I went on the website recruiting and job search engine Indeed this morning. Schwazze has 35 reviews with a 1.8 rating out of 5 stars. Not too good but not too surprising when taking all things in context. Schwazze is performing in Colorado and New Mexico, both extremely competitive cannabis markets. Additionally, over the last two years, the cannabis industry as a whole has been underperforming for a variety of reasons such as (1) lack of capital, (2) Zero Federal support in regard to legal cannabis legislative reform, (3) oversupply of product, and (4) regional unlimited licensing in some states (i.e. NM), to name a few. Retail cannabis is an emerging industry and its current market conditions make it very competitive and Schwazze's penchant for running lean is even more necessary during current industry uncertainty.
One must consider that the strong jobs market has bedeviled employers, with such a tight supply of available employees, it is very difficult to recruit and retain talent. I know this for a fact, as the Executive Director of a mid-sized health insurance organization. Some colleagues in my industry have hired 5 to 6 people to fill one position in the last 18 months. We offer generous salary and benefit packages, yet employees don't want to work on site, want unrealistic salaries or just don't have the work ethic or skills to justify their demands. My industry is not like that of Schwazze, which operates retail stores with an outsized need for entry level positions.
When I think of budtenders, I think of what jobs are comparative and first to mind is front line McDonalds employees, flipping burgers, cooking fries and providing customer/waitstaff service. Colorado minimum wage in 2024 is $14.42 per hour and Denver minimum wage is $18.29. Chicago minimum wage is $14 per hour and compared to Denver, both cities have cost of living at around $47,500. So, what I am seeing on Indeed and Glass door is that the salaries offered by Schwazze are competitive with the markets they exist in. If you are in HR for an industry with an outsized need for entry level positions, my hat is off to you, as you are very busy and stressed with no end in sight for employment needs in an industry with high turnover. Entry level positions are a revolving door of employees. Does anyone think that on the cultivation side, where bud trimmers and grow workers are paid $14.42 - $18.29 pr. hr., that seasonal migrant workers are getting paid that for harvesting fruits or grains in CO or NM?
While on Indeed and Glass door, I created multiple accounts using several email addresses that I have. So, anyone with an ax to grind is able to do the same, as well, Schwazze corporate leaders can also do the same. There is nothing scientific about reviews and the reality is people are more apt to post a bad review as opposed to a good one. How many competitors of Schwazze have created multiple accounts to bash the company? I saw some reviews that made me think some stock message board posters could be posting phony reviews. I saw a review on Indeed that was bitching about the corporate's heads being "grocery guys," which probably turns out to be a huge asset for us stockholders. I don't put much stock in reviews, they can be manipulated very easily. Today's world is highly critical as social media has brought out the worst in people and complete idiots now have a platform to spew BS. Entry level employees, with some being marginal employees, that may prefer quiet quitting instead of working, are just the type to offer online nonsense to justify why they did not get the promotion or salary that they really did not deserve or earn.
Some folks are just always going to be glass half full people.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
