Marijuana Business Magazine April 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | April 2019 72 “As people design new shops, they rarely leave enough room for all the stuff they need to run a dispensary efficiently,” he said. Those storage spaces should be well organized so employees know how to find what they’re looking for, and you need a standard operating procedure for how to move inventory from storage to the front- of-house. That translates to faster, better customer service, Lustig noted. “Eventually, customers will notice if your team can’t run efficiently because you didn’t plan properly,” Lustig said. Don’t forget to have an on-site ATM. It might seem obvious, but it is worth mentioning: If you’re a cash-only retail shop, have an ATM on the premis- es, said Brodchandel at Harmony. Many consumers—particularly those new to legal cannabis sales—don’t realize that most dispensaries are cash- only businesses, she noted. If consumers leave to grab cash, they might not come back, or they might choose to go elsewhere. Don’t bar windows or have heavily armed guards in plain sight. Security is a challenge for dis- pensaries, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of creating a welcoming retail environment. Forgo barred windows and heavily armed security guards. Lustig worked with Seed & Smith’s security alarm providers and local regulators to put safety practices in place that don’t intimidate consumers. Don’t make the space feel transactional. Cramped waiting areas and tight, cluttered point-of-sale counters can make customers feel rushed through their purchases. Similarly, a cold, uninviting retail shop can prompt customers to rush through the store. The use of too much of the color white on walls or in decor, or harsh LED or fluorescent lighting, can tend to make a retail store feel too sterile and unwelcoming, Matt said. “Don’t design a dispensary that rushes the customer,” Planet 13’s Groesbeck said. “Giving customers the chance to see a wide array of products in a comfortable shopping environment will ultimately be positive to the bottom line.” The Planet 13 dispensary in Las Vegas has an 18-foot-diameter, LED-lighted, globe-shaped fountain that has become a popular photo opportunity for guests. Courtesy Photo Do’s Don’ts