Budtenders, Buyers & the Menu That Moves | Danny Gold

When people talk about “experience” in cannabis retail, they usually mean the furniture, the lighting, maybe even the packaging. But in this episode, we zoom in on two overlooked pillars of customer experience: training and inventory.

Jake and Duffy sit down with Danny Gold, COO and Head of Product at Happy Cabbage and former co-founder of ZolTrain, to unpack how real-world retail is shaped by the systems behind the scenes. From onboarding budtenders to curating menus to turning inventory every 14 days, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons on how to run a tighter, more intentional, more customer-centric shop.

If you’re thinking about margins, menus, or mentorship inside your dispensary, this one’s for you.

Topics Covered:

• Why budtender training is experience design
• The shift from push to pull in brand/retailer dynamics
• How to onboard new staff to reflect your store’s standards
• The ROI of turning your inventory every 14 days
• Why most dispensaries carry too many SKUs
• The bias trap of buyers and budtenders
• Strain names vs. effect-based education
• How Happy Cabbage is helping retailers prioritize what moves

About Our Guest:

Danny Gold is COO and Head of Product at Happy Cabbage Analytics, where he helps cannabis retailers and brands turn insights into revenue through smarter marketing and inventory strategy. He previously co-founded ZolTrain, one of the first cannabis training platforms built specifically for budtenders and brands. Danny lives in Colorado with his wife and kids, and has been building in the space for over seven years.

Links & References:

• Happy Cabbage Analytics