Starting A New York Dispensary — Part 3

Running your dispensary: daily operations

Now let's dive into what you'll need to know to manage all the moving parts inside the four walls of your dispensary: software selections, hiring your staff, selecting products, and maintaining compliance.

Software selections — POS

The cannabis industry requires systems built for its intricacies. A point-of-sale system is required for a successful dispensary; it helps manage inventory and transactions, organize information for taxes, analyze consumer behavior, and — most importantly — keep your dispensary compliant with state requirements. Selecting the right POS depends on your specific goals. A few to look into: Blaze, Cova, Flowhub, and LeafLogix.

Screens, screens, screens

The first time a customer enters a dispensary can be nerve-wracking. Setting the tone the moment they enter is key. A waiting-room screen is a great way to put customers at ease and start the buying process while they wait — load it with product information, store announcements, your loyalty sign-up, and educational content. Educating customers about what THC stands for, the difference between Indica and Sativa, what CBD is, and more makes for a pleasant, expedited experience for staff and customers alike, and increases transaction count and revenue.

Once a customer passes into the bud room, the bud-room TVs showcase an integrated menu — inventory displayed in real time, never showing items that are sold out. Alongside price and dominance information, the screens display content highlighting announcements, promotions, and product clips. The result: a more streamlined process, less staff time spent on basic questions, and more store pull-through.

Staff-room screens enhance communication between managers and team members — daily specials, discounts, the loyalty system, new brands, new employees, employee of the month, and products approaching expiration that need to move.

Dispensary marketing and promotion

Marketing for a cannabis retail operation is an art. Traditional platforms like Google and Facebook don't allow cannabis advertising, but that doesn't mean you can't use social media — you just have to be less traditional. You can't post pictures of cannabis on Facebook or Instagram, but you can post lifestyle content that exemplifies the brand's messaging (and you can post product imagery on LinkedIn). Even where recreational cannabis is legal, strict regulations apply. New York dispensaries should avoid advertising that depicts consumption, promotes overconsumption, appeals to anyone under 21, or sits within 500 feet of public schools or daycares.

Conclusion

Opening a dispensary in New York can absolutely be worth it — the industry is growing rapidly and a market like New York is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. GreenScreens is here to set you up for success, with integrated menu boards that elevate both the consumer and staff experience.