of cigarettes a smoker smokes every day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The day before our grand opening, a news truck pulled up to our store. They were running a story on the vote that was happening at Baytown City Hall the following week. The vote was on whether or not vaping would be banned inside public places and businesses.
For us, this was terrible news. We have always felt that a guest in our store should be able to sample before they buy. We like to tailor everything to the guests needs. If vaping was banned in public places, it would have meant we would have had to change our business model completely, and I don’t think our guests would have been able to get the best help possible.
I went to the City Hall meeting and spoke to the council members. My only argument was that each privately-owned business should have the right to decide whether or not vaping was allowed on their property. I have no problem with businesses putting up “No vaping” signs. That is their choice.
To my surprise, the council members voted in agreement, and decided that it would be up to the business owners to allow or restrict vaping on their property. Yay!
Max & Zach’s Vapor Shops – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We pride ourselves in helping people make the transition from regular tobacco cigarettes, to vaping.
We’re known for our excellent customer service and high standards. If you smoke cigarettes, don’t ever feel bad about giving vaping a try. We CAN make it work for you and will.
I personally train every new staff member on the best ways to help someone make the transition and show them that every guest in the store is different and may have different needs.
Stopping smoking is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. If I’d had the support of a vapor shop like mine, it would have been a much smoother ride.
As a company, our main focus is helping people make the switch. It is extremely viable for ANYONE to switch. You just have to give it a try
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally define success as not waking up in the morning and dreading going to work. For me it’s as simple as that. I’m doing what I love. Helping people live better lives, and making a living doing it.
Running a business is extremely stressful and if you’re not ready to dedicate your life to it, it probably won’t work out. The thing is, when a 70-year-old lady walks into my store and gives me a big hug and a high 5 because she hasn’t touched a cigarette in 2 weeks, it makes it all worth it.
Pricing:
- Starter kits as low as $19.99
- Ejuice ranging from $8.99 to $29.99
Contact Info:
- Address: Max & Zach’s Baytown – 4506 Garth rd, unit M, Baytown, Tx 77521
Max & Zach’s Crosby – 105 Kennings rd, Suite 3B, Crosby Tx 77532
Max & Zach’s Mont Belvieu – 9529 Hwy 146 N, Baytown, Tx 77521
Max & Zach’s Liberty – 2135 TX-146, Liberty, TX 77575 - Website: www.maxandzachs.com
- Phone: 8329264687
- Email: maxandzachs@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/max_and_zachs_vaporshop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxandZachs/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/max-and-zachs-vapor-shop-baytown
Image Credit:
Zach Jones
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