How to open a smoke shop: products, suppliers and first inventory

Updated October 2, 2026

To open a smoke shop, decide what you will sell, get the permits your local offices require, pick wholesale suppliers, and place a first inventory order sized to your shelves. This guide covers the inventory and supplier half of that list.

Zigg Distro is a wholesale distributor for smoke shops, retailers and distributors. It carries Freezo THCa flower in case packs, bulk THCa flower by the pound, Freezo diamond coated flower, 2G disposable vapes, live rosin, gummies, Kronton Elixir THC drinks, and the Breeze and ATreez brands. The sections below use the real pack sizes on those listings so you can draft a first order.

A first wholesale order with Zigg Distro has a 500 dollar minimum. Prices show on the product pages once you sign in to a wholesale account.

Decide what your shop will carry

Start with a list of product categories, not brands. A smoke shop items list usually groups stock by format, because customers shop by format first. Pick the categories you want on day one, then pick a supplier for each one.

For the hemp side of the shelf, Zigg Distro groups its catalog into these categories:

• THCa flower: Freezo uncoated flower in case packs and bulk flower by the pound.
• Coated flower: Freezo diamond coated flower.
• Vapes: Freezo 2G disposables and Breeze 1G all-in-one vapes.
• Concentrates: Freezo 2G live rosin.
• Gummies: Freezo live resin and live rosin gummies.
• THC drinks: Kronton Elixir.
• Other brands: ATreez.

Glass, papers, lighters and other accessories come from other suppliers. Zigg Distro does not list them.

Permits and licensing: start with your local office

Ask your city or county business licensing office which permits a smoke shop needs at your address before you sign a lease or order stock. Rules differ by location, so this guide does not list them.

Choose wholesale suppliers

A new shop usually needs a few suppliers, not one. When you compare them, check the same points for each:

1. Catalog fit. Does the supplier carry the categories on your list, in pack sizes that fit your shelves?
2. Minimums. What does a first order have to reach, and are there per-item minimums?
3. Account setup. What paperwork does the supplier need before it ships?
4. Payment. Which payment methods does it accept?
5. Lab documents. Where are the lab reports for each product, and can you match a report to the lot in hand?
6. Shipping terms. Read the supplier's shipping page before you order.

For Zigg Distro, the answers are on this page and on the THCa distributor for smoke shops guide.

Build a first inventory list

A smoke shop inventory list for a first order can cover one or two products per category. That shows you what moves before you widen the range. Here is a sample list built from real Zigg Distro listings and their pack options.

Browse the full range on Shop All and swap in the strains or flavors you want.

Hemp categories to stock: flower, vapes, concentrates, gummies and drinks

Each category comes in different formats, and each format is made differently. Read the listing to see exactly what you are buying.

• Flower. Freezo uncoated flower is listed by strain in case packs. Diamond coated flower is a separate Freezo listing for each strain. Bulk flower is sold by the full pound. The Cereal Milk listing describes A-size buds for retail shelves, repackaging and co-packing.
• Vapes. Freezo disposables are 2G and come in 5ct packs, with live resin and live rosin listings named on each product. Breeze is a 1G THCa all-in-one vape. See wholesale THCa disposable vapes.
• Concentrates. Freezo live rosin is a 2G concentrate, listed by strain.
• Gummies. Freezo sells live resin gummies and live rosin gummies as separate listings, by flavor.
• Drinks. Kronton Elixir is a ready-to-drink THC beverage made with live rosin, in single-flavor listings and a three-flavor bundle.

If your staff will field product questions, the Freezo guide THCa vs THC (Freezo) explains the terms you will see on labels.

Display and case counts

Pack size decides how a product fills a shelf:

• A 1G x 28ct flower pack gives 28 single units for a counter display.
• A 4G x 10ct pack gives 10 larger units.
• A 16G x 1ct pack is one larger unit of uncoated flower.
• A 5ct disposable pack gives five units of one strain.
• A gummy case holds 50 packs of one flavor.
• A one pound bulk listing suits shops that repackage or co-pack.

Before you shelve a product, open its listing and find the lab document link. Freezo listings point to the Freezo lab results page, which you can search by product name. Some listings, such as Cereal Milk, carry their own report link. Check the product name, the product format and the lot or sample reference on the report against the packaging in hand. A matching product name on its own is not a match. A laboratory sample reference is not always the same number as the batch code printed on a package.

Opening a wholesale account with Zigg Distro

1. Apply online. Choose Apply for Wholesale Account at ziggdistro.com and tell Zigg Distro about your business, what you carry and your typical volume.
2. Sign in. With your account, sign in at ziggdistro.com to see prices and order online.
3. Paperwork. For a first order placed with the sales team, sign the new-customer DocuSign and give your shipping details. Send your completed W-9 and your resale or tax-exempt form to accounting@ziggdistro.com.
4. Pay. Zigg Distro takes bank wire, ACH or Zelle.
5. Meet the minimum. A first order has a 500 dollar minimum.

New wholesale accounts can use code ZIGG10 for 10% off a first order. The code works once per customer account. Details are on the 10% off page. Zigg Distro ships nationwide. Shipping terms are on the Shipping and Returns page. Questions go to sales@ziggdistro.com.

Smoke shop startup questions

Answers to common inventory questions follow. For more about Zigg Distro, see Zigg Distro questions and answers.

Related guides

• THCa distributor for smoke shops
• Wholesale THCa flower: Freezo strains in case packs
• Wholesale THCa disposable vapes
• Shop all Zigg Distro products
• Zigg Distro: questions and answers

Questions and answers

How do I start a smoke shop?

Decide which product categories you will sell, ask your city or county licensing office which permits you need, choose wholesale suppliers for each category, and place a first order sized to your shelves.

What items does a smoke shop sell?

That is the owner's choice. On the hemp side, Zigg Distro carries THCa flower, diamond coated flower, bulk flower by the pound, disposable and all-in-one vapes, live rosin, gummies and Kronton Elixir THC drinks.

How do I find smoke shop suppliers?

List the categories you want, then compare suppliers on catalog fit, first order minimum, account paperwork, payment methods, lab documents and shipping terms.

What should a first smoke shop inventory include?

One or two products per category is a simple start, for example a Freezo flower case pack, a 5ct disposable pack, a 2G live rosin, a gummy case and a Kronton Elixir listing.

Can a new smoke shop buy wholesale with a small first order?

A first order with Zigg Distro has a 500 dollar minimum. New accounts can use code ZIGG10 for 10% off a first order, once per customer account.

Which hemp brands can a new shop stock?

Zigg Distro carries Freezo and Kronton, its house brands, plus Breeze and ATreez.