The Herbal Care officially opened on Jan. 4, becoming the first legal adult-use dispensary in Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood.
Business is slower than expected, said owner Markel Bababekov, who also said his largest business concern is competing with NYC’s extensive unlicensed market. However, the store is drawing in some 100 customers on a daily basis, Bababekov said.
In a Q&A with NY Cannabis Insider, Bababekov answered questions about what customers are buying, transitioning from running a cleaning and construction businesses to owning a weed store and competing against the illicit market and large MSOs simultaneously.
About how many customers are you seeing per day? How does that compare to your projections before opening?
We see about 100 people a day. This is a little slower than we thought we would be.
How many full-time and part-time workers do you employ?
The Herbal Care has 35 employees.
What kinds of products are selling the most?
Vapes and flower are most popular with our customers.
What brands are selling the most?
Dank, MfNy and Ayrloom are our most popular brands.
Which demographics do you see as your target market?
We don’t have any specific demographic we are targeting. Everyone over the age of 21 is a potential customer.
Can you describe your business experience