Limited edition products can be highly appealing to customers, particularly in the cannabis consumer market. According to a report by BDS Analytics, 81% of cannabis consumers prefer to purchase unique, high-quality products that are not mass-produced like this Raptor Plush Toy from Elbo Supply Co. or this Wake N Bake Mug from Rip N Dip. Additionally, a survey by High Yield Insights found that 54% of cannabis consumers are more likely to purchase a product if it is limited edition or exclusive..
The limited availability of limited edition products creates a sense of urgency for customers to make a purchase. In fact, according to a study by Omnisend, limited time offers have a conversion rate of 9.06%, which is significantly higher than the average conversion rate of 1.68% for regular promotions. This sense of urgency is particularly effective in the cannabis consumer market, where customers are often on the lookout for new and exciting products. Things like the gz1 whatever forever smoke accessories comes to mind.
Offering limited edition products can help you build customer loyalty by giving customers a reason to return to your store. A Bond Brand Loyalty study revealed that 80% of consumers tend to do business with companies that offer personalized experiences. To achieve this, you can create limited edition products that are exclusively available in your shop. This approach can provide your customers with a personalized experience that they will appreciate.
Carrying limited edition products can be a smart business move as they can have higher prices and profit margins than standard products. In fact, according to a report by McKinsey & Company, limited edition products can have a price premium of up to 25%. Deloitte conducted a study that found companies providing personalized experiences for their customers have a 12% higher customer loyalty rate and a 10% higher growth rate compared to those that don't.
A dope limited edition beaker bong and other smoking accessories can be a valuable addition to your smoke shop. They appeal to the desire for unique and high-quality products that's common among cannabis consumers, and can help create a sense of urgency, build customer loyalty, and boost sales and profit margins.
By carefully selecting limited edition items that align with your shop's brand and target market, you can create a product mix that keeps customers coming back for more.
]]>Let’s take a look at those filthy quartz bangers first. Are you cleaning your quartz after every dab? You should be. But it doesn’t have to be a grueling chore… especially when you have the right tools for the job. We’ll start with some dab swabs. These handy cotton swabs are different than Q-tips in that they are intentionally fashioned with the nooks and crannies of bangers in mind, aided by proprietary fibers that soak up residual wax more efficiently. One side features a pointed tip perfect for getting into those tight corners while the other side offers a blunt tip ideal for swabbing and soaking up iso and pooling wax. Don’t you hate it when you’re really going to town with a cotton swab and the handle snaps under the pressure? You won’t feel that frustration with a dab swab since their handles are crafted from sturdy yet flexible paper that offers just enough give for a better reach. The dab swabs that we carry at Master-Minded use only organic cotton for a fully biodegradable product that is as good to the earth as it is tough on residue. Concentrate connoisseurs may prefer Dab Nation Dab Swabs whereas e-rig enthusiasts will love the Focus V variety.
While dab swabs are as agile as they are efficient, they sometimes need a little help to tackle the stubborn pools of residual wax that cling to quartz. And as anyone who knows their way around a dab rig (or water pipe for that matter) will tell you, there are few better helping hands than high percentage isopropyl alcohol. At Master-Minded, we carry Adam iLL’s iLLcohol; the only 99% isopropyl alcohol with an added 1% of clout. Adam iLL is a man who has cleaned a dab rig or two in his lifetime so he knows his iso. Each bottle gives you 16 ounces of iso that can be used and re-used to swab or soak your concentrate-encrusted bangers or as a solution for cleaning resin-caked water pipes. In this lifestyle, you can never have too much iso.
Then, there are the jobs that need the nuclear cleaning option. For the banger that may seem beyond saving, we recommend Dark Crystal Glass Cleaner, a plant-based powerhouse that wipes out the stickiest of stains with just a few drops. Dark Crystal’s solution can be used over and over again and never expires, making it the perfect backup to have on hand for when the dreaded “deep clean” catches up with you. Like the dab swabs, this cleaning liquid is an environmentally conscious, cruelty-free option that brings you peace of mind in more ways than one. At Master-Minded, we offer Dark Crystal Glass Cleaner in dropper bottles perfect for controlled dispensing and 710ml bottles ideal for those deep clean soaks.
Appropriately serving as a cap on this squeaky clean blog, Resolution ResCaps remain some of our favorite accessories for restoring water pipes and rigs to their pristine, sparkling states. No doubt you’ve used ResCaps yourself or at least seen them in action. But for the unfamiliar, ResCaps are silicone caps designed to seal off the openings of pipes and rigs so that you can fill them up with iso or cleaning fluid and give them a cleansing shake without making an even bigger mess.
So, yes, it’s easy to take a monster dab and forget about the wipedown with the dab swab. It takes absolutely no effort to puff, puff, and pass on cleaning that water pipe. But if you go down that road, you’re going to notice a difference sooner rather than later. Keep up on the cleanliness and your gear will reward you.
]]>Prior to the pandemic, businesses in the plant-touching sector of our industry were already well on their way to exploring delivery services where legally permissible. But the pandemic forced consumers to get comfortable with the delivery service model far more quickly than they likely would have otherwise. A PR Newswire poll indicated a 70% increase in delivery orders when compared to pre-COVID times. Not only that, but people were ordering more than they had before. This is likely due to several factors, but leads into another strong trend that developed amidst the pandemic: people began to shop less frequently, but stock up on more at a single time. And whenever consumer trends change, the industry must change with them.
Perhaps the most obvious industry shift came with how rapidly businesses, from plant-touching to ancillary, adopted delivery services. Amazon had already proven that most people preferred shopping from the comforts of their couches with products being quickly delivered to their doors. The pandemic only served to accelerate the market in the direction it was already headed. But several plant-touching businesses with no delivery model in place saw an opportunity and seized on it by investing in acquisitions of established dispensaries that only offered delivery options. This basically provided them with a turnkey delivery solution that they could adopt virtually overnight and, eventually, integrate to the other products they offered (if any).
An added bonus of adopting delivery services was the ability to reach markets that, due to legal reasons, were formerly unattainable. Even in the state of California, where the commodity is ingrained within the culture, the majority of municipalities banned commercial enterprises. Delivery services are now allowing dispensaries to reach the nearly 2/3 of the state that was originally off-limits. And areas that had no delivery laws in place at all began to adopt them. A huge example is Colorado, one of the largest markets in the world, that legalized delivery for both medical and adult use products all within the span of the pandemic.
Even brick-and-mortar shops without the means to adopt delivery services had to rethink their business models to accommodate the new demands of a restricted market. Unable to survive on foot traffic, these smaller businesses began to expand their online presences, offering online ordering options for the first time with safe curbside pickup and, in many instances, popular drive-thru options. These models have also become increasingly popular in areas where delivery services have not been approved by law.
Will a preference for delivery and emphasis on e-commerce carry over after the pandemic has truly subsided? It seems likely, at least to some degree. Many businesses are opting to juggle delivery, e-commerce and the original brick-and-mortar experience since ignoring one option risks losing a significant chunk of the customer base. We imagine your own business model went through some changes between March 2020 and today if you hadn’t already been moving in that direction. Fortunately, in our experience, change is ultimately a good thing.
]]>It seems like the CHAMPS trade show needs no introduction since they’ve been putting it on since 1999. With a focus on counter-cultural business, CHAMPS provides a space for exhibitors to meet, talk shop and show off their products, giving trade show goers and industry insiders alike an opportunity to speak face to face with sales reps. While it may seem all about the business, there are plenty of opportunities to blow off smoke (errr… steam) such as the CHAMPS GLASS GAMES™, a white knuckle glass blowing event where top artists square off for pride, prizes and paper. This isn’t Master-Minded’s first CHAMPS by a long shot. In fact, it almost feels like we’re coming home!
We’re bringing all that we can carry of your Master-Minded favorites. Want to stock up but have questions about the merchandise? Trade shows like these allow you to get up close and personal with the gear while your Master-Minded sales rep is available in person to help you out with any inquiries that cross your mind. Looking for the latest in temp reader technology? We’ll have the Terpometer (the one that started it all!) as well as the full spectrum of Dab Rite color options. Find out why the Little Dipper from Dip Devices is making such a big splash or restock on CARTA and other Focus V supplies with our expert staff on hand to help you out with all of the premium selling points. And, of course, where there’s smoke, there’s fire so you can count on us to have plenty of Fusion torches in tow, including the much sought-after Galaxy design. Solventless aficionados can expect a full line of Rosin Tech products including their famed presses. And don’t forget the Wolf products, including a full-color spectrum of herb grinders and hand pipes. If your customers want it, we'll have it on display at the CHAMPS trade show.
This isn’t Master-Minded’s first trip to CHAMPS, nor is it our first trade show since the pandemic hit us. So what makes CHAMPS Vegas such a big deal? It’s a reunion. “A major reason we’ve been so looking forward to CHAMPS Vegas is because, with Covid, most of our relationships had to go virtual,” Master-Minded Vice President Charlie Cimitile explains. “This show not only gives us the opportunity to meet many of our new customers in person, but also, for the first time in nearly 2 years, allows us to finally re-engage with customers face-to-face with whom we’ve had relationships for a long time.” So, while there’s a distinct back-to-business vibe to the CHAMPS trade show, there’s also a community spirit beneath it all as we finally reconnect with the people that make us love our jobs so much in the first place.
So, whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, we’d love to shake your hand in Vegas. It’s all happening at the CHAMPS trade show, July 27th through 30th at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where you’ll find us at sprawling booth #6013. Come loaded up with questions because we’ll definitely have the answers. See you there!
You’ve no doubt heard talk about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. You may even think it’s the same thing (it isn’t). But with Forbes equating blockchain to the foundation stone of a new industrial revolution, you can expect that this heavily encrypted system is shifting the way we do business on a global level. The cannabis industry with all of its unique challenges also stands to enjoy some unique solutions through adopting blockchain technology. We’ll be exploring all the benefits, but first let’s make sure we’re all on the same page on the differences between cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in relation to the cannabis industry.
While cryptocurrency and blockchain technology often work together in symbiosis, they are not the same thing. Cryptocurrency relies on blockchain to operate, but blockchain can exist independently of cryptocurrency. Since these terms are commonly referred to interchangeably, we’re going to take a look at cryptocurrency and the potential way it relates to the cannabis industry before returning to our primary focus: blockchain’s potential benefits for cannabis.
Cryptocurrency is a (typically) digital form of currency that’s validity and accountability is reinforced by a complex, encrypted system, making it virtually impossible to counterfeit… at least without leaving behind insurmountable proof of the crime. Bitcoin is the most well known of the myriad cryptocurrencies on the market and has been used by dispensaries and cannabusinesses for years as a way to circumvent a banking system that continues to deny them service based on the federal government’s continued resistance to legalization. Prior to the popularity of cryptocurrency, cannabis shops and dispensaries had to rely on a risky cash-only system, leading to loss of revenue through robberies, not to mention the need to hire armed security services with exorbitant rates.
Cryptocurrency picked up a bad reputation early on for its use in dark web transactions. The dark web, accessed through a torrent, allowed anonymous transactions, making it a beacon for the sale of anything from hard drugs to illegal firearms to things too obscene for this humble blog to mention. Purchasers still needed to know what they were doing to make a business transaction on the dark web with cryptocurrency and leave no trace of their identity, but the fact that it was even a possibility made it a point of scrutiny for law enforcement organizations. And while cryptocurrencies still carry that tarnished history, a more mainstream adoption of the digital currency has moved it a bit closer to its originally planned purposes. Some are even hypothesizing that the innovation of cryptocurrency will find it replacing the U.S. dollar within the next decade.
But as we said before, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are two separate concepts. Blockchain doesn’t carry the same dark, exploited history of cryptocurrency. You know that cryptocurrency relies on blockchain for authenticity, but what exactly is it? Blockchain is a complexly encrypted digital ledger that accounts for physical assets moving through a supply chain. Once data is entered into the blockchain, it becomes locked and secure, meaning it cannot be falsified or counterfeited.
Interaction with the blockchain is made through a “smart contract”; a set of coded instructions that define the nature of a transaction within the supply chain. A variety of necessary tasks can be tracked and recorded through the smart contract, including tracking, inputting time stamps and collecting signatures. Once entered, this information cannot be altered, reinforcing the authenticity of the transaction while completely cutting out any margin of human error. Using a cause-and-effect style system, the smart contract can be utilized for payment transactions as well. You can most likely already see how this would be highly beneficial to facing the unique challenges of the cannabis industry, but we’re going to break it down anyway.
For years, we’ve been told that the federal government is on the verge of legalizing cannabis. Despite the overwhelming will of the people, the U.S. government has been dragging its heels in the face of the inevitable. Yet the people have spoken, and the inertia of legalization is too much to resist. Everyday, we get closer and closer, but with the federal government doing everything they possibly can to slow the process, businesses are left to carry this immense industry with little to no support. The banks refuse to touch cannabis until it’s at least declassified from its absurd Schedule 1 classification. Meanwhile, legitimate cannabusinesses are forced to dodge shady cultivators that skirt regulations and distributors that can take their money and run with little consequence, if any.
One of the most important features that blockchain technology can offer the cannabis industry is trust. Authenticity and accountability is easily achieved through the system’s unwavering adherence to standard operating procedures, often shortened to SOPs. Multiple parties are responsible for verifying and inputting data into the blockchain, creating a record that cannot be altered or edited. The entire cultivation process is supervised, recorded and tracked through the blockchain with time-stamped accountability.
The data recorded into the blockchain can be used to support a business’s adherence to standards and regulations in the event of a lawsuit, adding another dimension of benefits to using blockchain technology. In an industry that gets no federal support, this kind of verifiable proof is crucial. Blockchain evidence is considered ironclad by the court system and offers the strongest legal protection a cannabis company can expect in the age before federal legalization.
Yet another impressive benefit of blockchain technology is its ability to accurately track shipment of physical goods through a GPS tracker. The GPS facilitates a seamless line of communication with the blockchain, updating it in real time and working with the technology’s cause-and-effect design.
VeChain is a blockchain platform showing particular promise for the cannabis industry. While it offers all of the benefits of blockchain technology, it places an emphasis on making global product distribution easier and more reliable. There’s no learning curve to surmount with VeChain since it takes a turnkey approach to blockchain systems, easily accessible through the VeChain Mobile Work App. This makes it an attractive access point for blockchain benefits for people who have little to no knowledge or experience of how blockchain technology works. VeChain works in conjunction with a system called ToolChain that allows users to manage their products and customer transactions from the point of manufacturing all the way to the sales point. ToolChain offers a variety of beneficial features for inventory verification and accountability including near-field communication (NFC) chips (ideal for digital labels), radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, and a quick response (QR) code printer. This allows the VeChain blockchain to cryptographically confirm a product’s location during the shipping process so that there’s never any question of the product’s whereabouts.
VeChain also has plenty of experience with perishable goods. The company’s blockchain system was adopted in 2018 by DNV GL, an internationally accredited registrar and product verification organization. VeChain’s system has since then been used to support the Customer Confidence Index (CCI) which handles sensitive, perishable goods.
Thanks to the scrutinizing data collection of VeChain’s system, a consumer can access a wide range of information about the product including its shipping history, production details, harvesting, freshness, lab testing results, and sourcing, not to mention more basic information like weight. A simple scan of the printed QR code can allow a customer in a shop or dispensary to get a verifiable reading on all of the product’s stats directly from VeChain’s blockchain.
So, what keeps a producer from simply submitting false information to the blockchain? Besides the fact that the blockchain preserves an unfalsifiable record with a digital fingerprint and the significant fines incurred when caught, DNV GL partakes in a stringent auditing program that puts them in direct communication with producers along every step of the process. Updating the VeChain Mobile Work App is simple and can be accomplished by uploading a variety of data including traditional written data or more state-of-the-art media including photo and video.
We’ve all had that moment when we order a product and are left with that feeling that we didn’t quite get what we paid for. Maybe it was a piece of clothing that we didn’t get to try on, maybe it was a videogame (*cough* Cyberpunk 2077 *cough*), maybe it was just a burger, but it’s an undeniably horrible feeling. In an industry like cannabis, that kind of reaction can range from disappointment at weak potency to a hospital visit. Think we’re exaggerating? In 2017, a cancer patient was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital where he later died. The cause of death? Allegedly, a rare fungal infection derived from moldy cannabis. This avoidable tragedy stems from the inconsistency that blockchain technology aims to eradicate. And in a legal climate in which the federal government still refuses to honor the legitimacy of the cannabis industry, it’s an inconsistency that is unaffordable.
Blockchain technology will give cannabis consumers added peace of mind by holding the industry to the agreed upon standards while also providing a magnified window into the product’s history, including cultivation, harvesting, processing and logistics. All of this information is supported by timestamps, signatures, and documentation so that the cannabis consumer no longer needs to purchase with blind faith.
Though blockchain technology providers like VeChain are offering a turnkey approach to adopting a potentially revolutionary system, it’s still a bit more complex than the cannabis industry as a whole flipping a switch. Businesses will have to decide the best route forward for their personal situations on a case-by-case basis. But with cryptocurrency ATMs already popping up in dispensaries, we’ve at least seen businesses indirectly embracing blockchain technology while other cannabusinesses are already adopting blockchain systems more directly. If it really is the fourth industrial revolution as Forbes has famously claimed, you can bet we’ll be seeing the rise more obviously and more rapidly in the coming months.
]]>It feels like ages since the last 420, but does last year’s even count? This year’s unofficial holiday has a more optimistic feeling, with vaccines being administered and what appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel of this global tragedy. How will these feelings feed into 420? Will we see a larger than usual 420 sale surge when compared to a typical mid-week 420? It’s hard to say, but if your shop isn’t planning some sort of sale or promotion, you’re sleeping on an opportunity. We’re assuming you have something in the works and today, we’re going to go over 4 factors that you need to be hitting to make sure your 420 event is a success. With strategic organization, adequate stock, creative promotion, and impeccable customer service, you could set yourself up for your most lucrative 420 so far.
The 420 rush can be chaotic but strategizing now can help you to stay cool in the face of puff-puff-pandemonium. Fortunately, most of us aren’t facing down the holiday rush alone. We’ve got our dedicated teams of employees that, when organized properly, can provide the reinforcement we need to meet record-breaking demand if necessary. Assume that there will be fires to put out, but that a little organization and pre-planning will help you to meet every challenge without breaking too much of a sweat.
You’ll need to schedule your employees according to your busiest times which means knowing their availability and whether they’re able to potentially work outside of their normal schedule. With 420 falling on a Tuesday this year and a global pandemic kneecapping most social events, it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge finding adequate staff for the big day, but this also depends on the size of your business… and the size of your staff. For some businesses, 420 rivals Black Friday, so it can pay to approach it with the same sense of respect. Make sure to have backup situations in place in case of unexpected absences. Chances are that you’ll need all the help you can get to weather the busiest points of the day.
Once you’ve scheduled out all of your employees for your big 420 sale, you’ll need to establish an organized system of breaks, including designated meal periods. This should be in line with your state’s laws and regulations. If you plan on offering extended work hours to your staff, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the overtime guidelines for your state as well. Plan that breaks may not run like clockwork; an employee helping a customer with numerous questions may not start their break right on the dot, so your break schedule should have a bit of breathing room.
Adequate communication between your staff is paramount in the weeks leading up to your 420 sale or event. This is a great opportunity to take a modern approach if you’re not doing so already. Apps like Slack or Skype are ideal for quick, efficient communication between staff and they’re easy to add onto your phone. Even if you’re just using text messages, you need to establish some form of reliable communication between your entire staff to send mass messages or update on last minute changes in procedure.
Do you know how much stock you need for the upcoming 420 rush? If this isn’t your first year in business, you might have a good idea of what kind of smoke shop wholesale order you need to put in to meet the demands of the holiday so unique to our industry. But, unlike 2019’s Saturday 420 (and should we even mention 2020?), this year’s festivities fall on a Tuesday. Will this mean significantly less traffic to your business or will cabin fever and the hope of the pandemic ending add to a surge? It’s hard to say for certain, but you don’t want to miss any opportunities by underestimating the potential traffic boost. Let’s look at some ways you can properly prepare your business for a nice 420 sale surge while avoiding the potential nightmare of greeting demanding customers with cleared out shelves.
Depending on your business, stocking up for the 420 rush means filling your shelves with smoke shop wholesale items like dab rigs, pipes and accessories. That’s common sense. Knowing how much you need can be a bit more of a guessing game, but you can be educated about it. This is easier if you have sales data from previous years’ 420 celebrations to help you gauge what you’ll need. However, it’s important to remember that “supplies” extend beyond saleable inventory. They also include receipt paper, shopping bags, and other items you need for your daily business operations. Running out of the necessities during a rush can be a nightmare, so make sure you err on the side of overstocking. If you don’t use it during 420, it will all still get used.
As we mentioned above, 420 is on a Tuesday this year, which probably means less of a rush than 2019’s 420 weekend. However, even non-weekend 420s can generate a lot of revenue. In 2019, with the 420 weekend looming, Zach Engel, manager of the multi-location Clinic in Colorado, told MJBiz Daily that, even on years when 420 falls on a weekday, his business enjoys “a 15% - 20% increase in sales” beginning approximately two weeks leading up to the big day. Therefore, stocking up on inventory isn’t a bad idea.
How do you ensure you have plenty of stock on business supplies as well as merchandise? You make sure to give yourself plenty of time to place your order. The modern conveniences of Amazon have made us much more expectant of instant gratification, but when you’re ordering smoke shop wholesale supplies, you can expect to wait 3 to 5 business days until you receive your order… and that’s if everything’s in stock and there are no special circumstances. When you start factoring in holidays, shipping delays are inevitable. Placing your orders well in advance of the 420 rush allows for peace of mind, letting you focus on more immediately important matters like scheduling staff, planning sales and promotions, and coordinating events. We recommend placing all your 420 orders by the last week of March and no later than the first week of April, especially if you’re ordering large quantities that require pallet breakdowns. That being said, Master-Minded has been known to accommodate massive 420 orders as late as the second week of April. If you’re in a crunch, talk to your sales rep to see what’s possible!
And if we lived in a reality where everything went according to plan, that would be all there is to it. Unfortunately, in the real world, sometimes, no matter your painstaking level of strategizing, a shipment gets delayed, wires get crossed, or you just forget about a certain item that you desperately need. In these situations, you might be able to get by with a little help from your friends… or, more likely, some trustworthy vendors. Building solid relationships with vendors is crucial in this industry but we can’t overstate the importance of the vendor being trustworthy, since you’ll need operations to run seamlessly. In a best-case scenario, your pre-planning runs like clockwork. But if it doesn’t, the right vendor can help you out, so it pays to keep some reliable businesses close.
Using the conveniences and wide reach of modern technology is vital to the success of your business, but it shouldn’t be the only way you’re getting your brand out there. Businesses love digital marketing. And why shouldn’t they? It works! That’s why we wrote a whole blog about digital marketing for 420 sales! But when it comes to your big 420 sale, you’re often going to be relying on local patrons to drive up your sales. For the locals, some old school methods work just as well, if not better, than digital marketing.
Your shop is the ultimate canvas for promotion. In this case, the people to whom you’re advertising already know you exist and are on the hook enough to actually be paying your store a visit. Want them to come back? Then make sure that, no matter where they look, they see that you’re having a huge 420 sale that they’ll kick themselves for missing. You can do this with chalkboards, flyers, cardboard cutouts, stickers… anything that gets the details easily into the eye of your browsing customers. But don’t just limit this to in-store advertising. Make sure the promo is practically spilling out onto the sidewalk by taking advantage of window space and a well-placed sign right outside of your front door. This is your space and you should be using it wisely.
Some of us are old enough to remember advertising in our local newspapers. Well, believe it or not, you can still do that! But is there a point? There was in 2015, according to a Nielsen Global Trust in Advertising survey of millennials that revealed they still view print sources as a viable marketing portal. You’ll want to really consider your audience here and choose a newspaper or local magazine that has at least a significant section focused on culture. A tasteful ad could do wonders as people picking up copies of these (often free) magazines read through them in search of things to do. Between state rules and regulations on advertising in this industry, not to mention the rules and restrictions of the publications themselves, you’ll find out rather quickly if print advertising is feasible for your 420 sale.
Sending text blasts veers into the digital realm, but since you can do it without the aid of the internet, we’re going to include it here. This works best if you’ve already put together a patient or customer list. You can use a text blast service or app, but you’ll need customers to willingly give you their phone numbers which can easily be obtained through a rewards program. Studies show that it’s better to reward repeat customers than first time customers, so a rewards program definitely deserves your consideration if you don’t already have one in place. But back to the point: if you have the ability to send a text blast, your 420 sale is an opportune time to use it and remind your customer base of the reasons they should consider your business the place to be on the big day.
You can set up a fire 420 event or an unbeatable 420 sale and still fail if your customer service isn’t top notch. Don’t think customer service is as important in today’s automated world? Think again. Just take a look at some of these customer retention stats:
Knowing these stats, do you think you can afford to lose a single customer? While your products, prices and policies are definitely factors on whether a potential customer becomes a regular, customer service is every bit as important. Let’s discuss how you can optimize your customer service team to make sure your 420 crowd sticks around long after the holiday’s over.
Our industry is a sensitive one and your customer service team will likely need to know state laws and regulations inside and out. From ancillary businesses to dispensaries, most shops within this industry find themselves inundated with questions ranging from state restrictions and law to recommended dosage and tolerance levels. Your customer service team should be confidently knowledgeable but also know which questions to answer and which to refer to an outside source. That old saying “knowledge is power” definitely applies when working with your customers. If they feel they can shop with confidence, they’re much more likely to return. This also extends to your special 420 deals. It’s amazing to think that you can still walk into a shop where the team isn’t all on the same page about the 420 sales. You don’t ever want your customer service team to be caught off guard, so make sure you’re fully communicating your deals to every member of the team with no detail left out.
Sometimes, you need to think outside the box to accommodate your customers… or at least think outside the hours of operation. With 420 falling on a Tuesday this year, you probably won’t need to extend your business hours, but it’s something you should consider if this is projected to be one of your busiest days of the year. This goes back to knowing your staff’s availability and finding out who might be willing to pick up some overtime if necessary. If you’re working with patients, you may even consider putting yourself on call for the holiday to best accommodate them. This can be an extreme measure and should consider the boundaries of your staff as much as it considers the convenience of your customers.
We’ve given you a lot of ideas to think over today, some of which could take your 420 sale to the next level. Play around with these concepts to see how they fit into the plan you’ve already put together. Chances are that finetuning your ideas with some of these concepts will give your 420 event a boost while allowing you to smoothly navigate the holiday surge!]]>Many novices to the Magical Butter Machine don’t realize that plant material needs to be decarbed prior to being added into the Magical Butter Machine. There are several ways you can go about decarbing your material, but one of the easiest solutions come from the manufacturers of the Magical Butter Machine in the form of their DecarBox™. Specially designed for efficient decarboxylation, the DecarBox™ presents a heat-resistant silicone shell that prevents the escape of precious plant compounds and phytonutrients often lost in other decarb endeavors. Forgetting to decarb your product can be a costly error, so no matter how you do it, make sure it’s getting done!
Easily the most popular tip (and one that the creators of the Magical Butter Machine themselves recommend) is making sure you add lecithin of some sort to your recipes, whether that be soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin or some other variety. Can you make your concoctions without lecithin? Sure, but you may experience everything from a weak result to a boiling over mess. So, what’s the actual benefit of lecithin? It’s an ingredient that lends to better bonding, often resulting in a product that boasts stronger potency. Many veterans of the Magical Butter Machine look back on their early days and admit that the decision to incorporate lecithin into their recipes was a game changer. Just make sure that you’re using powdered lecithin, because capsules (even the gelatin varieties) often include additives that can lead to unpredictable results.
How long should you run your extraction? The Magical Butter Machine offers some helpful suggestions with the built-in infusion times they offer. But did you know that most extraction occurs in the first 2 hours? You might marvel that the Magical Butter Machine can create such potent infused butter in just 2 hours, but those initial 2 hours are the most magical. There are definitely certain recipes where a longer infusion period is recommended but knowing that those first 2 hours are the most crucial can help you to plan accordingly.
Even if you follow all our tips, you’ll want to experiment. It’s half the fun of owning a Magical Butter Machine. But sometimes, our most ambitious ventures return less-than-stellar results. So, what do you do if you create a bad batch? Take heart; there are ways that you can salvage some product while learning from your mistakes. This method won’t work with every recipe, but you can try it with infused butter and similar products. Having learned from your mistakes, simply make a second, more potent batch to blend with the weaker results from your first batch. Your weaker results will piggyback on your stronger results so that nothing goes to waste.
Those of you used to working with plant material may be hesitant to pop your creations into a fridge or freezer and we don’t blame you. It’s hard to unsee them as icy graves for potency and flavor. But most of your recipes will do just fine within the preservative powers of a fridge or freezer. Infused butter, like regular butter, should be refrigerated. The most important precaution you’ll need to take is ensuring your product is kept in an airtight container. Beyond that, any potency lost to the cold should be negligible if you use your product within a reasonable time frame.
The Magical Butter Machine offers a lot of fun for the culinarily creative or can deliver simple, straightforward results if you’re not in the mood to experiment. But no matter your goal, the tips above will make sure you’re getting the most “magic” out of your Magical Butter Machine. Starting out your journey into home extraction with this knowledge will make sure that the surprises you run into stay pleasant ones!
]]>There are a variety of methods and techniques you can use to increase your reach through a social media partnership, but one of the easiest is to simply tag Master-Minded (on Instagram @masterminded_distribution) in any content that showcases products that you’ve received through Master-Minded’s distribution services. But how does that help you? Master-Minded’s content team will then repost your mention to their stories, getting the word out to our nearly 28K followers. It’s a small investment of your time that can have some major returns.
But wait, aren’t Master-Minded a wholesaler? If you’re running a B2C business, how does promotion from the Instagram of a B2B business help you? While we’d absolutely love to have our entire audience of 28K be comprised of businesses looking for wholesale services, Instagram audiences don’t really work out that way. A huge portion of our followers are simply retail customers who discovered us through our robust catalog of products. Since we’re a wholesale company that only sells to established businesses, we can’t really help them. They need to know about the shops and online stores where they can purchase these products as a retail customer. That’s where your content and your tag come in. When your business tags us, we’re notified that you want to share. And when we share, a whole new set of eyes sees who you are, where you are and what you’re selling.
Master-Minded gives you even more encouragement to tag your favorite distributor with our “Follow for 5%” incentive. Unfamiliar? If you’ve never tagged Master-Minded before, all you need to do is tag us in a post that displays a product you received from our distribution services and you’ll be eligible to receive 5% off select products in your next order. Once you’ve tagged us, simply let your Master-Minded sales representative know the next time you place an order. They’ll help you apply your onetime 5% discount!
While Master-Minded’s audience consists of both B2B and B2C followers, you can count on them having at least one thing in common: they’re interested in the products we’re distributing. When your tagged post is shared by Master-Minded, you’re benefitting from exposure to a cultivated, targeted market. Not only will the B2C portion of the nearly 28K audience be clued in to the availability of a product you carry, but your reputation will be reinforced by your association to one of the most trusted and reliable distribution companies in the industry.
Curious about partnering with Master-Minded but don’t know where to start? Talk to your dedicated Master-Minded sales rep and s/he will be happy to guide you in the right direction. A team approach improves your chances of cracking that Instagram algorithm while improving your reach. And if it’s your first time, you get that sweet 5% off bonus!
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A few long weeks ago, we published a blog highlighting the best ways to use digital advertising techniques to promote a 420 sale. 420 may be over, but we’re in an industry that never sleeps (and if you’re letting your business snooze through this opportunity, it may not have the chance to wake back up). You can use digital marketing strategies any time of the year. As we mentioned in that earlier blog post, email blasts and thoughtful original content can build your brand and sales simultaneously. But these are simply tools to help you achieve your profits. You still need the right product and the right promotion.
Before launching your big promotion, you need to get into the psychology of the quarantined consumer. Take these small businesses who saw an uptick in business since the quarantine. We have psychics, local farmers, and manufacturers and dealers of home gym equipment all seeing increased demand in their products as a direct result of the quarantine. But sometimes the link between your product and your potential customers’ needs isn’t so obvious. In these situations, your digital marketing skills must help you illuminate them. It’s your job to not only figure out why consumers need your product but why they need it now, today, during this quarantine. Digital marketing simply helps you deliver that message.
So how can you reconfigure your product or business model to fit the needs of a quarantined consumer? If your business is considered essential, your first step would be to make sure your staff is trained in proper social distancing etiquette and then open your business to the public for limited hours. Some businesses are more comfortable with seeing customers on a pre-scheduled appointment basis. Many customers are more willing to shop for a product if curbside service is an option. If you can’t configure your business to meet those needs, you should at least allow your customers the option to pre-order what they need and simply pick the order up. Then, of course, there’s always the option to offer delivery services to your customers.
In most cases, your competition will be offering similar services. Many stores and shops had delivery options prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and several others adopted curbside service and pickup orders immediately after the first quarantine orders were issued. So, what can your business offer that either your competitors won’t, can’t, or simply haven’t considered? One potential solution is to think to the future, offering your customers the option of purchasing gift cards. Gift cards make convenient gifts in a time of social distancing and quarantine since they can be easily mailed and used at a later date when matters are less restricted. If you want to add a bit of extra spice to incentivize gift card sales, you can sell them at a discount so they’re more of an investment in your business. For example, a $50 gift card could actually be good for $60 worth of merchandise. People love a great deal and the quarantine hasn’t changed that. Speaking of incentives, how about setting up your own branded rewards program? If you don’t already have something similar in place, a rewards program can be the perfect way to promote brand loyalty in times of quarantine.
That Forbes article we linked earlier also shows that Instagram influencers are enjoying a boost from our unique situation. This is because many people are desperately seeking connection and community any way they can find it. Use this opportunity to personalize your business with a more robust social media campaign. These posts shouldn’t be “business as usual” but instead give us a glimpse at the humanity behind the scenes of your business. People want to identify with one another in times of confusion and you can provide that connection through posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and more while reassuring your customers that the world is still spinning around, and business is still moving forward. This is also the perfect opportunity to build your YouTube channel with updates that showcase your product as well as your innovation. Your channel can provide an educative outlet that fosters a bond between you and your consumers at a time when they may feel the need for guidance and assurance. Video offers the perfect medium for leadership in a socially distanced society.
The outside world is definitely a factor in how our businesses fare, but it’s not the definitive verdict. You are still in control of your business’s fate, so challenging times like this should actually be seen as opportunities for greatness. Some businesses won’t cross the finish line. Others will see their best financial growth ever. Your quick thinking, adaptability and resourcefulness are key in earning a place among the latter. This isn’t the first challenge your business has faced. It’s up to you whether it will be the last.
]]>How often do you post to your social media accounts? It may seem like there’s no science to how you use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and everything in between. However, analysts have looked into it and, though they don’t always agree, it’s still easy to find hard data that supports the best days and times to post to your social media accounts. If only it were so simple. While this is a great generalization and can point you to a good place to start, you should be considering your specific audience and when they’d most likely be checking into their accounts. Not to mention the fact that COVID-19 has stranded a lot more people at home in states of quarantine so these stats are likely no longer accurate. If you haven’t already developed your own schedule for posting to social media, we recommend testing different days and times and figuring out for yourself when your customers are most prone to engagement. You may even want to purchase ads on social media to get the word out about your big sale or event, though this can require a bit of finesse in this industry. Regardless of your scenario, if you’re not using social media to get the word out about your event, you’re blowing a major opportunity.
Does your shop have a dedicated blog? It absolutely should! Not only that but you should be updating it no less than 2 times a week with keyword-rich original content. It’s SEO 101 and your 420 business thrives off of it just as much as businesses in any other industry. We can’t stress the importance of original content enough. This shouldn’t be something that you just copy from another source… Google algorithms are wise to that. Take the time to draft genuine original blog posts that keep the flavor of your brand while hyping your upcoming event and sale or simply use it to provide a hot tip that you feel would benefit your customers. You want your 420 blog to be must-read material that reinforces your knowledge and authority and, therefore, trustworthiness as a business.
A well-written email blast can give you a nice sales spike for the 420 holiday (or really any day). An enticing subject line is key and there are plenty of blogs devoted to how to craft an irresistible email subject. Your email blasts should be short and catchy but give plenty of details about your 420 sale or event. Visuals within the email can really help it pop too so you may want to work with a graphic designer if you don’t quite trust your own skills. Of course, all of this is assuming you have a decent email list already collected. If you haven’t built an email list of customer emails, there are plenty of blogs devoted to showing you where to start.
If you want to put some serious money into advertising your 420 event online, you could always purchase ad space on major industry sites like Leafly, High Times or Weedmaps. This can run up a pretty serious tab, so don’t expect to go into this method with a modest investment; nor should you expect a guaranteed return. Digital advertising is a risk that can pay off big or find you face down in the mud, so if you’re planning to go this route, make sure you’re providing a fire ad that has your sincere belief behind it. It should be unique, radiate the essence of your brand and give the hottest details about your 420 promotion.
Since digital marketing doesn’t necessarily require any fees or software purchases, nothing should be holding you back from taking any or all of these vital steps toward promoting your 420 sale. While these techniques can definitely give you a nice surge for the 420 holiday, you should be practicing SEO and other forms of digital marketing on an ongoing basis… especially with so much business being driven online while the country is in quarantine. The benefits still translate to brand awareness and sales. Best of all, you can do this kind of marketing from your quarantine spot as long as you have a solid internet connection. It doesn’t get more convenient than that!
]]>Even if you’re a Tetris legend, there’s no strategizing around a case that’s too small for your gear. T Case may not be the only portable storage solution that comes in a variety of sizes, but they’re one of very few that we’ve seen offering a case of such quality with the thickness of the 9” T Case Plus. Initially, this may not seem that mind blowing, but when you’re trying to find a way to safely transport a heady glass rig, that extra width makes all the difference.
Variety allows a customer to find a little bit of him/herself in a product. It’s a way to broadcast a facet of our personalities without words. This is yet another way that the T Case trounces the competition, offering a full spectrum of color options whereas most competitors, Pelican included, only offer a few muted colors. That can be fine for the office, but when you’re transporting your favorite heady glass rig, you might want something a bit more vibrant. Beyond the plethora of colors offered by the T Case line, you’ll even find eye-opening glow-in-the-dark cases for a truly psychedelic experience.
With the T Case, glass pipes and piggy banks alike remain unbroken. It’s easy to love the affordability of the T Case. Despite its virtually indestructible quality and comfortable design, the T Case is significantly more affordable than competitors such as Pelican. Even if your shop marks down the suggested Pelican MSRP significantly, the T Case will still likely be the more cost-effective option. It’s the rare customer that’s not looking for a deal, so the T Case is a superior choice for shops trying to offer the best deals on portable storage options.
You can guess how we like to use our T Cases, but these durable valises go so much further than simply transporting pipes and rigs. Here are just a few of the myriad ways we’ve heard of people using their T Cases:
If you’re putting any kind of cash into a glass collection, a T Case is crucial. Obviously, the T Case protects a lot more than heady glass rigs, but we’re still impressed with how well the thicker T Case Plus insulates precious, one-of-a-kind intricate pieces from abuse. Each of your customers has their own unique story with their own demands. The T Case satisfies so many specific scenarios that it serves as a thrifty catch all for a myriad of requirements. No matter whether they’re looking for the ultimate safeguard for their one-of-a-kind heady wax rig or need a foam protected toolbox that doubles as a portable drone case, the T Case remains the answer to an army of questions.
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