Retail Revelations

In Episode 2 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan, aka The Dispensary Whisperer, sits down with Jessica Cranney, founder of Roots and Suits, to discuss how strong company culture drives success in cannabis retail and beyond.    

📌 Episode Highlights:   

✅  Jessica Cranney’s Background & Journey in Cannabis:   How her experience in HR and leadership led her to revolutionize cannabis workplace culture.    

✅  Building Strong Cannabis Business Cultures:  Why fostering trust, engagement, and team collaboration is crucial in dispensary operations.    

✅  The Role of People & Culture in Retail Success:   How happy and well-trained employees lead to better customer experiences and increased revenue.    

✅  How Leadership Impacts Employee Engagement:   What dispensary managers and business owners can do to create a thriving work environment.    

✅  Creating Inclusive & Supportive Work Environments:   How companies can support employees, prioritize wellness, and foster diversity in cannabis.    

✅  The Future of People & Culture in Cannabis:   Predictions on how cannabis businesses will evolve and what leaders need to do to stay ahead.    

🗣️ Quote from the Episode:   "The key to a successful cannabis business isn’t just the product—it’s the people behind it."  

 🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations 2: Chelsea Mulligan & J...   

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In Episode 3 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan, also known as The Dispensary Whisperer, sits down with Lauren Carpenter, co-founder of Embarc, a community-driven cannabis retail brand. This conversation dives deep into the intersection of cannabis retail, policy, and brand-building in today’s evolving market.    

📌 Episode Highlights:   

✅  Lauren Carpenter’s Journey Into Cannabis Industry Leadership:   Her path from government affairs to co-founding Embarc, one of California’s most community-focused cannabis brands.   

 ✅  Building a Community-Centered Cannabis Brand:  How Embarc prioritizes local engagement, education, and partnerships to create a sustainable and consumer-friendly retail experience.    

✅  Navigating the Challenges of Cannabis Retail:   The biggest obstacles dispensary owners face today, including regulatory hurdles, taxes, and consumer education.   

 ✅  The Role of Education in Cannabis Retail Success:  Why dispensary staff training and public education are essential for building trust and driving long-term growth.    

✅  Adapting to Shifting Regulations & Market Trends:   How businesses can *stay agile and thrive in the ever-changing cannabis retail landscape.*    

🗣️ Quote from the Episode:   "The most successful cannabis retailers are the ones who listen, educate, and engage with their communities."   

 🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations Episode 3: Chelsea Mull...      

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In Episode 5 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan (The Dispensary Whisperer) sits down with Britni Tantalo, co-founder of Flower City Dispensary and President of NYCRA (New York Cannabis Retail Association). From overcoming the weight of a past conviction to becoming one of New York’s most influential equity operators, Britni shares her raw truth about launching a dispensary, navigating broken promises in the CAURD program, and leading with empathy and collaboration.  

📌 Episode Highlights:

 ✅ Meet Britni Tantalo Britni shares how her cannabis conviction qualified her for a license under New York’s CARD program, and how her resilience paved the way to open Flower City Dispensary.  

✅ Building from the Ground Up From wholesale hydroponics to running a local grow shop, Britni and her husband created Medavega Corp, expanding access to cannabis knowledge and cultivation resources.  

✅ Leadership in Action As President of NYCRA, Britni unites license holders across the state, promoting “collaboration over competition” and advocating for social equity and community ownership.  

✅ Real Talk on CAURD Program Failures Britni breaks down the harsh realities of the New York retail cannabis rollout—from promised turnkey stores to legal delays and financial burdens.  

✅ Advice for New Operators Britni shares her top 3 lessons: understand state regulations, build a strong community network, and be financially over-prepared—then multiply that prep tenfold.  

🗣️ Quote from the Episode: “We were promised turnkey dispensaries and grants—but we got lawsuits, delays, and no support. Still, we rise.”  

🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations Ep 5: Britni Tantalo on...   

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In Episode 6 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan (aka The Dispensary Whisperer) sits down with Sandra Bergman—founder and chief strategist at ESBE—to unpack the true power of loyalty marketing in cannabis. From her work with major MSOs to launching creative retention strategies for dispensaries across 15 states, Sandra shares battle-tested insights that drive revenue and retention.  

📌 Episode Highlights: 

✅ Meet Sandra Bergman After two decades in mainstream marketing, Sandra pivoted to cannabis in 2019, managing retail marketing for two of Colorado’s largest MSOs. She now leads ESBE, a consultancy focused on optimizing loyalty programs and customer engagement strategies for dispensaries nationwide.  

✅ Real Loyalty Results Sandra’s retention strategies don’t just look good on paper—they deliver. She helped one client recapture 155 lapsed shoppers in six weeks and drove $1.3M in revenue in six months by optimizing customer communication flows.  

✅ Cannabis Retail Loyalty Musts Learn how to create automated welcome flows, milestone rewards, and win-back campaigns that increase foot traffic without breaking your margins. 

✅ Why Segmenting Saves You, Skip the one-size-fits-all blasts. Sandra shows how simple segmentation and POS data can supercharge your open rates and your ROI.  

🗣️ Quote from the Episode: “Loyalty isn’t just about points. It’s about timely, relevant, one-to-one communication that drives visits.” – Sandra Bergman  

🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations Ep 6: Sandra Bergman on...   

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In Episode 7 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan sits down with Jennifer Makris—known as the Cannabis Cash Queen—to dive deep into financial best practices in cannabis retail. Jennifer shares her expertise from 20 years in secure cash management and explains how she helps cannabis businesses stay compliant, efficient, and prepared.  

📌 Episode Highlights: 

✅ Meet Jennifer Makris An MBA and secure cash logistics expert, Jennifer is the founder of Cannabis Cash Consultants and a trusted advisor to cannabis operators navigating the tricky terrain of cash handling and compliance.  

✅ Cannabis + Cash = Complexity Jennifer discusses why secure cash handling in the cannabis industry isn't just a retail problem—it's a foundational issue for compliance, audits, and growth.  

✅ Build Smarter Retail Operations Learn why SOPs, staff training, audits, and internal controls are vital to protect your business from financial missteps and regulatory trouble.  

✅ Cash-Savvy Cannabis Strategy Get actionable tips for dispensary owners, operators, and staff to elevate their cash flow strategies while staying audit-ready.  

🗣️ Quote from the Video: “Being audit-ready isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating a culture of responsibility in your shop.” – Jennifer Makris  

🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations Ep 7: Cash Flow, Compli...   

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“Cash is your lifeline. If you can’t account for it, you can’t control it.”

In Episode 8 of Retail Revelations, host Chelsea Mulligan sits down with Ryan Baker, a seasoned Receiver at Verax Business Group, to explore one of the most misunderstood lifelines in cannabis business restructuring: receivership.  With over 15 years of experience and 200+ high-stakes cases under his belt—including 50+ cannabis license receiverships spanning cultivation, retail, delivery, and more—Ryan breaks down what every cannabis operator, investor, and regulator needs to know about this vital process.  

📌 Episode Highlights:  

✅ Meet Ryan Baker Receiver at Verax Business Group, Ryan has handled hundreds of receivership and regulatory matters for the SEC, DOJ, lenders, and private equity firms. He brings an unmatched depth of insight into cannabis-specific business distress and resolution.  

✅ What is Receivership? Ryan explains the receivership process, when it’s triggered, and how it differs from bankruptcy. Learn how this tool protects assets, stabilizes operations, and clears a path forward.  

✅ Why Cannabis Is Different From licensing complexities to fast-changing regulations, cannabis receiverships present unique challenges and opportunities. Ryan outlines how Verax navigates these to preserve license value and ensure compliance. 

✅ Advice for Operators & Investors Hear how to spot red flags, the importance of documentation and transparency, and how working with a receiver can provide a soft landing during difficult transitions.  

🗣️ Quote from the Video: "Receivership is not the end—it's a powerful tool to reset and protect what's been built." – Ryan Baker  

🎥 Watch the Full Episode Now:   • Retail Revelations Ep 8: Cannabis Receiver...   

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