The New Strategies Driving Retail Design in 2023
The second half of 2022 was bruising for the cannabis industry, prompting changes in strategy for just about every company. Retailers of all varieties—from single-store mom-and-pop businesses to publicly traded multistate operators (MSOs)—are reevaluating how their stores function and whether they are optimally designed for this latest iteration of the industry. Does building visually delightful, multimillion-dollar stores still make sense as prices crash and competition becomes more cutthroat? “We’re calling this ‘the year of efficiency,’” said Jushi Chief Creative Officer Andreas Neumann, putting a fine point on the imperative with which every company is wrestling. When it comes to store design, form always should follow function. Expensive chandeliers, custom hardwood cabinetry, and bespoke Italian leather couches in the lobby are nice-to-haves that can communicate a brand’s unique aesthetic . But they also are extravagances that ultimately must be paid for by customers, and that ...