You might be wondering - how the heck do I "brand" my business, when I don't even know what  "branding" is.
Well, let's work backwards....
    Who do you want to be?
    How do you demonstrate who you are to your customers?
    How are you going to communicate who you are? 

OK, just roll with me here... Branding is more about a long-term ever-evolving "brand strategy".
A great logo is essential, but "branding" is action.

To brand, is to make a mark. Branding is active. Thus, the act of branding requires deliberate action. You control how the public perceives you. How you look, act, feel and deliver contributes to the act of branding your company.

So, the big question is... What do you stand for and what is your mission?
And, what is your strategy for building your brand?

Your brand is the mark you make in peoples minds.
If you aren't memorable, your brand is not effective.

According to Entreprenuer.com, once you've defined your brand - here's how to get the word out.
    Get a Great Logo
    Write down your brand messaging
    Integrate your brand
    Create a "voice" for your company that reflects your brand
    Develop a tagline
    Design templates and brand standards for marketing materials
    Be true to your brand
    Be consistent

For more info on branding check out Entrepreneur.com 
I would highly recommend working with a pro to help you through this process, as it's a bit like therapy.
It helps to have an objective and highly skilled professional to guide you through the journey of self discovery of your future persona.

Hope this helps.

As a dispensary owner you have a lot to think about...permits, legal, security, employees, growing great bud and often times the customer becomes an after-thought. "If we build it - they will come" generally works, at least for a while.
When people leave your store - what do they tell their friends? What kind of impression have you left?
Why will they be back? In the long run, how is the customer experience contributing to your brand?

SInce we're talking about YOUR BRAND, have you ever wondered if your name reflects your space?  And does your space reflect your name? And more importantly, what's memorable about the experience for your customer?

For more information about the "Customer Experience" contact Pot Shop Designs - or check out this article about Hunting for the Perfect Experience -  Dick’s Sporting Goods creates an outdoorsman’s paradise for its new Field & Stream concept

A pot-treprenuers journey is not an easy one. You may be a maverick, but you need to be able to follow rules. It's a risky business, but isn't that what entrepreneurship is all about? Great tips for #marijuana start-ups from Entrepreneur Magazine.
more here

What's the difference between a household brand and just another product?  Strategy. You may not have a gazillion dollar advertising budget... But for just a moment, pretend that you do. As the pot industry grows, you want to stand above the crowd. How would you invest your resources to support your brand?

Marijuana is not exempt from sound branding strategy. In fact, it is more important to be impeccable with your brand than in most other product segments, as this renegade industry becomes more mainstream, each individual store or product will reflect on the overall "marijuana" brand.
Industry leaders stress caution when positioning your dispensary, product or service.

For a more in-depth read check out FastCoDesign article.

6 Branding Lessons from the Pioneers of Weed Design Four experts in cannabis culture explain how to brand a high-demand, once-illegal product.

Have you ever looked at your #potshop from your customers point of view?  How do they experience your brand?
And more importantly, aside from your stellar strains or the best pricing in town - what really keeps your customers coming back?

Have you ever wondered what people say about your shop when they leave, or what they say to their friends about the experience... or if they even bother mentioning you?

How does your space feel to your customers? How is the lighting? Does it create both a mood as well as highlight your product in the best possible light? Are the corners of your store dark and dank...or does it feel like an operating room? Think about your favorite restaurant, bar or retail shop, what is it about the atmosphere that keeps you coming back? Have you achieved a similar response to your space? Does your artwork and merchandising engage and entertain the customer. Are you able to easily upsell accessories. Is the flow of your store functional not only for business operations, but also for your customers to easily browse products and feel comfortable?

How would you like customers to describe your store? Food for thought... Can they even remember the name of your store or do they simply know it's on the corner of such and such.

As #DenverDispensaries are ready to rebrand from medical to recreational, does the face of your business need to change to attract both target markets? Do you cater to college kids or baby boomers? The demographics of these target markets are very different, are you successfully attracting all of them?  The consumer has many choices, how they "feel" in your space matters.

Interior Designers help you to effortlessly pull together the elements to make a store special, giving it a cohesive look and feel. To make sure that colors, textures and furnishings are balanced and in scale. Their job is to make the process easy and fun for you, to ensure that the final result will be worth the investment. Many a DIYer has wasted a ton of money, only to achieve mediocre results. Designers have resources and ideas that you don't have the time to track down or even care to think about.

As the #CannabisIndustry grows and struggles to maintain a professional front, it is our responsibility, to the industry to show our operations as serious businesses that will be around for the long-term. Think of an Interior Designer as an investment in the concept before the investment in the build-out. In the long run, this will save you time and money and help you avoid costly mistakes. Wise entrepreneurs look to the professionals for the skills they lack. Chances are, you are more interested in running your budding business than searching for the perfect shape, size and color of ______ for your space. Interior design is all about the details. It takes time and patience... It's a process and most business owners don't have the interest or experience to attend to these details effectively.

The good news is that you don't have to let your business suffer as a result of your lack of time and patience.  Luckily there are design geeks out there obsessed with creating amazing transformations and cultivating loyal customers for the long-term.

For help with your #Dispensary interior design and branding, consider a professional who is passionate about their craft.
Click here for more Pot Shop Designs

Of all of the challenges in opening a dispensary, finding the right space and location are among the biggest hurdles.
As we break new ground in the legalization of marijuana, landlords and agents are skeptical to lease to grow operations. Here are a few tips compiled by #mmj businessdaily to help you find the right space to set up shop.

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/guest-column-how-to-break-through-real-estate-roadblocks-in-the-cannabis-industry/

Ask any marijuana dispensary owner if it's easy money and you will find that the investment of time, money and energy is significant. In the wild wild west, where the rules seem to change weekly, the pot-reprenuer has more to worry about than tending to their buds. For more insight check out INC MAGAZINE'S article How to Open a Medical Marijuana Dipsensary.


http://www.inc.com/guides/201105/how-to-open-a-medical-marijuana-dispensary.html

Spring is in the air and the natives are restless. Out of state visitors are everywhere. Lots of music and events to be had. We hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!