This morning, I'm seeking feedback, especially from the cannabis industry on a critical challenge we face: how customers learn about products at the store level through budtenders. At Giving Tree Dispensary, we've created a process where budtenders recommend products, but I've observed inconsistent adherence to the process over time or across employees. As a branded wholesaler, the struggle to maintain brand identity, promise, and pricing while vying for budtenders' attention is even more challenging. The evolving landscape has turned brands into commodities, prompting unconventional tactics like direct payments to budtenders. However, this unsustainable model leads to high costs and short memory. Budtenders monthly love does not translate to long term brand loyalty. Have you encountered similar challenges in your industry? Share your successes, setbacks, and valuable lessons learned. I would love to hear what worked and what didn't. . #CannabisIndustry #Feedback #BrandIdentity #Budtenders #Challenges #SuccessStories #racetothebottom #WomenInCannabis #retail #brand #marketing #Branding #Knowledge #Progress #advice #support #BusinessOwner #MakeItWorthIt #MakeItHappen #Change
How much time do you have? 😜
Education is so important. If you educate budtenders about how products are made, what makes them unique and the importance of providing test results they will feel empowered to pass on this knowledge to the customer.
This is true for so many health /wellness industries. You pay the MD who has been marketed to, to be your trusted authority on which pill to take then you pay for the pill. Unfortunately, that is a broken system and the worst consequences beyond decline in health, is degradation of trust in healthcare professionals. In corrupt police forces it always is the case that leadership is why. Trader Joe’s appeal is people are kind while you are there, smaller so more personal, thus the “store” feels nicer. My kids have ask, “why are they so nice here?” We dissect why and it’s always the same answer: it’s the culture, all the people, and those that lead /management. Cannabis has so many hurdles it has overcome, this is for sure one of the biggest. Amazing products, crafted with care, attention to every detail, are pushed out. New patients, trust their first point of contact like trusted professional. Few try new people, places or items. It’s an investment to them, they think it’s all the same, on the surface it might be. Quality seems like less but less can be more. Dispensaries with leadership that care about education, quality, patient experience are gold and the solution.
Seed Talent is the best way to educate and have people make informed decisions on products they’ve tried and learned about in depth and made their own decisions on 👍🏼
Hi Lilach, interesting topic! I hear your concern on the consistency in customer journey with budtenders at the store level. Adherences to a process (in this case product recommendations) depends on two variables, your people and the process. Obviously at scale it is much harder to control it and my personal experience is that the best way to gain process consistency is with people's buy in. Sure the buy-in can come from financial incentives but that's short-sighted. I have had most of my success through value alignment and a collaborative approach to process development. Unless most people are aligned on the values behind the recommendations and they believe in the process, it will just be another burden of their job. This can't be forced but can be achieved with the right guidance. If this was helpful and resonates please reach out to discuss how to get there.
What Joe Hodas said... This could range from "they really don't" to a doctoral dissertation level discussion.
love to see this!
Our S3 Collective nonprofit could likely provide an education agenda for you to use. It’s what we talked about at coffee. :) message me if you’re interested.
Sales Manager at Goldsmith Extracts by day - Musician, Educator and Audio Engineer by night
1moI mean patients and customers often aren’t willing to receive new info, that’s why the industry is still so focused on thc %. Would love to see more focus on terpene profiles but, that’s what the market as a whole calls for.