By Tony Cigarano
Hey, New Jersey. It’s me, Tony Cigarano. Yeah, you heard that right. I might be known for running things in the underworld, but today I’m stepping into the smoky haze of the cannabis world. Why? Because I’ve got a bone to pick with you guys. So, sit down, light up a pre-roll (if you dare), and listen up.
The Highs and Lows of the Garden State’s Greenery
First off, I gotta give credit where it’s due. New Jersey, you’ve set new cannabis sales records. That’s impressive.
But don’t go patting yourselves on the back just yet. Despite all that green you’re raking in,”Cannabis retailers in New Jersey set a new quarterly sales record of $201 million during the first three months of 2024, but the quarter-over-quarter growth rate (4.4%) is the state’s lowest on record since the market launch.” wrote Graham Abbott on Ganjapreneur.
Market saturation, high prices, regulatory red tape – it’s like you guys are trying to run through quicksand. Then again most legal cannabis markets are like that.
NJ Pre-Rolls: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Let’s talk about pre-rolls. They’re popular, I get it. Convenient, quick, ready to go. For someone like me who’s always on the move, it’s a godsend.
But here’s the thing – the quality is all over the place.
One day you’re smoking a masterpiece, the next you’re puffing on something that feels like it was rolled by a blind monkey.
Don’t believe me? Just ask the folks on Reddit.
One user said, “The pre rolls have been so poorly rolled imo and I think it was a waste of money when I can just purchase cones and pack them myself.”
Another chimed in with, “NJ pre rolls are absolute garbage.”
You see what I’m getting at? If you want loyal customers, you gotta tighten up the Consistent Quality in Cannabis Pre-Rolls.
Price Tags That Make You Gag
Speaking of paying up, what’s with the high prices?
Look, I know a thing or two about making money, but you guys are pushing it. Consumers are getting gouged, and they’re not happy about it.
If you keep this up, you’re gonna drive them away faster than a rat at a cat convention.
You want to complain about 280-E, compliance and overregulation eating into your margins? Just keep reading.
The Future is Bright, If You Play Your Cards Right
Now, I’m not just here to break your balls. There’s hope for you yet. Here’s what you gotta do:
#1) Quality Control
Get your act together and make sure every pre-roll that hits the market is top-notch. Consistency is key.
If you screw this up, you’re gonna lose more customers than a restaurant with a rat problem.
#2) Competitive Pricing
Margins are tight in this space, I get it. They’re even tighter when your production lines are all jammed up.
If you want to win in this market, you’ve got to have cannabis pre-roll automation that works because it’ll slash your labor costs up to 90 percent.
#3) Creative Branding & Marketing
The Garden State is hard up for new pre-roll brands.
If you can crank out quality pre-rolls at scale, you’ve got a superpower.
You then get your marketing comms dialed in and that can lead to developing different brands for all sorts of target segments.
Wrap It Up, Cigarano Style
New Jersey’s cannabis market has the potential to be a real heavyweight.
But if you want to stay on top, you gotta listen to the people. Address their concerns, innovate, and most importantly, don’t get complacent.
This is Tony Cigarano (and my AI consigliere) signing off. Now, go out there and make me proud. Or else.
PS: Meet the Hefestus team at NECANN in New Jersey!
If you need or want to produce at least 30k pre-rolls per month, now’s your chance to see the Hefestus machine up close.
Click here to book a demo with Hefestus at our NECANN booth.
