Client Overview
This case study highlights a non-alcoholic vape retail store in Canada.
- Industry: Vape Retail (Non-Alcoholic)
- Business Model: Walk-in retail (no eCommerce yet)
- Initial State: No website, weak online presence, heavy dependency on Google visibility
The Starting Point (Month 0)
When we onboarded this client:
- ❌ No website
- ❌ No structured online presence
- ❌ Not visible in Google Maps (GBP)
- ❌ No scalable system for growth
Despite having a physical store, the business was missing out on local search traffic and visibility.
Phase 1: Building the Foundation (Website + System Setup)
Before scaling visibility, we built the base.
What We Implemented:
- Designed a conversion-ready website
- Integrated Lightspeed POS system
→ Products synced automatically - Fixed all technical issues
- Aligned website with Google Business Profile (GBP)
Early Results:
- Website indexed within weeks
- ~200 monthly visitors within 2 months
👉 This created a strong digital foundation.
But the real growth came from Google Business Profile.
The Major Setback: GBP Suspension
At one point, the client made unauthorized edits to their Google Business Profile.
👉 Result: Profile got suspended
Impact on Business:
- Monthly Revenue Before Suspension:
- $30,000 from walk-ins
- $30,000 from GBP-driven traffic
- After Suspension:
- Significant drop in visibility
- Immediate loss of high-intent customers
In this niche, GBP is not optional—it’s the primary revenue driver.
Phase 2: Reinstatement Process (The Hard Way)
We followed the standard process first:
Initial Steps:
- Contacted Google Support
- Submitted:
- Storefront videos
- Interior store videos
- Business documents (LLC, lease, utility bills)
👉 Result: Appeal Rejected
What We Did Differently
Instead of stopping there, we escalated strategically.
Advanced Recovery Approach:
- Took the case to Google Business Profile Community
- Submitted:
- Full proof of legitimacy
- Clear explanation of the issue
- Engaged in back-and-forth communication
- Persisted until escalation was reviewed
Final Result: Profile Reinstated Successfully
Second Challenge: Another Suspension
After recovery, the client launched a second branch listing.
👉 It got suspended immediately
Our Response:
- Repeated the same structured process:
- Support appeal (rejected again)
- Community escalation
- Proof submission
Result: Second profile also reinstated
Why This Matters
Most agencies:
- Stop after first rejection
- Or charge $300–$500 per reinstatement
We handled both recoveries within our SEO service
Current Business Performance
After stabilizing both profiles:
Revenue
- ~$60,000/month total sales
- 100% driven by in-store walk-ins + GBP visibility
Profit
- Net Profit: ~$10,000 – $12,000/month
Margins in vape retail are lower, but growth is consistent and stable.
Growth Highlights
- ✅ GBP fully reinstated (twice)
- ✅ Business restored from revenue drop
- ✅ $60K/month revenue stabilized
- ✅ Second branch operational and growing
- ✅ Website foundation ready for future eCommerce
Final Snapshot
- ✅ 2 GBP Listings Recovered
- ✅ $60,000 Monthly Revenue
- ✅ ~$10K–$12K Net Profit
- ✅ 200+ Monthly Website Visitors (early stage)
- ✅ Fully Stabilized Local Presence
Conclusion
This case study proves one thing:
Local businesses don’t fail because of lack of demand.
They fail because of lack of visibility—or losing it.
By:
- Restoring visibility
- Building systems
- Fixing critical issues
We helped this business go from uncertain and unstable to consistent $60K/month performance.