DENVER–Cannabis marketing agency Cannabrand has announced a merger with Voyage Business Resources. The joint venture will allow Cannabrand to expand on its already robust roster of branding and business services for emerging cannabis businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and investors.
“When I launched the company in 2013, I recognized the need for a more sophisticated approach to cannabis marketing and branding,” said Cannabrand founder and Chief Executive Officer Olivia Mannix. “Over the past five years, we have been part of creating some of the most well recognized and respected brands in the U.S., Canada, and overseas. Now, we have identified a new need in the cannabis industry–for the addition of consulting, real estate, and brokerage services.”
Cannabrand offers clients a full suite of inception-to-exit services in for cannabis businesses branding, marketing, operations, supply chain management, and investor relations. Denver-based Voyage Business Resources, a business resources consultancy firm, brings its expertise in valuations, consulting, and business brokerage.
“We essentially found that a substantial number of companies would call Cannabrand not only for marketing or industry connections (as Cannabrand bridges the gap), but also for operational and consultative help. So it was natural that the company that helped me with valuation work and scaling expertise should work with our partners,” Mannix added.
Rapid global expansion for countries where cannabis is legal also spurred Cannabrand’s expansion, as more U.S. brands will seek to establish a footprint overseas, maybe even before they grow their brand in the U.S. market. But Mannix said that investments in North American cannabis industry are on track to beat records on billion dollar levels.
“I think that the overall growth within the U.S. is something be thrilled about, as well as the Canadian market. Ancillary companies and alternative consumption methods, such as topicals are also very exciting. There are also a lot of big businesses making their way into the space, which has been bound to happen.”
Jay Spencer, a U.S. Army veteran, broker, and partner at Cannabrand, agreed with Mannix and pointed out that though domestic banks still are cautious to do business with cannabis companies, it won’t be long before investors and banks will seek out cannabis businesses and investments.
“There is a growing interest in cannabis investment opportunities, but among banks and investors there is still a lot of hesitancy to do business,” Spencer said. “At Cannabrand, we serve legitimate companies to overcome common operations and marketing challenges, to make them efficient, profitable, and stand out in the marketplace for the best chances of success. With our background in real estate and brokerage we are excited to buy and sell cannabis businesses for our partners.”
Cannabrand Chief Operations Officer and partner Julian Kahn added, “We help companies maximize the value of their businesses for the purposes of valuation, investment, and mergers & acquisition. Here we can marry our expertise in building infrastructure and strategy to the cannabis space.
“Regardless of sector and size, we can to help companies grow, become profitable, and have the best chance of a successful exit. Investors in this space are becoming savvier and will continue to look more closely at a company’s ability to scale, their margins, and their supply or distribution agreements to ensure they can consistently meet demand,” Kahn detailed further.
Photo By CannabisCamera.com.
