In the past year, dozens of electronic cigarette stores have set up shop in Cedar Park and the surrounding area, mirroring a nationwide trend of swapping traditional smoking for vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes. As more people look for ways to change their nicotine habits, the sale of e-cigarettes and accessories is becoming a successful business venture for some entrepreneurs. Noticing the growth of the e-cigarette market, Ion Vapor owner Ken Swanson started his business online before opening a store in Northwest Austin and later one in Cedar Park in December. "It started out as a hobby that turned into a business," he said. "I knew there was a lot of potential there because of all the interest from people I was talking to." E-cigarettes are battery-operated and convert flavored juice—which can be infused with nicotine—into a mist, or vapor, which the user inhales. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not produce smoke, ash or tobacco scents. Starter kits typically start at about $60. Christi Robertson and her family opened Vaperz on North Lakeline Boulevard in July. She said the chance to quit using cigarettes draws the majority of her customers. Though first skeptical of e-cigs, Robertson said she was able to quit smoking in two days because of vaping. "We got into this to help other people, knowing that the Cedar Park area was underserved for this market and knowing that people are desperately looking for something that works," she said. "If you can give them the information they need to be successful and you can instill in them the desire to come back and talk to you when they're having a problem, there are very few reasons why you end up off an e-cig and back on cigarettes." Robertson's store offers a wide range of e-cigarette products and more than 100 flavors, from traditional tobacco to fruits and desserts, with varying amounts of nicotine. Robertson said new customers typically spend at least 45 minutes with a staffer to determine the best combination of parts and juice to manage their nicotine habit. E-cigarette manufacturers claim the devices contain no harmful chemicals such as tar and methanol, but no official studies have been published about the possible effects of vaping. The American Lung Association is cautioning users to be careful and calling for oversight of the e-cigarette market by the United States Food and Drug Administration. "[The ALA] is very concerned about the potential public health impact of e-cigarettes," said Erika Sward, ALA's vice president of national advocacy. "The bottom line is there's so much we don't know about e-cigarettes." While many await quality research findings to learn if e-cigs are safe and effective in helping smokers quit, Robertson said the proof is in her customers. "If you have been off cigarettes 10 days successfully, you can put your lighter in a box [at the store]," she said. "I'd say we probably have 150 lighters in there, but that's not all of our clients, just the ones who decided to put a lighter in."