THE CANNABIS OPERATIONS
THE VIBE’S THE THING
normalized, and products become more user friendly and acceptable.
WHAT MAKES YOUR BRAND SO UNIQUE?
Gary Leff: The fact that we’re independently owned without any vertical integration allows us to be solely focused and invest heavily on delivering the best dispensary shopping experience, period. Our independence means we are not forced to push any of our own products, but rather carrying a broad selection of the best products in the marketplace that most effectively meet the myriad needs of our diverse customer base. Additionally, we are not distracted by the complexity of running a cultivation or processing facility or the capital necessary to do so, and we can put all of our energy and passion into delivering the best damn dispensary
78
shopping experience in the marketplace, and continue to make the necessary investments to stay ahead of the curve.
WHAT’S TODAY’S CONSUMER LOOKING FOR?
Dwayne MacEwen: Today’s tech-savvy consumers expect more from brands. As architects and designers, I think the question is, “How do we design for an immersive shopping experience that gives people a compelling reason to leave their couches and online carts?” After a year’s worth of pent up demand to get out of the house, to connect with family and friends, shop in person, travel, dine inside a restaurant, go to a concert, and much more, designers should want to welcome and excite people when they actually go out. Our sense of the world has changed indelibly since the pandemic, and we
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 9, 2021
are thinking about the potential of a new retail experience that combines any of these shared social activities. What if food-and-beverage (F&B) spaces became the new influencer for retail products? What if event architecture integrated dynamic merchandising? The solutions lie somewhere in a hybrid of retail, F&B and entertainment. Hatch brings many of those dynamics together. Gary Leff: We believe today’s consumer is looking for an authentic experience where they can build a long-term loyal relationship they trust and feel good about. While they may be able to find a product on sale for a better price elsewhere, we think many consumers want to shop somewhere they believe has their best long-term interests at heart. They want to continue to make the necessary investments that deliver that experience on a day-in and day-out basis.
