A dispensary’s design can make or break it. A good design invites customers, smooths traffic, and keeps merchandise secure and compliant. A bad design may only fail at one of these elements. One out of four is enough to break a business.
But what about the nitty-gritty in these elements? The latest Cannabis Conference hosted a panel of experts on the do’s and don’ts when designing your dispensary.
Here are five takeaways:
1) Always Keep Moving
Have a “flexible” plan that lets you progress while you wait for licensing. Receiving a license takes up to a year, so have a plan that lets your architect, contractor, or engineer lay the groundwork when that green light comes. Examples include buying materials or laying out an electronic access control (EAC) plan for your building and cabinetry.
2) Keep Regulators Informed
Compliance is crucial. A failure to disclose all details related to compliance can risk your dispensary’s license. Always be “very forthcoming with your regulators,” says Wendy Bronfein of Curio Wellness. “You live and die by the regulators, and so just being very open and transparent and forthcoming [is important]. When you find out something is going to be delayed, let them know right away.”
New cabinet-level access control systems like Senseon Plus lock cabinetry and track employee access. Remote and up-to-the-minute audit trail helps dispensaries identify unusual activity and comply with regulations.
The need to keep regulators informs extends beyond a dispensary’s initial design. Owners and managers must prove their products are secured and access to them tracked. Cabinet-level access control systems physically protect products and include a downloadable audit trail that lists when a cabinet was opened and by whom. Next-gen systems like Senseon Plus even allow owners and managers to track access anytime and anywhere remotely.
3) Set Aside Space to Ship & Receive
Have enough discrete space to ship, receive, and store products securely. “Having enough space will make your employees happy,” notes Amanda Ruge of Flowspace Design. “Hopefully, you have a high-volume space and product coming in and leaving same day. Don’t underestimate how much space you need for storage and receiving.”
Modern cabinet locking systems like Senseon allow owners to keep products stocked and secured on the sales floor. This maximizes the use of space without cluttering design.
Modern cabinet locking systems allow owners to keep products stocked and secured on the sales floor. This frees up space for backroom storage.
4) Make Transactions Hassle-Free
Have a design that fosters smooth traffic for staff and customers alike. You want as few impediments to the customer as possible. Have security seamlessly integrated. Keep products readily accessible. “Think about that when you’re looking at the floor plan,” says Virginia Maggiore of the Retail Design Collaborative, “because from the top down, a floor plan might work, but then you start putting all these lines of how everything’s flowing and then you realize they’re all crossing over each other, and then you’ve got issues.”
Cabinet locking systems like Senseon keep products on display, readily accessible, and protected. This expedites transactions and enhances the customer experience.
This is another area where EAC comes in handy. Contractors and designers can embed modern access control systems within display cases and cabinets. This means products can be on display, readily accessible, and protected.
5) Stay on Point
Keep compliant while being faithful to your distinct branding. Have a niche that works within the regulations. Example: You have a dispensary with a candy store theme. You can’t let customers scoop up your dispensary’s candies like a normal candy store, but you can still display and package your products like one.
Cabinet-level security plays a big role in staying on point. Modern access control systems use small and modular components that can be designed into custom fixtures. This means no eyesores like giant locks or keypads. A store can thus keep an inviting design and remain protected.
Source: Cannabis Business Times
Can I create a compliant, stylish, and welcoming dispensary? Yes, thanks to cabinet security systems like Senseon Plus! Senseon Plus lets you lock your products and track access remotely while expediting transactions and preserving a great store design. Visit the Senseon Dispensary Page to learn more!
