Our first check in with the woman-owned Social Equity business, talking brands and plans to expand
Lucky Green Ladies Founder and CEO Alissa Nowak came of age in the legacy market, as did most of her associates and first hires. That’s where the company’s name comes from; as they explain it, considering Nowak’s prior drug charges, she feels “lucky to be in the position she is in”—getting her Massachusetts Delivery Operator license through the state’s Social Equity Program—“since many other individuals with her experiences cannot open a business, especially in the cannabis industry.”
As close watchers of said industry, we have come to see many Social Equity operators as well as license holders in the overlapping delivery categories as trailblazers, so far setting the tone in political as well as brand promotion realms. From devising clever grassroots marketing approaches, to cross-industry collaborations like the new Rolling Releaf x Widowmaker Brewing New England IPA, to challenging unnecessary regulations that cut into their financial viability, they’re at the forefront. We’ve had the privilege of hearing candid accounts from many such small businesses, and the newly up and running Lucky Green Ladies has a lot to pay attention to.
In our introductory chat with them, we spoke with Facility Manager Jackie Elias and Manager Adrianna Gaudiello at the Harvest Cup earlier this month. They told us about how their first few weeks went, plus shared their hot products so far and the Norton-based company’s plans to expand to a retail space plus into neighboring New York.
On background and experience …
AG: Basically we were in the legacy market back in the day and we really just didn’t want to keep doing that and looking over our shoulder. Our owner had gotten in trouble and that actually led to us being a Social Equity participant. … That process started about four years ago when we applied for the license and we just opened [in October].
On location and delivery potential …
AG: The reason that we chose Norton has a lot to do with licensing and where we can go, but we picked it also because it’s got a high median income for families and also the Xfinity Center is not far, and Gillette Stadium is not far. We figured with all those factors it would be a good town for us to develop in.
On the current ban on delivering to hotels and commercial addresses …
AG: Unfortunately we can’t deliver to them right now but they’re re-developing the laws to make things easier for businesses like us.
On sales so far …
JE: We’re selling way more flower [than other products], but it really depends on the consumer. For elderly [customers] they are buying more vapes and edibles but I think flower is always number one.
As for brands …
JE: Caroline’s Cannabis is selling for sure. We are Social Equity and woman-owned, so we are always shouting out those companies. And we will have more Social Equity on the menu soon too. Nimbus is also on our menu and has been doing really great; In House, Regenerative, and Garden Remedies have also been big supporters.
On the challenges …
AG: Everything is trial and error. … Coming from the legacy market, having to follow all the regulations and compliance has been difficult. It’s been tough trying to figure it out, but everything’s been good so far.
On their next moves …
AG: We have a building three doors down from our facility that we’re looking to open a retail brick-and-mortar store, and we have our license in New York. We have two buildings in upstate New York, where we are opening as well.
