Best of The Summer Fair 2016 | A Free Oregon Cannabis Event
Sunday’s Summer Fair in Portland was a big step forward for the Oregon cannabis industry.
Samples of grön chocolate at The Summer Fair 2016
Cannabis enthusiasts had the opportunity to gather in an expo-like setting, where they were able to meet reps from dispensaries, processors and farms, consume publicly and even receive free samples.
As such, exhibitors jumped at the chance to represent the cannabis industry in a positive light. And if you weren’t already convinced by the strides this community has made, the professionalism shown at The Summer Fair proves that businesses are pushing full-force to be taken seriously as a responsible industry.
Cannabis Marketing Highlights from The Summer Fair
It’s clear that cannabis companies have begun to embrace the need for quality marketing, so I would like to compliment The Summer Fair’s exhibitors on doing just that!
From well-designed booths and merchandise, to great offers, coupons and giveaways; the Oregon market is clearly stepping up their game. Here are some key marketing takeaways worth keeping in mind for your business’s next cannabis related consumer event:
Outstanding Cannabis Booth Design: Eco Firma Farms
Built entirely from wood, the Eco Firma booth couldn’t have been easy to design, build, or set up! But it looked beautiful, and its unique design made it a clear standout in the minds (and memories) of attendees.
Unique Cannabis Product Displays: 7 Points Oregon
This Oregon based cannabis farm came dressed to impress. Wood is a trendy aesthetic in the cannabis industry, which only makes sense with their ties to nature! 7 Points Oregon took it a few steps further with gorgeous, custom carved wood jar toppers that really set the tone for its entire brand.
Honorable Canna Booth Mention: High Noon Cultivation
By displaying their flower in a variety of unique glass cannisters, High Noon (another Oregon based cannabis farm) was able to create a sleek, memorable booth design that upgraded the standard glass jar display and supported the New Age feel of their brand design, all without breaking the bank.
Best Free Cannabis Samples: Shango Cannabis
Events are not the time to be stingy. The more samples and freebies you can give to consumers, the more excited people will feel about your company! Shango Cannabis, one of the first multi-state producers, processors & cannabis retailers won the day in this respect; Offering samples of flower, shatter, AND edibles with multiple options of each that guests could choose from.
Desirable Cannabis Merchandise: Oregrown
People want merch that puts good design and practicality first; and that’s exactly what the Bend Oregon based cannabis dispensary, Oregrown accomplished. They offered a huge variety of pens, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and much more. If the eye-catching cannabis gear wasn’t enough, Oregrown let guests spin their prize wheel for a chance to take home one of the items for free!
The merchandise selection, along with the free game, made Oregon one of the most popular stops at the 2016 Portland Summer fair.
Honorable Canna Merch Mention: Self Made
These guys obviously know their brand, and understand what their market wants. Although they had a smaller selection than Oregrown, Self Made did a fantastic job with their merch. I heard a ton of compliments in just the few minutes I was able to spend at their booth!
The lesson? Targeting the right audience & meeting consumer need is just as important as having a large selection.
Valuable Cannabis Information: Half Baked Labs
Much of the struggle with consumer events is what to talk about. Some businesses discuss their product, others their process, and some choose to print brochures to do all that work for them. Half Baked Labs (a Portland Oregon based cannabis edible company) did a great job entertaining their booth guests without overwhelming them. They offered tasty cannabis infused samples, invaluable info and interesting visuals.
Promotional Cannabis Contests: Shadowbox Farms
There were a handful of spinning-wheel and raffle games at The Summer Fair 2016, but very few required visitors to participate outside of the event. Shadowbox Farms did a great job engaging the cannabis community around their marketing efforts, by offering a highly desirable prize and requiring social media participation for the chance to win it. Tactics like this have helped position them as a leading producer in the Oregon Cannabis industry.
Bang for your Budget: Pruf Cultivar
For those just starting in the cannabis industry, public events can be intimidating. But Pruf Cultivar showed that you don’t have to be extravagant to be memorable, by sticking to the basics and supporting their brand in simple (but impressive) ways.
Their brand design is gorgeous and their cannabis samples were extraordinary! Despite the minimalist approach, they left a very strong first impression.
Friendly & Helpful Staff: Nectar Cannabis
Nectar (a Portland Oregon based chain of dispensaries) has a knack for hiring the friendliest, most relatable budtenders, so I wasn’t surprised to have another great experience this time around. Friendly people really do make all the difference in any kind of networking atmosphere!
Just Do It – Cannabis Networking: Fractal Farm
Until you have several of public networking events under your belt, you’ll never feel “ready” to bring your business to one. Extra kudos goes to Fractal Farms for making The Summer Fair their first-ever public event after years of business. Their cannabis is phenomenal, their team is genuine, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of this Oregon based producer in the future!
Preparing to exhibit at an upcoming event? Read our tips on networking in the cannabis industry to make a strong & lasting impression!
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