Under the Microscope with Jenny

Ep. 57: Cannabis Operator Series | Fireside Chat with BestBรผds


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๐ŸŽ™In this episode of Under the Microscope with Jenny, host Jenny Germano continues the Cannabis Operator Series with Amanda Terpstra, CEO, and Laura Trujillo, COO and co-founders of BestBรผds Dispensary, a women-owned dispensary in New Jersey.

Laura shares her journey from graphic design and corporate work at Samsung to launching a community-focused cannabis retail business with Amanda, whose background includes finance, HR, wealth management, and real estate.

Together, they discuss the realities of launching in New Jersey, including fundraising while applying for licenses, lobbying local officials to opt into cannabis, navigating inspections and delays, and managing the operational challenges that come with opening a regulated cannabis business.

Amanda and Laura also talk about the importance of owning the property, building the right team, and creating a welcoming, educational environment centered around customer experience and community connection.

The conversation also covers cannabis marketing restrictions, trademarking, social media limitations, delivery operations, and future plans for vertical integration opportunities. They also share what they are most proud of, including building an all-women team and celebrating their upcoming two-year anniversary this fall. This episode delivers practical insight for cannabis operators on launching a compliant, community-driven dispensary while building a strong brand and long-term business foundation.

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๐ŸŒฟ๐—ข๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜: Jenny Germano, Founder of ICS Consulting

๐ŸŒŽ ๐—œ๐—–๐—ฆ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด: https://www.icsconsultingservice.com


๐ŸŒฟ๐—ข๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—š๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜: Amanda Terpstra, CEO, & Laura Trujillo, COO & Co-Founders of BestBรผds Dispensary
๐ŸŒŽ ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฒ: https://bestbudsnj.com

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Timestamps:

ย 01:34 Laura Trujillo Intro

ย 03:15 Amanda Terpstra Intro
ย 07:07 Our BestBรผds Vision
ย 10:23 The New Jersey Market
ย 12:36 Pounding the Pavement
ย 17:15 Fundraising & Compliance
ย 24:45 Buildout & Inspections
ย 26:34 Conditional Approval
ย 30:34 Contracts & Costly Timelines
ย 33:32 The Launch & Grand Opening
ย 34:03 Branding, Marketing & Trademarks
ย 37:59 Community & Education
ย 41:09 Hiring Reset & Team Building
ย 45:26 Customer Delivery & Future Expansion
ย 51:33 Our Wins & Core Values
ย 55:06 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

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๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—น ๐——๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ: The content shared on this channel - including all videos, podcasts, interviews, and discussions is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, compliance, or business consulting advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Laws and regulations surrounding cannabis and related industries vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified attorney or licensed professional before making decisions that could have legal or regulatory consequences for your business. Listening to or viewing this content does not create a client relationship between you and ICS Consulting, Under the Microscope with Jenny, Jenny Germano, or any of the podcastโ€™s guests. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICS Consulting or its affiliates.

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Under the Microscope with JennyBy Jenny Germano