Streamlining Dispensary Operations for Success

By Wally Wong, Meadow

In 2014, Meadow began building software tools after we discovered that California dispensaries lacked technical and operational infrastructure designed specifically for this highly regulated industry. 

For the last six years, we’ve been deeply involved with growth of the California cannabis industry both as a technology team and as policy advocates. We’re committed to using our platform, our voice, and our community to host events to support nonprofits and social equity operators with the goal of creating a more collaborative, equitable and compassionate cannabis community. A big part of our core mission at Meadow is to do all that we can to ensure that the legal cannabis industry is as equitable as possible for all involved but most importantly for the Black and Brown communities who were destroyed by decades-long war on drugs.

The California cannabis industry as a whole has an opportunity to create robust social equity programs that not only reward licenses but also build social equity worker programs to create gainful employment and living wages, and reinvest tax dollars in communities most affected by racist incarceration practices. 

Streamlining Operations for Success

As you enter the cannabis industry, either as a licensee or seeking a new career, you’re going to inevitably come across the real-world challenges of cannabis compliance, challenging tax reporting, and the importance of efficient inventory management. Taxes, regulatory costs, and other hurdles inherent to cannabis retail can make margins thin. Where you really stretch margins and make concrete gains is with operational efficiencies and smart, compliant workflows.

Meadow’s software solves all those challenges, and we know for a fact — because we see the operations data of those 150+ retailers across the state.

Teams and owners who have that most efficient inventory and compliance workflows make the most money.

In cannabis — more so than any other industry — knowledge is profit and compliance knowledge will keep your license safe.

We’ve built all of the tools you need to run efficient dispensary and delivery operations. We help you move faster. Our tools will save you money. 

We estimate that dispensaries who run Meadow save 20% a year in labor costs by simplifying workflows that used to require tedious data entry for both the sales floor and inventory management. With each transaction, Meadow flawlessly tracks every gram and every cent compliantly.

Design Your Sales Experience

Let’s start with the fun stuff: with Meadow, we help you design your operations with whatever combination of sales experiences you want to meet the needs of your customers:

• “Apple Store Model” – Floating sales staff roaming store, holding iPads.
• Budtender Experience – Fixed POS station at a cash register.
• Contactless Delivery – Since the COVID pandemic began, this has been an important way to continue making sales.
• Menu on Your Website – Meadow’s menu can be added to your website so customers can order online directly from you.
• Leafly & Weedmaps – We have free integrations with these two sites which means your inventory data is always accurate, everywhere your customers are shopping.
• Express Pick-up – This means you have a designated window just for online and phone orders.
• In-Store Pickup – Lots of retailers are now doing “curbside pickup” which is something that you must write to the Bureau of Cannabis Control to request, but helps keep people safe by reducing the number of people entering into your store.

That’s your homework: Envision your dream dispensary experience–how do you want customers to interact with your staff? What kind of shopping experience will you create? And in the next post, we’ll show you why efficient compliant inventory management can help [or hinder] your dream customer experience.

A (pre-COVID) express pick-up window at The Higher Path in Sherman Oaks makes it easy for customers to order their products online ahead of time and pick up their order when it’s packed and ready to go. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, curbside pick-up at The Higher Path in Sherman Oaks makes it easy for customers to order their products online ahead of time and safely pick up their order when it’s packed and ready to go. Licensed retailers can request that the BCC allow temporary curbside pick-up at their retail location. This means employees are allowed to deliver products to customers on the sidewalk or the curb. If your community would benefit from curbside pick-up, you can write to the BCC with your license number to request temporary relief from the requirements of section 5025, subsections(c)(2)-(3) to offer curbside pickup. Request relief from these specific licensing requirements for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic under Disaster Relief, Section 5038. To learn more about how to safely operate a dispensary during the COVID pandemic, download this California Cannabis Safety & Sanitation Protocols guidebook.

Title Photo Credit: Photographer – Maxine Tamoto  @MmaxineLucille