5 Habits of Highly Successful Cannabis Dispensary Locations

Where does your loyalty lie?

Top-notch dispensaries are capable of providing their customers with an experience that is consistent time and time again. This means that best practices in every aspect of daily operations are fulfilled from the minute doors open to the time that they close. The best dispensaries provide value to consumers by way of curating a thoughtful purchasing experience that makes customers wishing they had more time and money to spend.

It’s no easy task to be the best dispensary in the area so be sure to pay attention to the habits formed by some of the top producing dispensaries out there!

They take online orders.

Moxie 710’s eCommerce Simplifies Purchasing

Utilizing eCommerce to process online orders works to a retail location’s advantage by streamlining the purchasing process for consumers. What this means is that impulse buys can be converted without worry of losing a sale. In a world where e-commerce dominates purchasing situations of goods and services, it’s no surprise that cannabis is starting to fall under the same purchasing methods.

See, the cannabis industry is quickly emerging and changes are being made day in and day out. The industry isn’t slowing down anytime soon and with e-commerce penetrating traditional purchasing methods, it’s no surprise that the top dispensaries are capable of taking orders online and fulfilling the cart before the consumer arrives.

It’s a pretty simple formula: online orders streamline the ordering process for your customers while giving you the opportunity to list all of your available retail items. Let the results of online ordering speak for itself!

Their menu is up-to-date and live-synced.

WebJoint offers live inventory adjustments for dispensaries.

Finding cannabis products that consumers enjoy and want to purchase comes down to being able to read the trends as they stand and adjust to the changes in purchasing habits. Trends in the industry are in a constant flux with new technology constantly being developed that customers want to get their hands on.

By updating your menu on a consistent basis or even better, live-syncing your inventory with your website, customers can be assured that they are able to get the product they want without having to organize a search party! Retail operations are centered on being able to provide satisfactory customer service and what better way than being able to guarantee your customer the product they are looking for?

Take influence from the best of the best—update your menu throughout the day and live-sync your inventory.

Rewards programs for their customers make sense!

Competitive rewards programs play on cannabis dispensary customer loyalty.

Creating a unique way to make sure that your customers return to your dispensary starts with the ability to offer a simple rewards program. Loyalty points, tiered rewards, and an MVP program are all ways to build customer retention.

Loyalty points can be used by customers to “bank and save” to put towards the purchasing of things like vape pen batteries, brand merchandise, and offer discounts on wax, eights, or joints. Tiered rewards allow for an initial customer retention method to be used by offering a way of “buying into” special offers that are exclusive to the selected tier membership at your dispensary. Some of the top dispensaries have begun to use MVP programs that allow members to take part in exclusive launch parties, networking events, and sneak-peeks into major adjustments being made!

Offering your customers a rewards program that is easy to understand and realistically tangible is an effective method of building your consumer base.

Budtenders take the initiative to educate clients.

WebJoint’s resource guides keep everyone from operators to consumers up-to-date on regulation changes.

When customers come into your retail location, your staff better be able to answer the questions that they have. Questions might range from a general cannabis topic about the state of the industry to particular regulations and even stretch to the source of origin for the cannabis product that they are purchasing.

Moreover, it’s critically important to be able to give customers resources to use in order to do additional research on cannabis, the available delivery methods, and brands that promote various practices to ensure a quality product.

As the industry is still fairly new to the recreational market, it’s important to remember that not all users have an incredible amount of experience. By being able to explain the role that THC, CBD, and terpenes play in cannabis products, your staff helps alleviate some of the overwhelming feelings that a first-time consumer may experience. Moreover, touching upon sublinguals, topicals, and the appropriate dosing for an enjoyable experience helps illustrate your concern for a customer’s well-being. And guess what—customers pay attention to this!

Consumers buy into what you represent as much as they buy into the actual products on your shelves. With this being said, it’s pertinent to the success of your dispensary to ben able to answer any and all questions on a level that satisfies your customer and leaves them wanting to return for more information.

The cannabis industry is on the ground floor and as an operator, you have a responsibility to your consumer to engage, educate, and empower individuals day-in and day-out.

Related: A Definitive Guide to Compliance — California Cannabis Dispensaries

Compliance is a cultural thing!

A culture of compliance is effective in satisfying the BCC during dispensary inspections.

Maintaining a “culture of compliance” is not only one way to ensure that you are capable of staying in business, but is pertinent to the overall “vibe” that your retail location carries with it on a daily basis. Avoiding simple compliance violations such as wearing name tags and having pre-packaged goods for your customers to choose from not only keeps you entirely “legal,” it says something deeper about the integrity of your retail location.

Consumers pay special attention to detail and although not every consumer is an expert on compliance, they notice the little things. Your dispensary’s characteristics should trickle down from a branding standpoint all the way to your staff and extend into the way that products are displayed. Compliance is certainly no easy task so as long as your staff is all on the same “wavelength,” chances are, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Be the type of location that provides customers with a clean, compliant way of purchasing cannabis goods!

Related: 5 Simple Compliance Violations Dispensaries Don’t Really Think About

Good habits means happy customers!

Competition in the cannabis industry is ramping up faster than anyone could’ve expected. Forming positive habits for your dispensary location solidifies your position as one of the top in the industry. Customers take note of these habits and gravitate towards those locations that can provide an online ordering platform, guarantee inventory, and use their rewards points as they wish! Be the type of dispensary that can educate consumers while boasting a culture of compliance and be ready to see customer retention increase!

We know that retail location habits extend further than this list. With that being said, what are some of the best habits that your retail location has formed in order to stay successful?

Comment below!

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4 Regulations Changes for Dispensaries in California

Dispensaries have long been the kings of cannabis and as things turn up during the regulatory transition period, the BCC is slowly inching towards a final set of rules to adhere by. The competition is hotter than ever. Are you prepared to stay compliant and be one step ahead of the rest of the field?

As a storefront retailer, you have the opportunity to make a lasting impression on customers that come into your dispensary and keep them coming back by curating an irresistible experience each and every time. But, you can only do this if you’re a compliant business

Check out these 4 regulations changes for dispensaries in California!

 

A & M Licenses + Attached Fees

Associated fees to obtain a cannabis retail license in California.

Before July 1, 2018, to service both medicinal and recreational customers, two separate applications were required with the attached fees for each being due at the time of application submission. One of the major changes to this process since July 1 is the ability to submit a single application that encompasses both the medical and recreational market with cost of application not being due until the approval of an application.

This not only simplifies the application process for these looking to service both sides of the market, but allows for a little bit more of economic freedom to take place and a smaller overhead for any potential business owner.

Be sure to specify which category of business—A-U, Medical, or both—you’d like to participate in on your application!

 

Security Personnel Age Requirements

Dispensary security staff must be 21 or older.

The old regulations on security personnel didn’t have a set age limit or qualification for staff. This meant that almost anyone you hired over the age of 18 years old could play a part of your security team.

But those were the good old days; things are different now!

The BCC has ramped these requirements up to a minimum age requirement of 21 years of age and made it mandatory for all security personnel to be licensed/ accredited by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

This is unfortunate for those under the age of 21, but there is something to be said about the level of maturity that comes with life experience and the 3 years of difference in age. As someone 21 and older, you not only are of age to legally consume cannabis (at will) but are capable of dealing with any legal situation that might arise at your dispensary.

After all, you wouldn’t want to leave the security of your business in the hands of someone that is bound to be younger than the majority of your customers, would you? Make sure your dispensary security is adequately aged and fit to perform whatever duty is necessary.

Related: 5 Simple Compliance Violations Dispensaries Don’t Really Think About

 

Cannabis Goods Display Limitations

Cannabis goods displays cannot be sold to consumers in CA dispensaries.

11 months ago, your customer could walk into your dispensary and pick out any jar of cannabis they wanted to smell or touch with the expectation of being sold what was about to be weighed out in front of them. Well, those days are long gone and the BCC has made it very clear that there are display standards to uphold when customers come into your location.

Check out our simple do’s and dont’s for cannabis displays below:

Do:

Ensure that cannabis not used for displays is locked and inaccessible to the general public.

-Display cannabis and report the display as use in METRC.

-Allow customers to smell samples and get hand-on with what they are going to purchase.

-Dispose of all cannabis on display in accordance to regulations.

Don’t:

-Sell cannabis that isn’t pre-packaged.

-Give samples to customers in-store.

-Sell the display package to a customer even if its the last one on shelves—this is a blatant violation and is sure to get a fine tacked onto your monthly expenses.

In a nutshell, cannabis can be displayed insofar as it is not to be offered for retail sales at any point. Cannabis not for display that is intended to be sold should be stored in a way that is not obtainable by the general public.

 

Verifying Customer Age. Every Time.

A-U customers must be 21 years of age or older while medicinal patients can be 18+

Each customer needs to be checked in at the front of your dispensary on each visit. Age requirements are 21+ for recreational users while those holding a valid MMID card can be 18 years of age and older. Appropriate forms of identification are state or government issued forms of identification including driver’s licenses and passports.

Checking in customers is a basic requirement that has been set by the BCC and the importance of this goes beyond just the regulations. Checking in customers works in more ways than just staying compliant. It helps keep track of the amount of foot traffic your dispensary is generating, resulting in an accumulation of wealth in data that should be used to your marketing department’s advantage.

Related: A Definitive Guide to Compliance — California Cannabis Dispensaries

 

The BCC doesn’t play around…

One slight hiccup can send your cannabis business tumbling.

Breaking down the cannabis regulations in California is a lot like trying to keep up with a toddler that is making their mind up at the dinner table—exhausting. Our goal is to provide you with an easy-to-digest list of the essentials that make your business run seamlessly in a time where everyone is struggling to understand the BCC changes.

Related: A Definitive Guide to Compliance — California Cannabis Dispensaries

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