Despite the competition closing its doors, this budtender let's us know that her dispensary is here to stay.
“Everything [changed with covid],” Clarise Williams, 23, began in regards to how her job as a budtender morphed after the statewide lockdown, “sanitizing every 30 minutes, wearing masks, gloves on the entire time but switching between customers.”
Clarise Williams (photo by Katorah Thomas)
Though an already booming economy, dispensaries across the country found themselves in high demand once state governor’s began mandating shutdowns in March 2020. Some consumers stocked up in anticipation of waiting out the lockdown and staving off anxiety, others did so in fears that their favorite shops would close like their favorite bars did. In Las Vegas, some of those dispensaries did close, “...many of our cannabis businesses were shut down because they weren’t getting the same kind of business and people did get laid off. My plan [if we closed] was to save as much money as you can, we get tips on a daily basis as well as our checks and making sure I had enough for all of my bills.”
“Since the pandemic, our job has become a lot more organized and one on one, we have curbside pickup, delivery and people can pick up in store,” Williams spoke, “Procedure isn’t much different, a little bit longer because every budtender is with someone but we still spend individual time with the customer. There’s no extra people shopping in the room anymore.”
With the added steps and cleaning, consumers can rest assured that their experience will not only be streamlined but sanitary. Though cleaning has been added to the job description, it doesn’t stop people from thinking a budtender is the coolest job and wondering how to join the career field. Product display case (Photo by Katorah Thomas)
“I didn’t really have a set plan to work in the industry, I just did an open interview at a bar and landed the job,” Williams offers about her experience four years ago. “If I had to work at another dispensary I would check out Planet 13 because it’s the biggest in the city or NuWu, it’s on an Indian reservation so the laws are different. ”
At the beginning of the pandemic, the dispensary took away all of its discounts because of the surplus of consumers but as people navigate their new normal, the company has reconsidered this stance.
“Everyone is looking for the best deal, my store just started giving back discounts,” Williams admitted, saying that the competition in town was ramping back up and putting out their own deals. “My shop also isn’t selling grams right now outside of a pre-roll.”
Speaking on pre-rolls, “Pre-rolls, they’re ok. As far as the product goes? I just think our flower is really nice. Sour banana sherbet is a nice strain. Blue alien.”
A display case previews the products that the shop is currently selling. (Photo by Katorah Thomas)
Comentários