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When Long Island City dispensary NYCBUD launched delivery sales in February, owner Jonpaul Pezzo thought his shop would be inundated with delivery calls right away – but the actual trajectory has been different.
“It was really nothing for the first week and a half, which was stressful because we didn’t know what to do for staffing,” Pezzo said. “But we’ve noticed that it’s slowly ramping up.”
Right now, deliveries make up about 5% of NYCBUD’s sales, which Pezzo said is lower than he and partners expected. Even so, as they become more familiar with which customer demographics lean toward licensed delivery services and adjust operations with demand, Pezzo believes deliveries will eventually be a key – and growing – part of the store’s revenue.
“Where do I see it going? I envision delivery to be the main part of the business.”
Long before cannabis legalization seemed like a serious prospect, informal delivery services served as a primary retail method for the underground weed market. As many of the increasing number of licensed dispensaries coming online are also operating delivery services, entrepreneurs are working out the kinks, and
