Saturday March 31, 2018
Updated on 8/2/2021

As you may know, the cannabis industry sees a fair amount of fluctuation in regard to consumer trends. Early on, consumers were drawn to dispensaries and sought to find the best shop in town for their marijuana needs. While many cannabis enthusiasts still have a go-to dispensary, nowadays they tend to gravitate towards places that carry their favorite brands or products.
But why is this shift occurring? There are several explanations and factors contributing to this trend and we’re here to help you understand, plan and execute the best strategy for customer retention and acquisition. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Why Cannabis Brands are Driving Sales
As stated above, consumers are favoring brands more than ever these days. By choosing a favorite brand rather than a dispensary, a consumer can know exactly what they are getting from a product instead of trying the products cycled in and out by the dispensary. That is why it’s becoming increasingly important for dispensaries to consistently carry quality brands their consumers will respond positively to.
When a consumer is looking for a specific brand and product, they have the option to check out other dispensaries carrying that product as well. This allows for a more wholesome shopping experience from a consumer standpoint, as they are able to visit different shops, learn about new places and products and, of course, pick-up the brands and products they are familiar with. From a business standpoint, this can be a bit unnerving.
To draw in new patrons and keep customers returning, dispensaries are stocking their shelves with popular brands that consumers are buzzing about.
To all the dispensary owners and managers out there, if you’re wondering how brand favoritism affects your dispensary, consider the wide world of concentrates and edibles. While there are some companies running seed-to-sale operations, most of the popular brands at the moment are generally independent from a dispensary. Because of this, it is important for dispensaries to carry the top brands consumers are looking for.
How to Capitalize on Brand Favoritism at Your Dispensary
So, you’ve stocked your dispensary with top brands and products. Now you may be wondering how to draw-in and increase consumer appeal? Two words: online menus.
Consumers who are drawn to specific brands and products will typically only visit dispensaries that carry their favorite brands, making it extremely important for a dispensary to have an up-to-date online menu.
By displaying the products your dispensary offers online in the form of a real-time menu, consumers can browse and explore everything your store has to offer from the comfort of their own home. Not only do real-time menus allow for a more streamlined experience for consumers, they also enable brand aficionados to find the products they’re looking for, compare them with other dispensaries and, ultimately, make an educated purchase.
How to Stand Out with POS Integration and Real-Time Menus
Wondering how you can make the most of your online menu presence? The first step is teaming up with a reputable CRM platform or POS provider. The next step is integrating the inventory and POS data with companies who can connect you to the consumer, like PotGuide.
At PotGuide, we want to make sure uploading and maintaining your online menu is a breeze, which is why we have integrated with industry-leading POS and CRM providers to offer seamless integration from your inventory to PotGuide real-time menus.
Key Takeaways
When a consumer can count on a dispensary to provide real-time menu information, they are able to scout the brands and products they prefer. Not only does this allow the consumer to compare prices, products and dispensaries but also saves time on both ends. The end result? An easier, more enjoyable experience for the consumer and bigger profits for the dispensary.
What we’re trying to get at here is that menus are big-time money makers for dispensaries. And if the current trend keeps up, dispensaries who don’t adopt real-time menus into their business strategy are going to struggle.
Instead of falling victim to the ever-changing cannabis market, do yourself a favor and get ahead of the game by stocking popular brands and integrating your menu on PotGuide!
Have questions about integrating with PotGuide? Reach out to info@potguide.com for more info!