The concept of vaping is something few people are unaware of but back in the early 2000s it was an unknown phrase.
Although electronic cigarettes date back to the 1960s it was a patent filed by Hon Lik in 2003 which really kickstarted the industry. Fed up with his own 20 a day habit and the fact that his father was dying of lung cancer, Hon Lik set about inventing a less harmful cigarette.
The story is that the idea came to him in a dream, where he was dying via drowning, his lungs were filling with water, and suddenly the water turned into a harmless vapour, and hence the idea for the e-cig. Many companies have since jumped on the vaping bandwagon but it was way back in 2008 that Totally Wicked was launched in Blackburn.
READ MORE: Blackburn Rovers confirm new front of shirt sponsor after Recoverite partnership ends prematurely
On October 8 that year the company was launched by Jason Cropper with his brother Fraser, who is the current chairman, saying 10 years later: "It was a true pioneering moment; with the term vaping still at least three years away from making its appearance, e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers had a tremendously difficult task of creating awareness and trust in our products. Even in our earliest infancy, we were privileged to be able to rely on the support of some tremendously loyal customers, who understood first-hand the potential of vaping."
Jason is no longer involved in the running of Totally Wicked, having stepped down from the multi-million pound company in 2013, after his comments to politicians deemed 'not to reflect the views of the company'. Marcus Saxton is the current chief executive.
Although Totally Wicked now has over 500 shops across the UK including company-operated outlets and franchises, as well as selling in Asda, Sainsbury's and Bargain Booze stores, its roots in Blackburn are a big part of the firm. Totally Wicked has been the shirt sponsor of Blackburn Rovers since 2018 and has been the club's principal sponsor since January of this year after Rovers parted ways with Recoverite Compression.
Fraser Cropper, Totally Wicked's chairman, has been a lifelong supporter of the club, having sold programmes at Ewood Park when he was a youngster, and seeing his company's logo on the front of his beloved team's shirts is something he takes great pride in. The sponsorship also helped Rovers out of a budgetary quandary and Totally Wicked has also been a sponsor of St Helen's Rugby FC for the last 10 years.
Totally Wicked directly employs more than 140 people, as well as supporting many more jobs through franchises, and the company posted a turnover of 43.5m for the 12 months to March 31, 2021, up slightly from the 43.3m it achieved during the prior year. Headquartered in Stancliffe Street, the firm takes its responsibilities seriously, requiring age verification for online sales, and in 2016 was the founding member of the Independent British Vaping Trade Association (IBVTA) which was established to support the independent vape industry.
Being a responsible vaping company is a hot topic at the moment. Last month Conservative MP Adam Afriyie, the vice chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping, demanded tougher regulations on e-cigarettes after a report revealed that thousands of vaping devices have been sold to schoolchildren.
Mr Afriyie warned that online sellers are using colours and flavours to target under-18s as trading standards officers have reported that thousands of children have been sold vaping devices. According to a new report by Scottish Trading Standards (SCOTSS) a total of 88,839 disposable vaping devices were removed from sale as they were either not labelled correctly in accordance with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
In line with tobacco products, e-cigarettes and liquid have an age restriction meaning you have to be 18 to buy them, but earlier this year a BBC investigation found a third of shops selling to underage youngsters. An increase in the number of children vaping has led to calls for tighter regulations on the sale of e-cig products.
View post:
Blackburn vaping company might be pioneers but there are calls for tougher regulation - Lancs Live
- Vaping is still cool in college and beyond for young adults : Shots - Health News - NPR - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Parents warned over potentially fatal effects of spice vaping - The Irish News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Study: Vaping Linked to Higher Risk of Heart Failure - Health.com - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Vape registries hurt local retailers, are bad health policy | Commentary - The Post and Courier - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Students caught for first-time vaping offences could face up to S$2,000 fine, according to MOH and HSA - Yahoo Singapore News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- OSF adds more STEAM to American Heart Association's anti-vaping/smoking and nutrition efforts - Newsroom OSF HealthCare - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Quitting Vaping Doesn't Need to be Hard. The SCPC is Here to Help. - Wyo4News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking cigarettes can destroy lungs, but shocking new study reveals why vaping can harm the heart - Fox News - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Lawrenceburg HS to Host Parents Against Vaping Event This Thursday - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Parents urged to talk to young people about vaping Spice dangers | HSC Public Health Agency - Public Health Agency - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Smoking/vaping is now outlawed at most of Twin Hills Park - Crestview News Bulletin - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Events - Free Program to Quit Smoking or Vaping - Brookdale Community College Newsroom - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Vaping trend among Welsh youth focus of anti-vaping campaign - Yahoo News UK - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Demand for new youth anti-vaping program surges as Parliament considers world leading vaping reforms - Department of Health - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Experts warn of youth lung injury crisis due to vaping - pna.gov.ph - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- EXCLUSIVE: Next Big Thing In Vaping? New Leader Has Clues - Benzinga - April 12th, 2024 [April 12th, 2024]
- Most smokers wrongly believe vaping is at least as harmful as smoking, says study - Medical Xpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Proposed bill strives to clarify legal vaping products in Georgia - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Smoking compared with vaping what both do to your body from the first puff - The Telegraph - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Local teen shares story after nearly dying due to vaping - KOKI FOX 23 TULSA - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping can increase susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV-2 - UC Riverside - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- As youth vaping skyrockets, SC bill aims to crack down on sales of illegal e-cigs - News From The States - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Whether anti-vaping activists like it or not, vaping helps smokers quit - OCRegister - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Adults in England wrongly think vaping is worse than smoking - study - Euronews - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Southernminn.com - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Young people lead vaping and use of some illicit drugs soar - Cosmos - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Fargo Cass Public Health taking action after growing concerns with teen vaping - INFORUM - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- ATS The Bridge tells Rotarians of youth vaping risks - Cleveland Daily Banner - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Kids are doing this everywhere: New Zealand wrestles with rise of primary school vaping - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Iowa vaping bill draws opponents from retailers, health care groups - Blackchronicle - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Could messages from social media influencers stop young people vaping? A look at the government's new campaign - The Conversation - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- Vaping is finally on a downward trend in schools - Lootpress - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban? - BBC - March 2nd, 2024 [March 2nd, 2024]
- The Canadian Vaping Association calls on the federal government to maintain science-based vaping regulations - GlobeNewswire - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Doctor shares what happens to your body if you stop vaping - starting after just 30 minutes - The Mirror - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- New study adds more smoke to the vaping debate - Cosmos - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Disposable vapes to be banned in Scotland under new legislation - Yahoo News UK - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Iowa Is One Of The States Working Hardest To Quit Vaping - B100 - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Single-use vapes to be banned in Scotland next year - The Times - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- SGF advises caution on illicit trade after disposable vape ban - Talking Retail - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Officials warning teens of the dangers vaping following incident at Smiths Station High School - WTVM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Spice: the 'zombie drug' being found in some vape liquids - The Conversation - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Siouxland District Health offers new vaping prevention curriculum for youth - Sioux City Journal - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Protecting Youth From the Dangers of Vaping: What's Been Done, What's Needed - Pulmonology Advisor - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping's negative impact on fertility - FOX 26 Houston - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Wake Forest families address vaping and smoking risks involving children - CBS17.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- When Doctors Are the Source of Public Health Misinformation - Reason - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Local public health educator discusses dangers of vaping - Standard-Democrat - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Ask Amy: Relatives worry about teen vaping at home - The Denver Post - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Local campaign brings awareness to the dangers of youth vaping - Boise State Public Radio - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Officials warning teens of the dangers vaping - Columbus - WTVM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The World's Quickest Car And Vaping Have A Lot In Common - Motor1 - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Kentucky House committee passes bill aimed at curbing teenage vaping in public schools - WDRB - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Cloquet students share more about their culture in anti-vaping campaign called Don't Blow It - WDIO - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Shah: Federal menthol flavoring ban could help reduce teen vaping & tobacco use - Long Island Business News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Schumer and anti-vaping zealots should stand down - Washington Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Miracle recovery: Teen beats vaping-induced coma, returns to the court - Examiner Enterprise - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Southern 7 Health Department seeing increase in teen vaping - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News - KBSI Fox 23 Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Abilene ISD reports surge in on-campus vaping, 150+ THC incidents - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- DHS awards $830k to Wisconsin organizations to address youth vaping - WMTV - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Commentary: Flavored tobacco is fueling youth addition - Roanoke Times - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping's Hidden Hazard: Study Questions Safety of Nicotine Inhalation - SciTechDaily - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- NJ town will have cops crack down on youth vaping - New Jersey 101.5 FM - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Investigation finds over half of UK university students addicted to vaping - news-daily.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The Blinc Group Unveils Simpl Too: Pioneering the Future of Eco-Responsible Vaping - GlobeNewswire - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping is good for people who want to quit smoking according to new research - Business Insider Africa - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Vaping is a young person phenomenon in Australia - Pursuit - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- The Influence of Juul Labs on Government Policy and Public Health | Health News - Medriva - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Settlement Money Lands on Anti-Vaping Efforts 715Newsroom.com - 715Newsroom.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- #studentviews: How could policy reduce the harm caused by disposable vapes? - Economics Observatory - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Flavored tobacco ban for Multnomah County set to start on Jan. 1 Oregon Capital Chronicle - Oregon Capital Chronicle - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Taking a stand against smoking and vaping | Education | leader-call.com - leader-call.com - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Hillsborough leaders consider ordinance to stop vaping in schools - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Want to keep Gen Z off vaping? Teach them about the industry's marketing tactics, study says - Medical Xpress - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Urgent need for action as vaping spreads through social media - News-Medical.Net - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Ireland Halts Vape Tax Over Cessation Concerns - Tobacco Reporter - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Addicted to vaping? Experts warn that long-term use of e-cigars may lead to drug abuse - ETHealthWorld - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Government bans sale of vaping products to under 18s - RTE.ie - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- Guest view: Montana Principals: Vaping impacting our kids and schools - The Montana Standard - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]
- E-cigarette makers dodged U.S. customs and taxes after China's ban on vaping flavors - Lewiston Morning Tribune - December 20th, 2023 [December 20th, 2023]