Stok'd Cannabis
Welcome to IRCC's Retailer Spotlight, where we shine a light on the incredible independent cannabis retailers shaping the industry. 🌿✨ Each week, we celebrate the passion, dedication, and unique stories behind our valued partners. These retailers not only provide exceptional customer experiences but also contribute to the growth and innovation of the cannabis community. 💚
This week, we’re thrilled to feature Lisa from Stok’d in Scarborough and Niagara Falls, ON 🙌
🌿 What inspired you to open a cannabis retail store?
I was incredibly fortunate in 2019 to win the Retail License Lottery in 2019 that started me on this journey in cannabis. At the time amidst all the mayhem, we decided to partner with a brand from Vancouver, with the ultimate goal of doing our own thing when the deal closed - and that's what we did. We spent that first year learning all we could about the business, the plant, the industry, and started Stok'd in April 2020 when we sold that first store. One of the many things we learned was that some people were intimidated to go into a weed store - didn't know what to expect, what to ask, etc. We took that and based Stok'd on the concept of being a warm, inviting and non-intimidating environment. Friendly! 😊 And to us, that meant a Canadiana-themed store reminiscent of sitting around the campfire with friends. Stok'd implies 'stoking the fire,' but we also think it's just a cool name! 🔥
💼 How does being an independent cannabis retailer shape your approach to business compared to corporate chains?
Making our own decisions about who we choose to do business with is so empowering. 🙌 And those decisions aren't just based on the plant we want to consume, but the people we want to work with. We're lucky to have a lot of choice of product at the OCS, so if an LP proves to have leaders that don't fit my values or the values of the Stok'd team, we don't have to sell their product. And of course, if an LP has product we don't want to consume, we don't have to sell it to our customers. Conversely, we get to support businesses we love - whether that love is for their product or their people! 💚 We're all trying to make a go of it, so if I meet a leader trying to get into the market with a new product, I'm gonna give it a shot in our stores. And as relationships build, we'll continue to support businesses and people we love. That's my kind of good business. 🤝
🏕 Can you describe your store’s vibe or atmosphere?
Stok'd has a chill vibe - as chill as sitting around the campfire with friends. 🔥 We're friendly, inviting, and familiar. With a canoe hanging on the ceiling, lots of natural wood, and graphics representative of 80s camping (I watched Meatballs a few times to get in the zone 🎥), we're a pretty cool store to hang out in. Our Niagara Falls store is a pretty big space, so we've got a firepit in the store with Muskoka chairs around it, where customers can roll up after their purchase. I still love walking into each of our stores, and customers tell me they love it too. 😊
🤝 How has being a member of the IRCC helped add value to your business?
The IRCC has provided us the means to run promos in-store without having to meet and plan directly with an LP. We can make decisions on the fly by looking at the list and quickly figuring out margin flexibility. We also consider funds through this program to offset costs related to our delivery business. 🚚 It's allowed us to do things quickly and given us the cushion we need to venture into new territories!
⚠️ What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an independent cannabis retailer in your province?
Right now, my focus is on unlicensed, illegal stores that are popping up everywhere, with little to no consequence. ❌ There are a number of illegal stores in Scarborough, and I'm incensed that we have so many rules to follow, yet the authorities can't figure out how to deal with illegal stores. They're illegal. Figure it out. 😤
🏆 Who is your favorite IRCC member benefit partner?
The partnership with Breadstack! 🍞 We're on the platform, and it's helped boost our online sales significantly. Independents who may not have the budget to have in-house web design teams can really benefit from the SEO capabilities that Breadstack brings to the table. 🚀
🔥 What brands in the market currently excite you and why?
There are a lot of brands I'm loving these days. Carmel has always been a fave, from the first Animal Face joint I smoked. 🦁 Lite Label is one I recommend to friends considering getting back into cannabis after a long hiatus but are worried about getting messed up. PINNRZ Purple has been a staple for me too. 💜
🎯 What is the most rewarding aspect of running an independent cannabis retail store?
Seeing your team and customers happy. That's the goal. 😊
🧠 How do you stay informed and ahead in this rapidly evolving industry?
In the early days, I learned a lot on Twitter, but these days it's the Stok'd team that keeps me updated. 📲
🚀 How do you envision your store and the independent cannabis retail landscape evolving over the next five years?
We have plans to expand and have some ideas in the works. I expect we'll see large chains buy up some smaller independents, but I also envision smaller indies merging together - wouldn't that be interesting to see! 🤯
🌲 If your store had a signature product or strain, what would it be and why?
Considering our brand and our camping vibe - anything from Muskoka Grown! 🍁🔥
Website: stokd.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imstokd/