How The Herbal Hut grew repeat customers 41% by owning the relationship
Two owners in Portland stopped paying marketplaces to reach their own regulars, and used loyalty and automated texts to bring them back directly.
Illustrative figures based on typical customer outcomes.
The challenge
Devon and Priya had built a loyal following, but most online orders still came through marketplaces. Every month they paid more in listing fees and ads to reach people who were already their customers.
Worse, the marketplace kept the customer data. They couldn’t tell who their best regulars were, so every deal went to everyone, and nobody felt special.
Why they chose Budfront
They wanted a direct line to their own customers. Budfront gave them a customer list they own, loyalty points that work online and at the counter, and texting built around consent and carrier rules.
“Our regulars finally feel like regulars. They get rewarded for coming back, and we get to know who they are.”
Devon & Priya — Owners of The Herbal Hut
What they launched
- Loyalty with tiers, so their best regulars earn faster and get early access to new drops
- Automated texts and email: welcome, win-back and back-in-stock alerts
- A fast online menu on their own website, synced with their POS
- Express pickup so loyalty members can skip the line
The results
Repeat customers grew 41%, and The Herbal Hut cut about $18,000 a month in marketplace listing fees and ads. Loyalty members now place more than twice as many orders as everyone else.
“We used to rent our customers from marketplaces. Now we own the relationship.”
Devon & Priya — Owners of The Herbal Hut
What’s next
Next up is a branded app with push notifications, so new drops reach their top customers instantly.
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All storiesIt runs on autopilot. I open the dashboard and the numbers just keep going up.
Carlos M. · Lunar Collective · Ann Arbor, MI
Launch took less time than our last menu update, and the app paid for itself in a month.
Erin W. · Copper Canyon Dispensary · Flagstaff, AZ
Compliance was my biggest worry. Budfront handles age checks and limits for us.
Lena H. · Harbor Wellness · Seattle, WA