Enjoy this interview series recorded live on the show floor of the first-ever Hall of Flowers – NYC. We partnered with Respect My Region to showcase the operators and leaders shaping New York’s cannabis landscape and beyond. Catch the highlights below and watch the full episode.
Episode Highlights & Insights
Guest: Shabazz – Owner of Green Cup
Recorded: Live at Hall of Flowers New York, 2025
What You’ll Learn in a Few Minutes
1) Curating “best brands” for a Queens audience
Shabazz—owner of GreenCup Dispensary in Rego Park—talks through what earns space on his shelves: clean COAs, consistent supply, and products that match local preferences, not just hype. It’s a buyer’s-eye view of assortment building in NYC’s fast-moving retail.
2) The reality of opening a licensed shop in New York
From licensing to corporate structuring to grand-opening logistics, Shabazz touches on the steps and stamina required to launch a compliant, community-facing dispensary in NYC. (GreenCup celebrated its opening in July 2025 at 95-38 Queens Blvd., Rego Park.)
3) Community first, then scale
GreenCup’s story is rooted in Queens—serving neighbors with lab-tested products and approachable education. The takeaway: when your community trusts you, repeat purchase follows.
Quick Notes for Operators
- Assortment = promise. Choose brands you can replenish on time with proof of quality; trim SKUs that create counter confusion.
- Localize your mix. Stock formats/doses your neighborhood actually buys; let sales data steer the next order.
- Treat shows as learning labs. Hall of Flowers compresses months of buyer feedback into two days—collect objections, refine your pitch, and tighten packaging before your next PO.
Sponsorship Note
This blog is part of our ongoing content partnership with Respect My Region at Hall of Flowers NYC. We’re here to help amplify the voices of operators on the ground and share practical insights with the wider community.
For hardware questions, sample requests, or an automation-ready fill line consultation, email sales@cannabrand-solutions.com — your trusted authorized CCELL distributor.
About Hall of Flowers NYC
A buyer-driven, industry-only show connecting licensed brands with retailers—now landing in New York City for the first time (Oct 8–9, 2025, Pier 36). If you’re building in NY, it’s the room you want to be in.
Watch More RMR @ Hall of Flowers NYC
Respect My Region is filming a slate of short interviews across the show, spotlighting New York operators and emerging brands. Explore the full playlist as it rolls out on RMR’s channel.
About Canna Brand Solutions
Canna Brand Solutions is an innovative custom packaging supplier and an official CCELL Distributor. We are a wholesale cartridge, battery, and packaging supplier, and more. Our passion to build lasting relationships with our partners motivates us to exceed your expectations, helping you grow your brand in this ever-evolving global industry.
With our deep experience in manufacturing and the cannabis industry, we offer adaptive custom packaging solutions, in-house design, and industry expertise to Cultivators, Extractors, Operators & Retailers.
