Marijuana Business Magazine September 2018

JESSE PIXLER Creative Director, Cohnnabis Denver | Pick: Pollen Gear I was in search of a container for two of my high-end cannabis clients: One produces flower and concentrates, and the other was developing a topical salve. Both needed containers that met the industry requirements for childproofing but also felt substantial and matched the premium feel of their brands. In Pollen Gear, I found a company that has developed nontraditional product containers that are modern and childproof. They also provide customization options, which was perfect for the opaque container we needed for the topical salve. JONNY GOOD Director of Sales and Marketing, Vashon Velvet Bend, Oregon | Pick: Great Pacific Packaging We get our jars and our custom mylar bags from Great Pacific Packaging (GPP), and they go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect. If anything is ever amiss, GPP will correct it immedi- ately and professionally. Our rep, Ormond, has been amazing to work with. I’ve had some suppliers in the past question what our company is, and when we respond, I’ve been met with contempt; so it’s nice to have a company that is actually intrigued and keeps it professional. NICHOLE GRAF Owner, Creative Director and Head of Product Development, Raven Grass Olympia, Washington | Pick: ThomasNet.com When we choose a packaging supplier to work with, equally as important as the product itself are the environmental and social considerations of the company producing that component. I have come to rely on ThomasNet.com as a valuable resource for searching businesses that meet often hard-to-determine criteria: minority-owned business, small and disadvantaged business, woman- owned, veteran-owned, as well as other certifications and registrations. They provide product cata- logs, capabilities profiles, quality certifications and regional sorting features. STEVE DE FOREST Chief Operations Officer, Green Gorilla Los Angeles | Pick: Tri Print and Excel Packaging We have two key/main packaging partners. Tri Print is our label/carton supplier for all of Green Gorilla’s Hemp & Olive products, and Excel Packaging is our dog-treat-bag supplier. Both are our packaging partners due to their unmatched quality, lead times and competitive pricing. Additionally, both companies are truly “customer-centric” in their attention to detail and responsiveness to our needs. They both fully understand and embrace our brand strategy and look. OLIVER STANNARD Director of Business Development, Green Labs Raymond, Washington | Pick: Swifts Brands The product development companies we work worth, mainly Swifts Brands, provide the majority of our packaging. These companies have relationships with packaging manufacturers that allow them to provide higher quality at the lowest costs. They provide complete packaging solutions and are able to leverage their connections to allow short-run orders of custom packaging that directly matches our needs. Partnering with companies that are invested in the end product helps ensure quality remains consistent. E ach month, we survey a group of marijuana industry executives and ask them to name a favorite item – such as a strain, top-selling product or edibles ingre- dient. We welcome your suggestions for topics. Email us at editorial@mjbizdaily.com. This month, we’ve asked five executives to share their favorite marijuana packaging product or provider. 14 • Marijuana Business Magazine • September 2018