There are a lot of steps that need to be taken to start a cannabis business successfully. Just because it is legal in Canada does not mean that the cannabis industry is an easy one to be in. Federal, provincial, and municipal regulations and laws must be followed, requirements must be met before opening your business’s doors, and logistics must be figured out.
Cannabis is an industry that is rapidly growing globally in both medical and recreational markets. In Canada, The Business of Cannabis predicts that by the end of 2022, there will be 3,511 licensed stores open across the country. That means a whole lot of competition. But the good news is that we pride ourselves on knowing how to build a quality website for your cannabis business at Agency Media. When you want a dope website (pun absolutely intended), we can help. Here are our top three tips for making your cannabis business thrive and grow. (That pun was also intended).
1: What kind of business do you want?
Are you wanting to grow cannabis and sell your supply? Or do you want to open a retail store? Wholesale options for cannabis retailers are very limited. To be a producer in Canada, you can only sell your products to provincial boards.
Retail stores are not allowed to purchase products from third-party companies and producers. This means that all cannabis retail stores will have similar, if not the same, products. However, this will not be the case for much longer.
2: Location matters
As of November 30th, 2022, when the producer retail store (PRS) license comes into effect, eligible federally licensed cannabis producers can sell non-medical cannabis products from stores located at their cultivation sites.
All federal standard cultivators, micro-cultivator and nursery licence-holders will be eligible to apply for this license. Any business with a PRS license will be eligible to register for the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s PRS direct-delivery program under the PRS direct-delivery category. This means that small-scale cultivators have the opportunity to build proband loyalty with licensed non-medical cannabis products in their own retail stores.
3: Your website matters
Have you ever gone online to buy something from a brand you know and have had to resist the urge to throw your phone/tablet/laptop against the wall because the user experience of their website was absolutely awful? If that sounds too dramatic, you probably haven’t; lucky you. The user experience online is part of the overall customer experience. It needs to be consumer friendly, easy to navigate, and easy to use. Your website tells potential customers about your brand, from buying online to picking up in-store to figuring out more about your business to contact or location information. Including whether or not they want to support your brand with their money.
While selling cannabis products comes with many complications, your website does not have to be one of them. At Agency Media, we know what makes a good website, and we have the tools, resources and technology to make it. We’ve been around the block and have helped many independent businesses and entrepreneurs tell their stories and build their dreams. You can check out some of our work here. If you want to learn more about how Agency Media can help you build your brand’s website, we’re not shy; come say hi!