Business View Magazine | July 2019

19 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 Insider Info: Cannabis Industry I n our exclusive Insider Info series, Business View talks with the top Cannabis influencers and advocates about the world’s hottest burgeoning industry. This month, we sit down with Jared Mirsky, CEO/Founder of Wick & Mortar. Outlook BVM: What is the first piece of advice you’d give to a business considering going into or expanding into Cannabis? Mirsky: “My first piece of advice would be to listen. There are so many people that come into this industry claiming to have a “game changer” unlike anything that’s ever been seen before. They are all convinced the industry won’t survive without their ingenuity. What’s important for anyone coming into this business to realize is that there are people who have been growing this plant, fighting for legalization and decriminalization, and crafting tinctures for decades. Learn from them! “Right behind that, I would advise them to consider strategic partnerships. Not every company has to do every single thing, especially when they are first getting started. Take a look at what your core competencies are and then forge strategic partnerships to fill the gaps. We take care of a lot in-house, but our strategic partners are so important because they allow us to provide even more value to our clients.” Challenges BVM: What are some common missteps/mistakes you see? Mirsky: “By far, the most common branding misstep I see are brand names with “canna-” or some other colloquial cannabis term. Undoubtedly, these names usually come paired with a pot leaf