How To Host Dispensary Events People Will Talk About And Remember
Hosting a cannabis-friendly event at your dispensary is a great way to market your business. Dispensary events are becoming increasingly popular and serve as a convenient way to get people visiting and talking about your business.
Unfortunately, hosting an event at a dispensary is also complicated. After all, there are all kinds of laws regulating how and where people can consume cannabis, and dispensaries need to make sure they follow these laws to a tee.
So, to help you out, we’ve put together this list of simple tips on how to host a dispensary event that will resonate with your guests.
1. Know The Law
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Sorry to be a party pooper, but this is absolutely crucial. Don’t start planning an event at your dispensary unless you know all the ins and outs of the law.
Even the most liberal states still have strict rules regulating how and where cannabis can be consumed. And, given that cannabis still remains a federally illegal substance, you really don’t want to attract any unnecessary attention to yourself by accidentally breaking your local state laws on cannabis consumption.
If you’re thinking about hosting a dispensary event, make sure to run over all the laws that apply to the sale and consumption of cannabis as part of your event planning. Make sure to understand your obligations as a business but also the responsibility of the customers attending your event, and deny entry to customers who aren’t abiding by the rules.
2. Make Sure There’s Music
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There are a few things that go great with cannabis, and music is one of them. Hence, if you want to make sure your dispensary event is a hit, start by making sure there’ll be solid tunes on the day.
We highly recommend reaching out to local artists for your event. Not only is hiring a local DJ or band much more affordable than booking an international act, but you’ll also be doing your part to support the local music scene in your area, which is a huge plus.
There’s a lot that goes into booking a musician/artist, so make sure to organize this well in advance. Also, be sure to consider the kind of music you want playing at your event and try to anticipate how your guests will respond to a certain artist or style of music.
3. Provide Food
Free use image by Craig Stanfill. License here.
Great food, just like great music, goes hand in hand with cannabis. Hence, if you haven’t done so already, make sure to offer some delicious food and drink when hosting dispensary events.
Remember that, as a dispensary, you likely won’t be legally able to handle food. Hence, it's a good idea to hire some kind of professional catering company to take care of all the hospitality while you focus on running your event.
Pro tip: If possible, consider offering a variety of food options to cater to the different tastes of your customers. Also, never underestimate the power of offering fresh, healthy options instead of regular fast food.
4. Provide Entertainment
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Every event needs some kind of entertainment. Now, the type of entertainment you provide can vary and really depends on the kind of event you plan to host.
Inviting cannabis influencers or speakers is a great way to draw attention to dispensary events. Youtube and Instagram are loaded with all kinds of influencers who review cannabis products and paraphernalia and have attracted large, loyal followings. The team at CustomGrow420 or StrainCentral, for example, have strong followings on social media and getting them to appear at your event might help attract more people.
Or you could always invite a Snoop Dogg to your next event like Jardin Cannabis Dispensary did recently (just sayin’).
5. Offer Great Deals Or Merchandise
Free use image from Cannabis Reports (Flickr). License here.
One final, sure-fire way to host a successful dispensary events is to offer great deals on your products.
There are a number of ways to do this. Obviously, offering storewide discounts on flowers, concentrates, and edibles is a great way to go. But try to think outside the box a little.
One idea we’re very fond of at greenRush is offering free merchandise. Things like branded sunglasses, lanyards, wristbands, stickers, t-shirts, etc, all make for great giveaway ideas.
What we like about this idea is that it not only encourages sales but also gives you the unique chance to brand your customers. It’ll also help nurture your brand loyalty, which can really pay off big in the long run.
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