For multi-location cannabis retailers, legacy marketing platforms often cost too much and deliver too little. That was the case for a dispensary group paying over $4,000 per month across five stores for basic text messaging, without integrated loyalty, automation, or segmentation.
In 2021, the group switched to Sweed, cutting spend by 62.5% while expanding its capabilities. With built-in loyalty, customer segmentation, automated journeys, and coordinated SMS + email campaigns, Sweed delivered stronger ROI, happier customers, and measurable long-term value.
Problem
Former marketing tools failed to deliver value:
- Too Expensive: $800 per store per month, totaling $4,000 across 5 stores.
- Too Limited: Basic SMS with no integrated loyalty or advanced segmentation.
- Too Siloed: Data and workflows required manual effort, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
The result? High spend, low ROI, and weak customer engagement.
Solution
By migrating to Sweed, the dispensary group consolidated marketing into one integrated system and unlocked capabilities legacy tools couldn’t touch:
- Cost Efficiency: Reduced monthly spend from $4,000 to $1,500 across all stores, saving $2,500 every month.
- Omni-Channel Campaigns: Coordinated SMS + unlimited email campaigns drove up to 2.5x ROI.
- Built-in Loyalty: Seamless in-store and online rewards encouraged repeat visits.
- Smart Segmentation: Automated recency, frequency, and monetary (RFM) scoring enabled precise targeting.
- Automated Journeys: Action-based campaigns triggered by behavior reduced manual work and increased campaign precision.
- Membership Programs: VIP programs created new revenue streams and turned top customers into advocates.
Results
Switching to Sweed delivered measurable financial and operational impact:
- 62.5% Cost Savings: Monthly spend dropped from $4,000 to $1,500.
- $500 per store in monthly savings while unlocking more functionality.
- 2.5x ROI on coordinated campaigns with SMS + email.
- Unlimited free emails + $0.035 MMS, compared to costly messaging on the prior platform.
Impact
By consolidating fragmented tools into Sweed’s ecosystem, the dispensary group achieved:
- Lower Costs + Higher ROI: Significant monthly savings reinvested back into growth.
- Smarter Marketing, Less Effort: Automated campaigns delivered personalized engagement at scale.
- Loyalty That Lasts: Rewards, memberships, and precise segmentation turned casual buyers into loyal regulars.
Compounding Growth: Every campaign, reward, and re-engagement fed into their growth engine, attracting new customers, driving repeat business, and maximizing customer value.