THE BEST VENDORS DON’T HIDE

Why the Cannabis Industry Needs More Confidence, More Kindness, and a Lot Less Fear

I’ve been blessed to wear a lot of hats in this industry.

I’m a writer for The Plug’s Pages Magazine. I’m also a cannabis content creator on YouTube, where I travel across New York covering festivals, competitions, pop-up events, dispensary openings, and just about anything that brings this incredible community together.

After meeting hundreds of vendors over the years, I’ve noticed something.

There are two kinds of vendors.

The first kind?

They welcome people with a smile.

They love talking about their products. They enjoy educating consumers. They appreciate every new face that walks by because they understand one simple truth:

Every stranger is a potential customer.

Then there’s the second kind.

The ones who seem terrified of being noticed.

They don’t want their booth recorded.

They don’t want their products seen.

They don’t want their business name mentioned.

They don’t want anyone to know they’re even there.

Now listen…

That’s your right.

Seriously.

If you politely tell me, “Hey brother, I’d rather not be on camera,” you know what happens?

I smile.

I apologize.

I point my camera somewhere else.

When I’m editing later that night, I cut you completely out of the video.

Every single time.

No questions asked.

Respect goes both ways.

What doesn’t work is leading with disrespect.

Recently, while covering the Summer High Festival in Williamstown, I experienced exactly what I’m talking about.

Out of an entire festival filled with positive people, hugs, laughter, music, great conversations, and incredible vendors…

There was one exception.

One vendor didn’t simply ask not to be filmed.

Instead, he decided that insults were somehow the best way to get my attention.

Here’s the funny part…

I didn’t even hear what he said at first.

All I heard was that he preferred not to be recorded.

My response?

“No problem.”

I smiled.

I walked away.

It wasn’t until I was editing my footage later that evening that I heard what my camera microphone had captured before his request.

Honestly?

Thank God I didn’t hear it at the event.

Summer High was about peace, community, music, and cannabis.

It deserved to stay that way.

Had I heard those words in the moment, things could have gone in a direction neither of us would’ve been proud of.

Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

Now before anyone mistakes my kindness for weakness…

Don’t.

I’m respectful because I choose to be.

I believe in returning the same energy people give me.

Treat me with respect?

You’ll probably gain a friend.

Treat me like family?

I’ll hype your business every chance I get.

Treat me like garbage?

Well…

Let’s just say cameras have excellent microphones.

Thankfully, maturity won that day.

Because this article isn’t about embarrassing someone.

It’s about learning from the experience.

Publicity Isn’t the Enemy—It’s the Business

One thing I’ve learned from writing for The Plug’s Pages Magazine is that publicity has value.

We don’t claim to make businesses successful.

Success comes from hard work, quality products, consistency, and treating customers the right way.

But what we absolutely do is shine a spotlight on businesses we believe in.

Exposure creates opportunity.

Opportunity creates customers.

Customers create growth.

Look at Electric City Cannabis Company.

They were one of the first legal dispensaries we proudly featured and promoted. Today they’re expanding with a second location under the same ownership. Did The Plug’s Pages make that happen? Of course not. That success belongs to the owner and the team that built an outstanding business.

But did positive publicity help more people discover them?

I’d be willing to bet it didn’t hurt.

Another perfect example is Higher Beings powered by Hudson Valley Green.

I’ve watched them grow tremendously over the years.

Their products are phenomenal.

Their branding is memorable.

But what separates them from thousands of other vendors isn’t just what’s inside the package.

It’s the people behind it.

They welcome conversations.

They welcome cameras.

They welcome interviews.

They genuinely love meeting people and educating consumers.

They’re some of the friendliest personalities in the cannabis industry, and that positive energy shows in everything they do.

That’s why people keep coming back.

Quality products may get someone’s attention once.

Great personalities keep them coming back forever.

And then there’s Best Budz.

If you’re a vendor looking for someone to learn from, watch this guy.

He may not be the biggest name in the industry—yet—but if you ask me, he’s on the right path.

Why?

Because he understands something money can’t buy.

He understands people.

Every time I’ve interacted with him, he’s been one of the friendliest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s generous with his time, generous with his knowledge, and he’s never afraid to let people experience what he has to offer. He’ll gladly hand out free samples because he believes in his products and wants people to experience the quality for themselves.

That’s confidence.

That’s customer service.

That’s how you build loyal supporters instead of one-time customers.

His kindness left an impression on me, and because of that, I’ll absolutely be stopping back on payday to support his business. Not because he asked me to—but because he earned it.

Promotion doesn’t create quality.

Quality creates promotion.

But when you combine quality products with genuine kindness and a willingness to let the community discover your brand…

That’s when businesses grow.

Kindness Is the Cheapest Marketing You’ll Ever Buy

I’ve watched vendors hand out free stickers.

Free laughs.

Free education.

Free conversations.

Free smiles.

And yes…

Sometimes even free samples.

You know what happens?

People remember them.

People come back.

People tell their friends.

That’s marketing.

You don’t need a million-dollar advertising budget.

Sometimes all it takes is treating people like human beings.

I’ve bought products simply because someone was genuine.

I’ve also walked away from products I wanted because the attitude behind the table made me lose interest.

Your booth isn’t just selling merchandise.

It’s selling you.

Cameras Aren’t the Problem

Let’s clear something up.

Content creators aren’t automatically trying to expose anybody.

Most of us are trying to help.

When I record an event, I’m documenting the atmosphere.

The music.

The community.

The creativity.

Sometimes I film artwork.

Sometimes handcrafted pieces.

Sometimes decorations.

Sometimes the little details people spent weeks preparing.

If someone politely asks me not to include something…

Done.

No argument.

No ego.

Just respect.

That’s how adults solve problems.

The experience I had at Summer High reminded me of something.

It isn’t cameras that hurt businesses.

Bad attitudes do.

Think about it.

I wasn’t filming cannabis.

I wasn’t exposing anybody’s personal information.

I was literally filming some beautiful rocks at a public vendor booth because they caught my eye.

Maybe I thought someone watching my video would be interested.

Maybe I was thinking about buying something myself.

The point is…

A polite request would’ve ended the conversation in five seconds.

Instead, unnecessary hostility turned what could’ve been a positive interaction into one I’ll probably never forget.

That’s not how you build customers.

That’s how you lose them.

The Vendors Who Win

The vendors who consistently succeed aren’t always the ones with the flashiest booths.

They’re the ones people remember.

They’re approachable.

They’re patient.

They’re passionate.

They’re confident enough to let the public see what they’ve built.

Because they understand something simple.

People can’t support a business they don’t know exists.

If you’re afraid to let people see your products…

If you’re afraid to let people know your business name…

If you’re afraid to let someone photograph your display at a public festival…

You have to ask yourself a serious question.

Why are you vending in the first place?

This industry rewards confidence.

It rewards authenticity.

It rewards people who believe in what they’ve created.

Moving through every event in fear isn’t a business strategy.

It’s a limitation.

The vendors who thrive are the ones willing to stand proudly behind their products and let the world discover them.

One Last Hit

If you’re going to spend your weekend at a cannabis festival surrounded by music, laughter, creativity, good people, and one of the most welcoming communities you’ll ever find…

Enjoy it.

Smile.

Meet people.

Shake hands.

Tell your story.

Build your brand.

Because life’s too short to spend an entire festival acting like someone stole your grinder.

The cannabis community deserves vendors who love people as much as they love the plant.

If you’re kind, confident, and passionate, people notice.

If you’re respectful, people remember.

If you’re approachable, your business grows.

The best vendors don’t hide behind fear.

They stand proudly behind their products.

And trust me…

The public notices the difference.

And if you’re wondering what separates a good vendor from a great one, the answer isn’t complicated.

A great vendor believes in what they’re selling.

A great vendor isn’t afraid to let people see it.

A great vendor treats every person who walks up to the booth like they matter.

Do that consistently, and you’ll build something much bigger than a customer base.

You’ll build a reputation.

In this industry, that’s worth more than any marketing budget money can buy.