How It Started: Supporting Retailers with Mike Wilson, Founder of Temeka

As part of our “How It Started” interview series, we had the pleasure of chatting with Mike Wilson, Founder of Temeka, a one-stop-shop for design, fabrication and installation of compelling retail, commercial spaces and more.
What was it about cannabis that first piqued your interest, and when did that happen?

We did a few stores in early 2000 that were for friends and didn’t think too much of it. Then, when we saw the WA, OR and CO markets taking off, we knew it was something that we could do well and was an easy addition to the services we were already providing. When we took the leap and jumped into the CA market, we were blessed to do work for brands like Stiiizy and Cookies, which propelled us to national attention.

How did Temeka come to life? What is its origin story?

I started the company in 1991 doing traditional retail environments. Temeka has built stores in every mall and/or stadium in the US.

What is it about the company that makes it stand out?

We provide a turnkey solution that supports retailers from the moment they get their license to when they open their doors. That all in one solution allows us to set up the customer for success. There have been many occasions where customers have come to us after dealing with three different consultants and subsequently running out of money. Many are then forced to sell off equity late in the game to get the capital to finish off their store. We also assist with property selection, which is one of the biggest mistakes people make. They often decide on a property through an emotional lens, rather than a business lens.

What does your typical day look like and what do you enjoy most about your work?

Taking a lot of calls/emails with customers and partners we have in the space. We have been blessed to have created a Temeka family that we take a lot of pride in. I enjoy collaborating with everyone on a daily basis.

What has been the highlight of your cannabis career to date?

Being able to work on Stiiizy’s first store in downtown LA. That really put Temeka on the map. It’s a flagship location in a space that really produces. They’re seeing sales of $60M at the counter/$20M via delivery.

Can you give us one cannabis trend that excites you?

Watching the market slowly get out of its infancy. We’re seeing lots of new technology, industry collaboration and learning lessons on best practices for success in this sector. Unfortunately, in new markets failure happens, but the industry is learning from it and collectively moving the needle forward.

Is there a product or service you hope someone creates to serve the cannabis community?

We’re really proud of two products we have created. The Temeka line will be a store in a box that will look fantastic but save the customer approximately 35%. We have been working hard on lowering cost of entry into the market. We have developed three glass case versions with modular pieces that someone can buy off our shelf. Secondly, Greenspace is a software we created that’s a location-based system to help licensees manage regulatory compliance and operation from one source. There’s been a heavy dependency on consultants in this space. The industry is growing faster than service providers can handle. There needed to be something that could institutionalize the IP and make it scalable, and Greenspace offers just that.

What is the biggest change you want to see in the sector?

Widespread normalization. Cannabis companies should have access to capital and banking like any other business. Too many people are taken advantage of in the space because of the unnecessary barriers that come with the industry.

Any advice you would give to someone looking to enter the cannabis industry?

Be careful and do your due diligence. It’s expensive to get in the space and you’ll want to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of. Be cognizant of exactly what you’re getting into and be prepared for it. So many people think they can get into space with a certain budget and it ends up being 4x that amount due to poor planning or unforeseen roadblocks.

What’s next for you? What should we be on the lookout for?

We are looking forward to getting the social equity stores built in New York and officially launching Greenspace and seeing it grow.