Compensation in cannabis retail stores is broken. Budtenders often make tips. Store Managers may qualify for bonus programs. Key Holders/ Supervisors/ Assistant Managers are underpaid. They support operational tasks, pulling them away from the POS = less opportunity for tips. Often hourly, not salary = they don't qualify for bonuses. The industry considers these team members to be leaders and coaches while encouraging customer engagement, but they often make less in total compensation than budtenders.
Budtenders doing 6 figures in sales every month and making $15.50/hr like 🤯
Compensation in cannabis retail stores is certainly a complex issue. It's great that you're shedding light on the challenges faced by Key Holders/Supervisors/Assistant Managers. My question is, how do you think this disparity in compensation affects employee morale and overall team dynamics? I also find it intriguing how the industry places emphasis on these team members as leaders and coaches, yet they receive less total compensation than budtenders. I would love to connect with you to further explore this
Not sure why anyone is surprised by this dynamic in a legal industry built by Hedge Fund boys
The law of supply and demand. There are plenty of people qualified for, and interested in, entry level cannabis jobs. This depresses wages, as does the lack of a required degree. It is the same for the middle managers. Retail never pays as well, ever. If compensation in cannabis retail stores is broken, only the free market (labor) can change it.
Thank you for putting this forward, Krista. Craftsmanship and quality are at an all-time low in store management/ownership unfortunately. We can all admit the industry is not an easy run from any angle but…it’s not as difficult when ownership/management is as qualified and thoughtful as they should be. Which is rare. More owners need to hit the salefloor in my opinion, need to focus on cultivating stores that are full-spectrum in approach rather than pushing to build new locations on a weak, crumbling foundation…but that’s just my POV. This business model is unlike any other and there’s a swarm of uninspired and disconnect people clogging it’s arteries. Canadian cannabis retail management is in need of a major heart transplant and an infusion of fresh spirit that is almost solely upheld by budtenders at this point (who end up being robbed of it by poor leadership). The life force and potential for impact cannabis holds is honestly dying in front of us. It’s tough to say but store owners are often wolves in sheep’s clothing in these circumstances.
Yes those are all true, but, this is also how we pay our dues in the industry. Show passion for your team and business, hopefully they’ll help cultivate your career. If they’re not, you’re in the wrong dispo.
I'm positive that most independent store owners would pay the staff more if they could afford to. The state of the industry is that almost 90% of stores are struggling to stay open. This affects everyone that works in the industry.
100% what do you recommend?
Account Executive: SLO to SoCal at CannaCraft
11moRetail FOH has always been broken, TBH. It relies on the patience and mental health of (typically) younger employees who’re trying to work their way up, but it’s a dead end and breaks people’s spirit. But enough about me lol When you have a salaried employee working in the FOH of retail, typically when payroll cuts need to be made, that means only the salaried employees are running the store and the hourly staff fills in little gaps. This is happening in most shops now since they’re running with a skeleton crew, so the efforts we make to educate the budtenders and not focusing on the entire team (even the inventory managers) are becoming increasingly less effective. In return, shops make desperate hires, people feel less appreciated and in turn, budtenders turn into “cashiers” who just complete transactions versus being uplifted to educate customers and have deep product knowledge to increase a guests anticipated ADS. But hey, let’s give them another pizza party lol