Case Study: Award-Winning Product Packaging and Print Collateral that Smokes the Competition
Opportunity
High Mountain, a cultivation operation originally focused on the medical use community, was expanding. They were building a new dispensary in Billings and wanted it to be and feel different. With a focus on high quality flower, but also driven to create a space that felt welcoming, legitimate, safe and even high-end – but still altogether “Montana.” With the advent of recreational legalization in the state, they were in the process of building a new store front in Billings and needed a partner to assist with messaging, packaging and print collateral among other public and community outreach support.
Actions
Over the last year – we have discovered this amazing little niche for our agency: Cannabis Branding and Package Design. Now that recreational cannabis is legal in our state and the industry is booming, new dispensaries (or those transitioning from CBD or medical use) to full adult use, have found themselves struggling to stand out against a sea of utter sameness, tacky cliches and old school tropes. For us, here in Montana, cannabis is a relatively new, but complex market.
We recognized that for cannabis and CBD businesses, it’s crucial to establish a solid brand strategy to determine exactly what they want to communicate with their customers. We worked closely with High Mountain to get to know their leadership, their goals and unique differentiators.
We developed their messaging, tagline and preliminary website. We’ve also worked with them on social media strategies and helped orchestrate publicity events and advertising.
Finally, we also designed product labels for flower (6 sizes, 2 varieties), concentrates (2 sizes), pre-rolls (4 sizes) and exit and retail bags, as well as all custom tincture and balm packaging. AND… it turns out, this work was literally award-winning!!! Kinetic Marketing & Creative was the recipient of a gold Davey Award for in the Corporate Identity for the package design and execution! The Davey Awards have been around for nearly 20 years and are judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (consisting of top-tier executives from acclaimed media and advertising firms like Condé Nast, MTV and more).
Results
In building their brand from the ground up, we created messaging and an approachable, yet sophisticated, aesthetic with touch of Montana flair that strikes the right level of adventurousness. We have learned about state regulations, compliance policies for branding, and made connections with cannabis packaging vendors across the United States.
High Mountain now has one of the most sophisticated and recognizable brands in the region – and business is, well, smokin’!
