I just gave a 5 star review but I was unable to add the entirety of my review, so I am providing another review to include the remainder of my comments (two additional areas of improvement):
The second area of improvement i think you should consider addressing is the limited hours. I work late in the hospitality industry and since I live nearby, I drive past this location every night after your store closies. It is interesting how often I see someone pull into the parking lot, linger momentarily, and then (presumably) realize the store is closed, and then drive away. Charlotte has grown tremendously, it’s one of the largest cities on the East Coast, and yet there really isn’t much competition for quality late night cannabis products. Even extending hours a few nights a week like Fridays and Saturdays or offering a late night pickup option could capture a lot of business that is currently being lost. Just put in a window for limited pickup sales late night (10-midnight) to mitigate any security concerns. I understand the location at the French Quarter is open later some nights until midnight, but as a female alone at night and with no convenient directly adjacent parking options available, I hesitate to visit that location late at night due to the high crime in that area and serious safety concerns.
The third area that needs improvement is the rewards program. The current system is simple, ($5 off your next purchase for every $100 you spend) but I think it could do more to reward loyal customers. When someone spends a significant amount with a business over time (🙋🏻♀️), it would be nice to see tiered rewards with better perks for your more loyal and consistent clients (something as simple and cost-effective as a free preroll for every $200 spent within a specific time frame which incentivizes the guest to return sooner than later, or maybe an 8th for every $1000, etc.), or even offer exclusive merchandise, special promotions, swag from the brands you carry or your brand, samples of new products, guest appreciation events, or other perks that make regular customers feel appreciated). A little recognition goes a long way and improving your rewards program to show genuine appreciation (especially for your big spenders) incentivizes repeat patronage and brand loyalty.
One final thing for management: don’t overlook the people working your sales floor. Because I’m a regular, I spend a lot of time chatting with the staff, and there are some genuinely smart and creative people working in this store. Many of them have innovative ideas about enhancing customer experience, education, community outreach initiatives, operations, products, and they have a wealth of great marketing ideas. If there isn’t already a formal process for employees to submit suggestions, there should be. The people interacting with customers every day often have the best insight into what’s working and what isn’t.
Overall, this is an easy five star review from me. The staff is exceptional, the products are consistently good, and it’s one of my favorite businesses in the neighborhood. I genuinely hope Apotheca continues to grow because they’ve built something special here, and they have a team that deserves to grow right alongside it.