How to sell CBD on Shopify
The wait is over. Shopify announced that as of Tuesday, September 17 US-based merchants using its platform will be able to sell hemp-derived CBD and CBD-related products where permitted by state and local law.
We at Pixel Union have been involved with organizations selling CBD and CBD-related products since the industry first started picking up steam. Being a Canadian-based company, we’ve worked with companies that have been selling CBD and CBD-related products since their legalization in October of 2018. Shopify’s move into the US is going to rocket CBD growth within the ecommerce industry and on the platform.
So what does that mean for you? Whether you’re currently selling CBD and CBD-related products on another ecommerce platform or at a retail store, looking to start an ecommerce business within the industry, or already have one and want to add CBD-related products to your inventory, there is no shortage of opportunity.
With that in mind, let’s look at the lay of the land and how you as a current or future ecommerce entrepreneur can cash in on this lucrative industry.
The current state
Before now, US-based merchants couldn’t sell hemp-derived CBD or CBD-related products on Shopify. Now, the landscape has changed. Shopify merchants still cannot use Shopify payment gateways, however, the ecommerce leader has partnered with Authorize.net, DigiPay, and eMerchant Brokers to provide seamless payment gateways for merchants to use.
There are still some limitations but these are largely based on state and local laws. Shopify recommends keeping up-to-date with evolving FDA guidelines and consulting with an attorney to ensure you aren’t breaking any laws.
The opportunity
The CBD industry is growing rapidly. Chances are it’s not just your trendy cousin chatting about it at the Thanksgiving dinner table anymore. Everyone from celebrities like Morgan Freeman and Seth Rogan (okay, he’s not that surprising) to professional athletes like Rob Gronkowski and Nate Diaz are investing in and endorsing CBD and CBD-related products. Forbes predicts that the CBD market in the US could pull in as much as $16 billion by 2025.
Of course, that number will greatly fluctuate depending on the progression of federal, state, and local laws. But if you look at the past few years, it’s safe to predict that this number will in fact grow and the opportunity to cash in on this emerging industry will be ripe. On top of that number, take into account that 1 in 7 American adults use CBD or CBD-related and it's easy to see that the opportunity to cash in on this emerging industry is ripe.
The next steps
New Shopify merchants
If you’ve never opened an ecommerce store but want to start selling hemp-derived CBD and CBD-related products on Shopify, the process can seem overwhelming. Luckily, if you choose Shopify, there is a wealth of resources and official partners (like us!) to help you navigate those first few steps.
Every new Shopify merchant gets a free, 14-day trial on the platform. One of the first decisions you’re going to have to make is choosing a theme that’s right for your store. Shopify themes are website templates that help you create beautiful, eye-catching websites without having coding or web development experience. As Shopify’s most trusted theme-development partner, we have the most themes (11) on the market, which have been used by thousands of merchants. Head over to our Theme Catalog to browse our full collection.
Existing Shopify merchants
Are you already using Shopify and want to incorporate CBD and CBD-related products into your store? Selling these products can make sense for a lot of existing stores. If you’re in the health industry, the benefits of CBD-infused products are profound. Introducing these products into your catalog can open your store to a whole new target market, while potentially enlightening your current customers.
Need some inspiration? Check out some of our favourite CBD-related brands like Recess, Canibrands, and Cannuka.
Once you’ve introduced some CBD and/or CBD-related products into your catalog and you’re in need of help with marketing messaging, branding, or business strategy, reach out to our Agency team. Having worked with heavyweights in the CBD industry before, our team of experts can help craft and launch your CBD venture with confidence.
–