Boring Shops Die: Why You Need Offbeat Products to Stay in the Game

Chad Wade
Boring Shops Die: Why You Need Offbeat Products to Stay in the Game
Let’s get one thing straight:
If your shop sells the same exact inventory as the guy down the block — you don’t have a business. You have a vending machine.
The stores that survive in this industry — and the ones that thrive — are the ones that stand out.
Not by being louder. But by being different.
And that starts with what’s on your shelves.
 The Problem: You’re Playing It Safe (And Losing)
You stock the same:
  • Delta products
  • Puff disposables
  • Generic glass
  • Rolling trays
  • Silicone pipes
Guess what? So does every single gas station and every lazy smoke shop within 20 miles.
There’s no edge. No reason for someone to drive past your competitors to come to you.
Your store looks like everybody else’s. That’s why your sales look like theirs too. Flat.
 The Solution: Get Weird (Strategically)
The shops that win long-term are the ones that dare to carry different.
We're talking:
  • Funny or rude novelty lighters
  • Off-brand flavors nobody expects
  • Custom blunt rolling stations
  • Glow-in-the-dark rolling trays
  • Smell-proof backpacks with hidden compartments
  • Anime-themed stash gear
  • Streetwear collabs
  • Local artist glass no one else has
It’s not just about being different. It’s about being memorable.
When customers say “You gotta see what my smoke shop carries,” you’re doing it right.
 Why This Works
  1. Impulse Buys Go Up
    Offbeat products trigger curiosity. Curiosity = conversions. You make an extra $15–$40 per basket just by surprising them.
  2. Creates Loyalty
    You’re not just “that vape shop.” You’re the shop that had that wild $40 pipe shaped like a revolver. That stuff sticks.
  3. No Price Wars
    You don’t need to compete on price when you're the only one in town carrying something. Try finding that “Rick & Morty Ashtray Set” at Walmart. You can’t.
  4. Better Social Engagement
    Weird products get posted. Shared. Talked about. And now your store becomes content — for free.
 How to Do This Without Turning Into a Joke Shop
You don’t need to go full head shop clown show. This is about balance.
Here's how to pull it off:
  • 10–15% of your inventory should be attention grabbers
    (Things they pick up and go, “Yo, what is this?”)
  • Feature them in display cases and behind the register
    Not hidden in the back. Highlight them.
  • Rotate them monthly
    If it’s not moving in 30 days, clearance it and bring in something else.
  • Buy small batches, test constantly
    Not every offbeat item will hit. That’s the game. But the ones that do? You'll wish you’d bought 100.
Final Word from Chad Wade
Playing it safe is how you slowly go out of business.
You need the staples — yeah. Wraps, rigs, carts, grinders.
But if that’s all you sell, you're just another shop doing the bare minimum.
You want foot traffic? Make people curious.
You want loyalty? Give them something they can’t get anywhere else.
You want to grow? Break the rules. Carry stuff no one else would dare to stock.
That’s how you win.
Want help sourcing offbeat products?
Need to revamp your shop to grab attention again?
Hit me at ChadWadeTV.com — where real owners get real advice.