Photo | Courtesy of Campfire Cannabis
A sign at Campfire Cannabis in West Boylston
October 27, 2020
Q&A: Campfire Cannabis connects customers with the cozy outdoors
Photo | Courtesy of Campfire Cannabis
Campfire Cannabis in West Boylston
Campfire Cannabis opened in West Boylston on Oct. 11. A family-owned company run by CEO Nehar Patel and his two cousins, Neel Patel and Anand Patel, the dispensary breaks from many of the typical ultra-modern aesthetic elements employed at other dispensaries, instead honing in on a specific theme: camping. Patel spoked with WBJ about why the company opted to make camping central to its brand, as well as what drew his family to opening a dispensary in West Boylston.
What prompted you to open Campfire and how did you choose its location?
The cannabis industry is such a new and fast growing industry that getting into it at the ground level was a really exciting idea for me and my two cousins. Having visited a number of dispensaries throughout the country, we saw an opportunity to build a dispensary that felt less transactional and instead focused on creating a more personalized experience, while providing great customer service.
Today, Campfire Cannabis is a family-owned and operated dispensary in West Boylston, with a second location to come in Salisbury. We chose West Boylston because it reminded us of the small towns that we grew up in. From the beginning, everyone we met in West Boylston was friendly, welcoming, and supportive of our new venture. It didn’t take long for us to see why West Boylston’s motto is “Small Town, Big Heart.”
How does the camping aesthetic and theme play into the business model?
The cannabis community is such a friendly and close-knit group of passionate people, and we wanted to bring that same sense of community inside the store. When people enter Campfire Cannabis we want them to feel comfortable and at ease so that they can start their cannabis experience on the right foot. The camping aesthetic fits perfectly with the environment and culture that we are working to create – one that is warm, friendly, and inviting.
When customers interact with our Rangers (our term for Budtenders), we want them to feel comfortable enough to ask any question they may have about the products we carry. This also allows our Rangers to recommend the best products for them.
Why did you pick camping as the theme?
We chose a camping theme because some of our best memories of being with our family and friends is usually outdoors hiking or sitting around a campfire. That is when we connected that having a camping theme would be a perfect set-up to have that sense of community that we want with our consumers.
What separates Campfire from other cannabis companies operating in the region?
Customer experience. We truly believe that the combination of being family-owned and operated, our store’s inviting aesthetics, and the customer service from our Rangers creates a unique experience for every customer that visits Campfire Cannabis. Additionally, we have one of the widest selection of products available to our consumers that you will find in the state. We are always looking for the latest and highest quality products available in Massachusetts.
What lessons have you learned as you opened a business during the coronavirus pandemic?
Opening during the coronavirus pandemic was definitely an interesting challenge. We quickly learned to start thinking about social distancing and coronavirus precautions at every step of opening the business. Of course, it also taught us that a plan never goes as planned. However, luckily we formed a fantastic team that was able to think quickly on their feet to keep the business moving in the right direction.
Campfire is family owned, correct? How does that impact the brand?
Campfire Cannabis is family owned and operated by myself and my two cousins, Neel Patel and Anand Patel. Being family owned and operated, in our opinion, makes our brand stronger. We pride ourselves in treating our team like family, so in-return they treat our customers like family. We hope this will help create a strong trust with our customers.
Is there anything coming down the pipeline at Campfire that you’re particularly excited about?
Absolutely! We are particularly excited about our second location in Salisbury, which will be opening in late spring/early summer of 2021. Being located in a small coastal beach town, our customers can expect to see a more nautical camping theme.
This interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ staff writer Monica Busch.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments