We recently connected with Brock Binder and have shared our conversation below.
Brock, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mother suffered from a loss of cartilage in her lower spine. In order to alleviate the pain endured, she resorted to her doctor’s recommended resource, prescription painkillers. Years later, I watched her through an emergency room window after an opioid overdose, unknowing if she’d still be with me the next day. What I did know is if she was, I would do all in my power to see that she never had to rely on opioids again.
At the age of eighteen, I began volunteering at a private physical therapy clinic, learning the nuances of rehabilitation. After time with the company, I worked with many patients who found the workouts prescribed to be too difficult to complete due to the pain they were in.
I realized, PAIN IS A CRISIS, and the pharmaceutical industry is capitalizing on it at the expense of our loved ones.
I wanted to address this issue through natural alternatives.
I researched natural alternative medicine in Oregon and that is when I found Cannabis.
Through the privileges of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, I was granted legal access to cannabis, and soon after, began sharing this medicine with my mother and patients. Within 60 days my mother had cut her prescription painkillers in half. After 6 months, she was opioid free.
Within a year after cannabis, she had regained her strength, and obtained a job for the first time in nearly TWENTY years.
I thought, if I could bridge the gap between the plant and the people, maybe I can help many more and a few years later, High Quality – Dispensary of Wellbeing was born.
Brock, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I decided to take my commitment to natural rehabilitation to the next level and moved to Corvallis, Oregon to pursue a degree in Agricultural Business Management at Oregon State University. While there, I maintained a position as an operations manager and in store accountant at Fred Meyer.
Soon after I found a private cannabis research lab to intern at to study the plant applied that research at OSU.
I completed my senior thesis study by creating an Economic Feasibility Study on becoming a cannabis grower in Oregon, becoming the first student to receive credits by growing and researching cannabis.
Applying my knowledge in retail, cannabis growing, processing, and utilizing it as a medicine, I was able to raise funding and secure Benton County’s very first Oregon Medical Cannabis Retailers license, the 14th in the state of Oregon and become the youngest dispensary owner in the nation.
I want people to know that while we sell cannabis and plant based natural medicine and products, we are also strong stewards of our community and a resource in facilitating happiness & wellbeing within our plants, people, pets pillars.
Our pillars of wellbeing support the physical, but also the spiritual, economic and social wellbeing of the members of our community. We do this by the commitment we make in making people feel seen and heard. Our relationships extend far beyond the inside of our store as we provide wellness education on our social media @highqualitylife_ and website www.highquality.life, and host community markets/block parties to facilitate opportunities for small business owners to gain awareness of their products/services and for others to connect and hopefully make a new friend.
We have raised money and donated over $5,500 to various non profits while reducing plastic waste by pledging $0.25 for each transaction that does not require the use of new plastic. This money has been deployed to assist efforts such as the Olivia Newton-John foundation that helps find kinder ways to treat cancer, The last prisoner project which helps those who have been wrongfully imprisoned for non-violent cannabis crimes, and our local animal shelter to ensure our furry friends get the resources they need.
We have been recognized in the top dispensaries in the nation by business insider, best in Oregon by Leafly and small business of the year by our local chamber of commerce.
I myself was a nominee for business person of the year this year.
Last, after many lessons learned navigating an emerging industry that is still federally illegal and disallows normal business deductions I have taken this knowledge to help consult other small businesses on how to be successful while remaining purpose driven and staying in alignment with their values.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As mentioned, I operate a business that is unable to take normal business deductions, meaning you can operate at a loss and still owe a ton in taxes. After navigating a switch to a new CPA and catching up on several years of tax returns, I woke up one morning to a piece of mail from the IRS stating my company owed over $500,000.00 and that I could not leave the country and my personal assets may be seized.
In business school one big takeaway was “do what you best and outsource the rest”. In times of turmoil, I immediately ask myself “what resources do I have at my disposal”? I contacted my attorneys to navigate this new news, and while a hard pill to swallow, set up a payment plan with the IRS as cannabis businesses don’t have bankruptcy protections.
I’ll mention that at one point the IRS seized our bank account the day before payroll, yet again spurring a jump into action to focus on what I could control and ensured funds were returned and my people were paid.
I took a big look at what it would take to ensure we didn’t get in this position again and despite everchanging ups and downs in the industry, worked with my management team to control costs to increase the cash flow necessary to make payments that could satisfy a 70% effective tax rate. It took a ton of sacrifice personally, cutting my pay nearly in half, and our team working with less, but I am proud to say we as a company have never resorted to layoffs as a means to correct financial distress; we come together to look at a problem as it is and no more than it is.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Trust, empower, and recognize that a business is a group of humans and should be treated as such.
At High Quality we recognize that the best customer experience starts with the employee experience.
I trust and empower my people, promote from within and try to lean on them to tell me what to do vs tell them. Our general, store, inventory and marketing managers have all been with the company 6+ years and all started as receptionists. My managers are amazing and understand business while maintaining a people first mentality ensuring that we help our team navigate personal and professional growth simultaneously.
We put people over profits. As a retailer closing your store for any amount of time can be costly, but we believe in connecting with our people. We close our shop early once a quarter for “sample nights” where we try products together, cook good food and have a good time (One of the night’s was karaoke).
We close our store for two and a half days for our annual camping trip where we take our entire team and even vendors out to our farm and enjoy nature together. We pay our people to represent the company at community events, creating social bonds with the people they impact every day. We also recognize and have been told food is a big motivator, so next to financial benefits, a personal door dash meal here and there really seems to lift some spirits ;)
Contact Info:
- Website: Business: www.highquality.life Personal: brockbinder.com
- Instagram: Business: highqualitylife_ Personal: Bind_air
- Facebook: Business: highqualitycompassion Personal: Brock Binder
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brock-binder-67571a11b
- Youtube: highqualitylife541
- Other: TikTok: high.quality.oregonEmail: [email protected]
Image Credits
Mariah Hagenbach
Renee Guerrero
G.Christianson Construction