Store Highlight: Budders Cannabis

The atmosphere at Budders is approachable and chill — like a trusted friend who always knows what’s good and wants you to enjoy it too. Customers don’t just leave with products; they leave feeling heard. “We want customers to leave feeling like they just had a great conversation with someone who really listened,” says co-founder and CEO Igor Kolpak.  

Staff are trained to slow down, read the room and guide shoppers based on how they want to feel, not just what they want to buy. For first-time or canna-curious visitors, the team simplifies the experience. For seasoned consumers, the conversations become peer-to-peer exchanges packed with insider insights and expert recommendations.

“That focus on authenticity is echoed in customer feedback. “One comment that stuck with me was, ‘Budders feels like the only place where staff actually smoke and know what they’re talking about,’” Kolpak recalls. “Another one we hear a lot is, ‘You always put me on to something new. I never leave disappointed.’” These moments capture exactly what Kolpak aims for — trust that comes from meaningful connection, not only what’s on the shelf.

Part of what makes Budders unique is its weekly product rotation. Each is studied, sampled and turned over quickly, encouraging the team to be sharp and knowledgeable. It’s a challenging model, but one Kolpak believes sets the store apart. “Customers know Budders is where they’ll always find what’s next, not what’s left over. We’re not chasing trends — we’re setting the pace.”

Igor Kolpak

Co-founder and CEO, Budders Cannabis, Acton, Ont.

 “Budders is where you’ll always find what’s next, not what’s left over.”

That same philosophy guides the store’s buying process. Every product goes through a gut check: Would staff personally consume it or recommend it to a friend? If not, it doesn’t make the shelf, no matter the profit. This approach allows Budders to spotlight small-batch and craft producers who might not have the biggest marketing budgets but consistently deliver quality. Some staff favourite brands include Sixty Seven Sins, Northern Canna, HighXotic, Unit 15, BLK MKT and Woody Nelson. 

Ask the Budders team what excites them most and the answer comes quick: flower and pre-rolls. They consider dried flower to be the heart of cannabis culture and the staff treat it with the care it deserves — comparing cultivars, breaking down terp profiles and tracking which batches are really hitting. Pre-rolls get the same attention, with the team always on the hunt for the perfect joint. “When customers ask, ‘What’s good?’ We don’t just point. We share our personal favourites, explain why, and match them with something they’ll love,” Kolpak says.

The market hasn’t made things easy. With more products than ever and prices under pressure, Budders took a different path.  Instead of chasing volume with discounts, the team doubled down on curating with intention and storytelling. After narrowing their focus, stepping up training and maintaining strong customer trust, the team’s discipline not only kept the business steady but also fueled its growth. 

For Kolpak, the proudest moments aren’t about sales but the human connections made in-store. One customer, after a rough week, came back just to thank the team for making them feel seen. Another asked for a specific budtender by name because their last recommendation had been spot-on. “We’ve built a place where people trust us not just for cannabis but for good vibes and good people.”

SHOP DRIED FLOWER

The shop continues to evolve with weekly menus and a loyalty program that offers special promotions and early access to new product drops, plus curated staff picks. For Kolpak, it always comes back to trust. “We’re not here to be everything to everyone. Our community knows that when they walk into Budders, every product has been chosen with purpose, and that respect is what keeps them coming back.” 

Don’t live near Budders Cannabis? Use the OCS Store Locator to find an Authorized Cannabis Store near you.
 

Store Highlight features Authorized Cannabis Stores that apply to participate as part of the quarterly OCS Content Call process. If you are interested in having your store featured, find out how on OCS Wholesale Learn.