#105 - From Oregon to New York: Brand Expansion w/ Marianne Cursetjee, CEO of Alibi Cannabis

Marianne Cursetjee shares how she transformed from cancer patient to cannabis entrepreneur, building Alibi into a premium brand now expanding from Oregon to New York through strategic licensing partnerships.• Breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 led to discovering cannabis's healing potential• Built Alibi Cannabis in Oregon with a focus on premium indoor flower and adventure-focused branding• Butterfly imagery represents breaking down walls for true connection and community• Took five years of relationship-building before entering the New York market• Chose licensing partnerships over owning supply chain for efficient expansion• Reached cashflow positive in New York within five months, beating six-month projection• Field marketing and authentic community engagement drive brand recognition• Previous expansion attempts in Massachusetts and Arizona provided valuable lessons• Maintaining financial discipline with "no debt" philosophy critical for survival• Hand-trimming flower despite representing 20% of costs aligns with quality values• New York cannabis market reached $2 billion in sales, with favorable energy compared to mature markets• Looking at New Jersey and potentially European markets for future growthVisit alibico.com or follow @alibiny on Instagram to learn more about their products and expansion journey.Have a question for us? Send us a text. We may answer it in the next show!--High Spirits is brought to you by Vertosa and Wolf Meyer.Your hosts are Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein.Follow High Spirits on LinkedIn. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website www.highspiritspod.com and listen to all of our past shows.THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.