Millbrook will soon be home to a cannabis retailer operated by Peterborough’s Sparq. This firm currently operates four other licensed retail locations: three in Peterborough and one in Norwood, as well as an on-line dispensary.
All retail cannabis outlets in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. All potential outlets are subject to comments from the community, but the window is just 15 days and expired last fall.
The company secured the Millbrook location, but given the nature of their products, there are many regulatory and security hurdles to overcome. Entrance to all cannabis retailers is restricted to those 19 and older. Windows at this outlet are frosted to prevent passers-by to see any product display. Locked deli-style counters house all products in the store, and security cameras record capture activity in the interior and exterior of the shop.
Once inside, customers will find a wide range of products, including dried cannabis flower, vaporizers, edibles, extracts, beverages, topicals and accessories. Cannabis retailers in Canada all purchase their products from the same government agency and pay the same price, so finding a competitive advantage is a challenge. Sparq is a local firm based in Peterborough, providing a professional and educational focus to their business so customers have confidence in the products they are using. One of the firm’s objectives is to dispel the stigma surrounding cannabis, highlighting its medicinal and relaxation benefits.
Sparq’s manager Robert Brunsch has been with the firm since its inception two years ago and acts as the firm’s general manager and is delighted to be on the ground floor of a new industry. He is careful to support local businesses in the markets where Sparq operates, and for the Millbrook store he has commissioned a sign from local business Taylor Made Signs. He also expects to make some local hires when the opening date firms up. Inspections are ongoing, and he is optimistic that the store will be ready to open its doors at the end of the month. KG