The phrase “seed-to-sale” is tossed around in the cannabis industry, but what does it mean? The seed-to-sale cycle encompasses the entire lifecycle of a product.
The process involves overseeing all cultivation, processing, packaging, distribution, and retail sales phases. This level of traceability ensures regulatory compliance and total supply chain transparency.
Cultivation
Exeter dispensary is a facility where patients can obtain medications prescribed by a doctor. They are typically found in hospitals, clinics, or standalone buildings.
To produce a cannabis product, the plant must go through several stages of cultivation and processing. It includes planting, growing, trimming, and harvesting the plant. It also includes curing, drying, and extracting the plant for the final products.
The resulting products can be consumed in various forms to achieve the desired experience and effect. Generally, these products contain high levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), which are therapeutic in reducing the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions.
To ensure quality, all steps in the process must be done clean and sanitary. It requires the use of sanitizers, cleaning products, and disinfectants, all of which are approved by Health. Ingredients that have allergens must be stored separately from those without. Positive air pressure directs airflow away from sensitive areas towards the non-sensitive areas to prevent contamination. All storage and handling areas are equipped with temperature and humidity controls to maintain the appropriate environment for the product. All manual inventory adjustments, wastes, and disposal events are recorded in the Seed-to-Sale software system with a detailed notes section explaining the reason for the adjustment or disposal event.
Processing
Cannabis processing is a critical stage in turning raw plant material into a variety of cannabis-related products, such as concentrates and edibles. It involves removing cannabinoid and terpene compounds from the raw cannabis using extraction techniques that adhere to strict safety guidelines.
It can include separating the cannabis from the rest of the plant using a chemical solvent, such as butane or CO2, to separate the desired compound from the raw material and produce a product like extract or oils. The resulting product can then be combined with other raw materials, such as gummies or chocolate, to produce a finished cannabis-infused product like edibles or vape cartridges.
Creating cannabis products requires a lot of work, and it’s important to package them in packaging that makes your brand stand out on the retail shelf. Consumers look for memorable, high-quality packaging that tells a story and communicates trust in your product. It’s also critical to use a POS system that optimizes inventory management and provides a clear view of business results in real-time.
Packaging
For cannabis consumers, there is no shortage of new ways to enjoy their favorite herb. From infused foods to edibles and vape pens, the cannabis industry is experiencing a boom in innovation that can be daunting for novice users.
As cannabis products grow in popularity, many retailers are adjusting their business models to accommodate the shift. For example, some dispensaries are investing in sales floor displays that allow customers to safely sample products by tethering pods or a single flower and letting them smell terpene aromas. At the same time, they inspect the plant under a magnifying lens. Others are adding budtenders to help with in-store product education and incorporating tablet-based point-of-sale (POS) systems to manage ongoing customer orders.
Other retailers are testing out different pricing strategies. A study suggests starting with the cost approach to pricing, which tallies up all non-fixed costs associated with obtaining and selling a product, including wholesale prices and transportation costs, and then moving on to a market approach to see how much consumers are willing to pay for a particular item.
Distribution
The journey of cannabis products to consumers begins long before it reaches the shelf and menu of dispensaries. Cultivators use seed genetics to produce plants that will ultimately transform into the gummies and vape cartridges you can buy in your local pot shop. Breeders stabilize these plant genetics to create strains with consistent and desirable traits. This process requires thorough planning and attention to detail.
After a successful harvest, the seeds are shipped to processors that convert them into different cannabis products for sale to consumers. Ensuring consumer safety requires precision and expertise to avoid mistakes.
During this stage, businesses must carefully document the weights of each harvested plant and product and provide all the necessary documentation to state regulators. They also need to ensure that every gram of flower, ounce of pre-roll, or kilogram of edible belongs to a specific batch and is labeled with a unique tag or QR code as it moves through the production and retail cycle. This is why seed-to-sale software is essential for any legal marijuana business.
Retail Sales
Whether or not your store offers delivery and online ordering, most consumers will still come in to buy products at your brick-and-mortar location. Make sure your merchandising displays are relevant and engaging to these shoppers. Organizing merchandise by product type and displaying high-resolution images can help shoppers better understand and select the best products. Consider lighted signage and LED lighting to highlight selected products on the sales floor.
Encourage your customers to spend more in a single visit by thoughtfully upselling or cross-selling products. The goal is to delight the customer by increasing their purchase in a way that won’t lead to buyer’s remorse.
For example, if your shopper purchases flowers, consider offering them an oil or herb vaporizer for their consumption method of choice. Introducing your shoppers to new ways of enjoying cannabis can increase their satisfaction with your brand and create loyal customers.
