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DOSHA Farms missed a monthslong court injunction by the skin of its teeth.
The Oneonta-based dispensary received its final approvals to open the store about a week before a state Supreme Court judge enjoined the Office of Cannabis Management from greenlighting more shops – a move that prevented hundreds of retailers from opening for nearly four months.
Since DOSHA Farms opened, the store has been doing better business than initially expected, owner Korey Rowe told NY Cannabis Insider, and is serving up to 400 people per day.
In a Q&A with NY Cannabis Insider, Rowe answered questions about what customers are buying, how business has been in the first six months and the store’s long-term plans.
When did you officially open?
We opened Aug. 12th, 2023. A week before the injunction. Phew.
About how many customers are you seeing on weekdays and weekends?
We are a small shop in a small town and our numbers reflect that. On average we see between 250-400 people on a weekend/holiday. The average cart size is around $102.
How does that compare to your projections before opening?
Way higher. I was not expecting the foot traffic we have on a day-to-day basis. It’s astonishing.
DOSHA Farms adult-use cannabis dispensary on Oneonta, N.Y.DOSHA Farms
How many full-time and part-time workers do you employ?
We have 12 full-time and two part-time employees. We are only open nine hours a day, six days per week. This keeps overhead low.
What kinds of products are selling the most?
Flower is king all day everyday – and we sell the best flower New York has to offer. I personally tried all of it.
What brands are selling the most?
The cheaper ones. We are a stone’s throw from the poorest area of New York State. You got an ounce of flower for cheap? That will sell all day here. Cheap half ounces we can’t keep in stock.
Which demographics do you see as your target market?
As we are the only shop for 60 miles in any direction, we target all demographics and we do that by offering delivery up to 20 miles from the shop. We are establishing ourselves each day in small towns all over our area as the go-to reliable source of legal cannabis products, which is really exciting. We offer on-demand delivery for a flat fee of $3.50. We have three delivery vehicles running all day and are in the market for car No. 4.
Can you describe your business experience outside of cannabis?
I own a media company, Otsego Media, which focuses on video creation. I produce documentaries, TV shows, movies, commercials and more.
How does that experience translate to running a cannabis dispensary?
It really didn’t. Retail is not anything like video production and it has been a challenge for me to shake some of my set-life habits in the new retail environment. Thankfully I have an amazing management team that keeps me on the right path.
How much of a problem do illicit cannabis shops present to your business?
We are in a small city of 10,000 people. I am the only legal shop for 60 miles, yet Oneonta alone has five illegal shops and one illegal delivery service. The cops and the Office of Cannabis Management are unwilling and incapable of doing anything about it. I have had meetings with everyone from state Sen. Peter Oberacker to the chief of police and my mayor and they all blame the state for not being able to stop the shops.
Can you tell us about your long-term plans for your store?
I’m following the Dollar General model: why compete with Walmart when we live in a state that has a larger rural than urban market.
What state cannabis policies/regulations do you think are the most helpful to your business?
The slow-ass roll-out! LMAO.
What state cannabis policies/regulations do you think present the most challenges to your business?
All of the marketing restrictions that are held to cannabis but not beer and liquor. I can sample beer and wine at a “smoke shop” that sells drinks and cigarettes and then get in my car and drive away. But I can’t have a rep talk to my customers in my shop about this new market?
Can you describe how you’re hiring and training employees?
We are a family here, we opened on a dime and took no outside investment or loans. If you don’t know someone who works here you are not getting in – we don’t post jobs publicly. Training happens all days in all ways. We have multiple training programs inside and out of the workplace. We offer our employees consistent raises, job advancement, sick time and paid family leave, paid vacations, gym memberships, vehicle sharing programs, loan opportunities, company parties, farm tours and bags and bags of amazing samples. Our employees would probably knife fight a new hire to hold their positions. Kidding of course … mostly.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs planning on opening dispensaries?
Open cheap and fast. Build the plane as you fly it. Go now, stop reading, you have a s*it load of work to do!