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Steam Rebels – it´s the dentists fault
Astrid and Marko Schröter were smokers. This is not unusual for the operators of a vapor store, but in principle the rule. However, the reason for switching to e-cigarettes is not quite commonplace. Chance in the form of the dentist had a clever hand. Astrid had her teeth whitened and was banned from smoking for three days. She didn't want to give up, so she bought an e-cigarette without further ado. Her husband Marko ordered one too, whether out of solidarity or curiosity is irrelevant. "Neither of us have touched a cigarette since then," Marko says.
Eigener Shop nach vier Dampfer-Monaten
The vaping scene acts quickly. After the Schröters took their first puff on an e-cigarette, they were hooked. Just four months later, they opened their own vape store in Gilching. The great thing about it is that the Steam Rebels are not just a vape store, but almost a small family. "We're not just a store, but a small community where you can meet up for a chat and a coffee," says Marko, describing the relationship with his regular customers. The circle of customers is by no means closed: The Steam Rebels are attended by people who have switched to smoking and long-time vapers as well as beginners. Some of them even stray from Landshut or Günzburg or the Bavarian capital to the west of Munich. Or do the out-of-towners consciously accept the journey to the municipality in the district of Starnberg? Yes, Marko knows, and explains why: "Because they know that they can rely on our advice and service. And because they receive a warm welcome and have fun."
Anyone who wants to discover the subject of vaping should "bring at least an hour for the initial consultation", says Marko. After all, the device, taste and nicotine strength need to be matched to the individual's vaping and vaping behavior. "We then put the device into operation and explain in detail how to operate and maintain it, such as changing coils," says the expert, explaining the scope of the consultation.
With their two employees, there are four Steam Rebels - and they have a wide range of vapor preferences. Sometimes the personal preference is for more vapor development, on other days it is clearly for the taste experience. Marko was an absolute pleasure smoker and therefore prefers a leisurely "continuous suck" with more nicotine. He is the only one in the team who prefers MTlL-vaping. Note: Not all smokers smoke "MTL", many also vape their tobacco cigarettes "DL" and then of course need the corresponding DL device. The same applies to shisha smokers.
Of course, the Schröters like to try out new types of liquid, for coffee, while driving and in the evening on the couch. Sometimes the smoke alarm goes off when there is a lot of cloud cover.
Sales of sweet liquids increase in winter, while cool, fruity varieties are more in demand in summer. The decisive factor in whether a liquid makes it into the Steam Rebels range is the taste. The products from happy liquid have been in the range since the store opened. In addition to the high quality, the Schröters appreciate the "good taste, great variety" and the fact that Happy People GmbH is a local company. Strawberry menthol is very popular. The store owner recommends Vanilla Cigarillo and Tobacco Menthol to smokers who want to switch. According to Marko, the significantly longer shelf life of the coils is what distinguishes a quality liquid.
Private label as a casual eye-catcher
The Steam Rebels have now even designed their own flavor series and given it the name "Wicked Vaper". The look of the bottles is impressive: The look and image are of course based on the corporate design. Apart from the commercial aspect, Marko is also keen to dispel prejudices against e-cigarettes. "If you stick to sound scientific findings and don't tell fairy tales", you can also provide neutral information as a store operator. The Steam Rebels don't just want to correct circulating myths because they make a living from selling vaping products, but "because we are absolutely convinced that e-cigarettes are a significantly less risky alternative to smoking."
Offering smokers a less harmful alternative is one of the four soft corporate goals. The others are: "Making our customers happy, guaranteeing our employees a safe job and having fun at work ourselves." (This also applies to the two four-legged "employees" Piper and Angel! Dogs are also welcome at the animal-loving rebels).
