The industry is doing what it always inevitably does. We have recently seen the 18350 Tsunami "begin" to recede and people's attentions are turning back to other styles. The Regulated and Mech Mod scene is coming back gently, people are still purchasing Squonkers, despite what we were all being told, but that market has slowed too, which was inevitable.
The secondhand market is recovering slowly, especially within the niche market and there are occasional bargains to be had, which is where my attentions have been concentrated of late.
The Makers that I speak to on a regular basis seem content enough as "quieter" spells always ebb and flow which in a few cases has allowed time to further develop ideas that had been on the back burner due to pressure of work prior to recent times.
I believe that the Pod Systems and Nic Salt revolution has also levelled out now? I am aware that the Land of The Rising Yen (sic) or should I say The Far East... still flood the market with Pods and people do buy them, but mainly as an addition to their arsenal for specific occasions when a normal system would not be as appropriate.
I agree that the Billet Box scene is vibrant at the moment and more Makers are now turning their attentions to the after market sector, Panels, Buttons, Drip Tips etc but again, I am detecting a "slight" slow down on the purchasing of the Mods themselves. The secondhand market is incredible at the moment, but, prices are beginning to drop.
Vapeing, like many other hobbies, interests, call them what you will, attracts many different attitudes towards acquiring gear, It seems to me that the Billet Box phenomenon has been the perfect example of this as they lend themselves to infinite possibilities for personalisation and customisation.
We are a strange breed us vapers
and that is what makes the hobby as interesting as it"can" be. I completely understand the frustrations this can heap upon manufacturers and Hobby Builders, but nothing is ever straight forward in the artisan's world and that has always been the case.
It'll be interesting to see where we find ourselves in 12 months time.
