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Justin, head consultant at Hempioneers, standing in a plaid flannel shirt, jeans and leather boots
JustinHead Consultant
Cannabusiness Experts

Twenty years building cannabis businesses from the ground up.

I have spent 20 years building businesses across the cannabis industry, from cultivation and hardware to retail and direct-to-consumer. I began as a cultivator in 2006, then moved into engineering, developing cannabis LED grow lights and post-harvest automation devices. In 2014 I founded Phoenician Engineering, a grinder company that took me into more than 10,000 smoke shops and dispensaries and gave me a view of retail that few in this industry have. I then built Hippie Butler into the #1 subscription box for smokers, reaching $6M in annual revenue. Today I lead Bear Rootz, a vape hardware and packaging supplier whose best year to date reached $11M. I would welcome the opportunity to help you build yours.

What we do

Services

Hands-on help from someone who has grown it, built it, sold it and shipped it.

Business Development

Find the right direction and build the structure to get there, whether you are launching a brand or scaling one that has stalled.

  • Growth strategy and business model review
  • Unit economics, pricing and margin planning
  • Partnerships, distribution deals and new channels
  • Operations and team structure as you scale
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Product Development

Take an idea from sketch to shelf, drawing on experience with grow lights, grinders, vape hardware and packaging.

  • Concept, design and prototyping
  • Manufacturer sourcing and factory relationships
  • Quality control, packaging and compliance-ready labeling
  • Vape hardware, packaging and grow tech
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Sales

Get your product onto counters. Built on first-hand knowledge of more than 10,000 smoke shops and dispensaries, plus the wholesale side behind them.

  • Smoke shop and dispensary channel strategy
  • Wholesale and distributor pricing structures
  • Building and training a sales team
  • Trade show and buyer meeting preparation
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Marketing

Build demand and keep customers coming back, using what worked to grow a subscription box to $6M a year.

  • Direct-to-consumer and subscription growth
  • Retention, churn reduction and lifetime value
  • Brand positioning that reads as credible
  • Reaching customers despite cannabis ad restrictions
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Track record

The numbers behind the advice

Every recommendation comes from businesses Justin has built and run himself.

20yrs In cannabis

Working the industry since 2006, starting as a cultivator.

10,000+ Smoke shops & dispensaries

Walked into in person while building Phoenician Engineering.

$6M Hippie Butler

Annual revenue as the #1 subscription box for smokers.

$11M Bear Rootz

Best year so far, and still building.

Want this experience working on your business?

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How we work

From first call to real growth

A straightforward process that moves from understanding your business to measurable results.

  1. Discovery Call

    We talk through where your business is today, what is holding it back and where you want it to go.

  2. Strategy

    You get a clear plan with priorities, numbers and a timeline, built around your budget and market.

  3. Execution

    We work alongside your team on the plan: introductions, sourcing, sales calls and launches.

  4. Growth

    We track results, adjust what is not working and double down on what is.

The trail so far

Ventures

Each stage added a different piece of the business: growing, engineering, retail, subscription and brand building.

2006

Cultivation Where it started

Started as a cultivator, learning the plant and the grow side of the business firsthand.

Since
2006In the industry
2007–2013

Grow Tech LED grow lights & post-harvest automation

Designed and prototyped cannabis LED grow lights and post-harvest automation equipment.

7 yrsHardware R&D
2014–2017

Phoenician Engineering Grinders

Founded his first grinder business and sold it shop by shop, setting foot in more than 10,000 smoke shops and dispensaries.

10,000+Shops & dispensaries
2017–2020

Hippie Butler Subscription box for smokers

Built the #1 subscription box for smokers.

$6MAnnual revenue
2021–Now

Bear Rootz Current Vape hardware & packaging supplier

Supplying vape hardware and packaging, and still growing.

$11MBest year so far

Ready to grow your cannabusiness?

Tell us where you are and where you want to go. Justin reads every message personally.

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Contact

Book a Consultation

Send a few details about your business and what you need help with. You'll hear back by email.

  • A personal reply from Justin, not an auto-responder
  • A discovery call to see if we're a good fit
  • Your details stay private and are never shared
Required