QUINCY — Two Air Wellness cannabis dispensaries in Quincy, officially operated by Herbal Remedies, were officially rebranded during a ceremony Thursday afternoon.
The Miami, Florida-based company acquired Herbal Remedies in 2021 for $30 million.
Kyle Lonerenfitch, Air’s senior vice president, wants to show that the “solid” values that local owners Bob Lansing and Christine Wildrick bring to the cannabis market are still intact. The company said it has postponed the rebranding.
“We felt it was important for the community to understand that the service, the team and the people we remember have not changed,” he said. “[We]didn’t make any major changes in terms of service, so people had peace of mind and it was easier to transition.
Lone Renfitch and Quincy Area Manager Taylor Bricker said most store employees remained. Other employees in management and marketing positions have been transferred to the company’s headquarters in Ayr.
“Anya Varga, our compliance director and human resources director, is actually the daughter of (one of) the founders of Herbal Remedies,” Lonerenfitch said. “Whenever we do an acquisition, we try to bring everyone along with us.”
Ayer has more than 20 Quincy employees at its 1837 Broadway and 4440 Broadway locations, which also include a medical pharmacy.
The company has 90 locations in eight states, and Lonerenfitch said its size brings discounts and other benefits to Quincy, especially for medical applications.
In addition to the traditional PTO time pool, Ayr awards PTO to employees who perform community service. In the past, employees have picked up trash at local parks and participated in food drives benefiting local food pantries.
“This is something I’ve never experienced at any company I’ve ever worked for,” Bricker said. Mr. Bricker came to Herbal Remedies from a career in charity volunteer work and retail, and remained with the company through the acquisition process.
The company has sponsored Fishing for Freedom, the Juneteenth Festival, and most recently, a collection of unique skateboard decks auctioned to raise funds for local nonprofits like Bella Ease. They directly contribute to the community by displaying their artwork.
“As a company, we are very passionate about being involved in communities across the country,” Lonerenfitch said. “We have local council meetings where we have weekly conversations about how we are involved in the local community and how we are not only (just) active, but embedded in the local community.”
“We’re including our staff in (the decision-making process),” Bricker said. “You can use your paid time off for philanthropic work however you like…all bud tenders and inventory management members, they also have a say in who we (as a company) want to support locally.I We have been doing Fishing for Freedom since the days of Herbal Remedies.
The company believes that cannabis can serve as a focal point for communities and even as a medical aid in certain situations.
“We also love supporting veterans (who may be living with chronic pain)… something that Herbal Remedies is very passionate about is helping everyone on their cannabis journey. It was about meeting people,” Bricker said.
“There’s always going to be a bit of a stigma attached to cannabis users…but that’s not the case with every customer here. We’re all still productive members of society in our own ways. We all are. , still have jobs and get on with their lives.”
“People assume that cannabis users do X or look like Y, but they’re also your mother, friend, sibling, cousin, or grandmother,” Lonerenfitch said.
