Spotlight: Exclusive Interview with Cannabis 'Fempreneur', Lana Van Brunt from Sackville & Co.
By Betti Halsell
“ When Building a Business, Quitting is Never an Option.”
Sackville & Co is a cannabis-based boutique that stands firm behind the values of their product. EA got an exclusive interview with one of the owners, Lana Van Brunt, and she shared her awareness and energy devoted to building a sustainable business.
Van Brunt revealed the tenacity rolled up in the Sackville & Co. name, quitting was never an option. Running a women-owned cannabis business comes with its own crafted barriers. Van Brunt confirmed that every obstacle that stood in the way of success, continues to be an enduring push forward to break new ground.
Sackville & Co. started with the combination of two minds, Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt. They were aligned under one mission: finding the lost romance in rolling up petals from their favorite flower. They created “design-forward” products. Dineen and Van Brunt did extensive research, strategic marketing, and through their unique experiences, they found their niche market.
Below, Van Brunt unearths the mindset needed to enjoy the experience of being a self-made woman in an “unconventional” business.
Q: What's the most challenging part of running a cannabis-focused brand?
A: Anyone running a startup will tell you that being an entrepreneur brings an endless supply of challenges, but that's kind of the reason I think we all become entrepreneurs in the first place, we're in love with the process of figuring out solutions to some of the craziest road blocks you can think of! Haha
Q: What is the one thing you know now after your years of running Sackville & Co., that you wish you would've known when you started?
A: There are a hundred things we wish we knew in advance! But hindsight in everything is always 20/20. It's important to look back at every situation and learn what worked and what didn't so that you can move forward thoughtfully and make sure you’re on the path you want to be on.
Q: Why didn't you give up trying to grow your business? What keeps you going every day?
A: That's not even a phrase that has ever come into our minds. When things get tough we dive deeper into why we believe in our business and focus on ways to highlight those aspects. Anyone running a business needs to know when to pivot if something isn't working. But, when you truly believe in your brand and your product, giving up isn't even on the table.
Q: If you were able to travel back in time to any part of your journey in growing your business, what specific time frame would you travel to, and what would you say to your past self?
A: We would tell ourselves to enjoy the process; building a business you love is a real privilege. Looking back at the past couple of years there are so many funny moments, that were really just small--seemingly inconsequential pieces of growing the brand, but they make it what it is today.
Main advice: take more behind the scenes pictures, you're going to want to remember the phase you're in now, when you're 10 steps ahead.
Q: What is the most important thing to look out for when choosing vendors to do business with?
A: Integrity. Your vendors are your partners in business - you want to choose people who you can build a relationship with!
Q: When you went to the Hall of Flowers convention, what vibe did you take away from sharing the same space with similar businesses? Did you meet any other women-owned brands that you connected with?
A: It was great for us to just have time to meet other new brands in the space and get to know each other in a more personal informal way - The women working within the cannabis industry are all very tight knit and supportive. We all care for, uplift and support each other. That's a truly unique and incredible aspect of this industry.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could do to improve your brand?
A: We wish that there was less censorship on social media for cannabis brands, it’s always terrifying knowing you could have your platform taken from you at any moment. We also wish more payment processors would accept cannabis brands!!
Q: What is the most important thing to invest your money and time in, when building a cannabis business brand?
A: Test the market before blowing money on large orders; small runs are more expensive - but it's often worth it to try things in small batches & see if it's a fit for your brand before over committing in time or money! At the end of the day, It's impossible to narrow this down to one thing, each business within the industry is so different and will require a completely unique business plan.
