When Just Vape opened on Foundry Lane in February 2015, the UK vape market looked completely different. NI smoking rates were sitting at 18% to 20%, the TPD regulations that now cap nicotine e-liquid at 10ml had not yet come into force, and disposable vapes had not been invented in their modern form. The market was dominated by box mods, sub-ohm tanks and 18mg freebase e-liquid in tiny bottles.

The first wave of Omagh customers were almost all smokers looking for a way out of cigarettes. The advice in store was relatively simple: pick a starter kit, pick a flavour you actually like, start at 18mg freebase and work down. Most successful switchers in that era stayed on freebase for years. The success rate was meaningful but the learning curve was steep, particularly for older smokers who had never used technology like this before.

The TPD shift (May 2017)

The UK Tobacco Products Directive came into force in 2017 and reshaped the market overnight. Nicotine e-liquid was capped at 10ml per bottle, tanks were capped at 2ml, nicotine strength was capped at 20mg/ml. The 100ml shortfill format was invented as a TPD workaround, and Just Vape Omagh adapted its stocking and in-store advice accordingly. The shortfill format has been part of the daily conversation at the counter ever since.

The nic salt era (2018 onwards)

By 2018, nicotine salt e-liquid had arrived in the UK and Omagh customers started to ask about it. Nic salts at 20mg gave smokers a smoother way to match their cigarette intake, and the switching success rate jumped noticeably. Our ex-smoker switching guide covers the science behind why salts work better than freebase for cigarette replacement.

The disposable wave (2021 to 2025)

From around 2021 the disposable vape took over the UK market. Single-use Elf Bars, Lost Marys and Crystal Bars became the everyday vape, and the Omagh store stocked them alongside the refillable range. By 2024 the NI Audit Office reported that over 80% of NI vapers were using single-use rather than refillable devices, with public health concerns about youth uptake and environmental waste mounting fast.

The post-ban shift (June 2025 onwards)

The 1 June 2025 UK disposable ban changed the market again. Omagh customers who had been on disposables since 2021 came back to the store looking for advice on refillable pod kits and bottled nic salts. The 2025 to 2026 wave of in-store conversations has largely been about matching disposable flavours to bar-style nic salts and picking the right pod kit. Our post-disposable-ban guide covers the wider context.

Over a decade the customer base has changed shape four times. Each wave needed a different conversation at the counter.

The fact that Just Vape Omagh has been through all four waves is the reason the in-store advice now carries weight. Whatever stage you are at in your own switching journey, the team has helped someone in a similar position before. Drop in on Foundry Lane, or call 028 8226 7207 to ask a question before you visit.