Vapouround magazine Special Issue 02 | Page 96

F E AT U R E A trendsetting entrepreneur is taking the vape industry by storm – by combining his love for charity work with his passion for vaping. Purpose E-liquids is the vape store with a difference, sharing shop space with About It All, a tee-shirt printing business with a wonderful ethic. About It All employs special needs adults and welcomes volunteers with learning difficulties who may feel marginalised in society. The store is certified by the State of Pennsylvania to provide employment, creating fantastic opportunities for those who may otherwise lack support in the community. Headquartered in Hanover Pennsylvania, Purpose E-liquids is the brainchild of Robert ‘Tony’ Myers. He is the dynamic businessman with a big heart, who is keen to make a difference and help those who need it the most. Time is one of the most precious commodities in the world, and Tony gives this freely and without prejudice. Splitting his time between the About It All store and Focus Behavorial Health Inc., where he works as direct care staff for over 15 hours each week, one of Tony’s magnanimous aims is to help people quit smoking. This is also how vaping became part of Tony’s life and business model, after he realised that vaping was 94 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE USA “Not only am I helping others to quit smoking by informing them of alternatives vavailable, but the vape side also supports the tee-shirt business. I want to instil people with a sense of purpose, which is also the name of our premium e-liquid line.” an effective way to quit smoking. The light-bulb moment of joining the vaping industry, which is a rapidly expanding market, came at the right time. His extremely successful vape business has provided a healthy revenue stream back into About It All, which has enabled Tony to employ his first special needs adult onto the payroll. Tony said: “Not only am I helping others to quit smoking by informing them of alternatives available, but the vape side also supports the tee-shirt business. I want to instil people with a sense of purpose, which is also the name of our premium e-liquid line.” What is the purpose of Purpose? To get to the altruistic root of Purpose and why it exists, it is important to look at Tony’s background. His journey has been tumultuous to say the least. From once being homeless and battling alcoholism, to now heading up a successful vaping empire, Tony is an inspirational figure in the US and beyond. For Tony, it all started off with a dream for helping others live life to the fullest. After spending time comprehensively researching skills that he could teach, and using his eye for detail, About It All was born. From digital design to more hands on duties like utilising the hotpress, Tony now teaches exciting printing work to adults who are keen to learn, as much as he is to teach. The beauty of About It All, is that workers are given a space to be themselves, whilst flexing their creative muscles. It’s a win-win situation for all, as Tony gets to help the community, people find a safe place for rewarding work, and the public are treated to superb works of art and custom-designed tee-shirts. You can walk in-store and have beautiful bespoke apparel on the spot, from as little as $15 with no design fees whatsoever. After four years of working with special needs adults, Tony continues to give back to the comm unity he cares so passionately about. The self-taught entrepreneur has created a stunning range of e-liquids under the ‘Purpose’ banner and has pledged $1 from three of the four bottles sold, to be donated to various charitable causes. The e-liquid line consists of four key flavors; Fighter,