Member Since March 2022
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About
Red Rodriguez has dedicated over a decade to the cannabis industry, working with top dispensaries to curate exceptional products and advise leading brands. His retail expertise was instrumental in curating the renowned Flower Menu at the first Cannabis Cafe in America. Now, as the Director of Brand Partnerships at GRAV, Red oversees the development of dynamic brand collaborations that elevate the company's presence and impact. A California native, Red has witnessed and experienced the state's evolving cannabis landscape firsthand. This journey has shaped his deep commitment to advocating for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Identifying with counterculture movements, Red leverages his extensive cannabis knowledge to champion the voices and experiences of those most marginalized. His advocacy is not just professional but personal, making him a true counterculture professional.
Red Rodriguez
Published content
article
Jun 21, 2024
Supporting the Vogue Ballroom and queer subcultures requires more than just temporary gestures.
expert panel
You may have to adapt your current business plan. Much like technology, culture can change at the drop of a hat. People’s tastes, what’s “in” and “the next big thing” are constantly evolving, whether in reaction to current events or the latest innovation in a particular industry. Those entrepreneurs hoping to make it in this space must be able to thrive in a changing environment, adapting their business when it’s needed and sticking to the plan when it’s not. But this isn’t the only way to get ahead in the culture space. According to the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council, embracing the following habits can give hopeful entrepreneurs a leg up on the competition and ensure they find true success in the culture space and their overall careers.
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A personal touch can go a long way toward making your customers happy. As their business grows, it’s all too easy for business owners to get swept up in the numbers and forget that there are real people behind their profits. If they want to continue to succeed, it’s key that they make their customers feel valued and that they truly care about them and their experience with the brand. There are a multitude of ways to do this, from simply listening to customer feedback to providing excellent customer service, but it’s often a combination of methods that makes the biggest difference in how customers feel. Below, the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council draw on their experiences working with customers to offer up seven of the top ways businesses can make customers feel valued and ensure they return to your business again and again.
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Introverts bring a unique set of skills to the table that other leaders may not possess. When frequent networking, public speaking and an outgoing personality are so often praised as necessary for effective leadership, it can be difficult for introverts to see themselves running a business. But extroverts aren’t the only ones who have great ideas to share with the world, and it’s just as important for introverts to have their voices heard in the business space. By honoring their strengths — like listening and empathy — introverts can not only be effective leaders but great ones as well. Below, the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council offer their best tips to introverts looking to lead a successful business in the culture space and explain why they can do it just as well as anyone else can.
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When making this decision, put your customers first and foremost. Trends come and pass, with customers eventually losing interest or forgetting why a particular thing was popular in the first place. Your business, however, should have true staying power. Regardless of the time or place, customers should want to continue buying your products or services because of the distinct value they provide — not because you participated in a trend. But trends can also have their place, providing business leaders with the opportunity to reach new audiences and freshen up their marketing. That said, how is a business leader to know when it’s appropriate to hop on a trend and when it’s not? To shed some light, top business leaders from Rolling Stone Culture Council offer their perspective on the issue, each discussing one tip they’d offer fellow business leaders for how to determine whether a trend will benefit your business or detract from it.
expert panel
To appeal to your customers, you have to speak their language. Nothing is more powerful in communicating your brand’s purpose, mission and vision than your brand’s voice. What you say and how you say it is paramount to how people view your brand and choose whether or not they would like to become a customer. This means if your brand’s voice and messaging aren’t resonating with your audience, you may not be bringing in the amount of sales you need to sustainably grow your business. To ensure you’re not missing the mark, consider the following advice from the business leaders of Rolling Stone Culture Council. Here, they offer their top tips for sharpening your brand’s voice and communicating with customers in a way that they will identify with and appreciate.
Company details
GRAV
Company bio
Pedicabs whisking by a dingy warehouse complex while cannabis smoke and welder’s sparks billow through the air… this is where GRAV was born. A creative community in early 00’s Austin that was home to artists from all walks of life. From sculptors and ceramicists to glass-blowers and bespoke artists, everyone was united through their passion for art in an era simpler than today. Sharing a passion for creating, early members of GRAV were a mix of makers and pedicab drivers; this eclectic group brought the revolutionary Gravitron to life. The first all-glass gravity bong remains the most efficient way to smoke flower. The team truly believed this was the only product anyone would ever need to consume cannabis again. Little did they know it was just the beginning...