We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lilach Mazor Power a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lilach, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I never planned on starting a cannabis business, but when Arizona legalized medical marijuana in 2010, I knew I had a rare opportunity to not only enter a new American industry, but help shape it. Entrepreneurship often goes hand in hand with risk, but this endeavor was challenging on another level. My family and business partner at the time were hesitant since the risks seemed to outnumber the rewards. The federal government wasn’t clear on their position and people were getting arrested in other states. Additionally, because of the hazy legality surrounding cannabis operations, we did not have access to traditional banking and loans and had to self-fund the venture. Another barrier was the steep learning curve. I didn’t know how to grow cannabis, let alone at a commercial level, and early on it was difficult to find experienced employees who felt comfortable working for a cannabis business.

Ultimately, we learned a lot of lessons early on. Perhaps most important was finding a team that was committed to our core values regardless of their experience level. Having a group who cared about helping others on their cannabis journey was essential. I had always been a believer in the medical properties of cannabis, and having a team behind me who shared this sentiment propelled us forward. Giving Tree Dispensary will celebrate its 12th anniversary next year and though we still face struggles that many mainstream industries do not, it’s been incredibly rewarding to help grow this industry from the ground up. For me, entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business, it’s about building a sustainable business for the long term.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At Giving Tree Dispensary, we’ve been very thoughtful in our approach. As one of the few locally-owned and operated dispensaries in Arizona, we’ve carved out a very different retail experience where our services, product selection, and “grown for good” mission rings true. Over the past decade, the cannabis market has changed exponentially. It’s become a more price-sensitive environment and we’ve seen rapid consolidation where multi-state operators dominate. In our messaging, we make it clear that by shopping locally, our customers are supporting the households of 40+ local employees. Every dollar they spend stays in the community. And community is at the heart and root of our organization.

We stand behind each and every item we sell as one of the only dispensaries in the state to offer a 10-day, risk-free guarantee. This allows a customer to return any purchase for another that will better suit their needs. We’ve also made a point to curate our retail environment with visual storytelling. We highlight other locally owned brands and share their story through our merchandising. It’s important our customers have a shopping experience that is interactive, comfortable, and where they can enjoy service at their speed. Shoppers who know exactly what they want can pre-order online for a faster checkout, and those new to cannabis or interested in exploring other products can speak to one of our dedicated concierges.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Open and honest communication is key. From the beginning, we’ve been transparent in sharing the ups and downs of the market with our employees and it has allowed us to forge a deeper connection with them. This has helped us maintain morale during tough times. How we act and interact shows our commitment to them and to the business. Having their loyalty and buy-in means a lot. It’s also incredibly gratifying to work with a group of people who are happy to work for a small business.

Another core component of our team building is through our give back initiatives. Volunteering together and supporting local organizations helps remind us that we are part of something bigger. This year, we are taking part in Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Ignite Hope event. The Giving Tree Dispensary team will participate in a candlelit walk and raise funds, matching every donation under the Giving Tree Dispensary campaign up to $5,000 for patients and families during the holiday season.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Whether in business, career, or life, it’s important to recognize when things aren’t working and to be able to adapt accordingly. Recently, we made the decision to return to limited batches of one of our best-selling brands, Sneakers. The brand was first developed because we had an excess amount of cannabis flower. By creating our own product line of pre-rolls we could reduce our plant waste. Sales took off with customers appreciating the premium small-batch flower, which is often missing from other pre-rolls on the market. The demand for Sneakers began to outweigh our supply, and we soon found ourselves racing to keep up. Ultimately, we had to take a step back and acknowledge we had lost sight of what we were originally trying to accomplish. By returning to a small-batch, limited-edition mentality, we’re embracing quality over quantity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://givingtreedispensary.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilachmazorpower/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Giving-Tree-Dispensary-112903487929344
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilach-mazor-power/