As a growing number of states continue to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana, cannabis dispensaries have become a rapidly growing and very lucrative business opportunity.
There is huge market demand for cannabis, making dispensary ownership an ideal business proposition. However, like any retailer, the proprietor of a cannabis dispensary cannot simply open the doors and expect customers to appear out of nowhere.
Cannabis dispensary proprietors must have a solid business plan and an extremely knowledgeable staff to attract and retain customers in an increasingly competitive industry. There are nearly 15,000 recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries throughout America today, according to numerous research studies, evidence of a booming industry that shows no sign of slowing down.
Once you begin to attract customers, it is critical to win their loyalty. There are solid methods of gaining repeat and faithful customers, among them offering a diverse product line and providing unparalleled customer service.
Your selection of strains is greatly important. Cannabis customers will enter your dispensary with varied experience using the products. Make sure you provide something for everyone: light cannabis for beginners, stronger strains for moderates and heavy product for experienced smokers. People will also want a large variety of cannabis to determine what suits them best.
Customer service staff who possess a superior knowledge of cannibas is vital to a dispensary’s success. Dispensary employees are the new baristas. They must have expert knowledge of everything you sell, be ready to answer an array of customer questions right off the bat and be patient, especially with novices.
Business owners should strongly consider offering shopping by appointment. This gives patrons the opportunity to receive undivided attention and not feel rushed. Providing these and other services is paramount to gaining and maintaining customers and garnering new, word-of-mouth shoppers.
A loyalty program is another great way to build a patron base. Through such a program customers could receive discounts, promotions, newsletters and information on newly arriving strains before the general public.
You may also want to establish your dispensary as an authority on cannabis. By providing educational content on everything from different strains to consumption methods to safety suggestions, your dispensary will gain respect as an expertly run business.
Awareness of and compliance to local, state and federal dispensary regulations is absolutely vital to success. Understanding the maze of guidelines and stipulations, which vary by location, can be akin to deciphering the tax code. If you are not an expert in this area, it is advisable to hire an attorney who can guide you through the process.
The return on investment is avoiding hefty fines and even the prospect of having your dispensary shut down for an extended time period, which may sink the business.
It is an exciting time to get involved in the cannabis industry, which offers an in-demand product that will always be in style. With hard work, creativity and superior customer service, you can build a solid foundation upon which your cannabis dispensary can develop and thrive.