So excited about the flurry of calls that Pot Shop Designs has been getting from Denver dispensaries owners who are expanding their medical marijuana shops to include recreational sales. Several Seattle based dispensaries are also realizing the importance of interior design, pre-construction planning and the need for a solid branding strategy.  I was delighted to hear that one client wanted to create a "memorable experience" for his clients and be the Go-To Pot Shop in the market place.  That's what I'm talking about!
BRING IT ON!

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

If you haven't already checked out the NYTimes 6-part series on the legalization of #Marijuana, we highly recommend it.  Very insightful on all levels. I was especially interested in part 6 on Regulation. By looking back at how the alcohol industry evolved after prohibition, it gives lawmakers and citizens an opportunity to analyze the future of marijuana laws.
"Lawmakers should not repeat the mistakes they made on alcohol in recent years, taxing it too lightly and allowing the industry to become highly concentrated. (Just two companies control about 75 percent of the American beer market today.)" read more
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/opinion/high-time-rules-for-the-marijuana-market.html?op-nav

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.

What would you like your local pot shop to look and feel like? We'd love to hear your ideas.
Here's some thought starters...

What amenities are important to you?
Couches, private rooms, pipes & accessories, art, clothing & toys. Do you want to browse & shop - or order & bolt?

Do you want it to feel like a cafe, a theme park, a liquor store or a backstage green room?

How would you like the "product" displayed?

What impressed you the most about the best dispensary you've been to?

Add your comments below. Thanks for your input. Check back to see what we create.

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

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/if-i-did-it-over-again-lessons-learned-from-cos-recreational-frontrunners/

Forward thinking pays when designing your dispensary business. Entrepreneurs share their wisdom on opening your pot shop. Partnering, planning, construction and interior design take time. Here are a few valuable tips from the seasoned pros.
Courtesy of mmjbusinessdaily.com