We were lucky to catch up with Ali Bianco recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Originally, my parents were a little bit hesitant about the path I wanted to take in the cannabis industry. They’ve always valued stability and weren’t sure if my career could lead to stability. It took time and plenty of convincing them to prove I could be responsible enough to run my own business. They eventually sat me down and talked with me about this idea of mine. They wanted to reassure me that despite the stigma surrounding the cannabis industry, they had faith in me going into this. One of the most important things my parents taught me growing up was to stay focused on my path. I want to credit that to my success in this industry. I owe everything to my parents for the ability to eventually trust me in doing this.

Now, my product is featured in multiple dispensaries across New York, and I have plans to expand into new states. The moment that made all of this feel real to me was not only seeing my products placed in various dispensaries, but it was when my parents attended my first official product drop toward the end of this year’s New York Fashion Week. I was beyond happy to see them there. Their presence made me feel like all of this work was not a mistake.

Another great lesson they’ve taught me was the importance of free will. Even though they originally had doubts about my place in this field, I still went for it, and it’s paying off. They knew I had dreams of being an entrepreneur, and they never stood in my way. They only want to provide guidance for me, and I am blessed to have them in my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in Central New Jersey, and I was always immersed in cannabis culture. I knew I wanted to do more than just consume cannabis, I wanted to help shape the industry. I saw an opportunity to create something unique: a women-founded, women-led brand that combined luxury, sustainability, and community. In December 2022, I was able to bring my vision to life by launching my brand, Pinks Products.

My focus with Pinks is to make this the cannabis brand you think of when discussing sustainability. We use organically grown cannabis and recycled packaging. Our best-selling product is our rose petal-wrapped pre-rolls that we source from India. The nice thing about smoking rose petals is they provide the consumer with antioxidant, healing and calming properties. We want to ensure that our customers know they buy from a transparent and honest brand. We like to partner with other companies that reflect those values. Our partnership with Sugarhouse Farms, which is an organic, regenerative farm in New York, allows us to cultivate cannabis with care while prioritizing eco-conscious practices.

Outside of our products, we are a community-focused brand as well. I am a member of the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and I strive to support and uplift women who are coming up in this industry. Giving back is another important part of our mission. We like to give a portion of our sales to different nonprofits and charities across the United States.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I learned that none of this would be possible if I didn’t welcome new relationships. For a long time, I thought that success would come if I handled every decision, challenge, or opportunity alone. After some time, I quickly realized this mindset had to change.

As soon as I started to build genuine connections with people in the cannabis industry, that’s when everything turned for the better. When I began to present Pinks at different expos and gatherings, I met people who shared my vision, offered helpful advice, and provided new opportunities that I would not have been able to find on my own. I mentioned the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce earlier, but I want to credit them for becoming such a great network of friends and collaborators.

The truth is no one really succeeds alone. There’s a level of self-reliance that is necessary, but you have to make sure you are not getting in the way of people who truly want to see you go far. The more I embraced that, the more I saw myself and Pinks excel in this industry.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Building a strong brand reputation is something that I think needs to be discussed more. Our reputation in the cannabis industry has been built on remaining fun and engaging for our consumers. We want to make our customers feel like when they try Pinks, they’re now part of a growing family that supports and uplifts each other. The goal with Pinks is to make it a brand that people can naturally gravitate toward.

People remember how you make them feel. Keeping my brand’s reputation in mind, along with strengthening my relationship with my consumers, has helped me grow so much in only a few years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pinksproduct.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puffinpinks/
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/alice-bianco-704908320

Image Credits

Christian Lora