Episode 23 – Retailing Cannabis in Ontario (Superette & BoC)

A frank discussion between Business of Cannabis' Jay Rosenthal and Tricia Lackey, Superette's Director of Brand Experience, relating issues being faced by retailers of Cannabis in Ontario. *Recorded at the second edition of our speaker series focused on the emerging economy of Cannabis in Canada. [expand title="Podcast Transcript"] Qasim Virjee 0:07 Welcome back to this the 23rd episode of the start well podcast recorded live on November 21 2019. In our events based in downtown Toronto, this live conversation focused on retailing cannabis in Ontario. This is the the second installment of start well speaker series that is focused on the emerging cannabis economy here in Canada, and one of many such sessions, where we try to raise stage to diverse and authentic entrepreneurial experiences. For those of you who are unfamiliar with start well, this campus is spread between three buildings. Here in downtown Toronto is King West neighborhood, combining Office meeting and event space. Our members who we call our community come together for happier work days filled with opportunity and serendipity. If you're here as a guest tonight and not a regular member start well. Or if you're listening to a recording of this talk, I encourage you to look through start with CO that's our website and come back shedule a tour and you can enjoy a cappuccino in our complimentary espresso bar, which you may have seen in the adjacent building at the main front entrance and tour this lovely place where we think you could do your life's work with a team that you love. Okay, so let's learn a little bit about these two wonderful people that are on our little stage here tonight. For retailing cannabis in Ontario, of course, we've got names on the screen that are rotating. And most of you are familiar after our lengthy networking session before this. So the fine gentlemen in black, wearing confusing logos, don't be confused. He's not an employee of super Ed. He's a fan. Now yet, this is all a ruse. So Jay Rosenthal is at a 20 year career at the intersection of media business, politics and policy, especially as it relates to heavily regulated industries. He's the co founder and president of the business of cannabis, Canada's authoritative source for news and analysis on the cannabis industry. And I must mention that, you know, business of cannabis is headquartered here at start wells downtown location and King West and record this audio visual content in our professional studio, which is here on site, audio visual, he's live and direct and multiple ways. So find out more information about Jay, you know, from business of cannabis.ca. And our guest tonight is Tricia lackey. And Trisha is the Director of Brand experience at Superette. So for those who don't know about it Superette is a Toronto Ontario based We're based here in the city of Toronto, early stage venture that's making cannabis retail friendly. I think that's kind of an interesting, I don't know, you'll talk more about this. But Superette as I understand it aims to make you know, cannabis simple and safe. So trying to simplify the experience of the product, while keeping it fun, because they believe it should be simple, safe and fun. And what's interesting to me also we'll hear more about this, I'm sure is Superette has looked into stategic retail environments for inspiration that has brought to life an eclectic playful approach to selling cannabis. So they're really great guests for this topic, because of, we think the approach that they've used in crafting their stores and the retail experience and, you know, utilizing the aesthetics of a mid century kind of corner store experience, which should be familiar for the people coming in. And I'm sure that Tr