Just CBD Interview at Their HQ offices in Coral Springs, FL

Kristen:

All right, this is Kristen. I’m here with Leafreport. We are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Just CBD headquarters, so we’re really excited. We’re going to get a tour of the facility. And right now, I am here with Gabe from Just CBD. Hi, Gabe.

Gabe:

Hi. Nice to see you guys. We’re very excited to have you guys here, be able to show you around of our facility and different operation points. Very happy to have you guys.

Kristen:

Great. So Gabe, why don’t you introduce yourself to our viewers and tell us your position within the company?

Gabe:

Definitely. So I’m head of sales. I take care of all business development, international sales, and branding pretty much. We make sure that we’re growing every day as much as possible.

Kristen:

Okay. And then why don’t you, if you don’t mind telling me a little bit of history of the company, and yeah, anything else about your company that our viewers might want to know?

Gabe:

Definitely. So we started in 2017. We have been growing year-over-year very exponentially. We make sure that our brand is recognizable pretty much everywhere. We have over 350 different SKUs to be able to fit everybody’s needs. We are located in over 14,000 different location points, 1,500 different distribution, and we are in over 20 different countries. So we’re growing every year and making sure that we’re always there for you guys.

Kristen:

That’s really impressive, I mean, because you’re a fairly new company, 2017, and now, you are all over the world. That’s really impressive.

Gabe:

Yeah. I mean, we strive to make sure our brand is recognizable pretty much everywhere. We have a great customer service point, and that’s one of the main things that people like. We’re always here for them. We have a big selection of products. We’ve are a great team. We have a very big team here at the facility that’s able to make everything happen for you guys.

Kristen:

All right. So now, Gabe, we’re inside your showroom, and this is so impressive. I mean, you guys have a ton of products.

Gabe:

Definitely, definitely. We actually house over 350 different SKUs in our product line. Essentially, we’ve made something that will fit everybody’s needs, whether you’re looking for something for yourself, and you like the sugary ends, or you’re more on the organic side, and you just want some tinctures, or maybe you got a nice little pet animal and essentially you want something for them. We’ve made something that will fit for everybody’s needs.

Kristen:

Yeah. I mean, you guys literally have everything. I see pets. I see pet treats. I see, I mean, everything. This is great. And I know you have some, there’s some products right behind you. So what is your most popular product?

Gabe:

So our most popular product I would say is definitely our gummies. Here, we got a couple of different gummies. We have over 12 different SKU lines on the gummy side, so it fits for everybody’s needs. We have sugary ones, some that are sour, some that aren’t. We also do offer a 100 milligram pouch for a person that’s just getting started, maybe that’s never tried CBD. We have it in three of the most popular flavors. They retail for $5. So it’s a great way to get started with us.

Kristen:

Oh, I love that. It’s like a little sample pack. You can just test something out before you buy it to see if it’s something you like. That’s a really good idea.

Gabe:

Definitely, definitely. No, we’ve had some very good feedback with these. They are countertop displays, so whenever you come in maybe to your next store, you might see them sitting there on the counter and definitely try them out.

Kristen:

I’m going to. So what do you think sets your company apart? Just CBD, what sets you apart from other CBD companies? Because I know it’s a very competitive market, there’s a ton of companies out there. So what would you say?

Gabe:

Definitely going back to our SKU line. So we do have a very broad and vast SKU line. Like I said, we have over 350 SKUs. So one of the main things that sets us apart is going to be the wide variety of products. So we have something that will fit everybody’s needs at different price points.

Gabe:

That’s also one of the main things that we focus on. We know that somebody that’s getting started might not want to spend a whole lot of money on starting a new product, so we focus on that. A lot of different product verities, and then also, the price points to be entry level as well as some of our bigger, more expensive products that we do offer.

Kristen:

Okay, great. Yeah, so it seems like you really have something for everybody.

Gabe:

Yeah.

Kristen:

I love that. So if you don’t mind telling me a little bit about your supply chain, and I’ll ask you a few questions about it, but I’m interested to know where your hemp is grown, first of all.

Gabe:

Definitely. So all of our hemp is actually grown in the state of Oregon. Yeah, we actually source all of our raw materials. They come from GVB Biopharma. It is one of the largest and leading manufacturers for raw products and isolates. So that is our main source of products for the raw materials.

Kristen:

Okay. So you don’t own that facility. That’s you’re buying it from them. But that’s very common.

Gabe:

Correct, yeah.

Kristen:

Okay.

Gabe:

So we don’t process, we leave that to the experts in that sense. We purchase all of our products. They are a certified GMP material. But yeah, GVB Biopharma is one of the largest leading manufacturers right now.

Kristen:

And you said you do follow the Good Manufacturing Practices, GMP. They do, you said. You said it’s registered, and it’s like the best, one of the best, it sounds like?

Gabe:

Correct, yeah.

Kristen:

Okay.

Gabe:

So they’re one of the largest. They do have all their certification up to date. Like I mentioned, they are, I want to say one of the largest, and we’ve been with them for over three years. So our product sourcing and our quality and control has definitely been… They’re very consistent.

Kristen:

Yeah, okay. That’s great. And so, they’re the only… That’s where you get everything, you said, right? You don’t use any other hemp, just all from them?

Gabe:

Correct, yeah. So from our raw materials over the last three years, we’ve been purchasing directly from them. Obviously, at the beginning, when it was kind of like the wild, wild West, you did have to choose different manufacturers for that. But over the last two-and-a-half, three years, we have been purchasing directly through GVB Biopharma, and it’s been a good relationship, for sure.

Kristen:

Okay. That’s great to know. And do you know, are they organic, do you know? Or certified organic, and if not… But yeah, do you know?

Gabe:

So as far as their products, they are certified and organic, but that’s going to be more of a direct the questions towards them.

Kristen:

Okay, great. Perfect, perfect. So I would like to talk to you a little bit about, so I know you said on this facility that they’re one of the largest players, and they follow the Good Manufacturing Practices, so that’s how you’re ensuring the products’ quality, et cetera. But can you tell me a little bit about your company’s transparency? Do you guys do third-party lab testing? Is that easily found on your website? Just a little bit about that.

Gabe:

Definitely, yeah. We go through a very detailed process for that. All of our products are third-party lab tested, and we have a pretty easy setup for that. All of our products come with a QR code where you will be able to access data. It takes us directly into our lab reports page. In there, each product’s going to be set up with a batch number, which is going to be corresponding to that batch of manufacturing. You’ll be able to pull up that specific COA for that specific batch of numbers.

Gabe:

So it’s not just a broad range of COAs for products from last year or such. We do it very detailed to every time that we manufacturer, we put new products on the shelves, that gets connected to directly to that COA.

Kristen:

Okay. Yeah, that’s great to know that you are on top of the quality and being open with people so they can just look that up and find out. So, in your opinion, in your expertise in this industry, how do you see the future of the CBD industry? Yeah, I’m curious to hear what your thoughts are about that.

Gabe:

Well, I mean, the industry has definitely grown a lot over the last couple of years. We’ve definitely seen a lot of new cannabinoids that’s entered the market. I definitely see CBD has been maturing. For example, new cannabinoids like delta-8 have came into the picture, a couple of ones.

Gabe:

We’ve seen a division as far as users go. But I think that CBD is here to stay, it’s just going to continue growing. You’re going to continue to see it more in some of the big box stores and things that you’re going to be shopping every day. So I definitely think it’s just going to continue growing as it has been for the last couple of years.

Kristen:

Okay, yeah. I mean, I agree with you. It’s just crazy. Even over the past two years, how much it’s grown and seeing different trade shows and events, and just seeing this stuff everywhere. And your brand is very recognizable. I mean, I even personally recognize it.

Gabe:

Yeah. I mean, we strive essentially to try to be in as many stores, distribution points, as much here across the US and internationally. We are located in over 14,000 stores, over 1,500 different distributors. We are online in a lot of different third-party retailers.

Gabe:

So we try definitely striving to have our product out there. We go to pretty much all the shows that are available. We try to make a brand recognition and try to make sure that we’re there for the customers, for everybody. Whoever has questions, we’re always there to help you out and question and answer it.

Kristen:

Okay, that’s great. And then, just one more question. I know you already kind of touched on it, but beginning CBD user, brand new, never used CBD before. I know you said you sell these little kind of sample packets of gummies. Is there anything else that you might recommend? Like a new user, let’s say I’ve never tried CBD, I want to try it just for wellness benefits. What would you tell me to do?

Gabe:

So usually some of my first questions is kind of what kind of benefit you’re looking for, whether if it’s maybe sleeping, you have some pain problems, aching, or maybe some energy… It really depends. But usually the gummies are the first ones. Topical products are also very, very popular, whether it’s pain management, a cooling or a heat sensation roll on.

Gabe:

I actually have those here. This is actually one of our most popular topicals. I vouch by it, very, very good. It’s a 1,000 milligram topical for a fast cooling reaction. These are also very, very popular.

Gabe:

So we have the gummies, the tinctures, the vape products. Vape products are also very popular. But as a broad range category, usually gummies and topicals are very broad range.

Kristen:

All right, Gabe. So thank you so much for talking with us today and showing us a little bit about your products and answering our questions. It’s been a pleasure. We’re actually about to head into the warehouse, I think, to meet with Eric. So thank you again so much for your time.

Gabe:

Thank you guys for having us. And we look forward to keeping in contact with you. Hope you have a good day.

Kristen:

Thanks.

Kristen:

All right, so I am here in the Just CBD warehouse, and this place is huge. And today we have Eric here to kind of walk us through the process and what happens here. So will you introduce yourself for our viewers please?

Eric:

Sure. My name’s Eric. I’m here, the Just brands and the warehouse manager here, and show you a little bit about the process and what we’re doing today and just give you basics on a rundown of the business.

Kristen:

Okay, great. So I guess we’ll start off, let’s say I’m a consumer, and I go to your website, and I place an order. Tell me what happens after that, and maybe show me. I know you have some things set up around here.

Eric:

So once customer places an order, the first thing that comes through, processing the labels are done. We usually bring out a stack of labels here, and they’ll be sorted into different products.

Eric:

Kind of just to give you an idea, so for this customer, they would basically pull these items into a bin. Somebody is going to double-check, make sure all these are correct. And then, once that goes through the quality control, then it goes off to the next step where it’s going to be picked and packed, or packed, and then, sealed into the boxes.

Eric:

And everything ships the same day, so one of the things we make sure is that we get the order in… I mean, up until the end of the day, we’re constantly looking for brand new orders that just came in live, and make sure that they ship the same day.

Kristen:

Okay, great. So right here, so this is an example, this is an order actually that you got today, and that you’re going to be shipping out.

Eric:

Yes, that’s correct.

Kristen:

Okay, that’s great. That’s really interesting. And then, how would that process work on the wholesale side? I know you have that on the other side,

Eric:

So the wholesale distribution side, obviously the orders are much bigger. So same process, those orders come in, it goes to somebody else that’s going to go pick and pack those orders. It goes through another person that’s going to quality control, make sure everything is correct and accurate.

Eric:

And then, those boxes are going to be packed nice and neat into usually pallets. So somebody else is going to be doing the pallets. And those usually go, if they make it out the same day, there’s usually a two, three o’clock cutoff, but they’re either the same day or the next.

Kristen:

Okay, wow. So it seems like you guys are super efficient and, I mean, this facility is amazing. It’s huge. And you do everything here, all the shipping, all of it?

Eric:

Yes, everything is done out of here. Absolutely.

Kristen:

Awesome. Well, great. Thank you so much for your time. Thanks for talking with us.

Eric:

Yeah.

Kristen:

Yeah, that’s great.

Eric:

All right. Thanks so much. Have a good one.