Meet James Milan, Nikk Alvaro and Ty White of VapeMastaz in Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Milan, Nikk Alvaro and Ty White.

James, Nikki, and Ty, please share your story with us.
It was just typical workday of Summer ’12, grinding the pavement and connecting with local businesses when I came across one of the first Vape Shops to open up. At the time, I had little knowledge of how everything worked. All I knew was that vaping had officially arrived and offered smokers an alternative to cigarettes. With all the known negative effects of second-hand smoke along with the annoyance of the smell of cigarettes in public, I figured I’d educate myself on the benefits of vaping. After learning more, I knew this would be a perfect alternative for my dad who had been smoking nearly his entire life. At the time, he had been battling various health issues, including the obvious, respiratory.

Long story short, I introduced him to vaping, he gave it a shot and within a few months, he quit smoking altogether. Fast forward, he’s now able to exercise for longer periods of time, but most importantly, he’s a healthy Grandpa to my 3 kids. I reflected on all the kids and grandkids who may have lost a loved one to lung cancer and it was at that moment, I knew I had to do something to educate smokers on this life-changing alternative. I had already started a fitness boutique, Apollo Boot Camp because my passion was always to help others improve their well-being, so when I came across vaping, I knew this was another great opportunity to do something good for others.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The life of an entrepreneur is never a smooth one, but that doesn’t mean it’s a stressful one. I tend to think of the ups and downs of being that to an off-road adventure. You’re the jeep that comes across hills, valleys, mountains and rivers, but since you were built for off-roading, you don’t let those obstacles get in your way. Just like the naysayers casting the gloom over your passion, you just plow right through. They want to see you fail, but that negativity only fuels you to succeed even further. After all, we’re here to make moves, not friends. Patience and you’ll see who your true friends are in the end.

For the vaping industry, the biggest struggle initially was the influx of new vape shops opening up the following year. They too saw a great opportunity, but for many, their main focus was the gold pot at the end of the rainbow. On the other hand, we kept to our mission of educating the masses with the single goal of saving lives. We focus on education first, then recommending the right products based on their needs, not what generates the most revenue. Customer service is our #1 priority, ensuring that every customer is comfortable and knowledgeable about getting started with vaping. Patience and karma will take care of you in the end.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about VapeMastaz – what should we know?
VapeMastaz is Pasadena’s first standalone Vape and Specialty Pop Culture Boutique, focusing on collectible vinyl toys, artwork, kendama and vape essentials.

Whether you’re a vaper, artsy fartsy, kendama slayer or toy collector, VapeMastaz is sure you’ll find something to add to your collection.

What I’m most proud of is our team of dedicated leaders, Tyler and Nikk. A great team is hard to come by, but I’ve been blessed with a team that shares the same passion to help others and one I am proud to call family.

This is what truly sets us apart from any other vape shop. Besides our eclectic collection of products, our mission has always been to educate and increase the well-being of our customers, not our sales.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The characteristic that is most important to anyone’s success is empathy. The moment you can put yourselves into others’ shoes, you can better understand their situation and obstacles they face. This is why our priority at VapeMastaz is to take the time to get to know each customer to find out what their specific needs are. We know quitting cigarettes is difficult, so we strive to educate and put them in a position that will help them succeed.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1446 E. Walnut St.
  Pasadena, CA 91106
• Website: www.vapemastaz.com
• Phone: 626-657-8911
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/vapemastaz
• Facebook: facebook.com/vapemastaz
• Twitter: twitter.com/vapemastaz
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/vape-mastaz-pasadena

Image Credit:
Tyler White

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