Whether you call it a head shop, a smoke shop, or a pipe shop, sometimes the best experience is one that’s in person. While we’re proud of our online shopping experience, there are times when you really want to interact with your goods before you buy them. If a picture says a thousand words, an experience says a million.
In those situations, the virtual experience simply won’t cut it. You’ll need to get crafty about finding a glass pipe shop near you before you get your next spoon, grinder, or artwork-worthy example of heady glass.
But, where can you start? Well, in 2021, opportunities abound – as long as you know where to look and what to look for.
Listen Closely to Word of Mouth: Ask for a Recommendation
Probably the surest way for you to find a glass pipe shop “near me” without doing too much legwork is to ask your friends. We have to assume that you have friends and maybe even family that appreciate a quality smoking experience as much as you do. If that’s the case, they may be able to save you some time searching and point you in the right direction right out of the gate.
Word of mouth always has been and remains one of the most trusted forms of marketing recommendation, and since your friends and family are likely disinterested sources of information, you can trust what they tell you.
If you’re looking for a new headshop, check with them first. They can probably serve you a few suggestions and good leads whereby you can expand your glass-shop supply network, for lack of a better term.
You can also check forums and other online boards where like-minded individuals gather and ask those participants for recommendations as well. Let them know where you are and how far you’re willing to travel, and you may very well come by a few leads for a new glass pipe shop.
Check Those Socials
Once you have a few potential leads, then it’s time for you to do some research. In 2021, social media management is one of the most important aspects of digital marketing, and if you’re looking for a glass pipe shop that is serious both about its own business and about customer relationship management, then get involved with your social media dive.
While you should check all available social media channels, you should pay particular attention to Instagram and Facebook, for two very important reasons. One is that many head shops use Instagram to draw interest in their products or to publicize the releases of new products. As for Facebook, it’s a valuable source of information regarding news and announcements for any business.
Perform an Old School Search – and Read Reviews
In the event that you don’t have any friends or family with similar interests and your appreciation for an enjoyable smoke is unique to you, then you might have to get creative and fearless with an old-school search.
Get out your phone or hop on your desktop’s browser and start searching for local glass pipe shops or head shops. You can try keywords with “near me” in them or simply type in “glass pipe shop” or “head shop” in “your city.”
Once you have a few listings that have caught your attention, for whatever reason, pay very close attention to two things – what they advertise that they offer, and their reviews.
In the first instance, you’ll want to be sure that you’re not wasting your time if you pay the shop a visit. Different smoke shops like to peddle their own aesthetic, and you don’t want to take a trip out of your way if you’re not going to like what’s where when you get there. Research the types of accessories they sell first.
Secondly, pay close attention to reviews. The reason for this should be obvious, but you probably don’t want to invest your precious time visiting a glass pipe shop if you’re not going to enjoy the experience.
Reviews can be an invaluable source of information, especially in the absence of direct, word-of-mouth recommendations. If you don’t know where to start, but you’ve found a short list of potential candidates in a head shop – check the customer reviews and testimonials. They’ll give you some insight into how the smoke shop manages its customer relationships.
There Is No Substitute for Experience
Finally, once you have a list of a few different glass pipe shops near you that you want to go and visit, make it a point to do so. While you can shop for many smoking essentials, glass pipes, heady glass, and more online, there’s no substitute for visiting.
You can learn a lot through online product listings, through written customer reviews, and of course, through pictures, but sometimes the best experience is a personal one. If anything, more often than not, it is.
Visit a smoke shop and interact firsthand with the staff. You might learn new tips and tricks on how to pack a bowl or how to keep the smoke extra cool. You might learn a thing or two about how to clean your glass between sessions.
Most importantly, you might come across special deals that you wouldn’t otherwise find, and sometimes, those deals are not listed online, but only in-store. If you’re thinking about a visit, it’s worth it. You can always visit once, and if you don’t like the vibes of the shop in question, at least you know you can cross it off your list.
Our Collection Speaks for Itself!
If you’re in our area (we have locations in Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, Florida) make it a point to come in and visit us. Don’t waste your time with searches for “glass pipe shops near me” if you can simply come to visit us first!
We have everything you could need to enjoy your smoking experience, from glass pocket pieces to heady glass and water pipes and even hookahs. We’re the resident authorities and we even support local artists – so come in and see if you can find your next glass pipe in our shop!
In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Instagram and give us a call at 954-530-9357 if you have any questions!