Do I Qualify?
person

Red Rodriguez

Director, Brand PartnershipsGRAV

New York, NY

Member Since March 2022

Skills

Business Development & Partnerships
Retail
Creative Strategy

About

Red Rodriguez is a cannabis expert who has spent a decade in the industry working with top dispensaries curating their products and advising brands. Red’s retail knowledge and expertise were behind curating the renowned Flower Menu at the first Cannabis Cafe in America. Now he’s part of the GRAV team as their Director of Brand Partnerships who oversees brand partnerships. Red is a California native who has witnessed the state's evolution on cannabis and experienced these changes firsthand.

Published content

How to Make Key Connections to Propel Your Business Forward

expert panel

Succeeding in the culture space often comes down to “who you know.” Whether you’re looking to get your business off the ground or are ready to expand your company’s reach to new audiences, knowing the right people can often be what determines your success. When one person could introduce you to 10 more people and then 20 more after that, or come up with an idea that could bring your product to the next level of innovation, making the right connections becomes of the utmost importance. But when it comes to “who you know,” a little intentionality can make the process of building your network that much simpler. To help, seven Rolling Stone Culture Council business leaders offer their insights on the key to making the right business connections in the culture space and the impact doing so has on your eventual success in your industry.

12 Essential Tips for Hiring the Right Talent in the Early Stages of a Startup

expert panel

Ensure the success of your startup by following these 12 tips to build the best possible team through effective hiring practices. Building a successful startup requires assembling a team of talented individuals who can contribute to its growth and navigate the challenges of the early stages. However, hiring the right people for a startup can be a daunting task. It requires a strategic approach to identify individuals who not only possess the necessary skills but also align with the company's vision and culture. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members shared some essential tips for bringing on the right people to help grow a startup in its early stages. These insights will empower entrepreneurs to make informed hiring decisions that lay a solid foundation for long-term success. 

Avoid These 10 Marketing Mistakes When Targeting Gen Z

expert panel

This generation is looking to support businesses that value ethics and authenticity. Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012, has become a highly sought-after demographic for marketers due to their significant purchasing power and influence. However, effectively targeting this generation requires a different approach than previous generations, and there are some common mistakes that companies are making. Below, Rolling Stone Culture Council members share what companies should avoid when marketing to Gen Z and why these practices can come across as inauthentic. By understanding these mistakes, companies can create more effective marketing strategies that resonate with this influential demographic.

Resisting Modern Cannabis Propaganda: How People Of Color Can Lead The Industry Forward

article

For anyone in the cannabis industry, the dated myths, stereotypes, and propaganda provide both a barrier and an opportunity to move the conversation forward.

12 Effective Ways to Gain and Build Trust With a New Business Partner

expert panel

As with any other relationship, trust between business partners is paramount for mutual success. When it comes to business partnerships, the right one can often lead to a whole host of new opportunities, such as attracting new customers, diversifying your revenue streams or helping your teams innovate through challenges. When working with someone new, however, there must be a level of trust involved so that each partner feels as though they have skin in the game. Establishing trust takes time, but there are steps leaders can take to help foster that trust from the very beginning. To help, a group of Rolling Stone Culture Council members share their best advice below.

Unhappy Customer? Take These 12 Actions Right Away

expert panel

Their future opinion of your business rides on how you respond to their concerns. It's no secret that unhappy customers can have a negative effect on your business. All it takes is a slew of negative Yelp reviews or low star ratings to ruin a business’s reputation. But the reviews themselves aren’t always what have the biggest impact — it's all about the way the business responds to unsatisfied buyers. That's why it's so important to address customer concerns when they occur and attempt to turn the situation around. To shed some light on how to do so properly, 12 Rolling Stone Culture Council members explain the smartest things you should do first when you have an unhappy customer and why.

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...