We’ve seen a lot in the cannabis retail industry over the years, but North Carolina’s The Happy Camper has to be one of the most interesting and unique operations we’ve had the pleasure of partnering with.
Operating under the regulations set forth in the 2018 Farm Bill, The Happy Camper offers a range of CBD and THC products that are federally legal in all 50 states. Customers can order online from anywhere in the U.S., but the lion’s share of the dispensary’s sales come from local customers who appreciate the focus on community, the free events, and, of course, the top-shelf products – all of which are formulated in-house.
From Manufacturing to Retail: The Happy Camper Origin Story
There are a few things that set The Happy Camper apart from other dispensaries. First, the company’s deep understanding of and intense focus on product quality is a result of its origin as a hemp manufacturer.
“We decided we really wanted to start putting products in people’s hands ourselves,” explained Tori Danku, Chief Operations Manager at The Happy Camper “We bought a 1960 Shasta Camper, rebuilt the inside and started going to a bunch of events. That’s when The Happy Camper was born.”
Tori says the mobile dispensary received so much positive feedback that within a year they were able to open their first brick and mortar location. These days, the operation includes three campers, two dispensaries, a lounge, and another dispensary-plus-lounge in the final stages of opening.
Community-Centered Cannabis
Along with their extensive line of high-quality products, customers appreciate the sense of community The Happy Camper has worked hard to foster.
“We put on weekly free events at our locations,” Tori said. “We do free yoga, free plant classes, free meditation; we have coffee vendors who pop up with us, so we really focus on getting people to come in and learn more about cannabis.”
Celebrations are another key way The Happy Camper builds community and spreads cannabis awareness. On 420, customers got to hang out in the lounge, listen to live music, and eat from a number of food trucks that were on-site. “Everyone loved it,” Tori said. “It was amazing.”
Why The Happy Camper Chose Cova
Like so many dispensaries before it, The Happy Camper tried a generic retail point of sale (POS) with less than stellar results.
“We started out with Square, and having hemp items was just a nightmare,” Tori explained. “They made it really challenging for us to be able to easily sell our product; there were all these hurdles and hoops we were trying to jump through.”
Another big pain point was the customer service.
“We would call them about an issue that came up, and no one could help. So we spent a lot of time looking at systems for actual dispensaries, and we saw a lot of good things about Cova.”
And the difference from their previous POS?
“It’s been night and day. Cova has exceptional support. Every time we call the support line, they answer our calls and provide feedback that’s not only effective, it’s very, very quick. If it’s an issue they can’t resolve on the spot, they’ll escalate it immediately and then follow up with us to make sure it was resolved.”
What Sets Cova Apart
In addition to responsive and knowledgeable client support, Tori said usability and customization really distinguish Cova’s dispensary POS from other solutions.
“The interface is super easy to use,” she said. “The support website has an SOP for just about every issue and how to troubleshoot it, and the e-learning platform is really awesome, too. A lot of our employees hop on there every once in a while to refresh themselves and make sure they’re taking advantage of all the cool things Cova is capable of.
“Cova also lets you basically submit a feature request. They worked with us and built a customized process for our company, which has really helped us stay organized. And they helped improve our loyalty program by making an integration that works directly with the POS system.”
Tori said reporting and reliability are two more areas where Cova stands out.
“The reports are really nice, and way more in-depth than what we were getting with Square,” she explained. “It allows us to spend less time trying to analyze stuff, because the data is so well organized and broken down.
“There were also numerous times where our previous system would shut down and we wouldn’t be able to process any sales. The whole system would go down and you’d try to call, and you couldn’t reach anybody.
“I think that’s a huge difference – when we call Cova, we know whoever we’re talking to knows the system like the back of their hand."
Growing Together
As The Happy Camper continues to grow its footprint in and around the Charlotte area, Tori says Cova is helping make expansion smooth and painless – both for staff and customers.
“It’s a very easy and reliable experience for our customers, because no matter what store they go to, they can put in their customer ID, and their account pops right up,” she said. “Another thing I love is being able to manage all the stores from one office. I can go look at audits, I can look at reports; I can tap into each store without having to physically be there, which has been really nice.”
As for thoughts on The Happy Camper’s success and advice for up-and-coming retailers?
“I really think it goes back to our culture and what we stand for,” Tori said. “Just the way we connect with people and educate them as they come in; I feel like a lot of stores miss the mark in that regard. We put a big emphasis on educating people on cannabis so they can make their own informed decisions on what to buy.
“For other retailers getting into the industry, I’d say pick a POS system that works well for your business model,” she added. “I recommend Cova, especially for businesses in states that aren’t legalized yet. It just makes your systems and processes much more efficient. Cova’s built for cannabis, so it lifts a huge weight off your shoulders when you switch over and get all these features that other softwares just don’t have.”
Ready to see how Cova’s dispensary technology solutions can help your CBD or THC retail store? Click here to book a free demo today!