The most frustrating thing for retailers is dealing with supply chain issues, whether that be delayed shipping, incorrect orders, or inconsistent quality and service. Unfortunately, these issues are only compounded in the complex world of purchasing bulk hemp. It’s not uncommon for suppliers to jump ship and leave your store and customers hanging.
If these problems sound all too familiar, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll discuss the importance of quality consistency for success, how to achieve it, and other tips to support your retail business.
The Current State of Quality Consistency
Think of groceries, vitamins, supplements, and items you take daily to feel your best. When a customer’s preferred retailer is suddenly out of their favorite product type or the quality decreases, they’ll find the next retailer with that exact product. The same goes for hemp, THCA flower, and cannabis consumers.
With the number of wholesale suppliers on the market today, retailers are tasked with finding one that can supply quality material with every order. This requires a network of reputable cultivators and processors that only some wholesale hemp suppliers can tap into. It also requires internal quality control processes to ensure every batch is sale-ready to protect a retailer’s reputation.
At Elevated Trading, we’ve gone further than any other wholesale hemp provider in our commitment to quality and consistency. Next, we’ll explore the proprietary grading process that supports just that.
Elevated Trading’s Proprietary Grading Process
To address the common industry issue of quality consistency, Elevated Trading has created and implemented a proprietary grading process that evaluates flower on five key attributes: nose, structure, trim, frost, and color.
Each of these attributes is critical in determining the overall quality of the cannabis flower.
- Nose: A strong “nose” or aroma of the flower will indicate not only the freshness of the buds but indicates the quality of cultivation and curing processes.
- Structure: Another indicator of quality cultivation processes is the structure or overall density and shape of the buds. This is especially important for retailers, as the bud’s density and shape are the first consumers will judge.
- Trim: The precision of the trimming can influence the flower’s appearance and smokability.
- Frost: The presence of trichomes or a heavy layer of “frost” indicates the potency and cannabinoid content of the flower.
- Color: The visual appeal and vibrancy of the flower also reflect its cultivation quality. It can indicate how fresh the buds are or when they were harvested. In terms of color, green is ideal, and brown is a negative indicator. Any exotic colors, such as pinks, oranges, or purples, are a bonus and help capture consumer attention.
Grading Scale and Process
So, just how does the Elevated Trading grading scale and process work? Each attribute is graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with ten being outstanding. Three certified in-house graders perform the grading to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Each attribute’s average score is recorded, and a final score is calculated based on these averages.
This final score determines the tier into which the flower will be categorized, ensuring that every batch meets our stringent quality standards.
Benefits of Our Grading Process
By utilizing this detailed grading process, Elevated Trading offers several advantages to retailers:
- Consistency: Each batch of flower is evaluated and categorized, ensuring that customers receive a consistent product every time.
- Transparency: Our grading process is transparent, providing customers with clear information about the flower’s quality they purchase.
- Trust: With rigorous quality control measures in place, customers can trust that they are receiving a premium product that meets their expectations.
The Final Word: Wholesale & Quality Consistency
The success of your retail storefront greatly depends on the wholesale suppliers you entrust to stock your shelves. Investing time and effort into vetting wholesale suppliers, educating yourself on the products, and demanding quality flower is a must for retail success. Not only to ensure a profitable store, but also for your personal stress levels.
Elevated Trading is proud to be a leading wholesale hemp flower and THCA flower supplier to retailers across the US. We take pride in our proprietary grading process and the benefits it offers for retailers to provide the utmost in quality to their customers.
From strain and quality consistency to exemplary service, you can count on Elevated Trading. Get in touch to learn more, begin the wholesale process, or partner with our team.