Retail traffic down? Not in these stores
Suffering from branch traffic being down and you own a plethora of teller line stanchion posts and belts that you don’t need any more? Well, I just may have identified a market for you to offload some of your inventory.
Retail traffic is not down at marijuana retail outlets in states like Colorado, Washington and Oregon where it’s now legal. In fact, lines are out the doors and lobby management is in full swing. This may be one of the only retail categories that is immune to internet sales, at least in the foreseeable future.
These budding retail entrepreneurs are deploying standard retail merchandising and messaging elements featuring product knowledge displays, community outreach walls, cross-selling and even loyalty programs. And, of course, lots of brand identity.
I know all of this because I’ve visited a few stores in Seattle to fully understand this new retail phenomenon. And if you’re wondering, I did not inhale (but the stores do have a distinct pungent odor as you might expect).
In a year where we learn almost daily that another retailer is closing stores or filing for bankruptcy, this new retail category is a bright spot on the horizon for the survival of brick & mortar selling. And I’m not just blowing smoke.
