URGENTLY HIRING BUDTENDERS!!

It’s a recurring theme I see on Indeed in any and all markets. Why is that? Why is arguably the most important link in the chain of sales of your products constantly hiring?

In search of someone to stand inside a climate-controlled building and discuss cannabis? Brand loyalty comes into play here just like with a mechanic you use or a doctor, restaurant, etc. We seem to see through branding in other industries a lot better than the “custie” does in cannabis.

If I was new to it all, a Budtender would be rather valuable with the vast array of products available. The number of people who tell me about their 65-year-old mom or neighbor who just discovered edibles for sleep is shocking, honestly.

Even if you consider yourself a seasoned cannabis user, a knowledgeable and experienced Budtender can help you find the perfect product and provide you with information on how to use it. However, not all Budtenders are created equal, and each one may provide a different experience or surprise. I hear about them on a regular basis… Randomness is the word that best describes it, like when a police officer pulls you over or something else extremely uncomfortable.

In this article, we’ll discuss the different experiences you may have with different qualified Budtenders in a legal dispensary.

First, let’s define exactly what a Budtender is. A Budtender is essentially a sales associate who is knowledgeable about cannabis products (or at least we can only hope). They work in legal dispensaries and help customers choose the right products based on their preferences and needs. A Budtender’s job is to provide information on different strains, methods of consumption, and the effects of different products. Budtenders can also help answer questions about dosage and provide recommendations for first-time cannabis users.

Oh really? Sounds like a lot of trust issues for a position that’s currently urgently hiring while I type this right now… The glamour and excitement of working at a provo or dispo or whatever your state dresses it as to collect massive taxes has lost its shine like African Blood Diamonds as of the summer of ’23. You’re a business owner who sank millions most likely into your vision, and you can’t figure out where the right people are to be the face of your storefront.

Another possible experience with a qualified Budtender is personalized service. Many Budtenders take the time to get to know their customers, which allows them to provide tailored recommendations based on their preferences. This means you, as the business owner, should recognize and nourish these types of employees for the betterment of your brand.

When dealing with an unqualified Budtender, it’s no different than a bad restaurant. You leave pissed off and you tell 3 to 5 people about your experience, or more likely nowadays, you go on a Reddit forum specifically for discussion about how unenthusiastic they feel about your product in your local cannabis market that has 15,000 followers. Good luck dealing with that bullshit, or just avoid all of it.

Lastly, a qualified Budtender will likely have a good sense of the overall industry trends. They smoke more than anyone in the store. That’s who I would ask for. They know about the newest products and the latest research, which allows them to guide customers towards quality options. Business owners should pay for their Budtenders to attend trade shows and conferences often, ensuring that they’re up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.

Places like KOB (King of Bud) in Monroe, Michigan know WTF is up, with over 20 Budtenders running at an unbelievable level of quality and providing customers with great service. I don’t believe that’s the norm right now though I think their clientele is wise to strains and the latest trend setters.

Budtenders make about $14 an hour plus tips (I could do a 20-minute article on tips being forced on everyone now, wtf), which is roughly $10,000 over poverty, according to Google. So, I asked Google if $25,000 a year is a good salary, and here’s what it said: “As we stated earlier, if you are able to make $25,000 a year, that is a VERY low salary. Possibly you are closer to the poverty level depending on the number of dependents. You are making around or just above minimum wage. Feb 6, 2023.”

McDonald’s starts at $1.40 less an hour, and Starbucks is similar. People, last I checked, were pretty certain what coffee was and how to order beef or chicken possibly grown on a wall from their vehicle to a speaker box. Are storefronts losing customers and money because they don’t pay for qualified employees? Does the packaging on these products really cover everything a confused, inexperienced newer customer is seeking to make a possibly significant purchase, which is more than that Budtender makes in a day? How many times does a good Budtender have to sell over his daily wage to start feeling under-appreciated? Let’s say you paid $3.00 over the average wage to your Budtenders, bringing their salary to above $32k a year, and you have three Budtenders now who bring skills to their position instead of four below-average Budtenders because you’re cheap? Those four positions are in constant turnover, too, by the way, for your million-dollar investment.

$17 x 120 hours = 

14 x 160 hours = 

Math can be a bitch and annoying, but truth in numbers can save you. Don’t argue with me either that three skilled employees aren’t more profitable than four average ones. Ask any waitstaff at your favorite eatery the question.

Lastly, some people aren’t worth hiring at $7 an hour, so this doesn’t apply to what I’m talking about here. Shape up and carry your weight or move on. The cannabis industry and owners have enough to deal with right now. If you don’t know anything about cannabis or the industry, and someone sees something in you and gives you a chance anywhere doing anything in a licensed business, you better take it now but expect to be shit on 2-6 times first and figure out if you have the moxie to rise or disappear in this grind