Summary

Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a big name in the cannabis world, was stuck with a merch vendor that just couldn’t get the job done. The process was messy, slow, and frustrating. Simply put, GTI wasn’t getting the service they needed. Instead of trying to find separate vendors to solve their slew of problems, from sourcing & design to production & ecomm, they found a full-service partner in Imprint Engine. With open communication, smart solutions and a team-focused approach, they fixed GTI’s product quality, inventory & reporting headaches, solved their compliance issues, and paved the way for long-term growth. This story marks the beginning of Green Thumb Industries’ success with Imprint Engine.

Key Problems

GTI’s old vendor couldn’t keep up. The relationship suffered from slow communication, missed deadlines, and mounting frustrations that left GTI feeling stuck.

• Communication Breakdowns: Inconsistent or nonexistent updates lead to delayed timelines and preventable headaches.
• Operational Chaos: Frequent mistakes in packing and shipping created bottlenecks, while unpredictable product quality from constantly changing factories eroded trust.
• Compliance Risks: Without proper permissions and controls, the vendor’s outdated tech left GTI vulnerable to state-level cannabis legislation risks.
• Manual Inefficiencies: Financial reporting still relied on manual Excel entries, opening the door to errors, and poor inventory management led to overstocked shelves and wasted resources.
• Logistical Challenges: Moving 4.4 million units across 875 SKUs to a new vendor warehouse and fulfillment system felt like an impossible task.

GTI needed a partner who could solve all these issues—and fast.

Full-Service Solutions

Imprint Engine brought a hands-on, top to bottom comprehensive approach that addressed GTI’s challenges and created lasting change. The combined efforts in these 3 areas drove Green Thumb Industries’ success.

White-Glove Support

Imprint Engine started by tackling the most important part of any partnership: clear and consistent communication. Dedicated brand managers held weekly check-ins to make sure everyone stayed on track.  And with this level of openness and transparency, GTI trusted that things would always be handled right, especially if anything went wrong.

Technology Integration

Every client has a degree of unique technology needs, but Green Thumb’s security requirements posed a new challenge – one Imprint Engine didn’t shy away from.

• Store Security By State: Imprint Engine developed a custom, internal retail store system to make sure GTI stayed compliant with individual state rules by managing a more secure user access. By ensuring that users could ONLY access products approved for their location, GTI would always remain aligned with state standards. 
• Retail Relocation: On top of that, they also migrated and optimized their public retail stores for their brands, like Rythm and Dogwalkers, allowing for faster D2C fulfillment and product listings.
• Real-Time Reporting: Imprint Engine’s platform also allowed for real-time inventory tracking, so GTI always knew what they had, avoiding costly mistakes. Most importantly, this helped automate old manual tasks for the finance & accounting team to save time while increasing accuracy.

Results

By going all-in with a partner like Imprint Engine, GTI synchronized its entire internal and external retail process.  From sourcing to in-house design, production and web development, they learned the benefit of working with a one-stop shop.

Improved Communication & Trust

• Proactive updates and a collaborative approach built trust, ensuring confidence in Imprint Engine’s capabilities.
• Dedicated support teams and account managers made it easy to keep up with GTI’s fast-paced needs.

Compliance & Risk Mitigation

• Custom web development secured user access and maintained compliance with state and market regulations.
• Sensitive products stayed protected from unauthorized access, avoiding costly fines.

Cost & Time Savings

• Automated financial reporting processes saved GTI’s accounting team days each month.
• Product costs dropped significantly, e.g., Exit bags mentioned above, as well as apparel like custom hoodies that decreased by over 50%.
• The team eliminated overstock inefficiencies, streamlining inventory management.

Operational Efficiency

• Inventory updates that once took weeks were completed in days, enabling faster eCommerce listings.
• Pick/pack accuracy improved significantly, reducing errors and boosting customer satisfaction.
• Through transparent, collaborative planning, Imprint Engine smoothly transitioned all of GTI’s inventory into their warehouse and logistics systems:
  • 4 Shipping Containers
  • 13 Truckloads
  • 293 Pallets
  • 875 SKUs
  • 4.4 Million Units

Conclusion

Imprint Engine’s full-service approach completely turned things around for GTI. They fixed key problems, saved GTI time & money, and made sure everything ran smoothly. By working as a true partner with open lines of communication, Imprint Engine became an extension of the GTI team, paving the way for a long-term partnership. Their innovative solutions didn’t just solve today’s problems; they set the stage for GTI’s ambitious future.