The cannabis industry is taking flight and the one thing that any distributor or vendor is looking out for is a quality cannabis packaging provider. Although there are more and more states that are legalizing recreational cannabis, there are still major loops that the dispensaries have to jump through.
Getting a package provider who will deliver an excellent product and service would take care of at least one of the hoops. Besides, the dispensary owners are in stiff competition with each other and they need to get their brand on the market.
What better way to do that than to use the packaging as a selling point. The question remains as to what is a quality cannabis packaging provider?
It starts with assurance
Any company who is willing to put their reputation on the line is serious about the service that they can deliver. What’s more is that when something does go wrong, these companies will go to great lengths to rectify the problem. They are not in the business of passing their responsibilities over to someone else or shift the blame for a mistake.
These companies are few and far in between, so when you discover a packaging supplier with this quality, half your battle is already won.
They are reasonable about what an error from their side could cost a business and they also know what bad gossip does to a company. That is why a packaging company with quality assurance will provide you with an action plan and keep you in the loop of who they intend to fix a problem.
Product versatility
It’s one thing to say that you can now sell weed legally, but with that comes the fact that everyone wants a piece of the pie.
Dispensaries are trying to establish their brands and one way which they can do it is to diversify their product range. However, you can only do this successfully when you have a packaging company who can serve you with multiple packaging options.
If you don’t want to take any chances, there is only one thing that you can do and that is to visit the supplier. This is the only way in which you will be able to see if their products meet your standards. While visiting a manufacturing plant, you will be able to inspect the raw materials and the finished products.
In terms of quality, you will also be able to establish how the company goes about their quality control. Finally, you want to know how well their R & D departments run in case you want to expand and launch new products.
Cannabis experts
It’s one thing to package an inorganic product like a cell phone or a set of plates. However, cannabis is finicky and the packaging you use could have a dire effect on the longevity of the product and influence your overall product. You need an expert cannabis packaging supplier who knows the ins and outs of dealing with weed.
It doesn’t help you much when your packaging looks the part, but the quality of your product is compromised due to packaging procedures. When your packaging supplier is familiar with your product, they will be aware of the quality related issues involved with your product.
Of course, you wouldn’t know for sure if the packaging company is trying to impress you or whether they are legit. Speaking to other clients is one of the best ways to find out if their claims hold any water. This is not always possible, with buyer confidentiality and all that, but you will never know if you don’t ask.
Does the culture fit
OK, so you have a prospective packaging supplier lined up, but there is one vital aspect that you need to consider before making your decision and that is whether the packaging company is a culture fit. When their values and mission doesn’t align with yours, it doesn’t matter how good their product is, you will find yourself at odds at one stage or another.
Whether they have a minimum quantity order policy, or whether they know your business, if the fit is not on, you should look somewhere else.
Communication
This is one of the most important factors that you want to consider before you go and sign a deal. You need to know that the packaging company that you are going to use for your product has excellent communication values.
The cannabis trade is still relatively small and there aren’t many multi-million dollar corporations who are doing wholesale cannabis. So, when you entrust someone with your product, you want to know that they will keep the communication lines open and keep you in the loop at all times.
Progress reports, shipping reports and response times are some of the early indicators that you have a winning company.
Ethical standards
Let’s not beat around the bush. The cannabis trade has the potential to become unethical. This is just due to the nature of the product. However, you don’t want an unethical packaging supplier to add to the many pitfalls.
Finding a company who treats their employers well is not necessarily your first concern, but if you make it big, you don’t want to be hit with negative press because of unethical issues.
Regulatory compliance
There are a bunch of regulations with cannabis and you want to make sure that your packaging supplier has your back. They need to be aware of the regulations regarding your product or you could get shut down faster than what your doors opened.
If you aren’t sure if they meet the requirements, ask them for their certificates of compliance, it’s as simple as that.
Proactive innovation
This is a difficult quality to find, but when you do find such a gem, you would want to consider keeping them for good. As technologies and trends change, you want a supplier that will keep you in the loop and give you advice about your product and new developments. That is one of the things that will keep you one step ahead of the competition.
