5 Tips for Effectively Educating Budtenders

Written By Jaime Lipowitz

Make sure your product knowledge sticks!

Educating Budtenders isn’t just about throwing a sell sheet at them - it’s about giving them the tools to confidently recommend your products in real-world scenarios. Here’s how to make it happen:

1. KISS: Keep It Simple Silly

With some stores carrying over 1,000 SKUs, Budtenders are constantly juggling product knowledge. Instead of deep-diving into every product, focus on what truly sets your brand apart. Stick to 2-3 key takeaways they can recall at the counter- broad enough to apply across multiple products but impactful enough to drive a sale.

  • “BrandName focuses on high terpene strains for bold flavour and full effects”

  • “BrandName’s two most popular flower SKUs have the most consistent potency and strain genetics. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting every time you purchase”

  • “BrandName’s Live Rosin beverages emulsify quicker than other infused drinks- delivering effects as quickly as your favourite cocktail!”

2. Real Consumer Needs- Real World Connection

Instead of just listing THC percentage, strain genetics, or terpenes, frame your product benefits through real-life scenarios. How does it fit into someone’s routine? What kind of activity, environment, or moment is it perfect for? Budtenders can sell your product more effectively when they can connect it to the right vibe or occasion.

  • “It’s the vape you can always have on you- solid hardware, no clogs, discreet, and easy to toss in a bag.”

  • “These are the perfect pre-rolls to bring to a hangout to share with your friends, they burn smooth every time, and are great-tasting to the end”

  • “These gummies are lots of my customer’s go-tos for bedtime. The calming lavender flavour combined with the CBN make it the perfect product for winding down.”

3. Compare and Contrast

Beyond the total number of SKUs, it’s crucial to stand out within your specific category on the store menu. Help Budtenders easily understand what sets your products apart with a clear visual aid. (Pro tip: It’s not about being better or worse than other SKUs in the category, it’s about highlighting what makes you unique.)

Image of Jublee's hash competitor chart

Image from Jublee’s Education Deck, made with the High Buds Club Education template

4. Real-World Examples

Provide Budtenders with the language they need to visualize the conversation that will sell your SKU. Offering quick scripts or cheat sheets for these scenarios gives them the confidence to recommend your product naturally when the right customer walks through the door. Keep these scripts conversational and tailored to the language the customer would actually use in real life.

Roleplay scenario for Budtender sales

Image from Riptides Vape Certification, in the HBC Feed

5. Show rather than Tell

Budtenders have told us time and time again- product knowledge materials are more useful when they include actual product visuals, not just packaging or vanity packaging. Knowing the size or shape of a pre-roll or texture of hash, can go a long way in making an effective recommendation. Visual cues like this help them provide more personalized, confident suggestions to customers.

 

When it comes to Budtender marketing, education is everything. The more you reach and engage Canadian Budtenders with clear, memorable product knowledge, the more confident they’ll be in recommending your brand. By making education engaging, visual, and easy to recall, you’re equipping them with the tools to drive sales and create better customer experiences. Take advantage of High Buds Club’s programming to directly engage with Budtenders through 24/h brand group chats, brand education spaces and interactive Retail Education Sesh-ins ✈️

Ready to take Budtender education to new heights? Let’s chat about how High Buds Club can make it happen ✈️

Jaime Lipowitz