Growers – Check Out Just in Time Supply Chain Ideas

Posted on by lehuabrands

Short post to let all know I’ve been working with Green Thumb Logistics on a couple of projects and I’m impressed with their vision for how to keep Tier 2 and Tier 3 producers well stocked with a “just in time” (JIT) model for supplies like soil, pots, hoses, packaging systems, etc. JIT literally means you don’t have to deal with those supplies until you need them – you don’t have to store them somewhere, keep track of them, etc. When you run low, a special supply cabinet (like the electronic refrigerators in hotel rooms) can automatically flag the shortage for Green Thumb and they’ll come right out and replenish.

A few other things about their operation impress (such as that they’ve got a long-time grower on staff) – see if you agree: http://greenthumbind.com/.

Cheers and happy growing!

Retailers! Your Square Footage is Precious – Don’t Waste it on Bad Design!

Posted on by lehuabrands

Pot retailers in our state are in a fascinating situation: if they’ve won the lottery, found a 502-compliant location, worked out details with their landlord, city and county officials and their neighbors, they still have to line up inventory, set up security and cash management systems, and oh, right: open their doors. In all this hullabaloo, it’s certainly understandable that many retailers aren’t thinking much about the design of their space, how to maximize flow and avoid bottlenecks, and how to make sure every square foot is earning its keep.

But it’s fair to say that time will come. And whether you’re renovating an existing dispensary space, a local flower shop or bakery or even an old gas station (true story), sooner or later you’ll need a design that is functional, gets people in and out smoothly, minimizes risk of theft, helps people feel safe and comfortable, and utilizes the space efficiently.

I’ve got a couple of designs in process that seek to do all of the above and as soon as I can get them out of Sketchup and onto this site or my soon-to-be-revamped web site, I’ll post and describe why I made the design decisions I did.

Here’s to our intrepid retailers in WA State – good luck as your march toward your store openings!

Design & Layout of Your First Big Grow Operation

Posted on by lehuabrands

I’ve now designed 3 major grow facilities and 2 retail outlets for our brand new Cannabis industry here in WA State. Dealing with the LCB is challenging, that’s for sure, but at the end of the day what I’ve found is that the LCB’s rules for security cameras, track and trace, quarantine, etc. are actually just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what growers need to think about to actually get their facility up and running. If you’re converting or updating a commercial space, for example, you have to think about Americans with Disabilities (ADA) guidelines. If you’re planning to water your plants with a simple hose setup, you need to think about a closed-loop system to avoid cross-contamination. If you’re going to be handling and trimming many pounds of product, you need to think about non-porous surfaces such as steel to ensure no bacteria take hold.

I’m learning more every day, and will do my best to post what I learn here.

Cheers and happy growing!