"A better understanding of nicotine and vape use allows us to adopt a clear and reassuring discourse, to guide vapoteurs and smokers towards cessation."
A business school graduate, Florian Badoules began his career abroad and discovered vape in Australia. Keen to help smokers quit, he joined HappeSmoke as an in-store advisor and quickly created an in-house training course on vape and CBD that some stores can offer. This led to his desire to develop more comprehensive and professional training courses. Today, as Director of Training at Happe Développement, he manages Qualiopi-certified programs and coordinates a team of specialized trainers for sales advisors.
Can you tell us about Happe Développement?
Florian Badoules: Happe Développement is a specialized training center based in Venelles, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France. We offer training tailored to the needs of the market and aimed at sales clerks, enabling them to carry out their activity ethically and professionally. The company is Qualiopi certified, guaranteeing the quality of our training courses.
What training courses do you offer?
FB: Our training programs cover all aspects of vape and CBD, from product composition and use to sales techniques and understanding the challenges of smoking cessation. Programs also include modules on specific regulations and product marketing. They are designed to enable participants to acquire a comprehensive and solid expertise.
Who are they for?
FB: Our base is the specialist stores, which generally entrust us with new employees. Being a salesperson isn't just about "selling": it's about supporting smokers in their weaning process, whether novice or experienced, through an approach based on advice and adaptation of equipment and liquids. Whether you're a manager, a salesperson or a future franchisee, we're here to help you develop the skills you need to promote vape products in line with best practice, and to advise your customers effectively.
Why take a training course?
FB: The aim is to train real advisors with in-depth knowledge of nicotine and vaping. They learn to adopt a clear, reassuring approach to guide both vapoteurs and smokers wishing to take the plunge. Their role is essential in reinforcing the professionalism and legitimacy of sales clerks.
How does training work?
FB: We offer a dozen training courses, organized face-to-face, in groups and usually over the course of a week. This format encourages emulation and the exchange of experience. Our trainers combine teaching expertise with practical knowledge of vape, acquired as former sales consultants. The program includes role-playing, questions and answers and a "vape marathon", with various thematic workshops: liquids, equipment, regulations, dosage or weaning.
What are the concrete objectives?
FB: We want to train expert advisors in vaping products. Our aim is to give them legitimacy based on three pillars: knowledge, support and credibility. This is how vape shops build trust and customer loyalty, thanks to an image of seriousness and rigor.
What happens at the end of the course?
FB: We make sure that each learner has really grasped the concepts covered. Follow-up is provided throughout the course, with a final assessment to validate what has been learned. We can be demanding, but this is a prerequisite for training the best advisers, capable of giving reliable advice on equipment, products, nicotine and addiction mechanisms.
Qualiopi certification: funding and a guarantee of quality
Happe Développement's training courses are Qualiopi certified, an official government recognition that guarantees their quality. This certification gives access to professional training funding. It testifies to the seriousness of our programs and their compliance with a demanding national reference framework. With Qualiopi, professionals in the sector benefit from a more accessible training path. Qualiopi certification is a real lever for enhancing skills and standing out in the long term.