West Coast budtender Gabby Hauer seamlessly blends her experience as a 10-year legacy consumer with her passion for customer service to create the ultimate retail experience in Oliver, British Columbia and help eliminate the stigma surrounding cannabis.
Bluewater Cannabis, which Gabby proudly represents, is the first of its kind in the Oliver area, providing a welcoming space for both seasoned and novice cannabis enthusiasts.
Smashing the Stigma by Servicing Seniors
Eliminating the old-school stigma around cannabis is a personal passion of Hauer’s. As the supervisor at the Oliver location, a city with a large population of seniors, she is constantly interacting with an older generation. and witnesses their perceptual shift toward natural products. Hauer has actually been a leading force in guiding them toward certain cannabis formats. “It’s amazing to see the number of seniors who had the old school mentality of cannabis that came from decades of stigmatization, and are now singing a new tune once I’ve got them set up with CBD capsules, oils and creams,” she says.
This passion to help end the stigma surrounding the plant comes from Hauer’s personal experience. “I started using cannabis way before legalization to help with my anxiety and ADD, she explains. “Unfortunately, I had people in my life who judged me because of the stigma that was attached to it.” Now, she gets to help people find their perfect product and is building relationships along the way.
Understanding the Regional Nuances of the Cannabis Community
In this dynamic industry, Hauer emphasizes the pivotal role of building strong customer relationships. Given the “trial-and-error” nature of cannabis, Hauer best serves her clientele by noting customer preferences and past experiences with products, a particularly important skill in the close-knit community of Oliver. Personalized service is the cornerstone of her approach; knowing a customer’s preferred strain or product format ensures not only efficient assistance but also fosters a sense of trust.
Drawing from her experience, Hauer advises licensed producers (LPs) to grasp the intricacies of individual markets within each province, understanding the unique needs of diverse communities. Tailoring products to specific markets is a strategy Hauer strongly advocates for.
“Here in Oliver, we sell mostly budget-friendly pre-rolls and vape carts,” she notes. “But, in Penticton, a much bigger city just 20 minutes north of us, our sales are prominently higher-end pre-rolls and edibles. Different communities have different needs, and if LPs can figure out where their products will thrive and then nurture that producer-retailer relationship, it will go a long way.”
A Glimpse into the Future
Looking ahead, Hauer harbours ambitious aspirations of owning a chain of cannabis stores. The legalization of cannabis has merged her passion for the plant with her commitment to customer service, leading her to dream of her own future as a retail owner.
“I have been a cannabis consumer for a long time and am very knowledgeable of the market. Plus, I have worked in customer service roles since high school and have really enjoyed building connections and seeing happy cannabis consumers return to the store for more recommendations.”
With four years of budtending under her belt, Hauer is eager to see what else the industry has in store for her.
Tether was established in 2021 with the goal of creating a free community for Budtenders across the country to come together. Tether events are a space for Budtenders to network and learn from each other and brands. Visit Tether at https://tetherbuds.com