A 72-year-old white guy might not be the first person you think of when you hear “social equity,” but Gary Arnold might surprise you in a lot of ways. The founder and owner of Gogi Delivery, along with his son, even seems to have cracked the code when it comes to a profitable social-equity delivery service.
He found a niche and he’s growing. And boy does he have a story to tell.
Arnold took some time to chat with me over the phone and then complete this Q&A, which has been lightly edited for style.
Tell us about your business — what is it and who are you working with? We are Gogi Cannabis Delivery LLC. Gogi is a cannabis transport and delivery service. We provide B2B same-day service for fresh frozen, fresh flower, MIP and grow fields across the state.
Presently we are providing local deliveries for Clear Colorado Group as well as providing same-day fresh frozen service for Dalwhinnie Farms in Ridgeway.
You’ve taken a different approach to delivery than many of your social-equity peers. Tell us about the “see a need, fill a need” tactic that you took. When I originally applied for my Social Equity License, I intended to operate a B2C operation. I found out quickly that the dispensaries were doing their own delivering and had no interest in using social-equity, third-party delivery.
After much frustration, I started to look for other avenues to use my license. Through some networking, I happened to meet Richard Batenburg, Sr., owner of Clear Cannabis. After discussing the nature of where the B2C delivery was, he offered me an opportunity to transport from his facility to local distribution centers for a few of their clients.
This changed my whole outlook toward delivery. I saw where the real opportunity would be in transporting so I began marketing myself as a transporter not B2C. At that point, I reached out to my direct competition and asked if they had any business I could help with. They said they had an opportunity they would share with me fresh frozen flower delivery to the MIPs. There was only this company and one other who only provided that service on a limited basis, so I jumped on the opportunity. I equipped my van with onboard freezers and battery inverters and went to work.
I presently transport for Dalwhinnie Farms. Specializing in this service on top of providing standard transport for flower products has enabled me to presently be in negotiations with several very large potential clients including the entire co-op of Area 420 in Moffat. Now, I think I am the only transporter who offers same-day frozen service across the Front Range and beyond on a weekly basis.
How’s business? Since I converted to fresh frozen and expanded my routes, I am getting contacts from all over the state inquiring about the new guy doing fresh frozen.
You’re also a master networker — do you have any tips for folks looking to start a business when it comes to getting the word out and/or building relationships? Through the years, I have had several sales jobs that were straight commission. I learned the magic of networking. This taught me the only way to get business was to make connections. So, I started going to associations, clubs events in my field of business at the time. I have been able to apply this within the cannabis industry by just becoming involved.
Now, tell us your story. I was born in 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee. I truly grew up with the hardest times for marijuana prohibition. I discovered marijuana in my teens. It did not take long for me to figure out that weed cost a lot of money and I did not have either money or weed. Soon, I figured out that if I got in good with the guys smuggling and the guys growing weed, I could get them to let me drive weed from Florida.
This turned into a very lucrative transport business. I could make money and had all the weed I wanted. What a great deal, right? This went on for a few years until the federal government got wind of my little operation. Long story short, I got busted. The government took all my money and what they didn’t take, the lawyers did. I was sentenced to five years and spent three years in federal prison.
So, 18 years ago, I decided to move to Denver to be with my son who lives here. I was watching TV in 2018 and I saw an interview with two owners of a company called Doobba and they were recipients of a social-equity license to deliver marijuana and he got the license because he had been busted before so he qualified.
I told my wife, “I can do that too!”
So, I began pursuing my license. It took me two years of struggling but I was finally successful: I now hold a medical transport and delivery and a recreational transport and delivery license and am one of only three transporters with a warehouse staging facility.
The irony of it all is I am doing the exact same thing legally that I was imprisoned for three years for.
I just transport weed! Not a crime.
“The biggest killer on the planet is stress and I still think the best medicine is, and always has been, cannabis.” – Willie Nelson
What is Colorado doing right when it comes to social equity? And how could it improve? I think Colorado’s social equity program has great ideas, but there is not enough follow-through for the applicants. There are many who apply, get the license, then realize they cannot make it in this competitive market. I know because I have spoken to many of them. The state could help with education and providing some form of capital or partnerships with established businesses who could help mentor and provide some much-needed direction. As it stands, there is no help for someone who receives their license.
What’s next for you? I will continue to transport and expand my routes, adding more clients. I want to expand my business and employ more social equity workers. I am working to get into the state of Tennessee with my son. He is pursuing a transport license there.
It’s an interesting time, to say the least. I’m not stopping now!
Read the full article at: Regulated State
