Beyond the Bud: Cannabis Design and Branding With Autumn Karcey

Autumn Karcey is the Founder and CEO of Cultivo, Inc., a cannabis design consulting firm specializing in high-performance cultivation facilities. With over 20 years in the industry, she led projects across 20 US states and three countries, focusing on permit acquisition, cultivation, and environmental optimization. In 2020, Autumn launched Artemis CoPack, a 67,000-square-foot manufacturing facility producing tech-driven cannabis products. She also manages two sun-grown farms and three in-house brands, including Smugglers, Cali Girls, and Artemis Farms.

In this episode…

With public perception, inconsistent regulations, and a lack of consumer education impacting the cannabis industry, building a cultivation brand seems risky. How can you produce high-quality cannabis at scale, stand out in an oversaturated market, and maintain sustainable practices?

As a cannabis cultivation and facility design expert, Autumn Karcey emphasizes experience, innovation, and practicality. To produce high-quality cannabis at scale, brands must maintain environmental precision — from proper HVAC planning to climate-controlled drying facilities — and adopt automation to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality. Autumn also recommends leveraging authentic storytelling, maintaining hands-on control of your brand presence, and building strong industry relationships. Additionally, brands should educate consumers on dosing and terpenes, shifting the focus away from THC percentages and toward more personalized, effective experiences.

Join Michele Ringelberg and Olivia Johnson in today’s episode of Marketing That POPs as they host Autumn Karcey, the Founder and CEO of Cultivo, Inc., to discuss building a scalable and sustainable cannabis business. Autumn shares her journey from garage grower to processing facility owner, shifting cannabis trends, and her vision for future industry standards.