With adult-use cannabis legalization sweeping the nation, albeit state-by-state, there is no shortage of events to attend, ranging from local gatherings to major trade shows with a national or even a global draw. And every show seems to cater to a different segment of the industry, whether you’re a cultivator, processor, retailer, and distributor, or increasingly more often, the end consumer.
So how do cannabis professionals prioritize which shows to attend and maximize their investment in the travel, lodging, and passes? We’re all on a budget and it’s important to get the most out of every event we attend. While everyone has their favorites, often influenced by their role in the industry, here are five reasons I personally recommend checking out MJ Unpacked.
1. 100% Industry Professionals: Whether you're an entrepreneur or established cannabis business looking to expand your cannabis-related ventures, MJ Unpacked offers an excellent opportunity to identify potential business partners, explore investment opportunities, and collaborate with like-minded individuals. One thing you won’t find at MJ Unpacked is people who aren’t in the industry. The show is very strict about only admitting Brands, Retailers/Distributors, and Investors, so while the shows might be smaller than the mega conferences that exist today, it’s because they take a quality over quantity approach.
2. Branding Made Simple: Most trade shows have the same formula: expensive booths that require a significant amount of branding and labor to build. While MJ Unpacked offers traditional booths, they pioneered the idea of product showcases, which resemble a nice jewelry case for showing off your brand. Let’s face it, most cannabis brands have a handful of products that fit in your pocket and don’t need a half empty 10x10 booth to show off their goods. The product showcases allow brands to build a rich, compact display at a fraction of the resources a traditional booth requires. They also make exploring all of the brands much easier for retailers and investors.
3. Data, Not Just Opinions: Like most events, MJ Unpacked features a wide variety of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and educational sessions led by industry leaders. But one thing I noticed is the amount of valuable data that could be collected about emerging markets in these conversations, especially as it pertained to an emerging market like New York. MJ Unpacked brings together experts that divulge real market intelligence and data-driven through their presentations that can help drive informed business decisions.
4. Real Investor Connections: For entrepreneurs seeking investment in their cannabis endeavors, MJ Unpacked can be a valuable platform to connect with potential investors. Pitch sessions, investor panels, and dedicated networking events including this year’s Venture Summit help facilitate introductions and discussions with venture capitalists and angel investors. And that’s not just lip service – at some conferences you could spend the entire day just trying to find a place to meet with investors. At MJ Unpacked there are a ton of interested investors on-site and dedicated places to meet with them in the same building where everything else is happening.
5. A Focus On Local: The founders of MJ Unpacked come from the big industry event circuit which tend to focus on one huge event a year, usually in Las Vegas, where you are inundated with everything the industry has to offer. Sure it’s a good time, but it’s really hard to absorb most of it. And does anyone really make it through the entire convention center? I find that MJ Unpacked has made an effort to produce more intimate, focused events in a format that can fit any market including Las Vegas, as well as New York and soon, Detroit. While we all have the big picture in mind, we’re in a state-by-state business and their focus on key regions is an important differentiator.
As the founder of this very online platform (BudsFeed) and also an entrepreneur in both the ancillary (Chill Steel Pipes) and plant touching (Gentlemen Smugglers) side of the cannabis business, it’s safe to say you’ll see me at most conferences. I find some benefit in most of the shows I attend and if I didn’t, you wouldn’t see me there.
That said, I’ve been to MJ Unpacked three times now and I’ve always walked away with a ton of value, whether it’s a new investor, a new client, or sometimes just the opportunity to meet with people who I have only done business with from afar. In their short run so far, MJ Unpacked has made an indelible mark on the industry and I think it’s clear that they’re just getting started.
