Guernsey Press

Owners of vape shop told to stop trading after reopening

FAMILY-RUN business the VapeBar has expressed frustration after being told to stop trade three weeks after gaining permission to reopen.

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Marcus Ogier and Tina Dorfner, co-owner of The VapeBar on the South Esplanade. The shop was originally given permission to offer collection services, minding social distancing and safety measures but since then the States and Environmental Health have told them that they can no longer operate in this way. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 28281322)

On 23 April the States of Guernsey granted permission for it to operate through an outdoor collection point.

By 12 May the owners were informed that because the business was non-essential it encouraged non-essential travel, so it must stop.

Co-owners Tina and Jess Dorfner questioned why permission was given in the first place and, based on the reasoning, why other non-essential stores can now open.

‘We’re a local, family-run business who have been helping islanders quit cigarettes since 2013,’ the co-owners said.

‘Since lockdown we’ve done everything the States have requested.’

One collection at a time was organised, with social distancing and readily available hand sanitiser.

‘You are allowed to pre-order a takeaway, drive there, go in to the shop, pay and collect your order.

‘Other non-essential stores are continuing with collection points. We are told we are not allowed our collection point, which is outside of the store.’

Continued supply is essential to prevent customers from smoking, they said.

‘Customers can break parts of their vapes which deem them unusable. If that part isn’t replaced within 12 hours that customer is highly likely to revert back to smoking, which we all know is the leading preventable cause of death.’

Delivering stock is an inefficient alternative to a collection point.

‘As the majority of our sales have small margins, driving around the island numerous times makes it not cost effective.

‘We’re having to work longer hours to fulfil orders. This of course means we’re treading water, while expected to pay rent, our employee and our suppliers.

‘We have not been told at which stage we can reopen.’

One financial support payment was granted by the States in March, but nothing since.

‘We have one full-time employee who is reliant on us operating to ensure he can pay his mortgage. We all have mortgages to pay, we have to pay social security, the tax will be chasing us in June.

‘We’re extremely stressed due to the pressure we now face, and obviously keeping the business going and being able to pay our employee.’

Re-instating the collection point as previously agreed would be the ideal solution to this problem, the co-owners said.

‘The States have done a fantastic job, but local businesses really now, more than ever, need some leeway to survive.’