Who’s Buying What? Retailers

A Simple Guide for Smoke Shop

If you’ve been scratching your head about who’s coming into your shop and what they’re into, you’re not alone. Thanks to the team at New Frontier Data, we’ve got a clearer snapshot of today’s cannabis consumer.

The Lowdown from the Report New Frontier Data’s recent report, titled “Cannabis Consumers in America, Part 2: Exploring the Archetypes,” groups cannabis users by their consumption frequency.

 

The "Every Day’s a Good Day for Cannabis" folks

  • Savvy Connoisseurs, making up 13%.

 

The "Almost Every Day" gang

  • Contemporary Lifestylers (16%)
  • Medical Lifestylers (12%)
  • Legacy Lifestylers (13%)

 

The "Once in a While" group

  • Modern Medicinals (12%)
  • Engaged Explorers (9%)

 

The "Only Now and Then" crew

  • Social Nibblers (8%)
  • Holistic Healers (6%)
  • Infrequent Partakers (11%)

Gary Allen from New Frontier Data stresses the importance of retailers understanding their audience in this evolving market.

 

Smoke Shop Insights:

Gear Evolution: With many folks still preferring traditional smoking but showing a growing interest in different consumption methods, consider diversifying your paraphernalia. While bongs, hand pipes, and rolling papers should still grace your shelves, it might be worth exploring vaporizers or dabbing rigs due to the trend toward non-combustibles.

Educate on New Trends: Some of the newer cannabis consumers might pop into your shop curious about newer consumption methods or products. Consider having a “Trend Corner” or info sections to educate them, leading to potential sales.

Stay Adaptable: As cannabis becomes more mainstream, groups like Modern Medicinals and Holistic Healers are likely to grow.  Keeping an eye on these changes ensures you stock what’s in demand.

Loyalty Matters: There was a drop in the number of these daily users from 2022 to 2023. It looks like after trying out a bunch of stuff, they’ve found their favorites and are sticking to them. Building loyalty programs or offers for them ensures they keep choosing your shop for their needs.

In essence, this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about giving our customers what they’re after and ensuring our smoke shop remains the go-to spot. Adjust your stocks, tweak your marketing, and you’re good to go!

  • CannaAid and Peak: Something new for everyone.

Recent Articles

As a lifelong stoner, feminist, and teacher, Luna Stower does know how intersectional plant medicine can be.
“Whenever somebody sees ‘Sales Guru’ on my card, they ask how you become one,” he says. “I tell them that you spend your life in sales, and you go to Nepal to climb the Himalayas to meet the real gurus. You get the wisdom from them, then you bring it back down and apply it to your life.”
Cryptocurrency is taking the world by storm. It’s been over 15 years since the launch of Bitcoin, and although it’s more popular than ever before, it’s not the only form of crypto available today.
We know breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes the thrill is gone, and it’s time to move on. It doesn’t matter how long a brand’s been riding with you or how tight you are with the sales rep. If the product doesn’t perform, or worse, if the brand loses touch with the culture, it’s dead weight. And dead weight doesn’t just slow you down; it can drown you.
At HQ, we don’t shy away from controversy, but we also don’t exist to tear down legitimate players in the industry. We chose instead to invite both perspectives to weigh in.
Ali Bianco wants to elevate the cannabis world one pink pre-roll at a time. Since high school, she’s been sick of the stigma around weed and the idea that stoners are lazy and unkempt. Inspired by Blake Lively’s character smoking pink cigarettes in the 2011 film Hick, Ali decided to “make weed something beautiful” with a feminist kick.
In the early days, we bought flower based on two metrics: THC percentage and the vague promise of either indica or sativa. It was like ordering wine based on alcohol content and whether the label showed a beach or a mountain. We’ve come a long way.
I've witnessed firsthand how patient advocacy can profoundly change healthcare and people's lives. Today, I'm honored to lead ASA once again, as we intensify efforts to ensure medical cannabis reaches all patients who need it, fully integrated into our nation's healthcare system.