WOW Vapes and Snacks sells Jolly Ranchers in new Kendal shop

The new shop on Highgate represents the fifth store in Cumbria operating under the WOW Vapes and Snacks name. The business originally started in Dalton before rapidly expanding in recent years. The brand also serves customers in Ulverston, Barrow and Millom. 

WOW has taken over the unit previously used by Savers but had been vacant for some time (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

WOW moved into the former Savers home and beauty store and opened on Monday, September 2.

Steve Kennedy, one of the directors, said they had spent 'a lot of money' to get the shop ready as it was a 'very poor shell.' 

Steve described the first day as 'brilliant' in terms of trade. He added: "We're very reasonable on price. We can beat prices, we also offer really good customer service." 

Steve described the first day of trade at the store as 'brilliant' (pictured on the right with other staff members) (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

The new WOW store is next door to another vape shop run by a UK-wide operator called VPZ, which opened in the site of the old Greggs in 2019.

He said that there has been a '20-80' split on social media between shoppers not liking another vape shop opening on the high street and the other 80 being in favour.

The store imports sweets normally only found in the United States (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

He said those in favour were happy because they had taken over the long-empty unit and they had already hired four new staff.

"As the business improves here and grows, then we'll employ more people," Steve said. "We're taking people from unemployment and we're giving them jobs."

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Steve said that those who are not in favour are 'not seeing the full picture' and argued that a town usually has more than one pub, or more than one supermarket. 

The shop is the fifth one to open under the WOW business name (Image: Newsquest, Daniel Pye)

In terms of offering the sweets and vapes in the same store, Steve said they were 'no different than any corner shop.' "What we're offering is American and international sweets and snacks that you don't get anywhere else," he added. 

He said staff were trained and they supported trading standards in stamping out the illegal market, which is often how underage children access vapes.

Steve said the sweets people were most excited about were 'Jolly Ranchers,' as they had to be imported. 

The shop is open seven days a week with Monday to Friday trading hours being between 8am and 10pm. On Saturday the store will be open between 10am and 10pm, and on Sunday 10am to 6pm.