To Be Blunt

“We immediately got pigeonholed into this wellness thing which I think cannabis places women in so if you're a woman or you're a female-run brand or something, you can only really have this aesthetic of wellness…  We just happen to be women who are running this brand and, designing and producing these pieces, but it's meant for anyone.” - Lana Van Brunt

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt of Sackville and Co., a lifestyle brand made by women who like to smoke weed. They talk about how they approach design in the cannabis space and how they are bringing cannabis into the mainstream through their design-forward products and collaborations with other artists and brands. They also discuss their vision for the future and the need for more women entrepreneurs in the industry.
 

[00:01 – 04:50] Shayda shares her podcasting journey

[04:51 – 25:34] Creating A Brand for the Connoisseurs and the Curious

[25:35 – 29:43] Lessons Learned from An Acquisition Gone Wrong

[35:57- 35:21] Breathing Life to Brands through Collaborations

[35:22 - 57:19] The Future is Female In the Cannabis Industry

[57:20 – 58:56] Food for thought: What do you think about Hayley and Lana’s fight to get their business back?

 

Lana Van Brunt and Hayley Dineen are the Brooklyn-based duo behind Sackville & Co., a design-focused contemporary cannabis lifestyle brand, and Sackville Studios, the first multidisciplinary cannabis design and production studio creating brands from the ground up for both cannabis industry leaders and newcomers alike. Dineen cut her teeth at the world-renowned arts & design college Central St. Martin’s in London, going on to design for high-end brands including Yeezy, OVO, Vivienne Westwood, and more. Van Brunt employs her marketing and branding genius to the Sackville brand from her time as a Director at VICE Media and ATTN: Media. 

 
Connect with Hayley and Lana!

Check out their brand and products at the Sackville & Co. website. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

 

Key Quote:

“We are women who run this brand, but we really wanted it to be approachable to anyone and not really segment out part of our audience and be like, ‘This is only for women.’ It's like this is for anyone who loves design, who wants to approach cannabis in a new way.” - Hayley Dineen

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“If you're going to have good cannabis, why don't you have good glass, right? I mean, it just kind of goes hand in hand.” - Chris Piazza

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes CannaDevices CEO Chris Piazza to discuss the art of glass blowing and how it serves the cannabis industry. Chris believes in the need to educate consumers about ingesting cannabis in a different way and enhancing the experience with a high-quality product. As a glass blower himself, he also highlights the importance of supporting local artisans and giving them opportunities to thrive.

[00:01 – 10:37] The Intersection of Glass Blowing and Cannabis Consumption

[10:38 – 16:42] How the Glass Blowing Industry Adapts to the Legalization of Cannabis

[16:43 – 29:43] Educating Consumers about Good Glass Devices

[29:44 - 35:21] Bridging the Gap Between Art and Business

[35:22 - 53:36] Marketing an Ancillary Brand in their Own Way

[53:37 – 56:03] Food for thought: What do you think about Chris and his team’s approach to branding and business?

Chris has managed the growth of CannaDevices which services many of the largest dispensaries in the US. In just two years CannaDevices now consistently supplies 10 publicly traded cannabis companies along with numerous other operators. Throughout this growth, Chris has never wavered from his dedication to support American artists and independent small businesses. Even during the course of a global pandemic, Chris was dedicated to ensuring that each artist and team member of CannaDevices could count on the company with absolute certainty, despite the uncertain times. At any given time, CannaDevices provides full-time work for 50 artisans and their businesses and plans to double that number by early 2022. Additionally, if a new partnered artist is hitting roadblocks in their production, Chris helps the artist by teaching the skill of glass blowing and production, while simultaneously providing a source of income.
 

Connect with Chris

Visit the CannaDevices website and follow them on Instagram.

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi
 

Key Quote:

“When we're sitting around, talking, there's a little bit of 'Of course, I know about that,’ right? And that's fine when we're around peers. But when we're not around peers, we need to realize that this information that we have is second nature. It’s not second nature to other people and that we need to provide.” - Chris Piazza

 

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"If you win the competition, you get tremendous props and financial rewards coming through there. So it is friendly, but it's also become a very serious thing now, because now its business, its branding. And so it's become something that everybody really works to put their best foot forward and win." - Tim Blake

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Tim Blake, the founder of the Emerald Cup, a competition showcasing the best of the cannabis industry for years. He is joined by his daughter and The Emerald Cup co-producer Taylor to discuss how they champion the advancement of cannabis culture while navigating California politics and regulations.

[00:01 – 06:49] Celebrating Cannabis: The 4/20 Holiday and  the Emerald Cup

[06:50– 15:19] Creating a Community of Cannabis Enthusiasts

[15:20 – 29:27] The Impact of Legalization on the Landscape and on Legacy Brands

[29:28 – 41:52] The Evolution of Emerald Cup

[41:53 – 54:49] Finding Balance Between Branding and Product Quality

[54:05- – 1:02:01] The Future of Cannabis in California and Beyond

Tim Blake created The Emerald Cup, the world’s largest outdoor cannabis competition thirteen years ago. Tim sponsored and helped produce the first gathering of law enforcement and cannabis farmers to openly discuss how they would work together.  He was the co-founder of the Mendocino Farmers Collective and also Healing Harvest Farms, both local cannabis dispensaries designed to help facilitate getting outdoor cannabis into the dispensaries across the state. He was a founding member of the California Cannabis Reform Policy (CCPR) and was also on the steering committee for the Heritage Initiative (Measure AF). 

Taylor Blake graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has become a vital leader alongside her father Emerald Cup founder Tim Blake since 2008.  In her current role, she spearheads the Emerald Cup Awards judges' table and product categories, sourcing the best of the best cannabis products and experts to lead the awards. 

Connect with Tim and Taylor

Visit their website, and follow Tim, Taylor, and The Emerald Cup on Instagram.

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:
“This was just a unique thing that came up, we've done a heroic act. But we need to open it up to the rest of the country and the rest of the world because cannabis needs to impact society, and this planet. ” -  Tim Blake

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“We have a lot of work to do to start to reintroduce society as a whole to the idea that cannabis can be a part of our daily life without it being completely monumentally destructive because it never has been, and it never will be.” - Samuel Richard

In this episode, Shayda Torabi is joined by Samuel Richard of Arizona Dispensary Association as they discuss an interesting perspective of cannabis – that it should be boring. Samuel argues that this theme encompasses the effective ways to address the politics and destructive societal views of the plant. Listen as he shares how to get involved towards noteworthy progress through the advocacy.

 

[00:01 – 10:59] Navigating the Waters of Cannabis Legalization Amidst the Noise

[11:00 – 15:33] The Advocacy of Cannabis Should Be Boring and How to be Involved

[15:34 – 21:34] How We Can Get Involved and Make an Impact as Consumers

[21:35 – 40:18] The Cannabis Landscape in Arizona and the Current Brand Loyalty Stage

[40:19 – 56:22] Taking Action in the Boring Theme Advocacy for Notable Progress

[56:23 – 57:44] Food for Thought: Do you think cannabis should be boring?

 

Samuel is known for his strategic thinking and development of complex government affairs, communications, and media plans. He approaches every problem with an open mind, patience, and empathy. Samuel has a degree in nonprofit leadership and management from Arizona State University’s College of Public Service and Community Solutions, is a Fellow of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy, and holds certificates from both Valley Leadership and the Center for Progressive Leadership. Samuel was recently recognized by the Arizona Capitol Times in its inaugural Breakouts Award highlighting “the sharpest political minds in the state,” and has previously been recognized in the Phoenix New Times’ Best of Phoenix as Best Lobbyist and by the Phoenix Business Journal as a member of the 2013 class of Forty under 40.

 

Connect with Samuel

Visit https://azdispensaries.org/ to see the efforts dedicated to advancing the Arizona cannabis industry through political advocacy, public education, and professionalization.

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quotes:

“It's a helpful argument to remind them [the lawmakers] that if they restrict access to cannabis, they're restricting the income to the general fund.” -  Samuel Richard

“If someone comes up to you and asks, ‘How can I get involved?’ I think one of the best ways to do that is to just come out as a cannabis consumer.” - Samuel Richard

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“What's the most sustainable thing I can do [about packaging]? And I always like to say there is no one thing. There are many, many little things that you can do along the way.” -  Elizabeth Corbett

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Corbett of AE Global Packaging as she shares her observations about packaging and the framework for sustainability. She uncovers the truth about both the opportunities and barriers to CPG and how the players in the cannabis industry can navigate for better brand positioning.

 

[00:01 – 05:47] Shayda on Brand Redesign versus Brand Refresh

[05:48– 13:18] Primary and Secondary Packaging in Light of Diversity and Regulations

[13:19 – 24:33] The Power of Customization and the Path to Sustainability

[29:33 – 44:38] Child-Resistant Cannabis Packaging for and the Framework to CPG

[44:39 – 49:09] The Impact of Packaging and the Opportunities for Production

[59:54 – 01:01:23] Food for Thought: What and when do you think of your packaging?

 

Elizabeth Corbett, VP of Sales for AE Global,  is on a mission to build sustainable packaging & supply chain programs for Cannabis and CBD companies that honor their brand identity, drive revenue growth, protect the product, and do so cost-effectively.  “CannaBeth”, as she is fondly known, entered the Cannabis industry more than eight years ago after spending the first part of her career developing packaging solutions for significant players in the retail and health & beauty markets such as Starbucks, Tiffany, and Estee Lauder.  Based in Seattle and Miami, Beth is passionate about finding environmentally responsible and sustainable solutions no matter what the form or substrate.

Connect with Elizabeth

Visit https://www.aegpkg.com/

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“It is very rare that I have a conversation with a customer talking about brand new packaging or looking at their existing packaging and they don't mention, like, ‘What can I be doing from a sustainable perspective?’ ” -  Elizabeth Corbett

 

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“Here's the thing, though. If you're the kind of person who really masters things quick, and you like that challenge, then this [cannabis] space is perfect. If you really like repetitiveness, and you don't like change, then you really don't want to enter the cannabis space at all, period. Because it will change. It perpetually changes.” -  Skip Motsenbocker

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Skip Motsenbocker of Pacific Stone to paint a clearer picture of the Californian market, taxation, and regulations. Despite the numerous challenges in this landscape, Skip believes that considering customer experience and delivering the best way you can is the most important ingredient for brands to power through.

 

[00:01 – 10:56] California’s Heavy Taxation and Regulation on Cannabis

[10:57– 22:24] The Push Towards the Industry and Pacific Stone on Navigating the Market

[22:25 – 38:17] What It Takes to Keep Up with the California Cannabis Industry

[38:18 – 44:22] Introducing New Cannabis Products to the Market without Misrepresentation

[44:23 – 01:02:20] The Harsh Implications of High Cultivation Tax and Intense Competition

[01:02:21 – 01:04:29] Food for Thought: What do you observe about this “green dream” of operating in the regulated cannabis market?

 

Skip Motsenbocker has more than 25 years of professional experience in a variety of industries including asset management and private equity, consumer packaged goods and retailing, as well as real estate development. This wealth of experience has led to his initial entrance into and subsequent success in the regulated cannabis industry. His passion for the plant also stems from personal tragedy, as he became a vocal advocate for cannabis’ therapeutic and medicinal properties after losing his mother to opioids following multiple car accidents and back surgeries.

In early 2021, Motsenbocker was named CEO of Pacific Stone, a market leader in California cannabis, with both large-scale green-house cultivation facilities and more than a million square feet of flower. Pacific Stone is offered in over 600 stores and includes packaged flowers, pre-rolls, and cartridges. Motsenbocker will oversee the brand’s planned new product launches, expansion, among other exciting initiatives.

 

Connect with Skip

Visit https://pacificstonebrand.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @pacificstone__brand

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“Circling back to how do you continue to try to be number one, just think about what that experience is for your customer, you know, and try to always deliver on that.” - Skip Motsenbocker

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“We've seen brands who, you know, maybe they have great products, but they have really inauthentic marketing, and that hurts them. And I think that authenticity, the understanding of your core values, your mission statement, your North Star, the why you do what you do, people want to support that.” - Lisa Buffo

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Lisa Buffo of Cannabis Marketing Association. She discusses what it takes to determine the best practices industry marketers should implement. With the dizzying laws, policies, and loopholes determining the cannabis marketing playbook, it all boils down to identifying your niche and figuring out alternative marketing efforts.

 

[00:01 – 09:19] Shayda shares her South by Southwest Experience

[09:20– 18:48] Lisa Buffo on Diving in Headfirst into Marketing and Exploring Cannabis

[18:49 – 33:45] Best Practices for Industry Marketers by Understanding the Community

[33:46 – 57:45] The Playbook of Laws and Policies on Cannabis Marketing and Censorship

[57:46 – 01:14:13] Plausible Execution through Alternative Marketing Efforts

[01:14:14 – 1:15:26] Food for Thought: How do you figure out your niche? Who do you market to?

 

Lisa Buffo is a marketer and entrepreneur with a passion for launching companies with experience in both the cannabis and technology industries. Lisa is the Founder & CEO of the Cannabis Marketing Association. CMA has hosted over 100+ educational events nationwide bringing together the cannabis marketing community. Lisa has been quoted in Forbes, The Guardian, VICE, Denver Business Journal, The Boulder Daily Camera, Marijuana News Network, Cannabis Culture Magazine, and other national, local, and trade publications.  Lisa helped launch 10 cannabis startups for CanopyBoulder. Lisa also launched the industry’s first online wholesale brokerage as their CMO, garnering national coverage in VICE and INC Magazine and becoming the first cannabis-related company to present at SXSW in Austin, TX. Lisa is the Founder & Co-Chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Marketing & Advertising Committee where she co-authored the Public Relations Crisis Manual and the Short Guide to Colorado’s Marketing & Advertising Regulations. Lisa is an active speaker and has spoken at WomenGrow, NCIA, and CMA events.

Connect with Lisa 

Visit https://thecannabismarketingassociation.com/ and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @cannamarketing

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“We do need to be authentic, we do need to be inclusive…bringing that positive perception to the plant and, I say, authentic understanding of the consumer because there's no right or wrong way to be a cannabis consumer.” - Lisa Buffo

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“I don't want people to think getting in [the cannabis industry] now is a bad idea whatsoever. I think the industry right now is still really looking for a lot of smart people, people that are interested in the kind of like cannabis movement and its progression to maybe full legalization.” - Nate Lipton

In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Nate Lipton of GrowersHouse as he pushes the cannacurious to jump right into the industry and consider scaling to seize the opportunity. Also, listen closely as he shares his valid insights about federal legalization and its effects on interstate transfer of goods. Also, he explains the viability of vertical integration in the continuously maturing industry. 

 

[00:01 – 07:32] Updates on Events and Intriguing Research in New Mexico

[07:33– 18:30] Nate on Cannabis Entrepreneurship - The Getting is Good Right Now

[18:31 – 23:48] The Maturity of the Industry Over the Years

[23:49 – 33:07] Being a Cowboy on the E-Commerce and Ancillary Sides

[33:08 – 42:16] The Blurry Interstate Transfer of Goods Despite Legalization

[42:17 – 01:00:21] Why You Shouldn’t Be Intimidated by Vertical Integration

[01:00:22 – 01:01:31] Food for Thought: What do you think about Nate’s views on federal legalization?

 

Nate is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GrowersHouse.com, GrowersNetwork.org, and CannaCribs YouTube series. He's been in the cannabis industry since 2010 working in cannabis retail, cultivation, and consulting.

Connect with Nate

Visit growershouse.com, https://growersnetwork.org/, and https://cannacribs.org/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @cannacribs @growershouse

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“I think those [vertically integrated] businesses are going to be the businesses that are going to have the most staying power in the market and they're going to be the most successful in the market. Because, exactly, you do own your own supply chain and just because you don't think you might be good at one of those [cultivation, processing, and being a dispensary or retailer] aspects. I don't want people to be scared of doing it.” - Nate Lipton

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“When we build brands that are secure and positioned securely and have meaning, they have a lot of opportunities to go into new places… We've got to show up in certain ways and participate in certain ways.” -  Elizabeth Hogan

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Elizabeth Hogan of Willies Reserve as she shares her experience of working with the legendary cannabis advocate, Willie Nelson. Her insights reflect the value of collaboration and artistry in pursuit of establishing a noteworthy brand presence. 

 

[00:01 – 10:46] Shayda shares the magic of South by Southwest Experience

[10:47– 21:41] Working with Willie Nelson and Establishing Effective Brand Presence 

[21:42 – 32:27] The Creative Inspiration of Bringing the Brand to Life through CPG

[32:28 – 48:09] Social Media and the Heroic Fight for Cannabis Freedom

[48:08 – 59:38] The Power of Collaborations and Partnerships through Art

[59:39 – 51:59] Food for Thought: How do you want your brand to be represented?

 

Elizabeth Hogan, a multi-talented brand strategist, consumer researcher, and cannabis pioneer, brings extensive experience in highly regulated industries as well as day-one experience in the recreational cannabis industry to her role as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Long Play. As one of the founders of the organization that would become Long Play, Elizabeth has used her business and branding acumen to guide the company through numerous phases, from the original development of the Willie Nelson product line—including Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy—to rapid commercialization, licensing and multi-state expansion. Through her direct efforts, the Willie Nelson line of products has become one of the most recognizable, most trusted cannabis brands on the market. Elizabeth has been named to the High Times 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis List, the High Times Female 50 List, and is a sought-after speaker at industry and marketing conferences worldwide. She regularly appears as a guest on podcasts and is frequently profiled in industry and mainstream publications alike. When she’s not developing award-winning cannabis products, you can find Elizabeth enjoying live music and, of course, Willie’s legendary stash.

Connect with Elizabeth 

Visit https://williesreserve.com/ and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @williesreserveofficial

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“When we started off, we had one set of standards and priorities, and over time, not because we're changing our priorities, but because the industry is evolving, and we're learning more and our product line changes, some of that stuff has changed.” -  Elizabeth Hogan

 

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“There's no secret sauce. I looked at the cannabis market, I saw the work ethic of the people involved… The hardest worker in every company is the person who owns the company. Once you get to a certain size, especially in the Oklahoma market, the ability to scale is really as fast and easy.” -  Walter Boyd

Welcome back to the To Be Blunt podcast! In this episode, Shayda Torabi welcomes Walter Boyd of RedBird Bioscience. He reminds us of the fundamentals of running a business built for success - understanding your market and staying consistent. He shares the cannabis landscape in Oklahoma and how the value of deeply understanding the customer can significantly shape your presence in the industry.

 

[00:01 – 05:19] The Value of Observing Surrounding Markets in the Industry

[05:20 – 14:22] Understanding the Customer Base in the Oklahoma Landscape

[14:23 – 26:52] Introducing Cannabis Professionally in the Saturated Market

[26:53 – 36:35] Understanding the Customer for Improved Marketing and Sales Strategies

[36:36 – 56:55] Marketing the Brand - Thinking of Cannabis as a Commodity

[56:56 – 58:55] Food for Thought: Do you think it's easier to establish a brand in a state that is more or less densely populated?

 

Walter Boyd is the Director of Sales at RedBird Bioscience and oversees sales and distribution, customer service, new product design, and raw material partnerships. Boyd helped launch and direct the development of RedBird’s vape and concentrate line, White Label, and the launch of RedBird’s partnership with Belushi’s Farm Blues Brother’s products. Additionally, Boyd directs RedBird’s sales team, where he built The RedBird Sales Process and the RedBird Standard Customer Service Program as his team expanded shelf presence in Oklahoma’s dispensaries with a growth rate of 312%.

Connect with Walter

Visit http://redbirdmmj.com/ and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @redbirdrise

 

Shayda Torabi has been called one of the most influential Women in WordPress and now she’s one of the women leading the cannabis reformation conversation building one of Texas’ premier CBD brands. She's currently the CEO and Co-Founder of RESTART CBD, a female-run education first CBD wellness brand. And has formerly held marketing positions at WP Engine and WebDevStudios. Shayda is the host of a podcast for cannabis marketers called To Be Blunt, where she interviews top cannabis brands on their most successful marketing initiatives. When Shayda's not building her cannabiz in Texas, you can find her on the road exploring the best hikes and spots for vegan ice cream. Follow Shayda at @theshaydatorabi

Key Quote:

“The thing about the Oklahoma market that people don't realize is you've got patients who are low income to no income to fixed income, that only have a certain amount of dollars that they're willing to spend… And so you've got to figure out how to price your product.” -  Walter Boyd

 

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