As the month of June rounds out another massively successful Pride celebration, luxury Cannabis boutique HerbNJoy hosted a conversation with Strike Oil Creative Director, artist, philanthropist, and activist Nats Getty in discussion with Reserved Magazine. The evening’s chat covered the rich local tradition of seaside skate and surf weed culture and how it informed various defining moments for Getty’s rebellious youth. From this punk forward visual language the designer and creative has grown a loyal customer which extends into the world of media, having dressed Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Huddy, Iann Dior, as well as the Oscar nominated Kodi Smit-Mcphee. The conversation pivoted to speak on the current social climate surrounding LGBTQIA+ youth and the chosen family dynamic that has been cultivated among the room of queer creatives allies and fems. A serious point of dialogue focused on the varying ways which Nats and his wife social media personality and model Gigi Gorgeous had seen various injustices that they still struggle with on the daily. The tone shifted deeper into serious matters when discussing and acknowledging that in this room full of love, support, and spirit that most were fortunate to have surrounding reality of most trans youth. An overall impactful night which saw the progression and reflection of where the queer community is going. Proceeds of sales from the evening went to support GLAAD.
Along with the enlightened conversation, Reserved spoke with HerbNJoy founders Rajan Dave and Jeff Linden to discuss a life enhanced.
Can you tell us the story of how your company got started?
Rajan Dave (RD): The concept of HerbNJoy was founded in 2016 when Prop 64 was in the process of being passed, which legalized recreational cannabis use in the state of California. As a physician, I’d started researching the cannabis industry in my search for possible ways to mitigate the opioid epidemic. After visiting several dispensaries, I had an epiphany that this was going to be a new chapter in my career. As I was becoming more involved with the movement, I met Jeff [Linden], who was running the most acclaimed cannabis retail store in San Francisco at the time. We envisioned an elevated customer retail experience that focused on educating customers, and as a result, created HerbNJoy.
Jeff Linden (JL): I’m a former company executive for both CostPlus and Macy’s department stores. In 2016, I opened the first “Apple” of retail cannabis stores. The concept had never been done in the cannabis space, and it has been a huge success. Both Rajan and I were looking for business partners that were skilled in both retail and medicinal aspects of cannabis. Our strengths complimented each other, and so did our vision. Initially, we teamed up to obtain a license in San Francisco, and later put together a team of cannabis industry executives that would help us expand into new communities.
Your store is very interactive with how you display your products. What kind of experience are you curating for your customer, if you could put it into words?
JL: Our retail experience is one of augmented reality through elegant design. We want to create ‘Wow’ moments that impact a person’s conception of what a cannabis store can be.
During one of my deep dives into cannabis industry research, I visited a store in Aspen called Silver Peak, located between a Gucci store and a Versace store. This juxtaposition made me realize that there was an opportunity in the cannabis space for an elevated, boutique retail concept. With this vision in mind, I returned to California and developed this unique approach and business model for retail cannabis establishments.
All of this is specifically curated to keep customers curious. Our designs include displaying edible cannabis products in the same charming way a patisserie displays desserts. We also install interactive screens throughout the stores which allows customers to view the menu, cannabis information, and even see microscopic views of each product in our custom display domes. We want to show that cannabis can be a forward thinking and sophisticated experience for users.
What is your vision behind HerbNJoy?
RD: Our vision is to enhance people’s lives through cannabis. Our motto at HerbNJoy is Life Enhanced. Our goal is to enhance the lives of everyone around us including our customers, employees and the local community. When someone encounters HerbNJoy we want them to walk away with three things that HerbNJoy provides: the best store, the best experience and the best value. In addition to providing great customer experiences, we want to give back to the communities we enter.
What are your favorite products in the store?
JL: Some of our favorite products include the GMO and Super Silver Haze flower from Cannabiotix, as well as the Crescendo strain from THC Design. Other favorite flowers include Jack Herer and Blue Dream from Korova.
What is your favorite part about being involved in the cannabis industry?
RD: With HerbNJoy, we get to create rich and immersive experiences that bring us closer to the people and community we serve. We get to listen, educate, and provide value to our customers. We get to dispel myths and stigmas, advocate for change, and be an example of how cannabis can be a force for good.
How do you see the future of the cannabis industry, and how do you hope to lead the way with HerbNJoy?
JL: I think the industry will eventually see federal legalization and mainstream acceptance. We hope to lead the way by setting the benchmark for exceptional professionalism and cannabis expertise, and look forward to deepening our educational outreach with community-driven initiatives and events.
Anything we should look forward to from HerbNJoy in the coming year?
JL: This month is the one-year anniversary of the opening of our Hanford store. Our Hanford store in the Central Valley has done tremendously. It was recently ranked as the number one performing store in the state of California for sales of the top selling cartridge brand Stiiizy. We are also looking forward to the official grand opening of our Beverly Hills store in June, and our Chula Vista (San Diego) will be opening towards the end of Summer.
HerbNJoy, 850 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
