Rolling Station is the latest innovation from Ottawa cannabis company

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As staff drivers head out with orders ready for home delivery, customers, artists and even pets eager for doggie treats drop into High Ties, a new kind of recreational cannabis store opening all over the Ottawa region.

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Will Chaar is taking everything he learned growing up in Ottawa to put his stamp on cannabis retail. With eight stores launched since 2021 and preparations underway to open an additional dozen High Ties in the coming months, Chaar and his team are an interesting hybrid of professional drive and personal chill.

“With every story we open, we learn. Our customers and team give us the best direction and we apply their feedback to hone how we do things at all of our High Ties locations,” Chaar says. As the sole proprietor, he has the flexibility to implement beneficial initiatives with local people in mind.

“When a customer recently told us the water and food bowls that we set out for dogs is the reason why he shops here, that reinforced for us the importance of listening, responding and making everybody feel welcome,” says Chaar.

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Hearing customers share their challenges with rolling dried cannabis into tight, evenly distributed joints, Chaar came up with a unique solution: the High Ties Rolling Station.

Initial experiments tested well and so each store will soon feature this helpful service. “We’re the pioneers, the first cannabis shop to offer this,” says Nadim Helou, High Ties’ general manager.

“We already sell pre-rolled joints made by licensed producers. However, we recognize that not every strain comes in pre-roll, and not everyone has the knack for rolling or enjoys doing it.”

The High Ties Rolling Station helps customers by having everything done on-site. To achieve the right density and ensure the joint smokes properly, a staff budtender opens the customer’s package of dried cannabis bought at High Ties and, using special machinery, rolls it neatly into a pre-roll.

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“We will do the first pre-roll on the house for you. There is a small fee to prepare the next ones,” Helou says.

The station is enclosed by Plexiglas, giving customers full view of each step. The process is safe and hygienic. Helou explains, “Instead of using rolling papers and licking them closed, we use specially designed cones that are preformed into rolls and glued. Our budtenders just add the right amount of cannabis, then seal the top.”

Customers can explore many different dried cannabis varieties stocked at High Ties. “We’re increasing our selection all the time, giving people lots of options in flowers as well as pre-rolls, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, topicals and accessories,” Chaar says. “Whenever we receive recommendations from customers, we add them to our platform, order the items and call customers back when they are in stock.”

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Delivery is offered on minimum purchases made online or by phone by customers located within 25 kilometres of their nearest High Ties.

Team members are knowledgeable, courteous and helpful. “Our business was launched during COVID-19,” Chaar notes. “When the first lockdown was ordered, I was concerned about looking after our people. However, our management got creative with scheduling and continue to accommodate staff’s working preferences whenever possible. Our team remains busy, handling sales, stock, curbside service and home delivery. We appreciate that everyone comes to work with a terrific attitude. And I’m happy to say that business keeps booming.”

On their downtime, imaginative team members transform discarded packaging from cannabis products and upscale the materials into artwork. The creations are sold at High Ties to raise money for charities.

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“Because High Ties is local and most of our staff were born and raised in the Ottawa area, we all care about our community and want to give back,” says Helou.

Whenever a new High Ties store is officially opened, the community is invited to a special opening day event. Helou says, “We give 20 per cent of all sales proceeds that day to local charities. We’ve noticed that even folks who don’t purchase cannabis still donate. We’re so impressed by our community’s generosity.”

More opening celebrations will be happening soon. Currently, there are High Ties locations at 1264 Wellington St. W., 179 Montreal Rd., 484 Rideau St., 769 Bank St. 2518-2520 Innes Rd., and 2284 Tenth Line in Ottawa. Doors are also open at 825 Notre-Dame St. in Embrun and 25 Main St. S. in Alexandria. “Every three weeks from now and throughout 2022, there will be a new High Ties in our region,” Chaar promises.

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Moving from one site to the next, High Ties’ construction team is quickly followed by the merchandising team, which is then followed by the staffing team. Each location delivers on “High Ties’ consistent design, ambience, selection and customer service,” says Helou.

“We’re hiring for all of our stores, including the locations soon to be open,” Helou says. “High Ties is expanding rapidly and promoting our own people to different roles within our organization.”

Excited about opportunities in their own backyard, Chaar and Helou are focused on building their brand in Ottawa. “Being the biggest and best cannabis retail shop here is our goal,” Chaar says. “One day, we may consider franchising. Right now, the most important thing to us is that our local customers feel great about their experience at High Ties.”

For information, call 613-421-4444 or visit www.highties.ca .

This story was created by Content Works , Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of High Ties.