Meeting the Marry Jane Team: Interview with Mischa Gribi (Part 2)

This is the second installment of our talk with Mischa Gribi, one of Marry Jane’s co-founders. You can find the first part of the interview here.

Mischa, what inspires you in your work? And in your life?

I think, most of all, it’s myself to whom I am accountable. I can do whatever I want, and now, with me and my three partners, I am able to follow my dreams. I think this is what is most important and inspiring to me. Each of us can make a big impact on the company. And personally, I like being part of the discussion.

Let’s look back at the history of Marry Jane. What was the company’s first product?

The first product was obviously flowers. It’s the product that people mostly smoke and is still the most popular one in our portfolio. We now have a lot of strains and varieties of it. We started with flower production and at one point we found out that we could reduce the THC level from 1.0% (which is allowed in Switzerland) to 0.2%. That was our biggest success in the past, and so we were one of the companies that was able to create, produce and export a lot of CBD products to Europe. Thereafter, we expanded our portfolio to include other products. We have now completed a new facility in Breitenbach and also have shops in Switzerland and Germany, so we can supply our products to them and receive feedback from our customers.

What are Marry Jane’s future plans?

For sure, to be more involved in the B2C market. I wouldn’t say that we are in the background, because we now have big publicity in the CBD sector in Europe. However, we would like to be more B2C focused, as we produce a lot of flowers and oils and many white-label products for other companies. I think our main strategy will be to work closer with our direct customers and to create more CBD products under our own brand. And next, we will be opening a shop in Barcelona. We are following our strategy to open several flagship stores throughout Europe as soon as possible to grow the brand and make it well known to the public.

What are the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of your job?

I think even though we are quite big now, we still have a family feel. We have fun, even if we work 12-hour shifts. We make time to discuss our day and laugh, which for me makes it an enjoyable work experience. And, of course, to see our success. I mean, when we see our visitors’ reactions, we understand the progress we are making. It’s really nice to see that.

Has the CBD industry changed since you launched the company? Have you seen any particular trends?

Obviously, it’s growing, and it’s growing very fast. This is the biggest trend in general. But I see CBD and cannabis becoming more and more accepted globally, and moving away from the perception that it’s just about getting high. We still have some old customers who are familiar with cannabis from the past when it was prohibited, but it’s a small group of people. But yes, CBD products are becoming more and more acceptable. Legal changes in Europe are “pro-cannabis”, and though they are happening slowly, they are there, so we are looking forward to a bright future.

Can we expect new Marry Jane products soon?

Yes, for sure, we are working on new cosmetic products. I think cosmetics will be a major part of CBD products in the future and will be on sale within a few years. We are working on products for athletes and the beauty industry. We’re producing terrific new strains, like flowers, which are unique in the market, so we can raise the already high standards.

Can you tell us about your typical workday?

When I arrive at work, I usually check my appointments for the day and prepare myself if there are some meetings. Otherwise, I read my emails and have discussions with my partners. We are all in a 140 square metres office space, and we have a lounge area where we can chill out. Most of the time we see each other in the morning and talk. Everyone has their own role in the company but can work a little bit everywhere, even if it’s not optimal. It has to be like that. I have meetings with employees about their progress. It’s structured, but every day I have something different to do. Sometimes I have to drive to other companies or meetings away from our facility, and other times clients come here. I have meetings with people from different parts of the world. Also, I could have some calls with other people when I’m walking my dog or staying at home. Usually, my working day finishes at 7 or 8 p.m.

If you were to give advice to someone who wants to start using CBD and implement it into their life, what product would you recommend they start with?

Personally, I would advise reading about it. We have some great articles about CBD on our blog. I really believe in CBD as it is a wonderful cannabinoid that can be beneficial in a lot of aspects. The most important thing is to read as much about it as possible. We are fortunate that we can find the necessary information on the Internet and are able to post something to express ourselves to help each other.

We would like to thank Mischa for the interview. Stay tuned to learn more about the Marry Jane team.