06/06/2024

The Silent Killer of Pre-Roll Brands

Welcome to the Hefestus Pre-Roll Playbook — A series of articles on how to get the most out of your pre-roll manufacturing capabilities and strategies.

Imagine you’re outside, ready to enjoy a moment of solace.
You light up that pre-roll you’ve been saving, take a deep breath in….
…and it’s like trying to suck a milkshake through a coffee stirrer.
Frustrating, isn’t it?

What’s Going Wrong?

Poor smokability is a common complaint among cannabis enthusiasts and it boils down to a few technical missteps:

Overpacking
Uneven Packing
Moisture Content

Why Should You Care?

For consumers, the promise of a pre-roll is convenience and quality. If you let them down, why should they buy your product again?
In a market flooded with options, why would a customer choose a brand that consistently delivers a poor experience?

From the Consumer’s Mouth:

“Dude, if I can’t even smoke your pre-roll, if I have to break that shit up and smoke it out of my pipe, I’m probably not going to buy your pre-rolls again. Too many other options.” – Alex, 28, NYC
Bogus pre-rolls are annoying, annnnnnnd they’re also bad for business.
If your pre-rolls aren’t pulling their weight, maybe it’s time to revisit the drawing board.

Is Automation the Answer?

Automation is a critical capability for any serious manufacturer that is ready to scale their business.
However, strategic thinking on when and how to invest in automation for your business comes with a lot of critical questions,
such as:

Can you generate and sustain enough demand to get maximum use out of this machine?
Have you found an automation partner with a proven track record and 24/7 tech support?
If you invest in this automation equipment, what other new choices might you consider for your manufacturing capabilities?
Is the machine versatile enough to effectively address existing production bottlenecks while meeting high standards?
What would it mean for your business to slash labor costs?