Shipping container cannabis stores aim to cash in on neglected rural markets

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Shipping container cannabis stores aim to cash in
on neglected rural markets

• By
• POPCANN

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• Cannabis retail is in its infancy, but that
  hasnt stopped one startup from thumbing its nose
  at the status quo.
• Toronto-based POPCANN is betting on pop-up
  cannabis stores, as the name implies. The company
  is looking to deploy mobile, shipping
  container-based retail hubs into rural
  communities and regions currently underserved by
  brick-and-mortar shops.
• Co-founders Mike Girgis and Jake Neiman also are
  eyeing events like music festivals as venues for
  temporary locations if cannabis is allowed to be
  sold under Special Occasion Permits like alcohol.
• The pair have developed a prototype POPCANN store
  they say is ready for market once a license can
  be secured. The retrofitted shipping container
  currently sits in a fenced-off parking lot near
  the companys studio in Torontos west end.

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• The retrofitted shipping container currently sits
  in a fenced-off parking lot near the companys
  studio in Torontos west end. (Yahoo Finance
  Canada)

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• Quick Service Cannabis
• Future customers will approach POPCANN stores on
  wooden ramps enabling full accessibility. The
  containers large steel doors display age and
  identification instructions. The entrance leads
  into a small room where security personnel can
  check IDs.
• The interior is modern and crisp. Today,
  projectors on the ceiling cast images of lakes
  and mountain ranges onto the walls, but the
  graphics can be customized to suit any occasion.
• Deeper into the container, skylights and
  floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural
  light through one-way glass designed to keep
  transactions out of public view.
• Customers have the option of browsing on tablets
  or approaching a clerk behind a counter
  underneath screens displaying product and price
  information. Behind the heavy steel countertop, a
  secure set of drawers is ready to be stocked with
  cannabis.

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• This particular model comes with an open exterior
  window that could serve as a drive-thru in
  jurisdictions where those type of sales are
  allowed.
• Girgis and Neiman explain POPCANN stores can be
  securely sealed, like a shipping container. It
  can also be moved to anywhere in the world, like
  a shipping container.
• While the Fire Flowers and Tweeds of the
  world are spending big money to open up massive
  retail stores in major metropolitan areas, were
  focused on the smaller towns and communities.
  Five thousand, 8,000, 20,000 population markets,
  Neiman told Yahoo Finance Canada on Tuesday.
• Our focus is to enable people to access cannabis
  very quickly. Its more reflective of a Beers
  Store scenario where you go in, order the beer
  you want, pick it up and go.
• The concept takes aim at the notion of cannabis
  consumers wanting luxurious, in-depth retail
  experiences where they smell terpenes through
  jars and spend time learning about the product
  from experts.

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• In Toronto, that assumption has seen
  Edmonton-based retail chain Fire Flower
  Holdings Corp. (FAF.V) place a big bet on leasing
  a ritzy, yet-to-be-opened Yorkville location.
  Tokyo Smoke, a retail arm of cannabis giant
  Canopy Growth Corp. (WEED.TO) has opened up shop
  inside the former HMV flagship store on Yonge
  Street in what is expected to become Canadas
  largest brick-and-mortar cannabis store once its
  fully built out.
• POPCANNs stores require a far smaller investment
  by comparison. They can also be easily redeployed
  if a location is not suitable, and a license for
  another address can be secured through provincial
  regulators.
• There is nothing better in terms of logistics,
  Neiman said. Eighteen-wheelers are designed to
  transport shipping containers. Cranes and
  forklifts are designed to move them around and
  position them in place.

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• POPCANN has an agreement with the self-storage
  company StorageVault Canada Inc. (SVI.V) to
  operate on 170 of its properties across Canada
  upon securing licenses.
• The company expects to make its first sale this
  year, and announce additional partnerships in the
  coming weeks. Girgis and Neiman said they are
  also in private talks with major U.S. cannabis
  retailers to use their concept as satellite
  extensions of existing stores.
• POPCANN has patents pending related to the
  prefabricated design and layout of its stores, as
  well as a trademark filed for Quick Service
  Cannabis.
• The stores are designed to expand using
  additional shipping containers. Girgis and Neiman
  said theyre built to be stacked, and have
  multi-story designs on display in their studio
  next to others that use solar panels to charge an
  internal power supply.

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• Theres even a design for a cannabis vending
  machine that uses biometric technology to match a
  human face to a piece of government
  identification.
• Rural revenue opportunity
• The idea is rapidly to bring physical cannabis
  retail into the scores of communities where the
  nearest conventional store is hours away. In five
  years' time, Girgis and Neiman expect to have a
  network of a few hundred POPCANN stores in rural
  and remote markets.
• They also plan to introduce a franchise model
  where operators pay them royalties.
• Plans to roll out true pop-up cannabis stores at
  music festivals and outdoor events are held back
  by regulations that dont yet exist.
• Brian Gray, a spokesperson for the Ministry of
  the Attorney General, told Yahoo Canada
  Finance in an email that there are currently no
  plans in place to allow Special Occasion Permits
  for recreational cannabis in Ontario.

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• Nick Pateras, vice-president of strategy for Lift
  Co. (LIFT.V), said he doesnt see temporary
  sales licenses being issued any time in the near
  future.
• Its an interesting idea, and perhaps they know
  something I dont, but Id not expect to see this
  in market in 2019, he said.
• Girgis suggests the versatility of his
  go-anywhere stores could help provinces move
  things along.
• If they (provinces) want to experiment with
  Special Occasion Permits and pick events or
  festivals we can enable them to do tests, he
  said. We are working very closely with them to
  make sure that we comply, and that we bring
  solutions forward that they are looking for. They
  are certainly impressed our innovation.

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Contact Information

• POPCANN
• Address 116 Geary Avenue, Suite 202A
• M6H 4H1 Toronto Ontario Canada
• Email info_at_popcann.com
• Phone [phone]
• Website https//popcann.com/