Alissa Paluska, of New Vansterdam, in Vancouver, Washington.
By Garrett Rudolph
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Every year, Black Friday elicits a throng of holiday shoppers looking to score deals on everything from socks to high-end electronics.
For the first time ever, the nation’s must lucrative shopping day also included retailers of the cannabis variety in Washington and Colorado, making Green Friday an instant holiday tradition.
“It’s obviously a big day for retail businesses. Customers expect to have good deals on Black Friday,” said Shon-Lueiss Harris, an assistant manager at New Vansterdam in Vancouver. “It was a good way for us to reward customers, and say thank you for staying with us.”
Harris said the day after Thanksgiving was the busiest day the shop has seen since opening its doors July 11. While $30 per gram of cannabis is the normal, average cost at New Vansterdam, Harris said the shop was able to bring its prices down to an average of $15 per gram for its Green Friday specials. Those prices resulted in double the customers of an average Friday — already the busiest day of the week for the fledgling retail operation.
New Vansterdam was among the 24 businesses that made up Washington’s first group of licensed businesses.
Under the leadership of president Brian Budz and general managers Linda Chan and Don Joling, the shop puts a strong emphasis on education and providing its customers with plenty of information before they make their purchase.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Harris said.
Because of the store’s status as one of the few operating retail stores in the region, Harris said city council members from neighboring cities have often visited New Vansterdam in their efforts to assess whether or not to impose bans on marijuana businesses.
The retail space features Apple iPads that customers can use to scroll through information about the various strains and growers the store carries.
Another unique feature of New Vansterdam, due in large part to its size, is a 90-foot wall that serves as a rotational art gallery. Since its opening, New Vansterdam has featured the paintings, photography and sculptures of various local and regional artists.