Business
Alternative Patient Care (APC) – San Diego Dispensary Highlight
Alternative Patient Care (APC)
Hillcrest
(619)794-7395
Top-Selling Strain: Calm 101 (Gorilla Glue #4)
Top-Selling Concentrate: The Clear Cartridges
Top-Selling Edible: Cheeba Chews Green Hornet & Korova
How and when did your delivery service start up?
Alternative Patient Care is a female-founded collective that began in September of 2013. Born from the necessity for professionalism and compassion, APC sought to be the one-stop collective that patients could rely on to go above-and-beyond for their individualized needs. The founders were tired of forgotten and late deliveries within the sector, as well as the unprofessional, and sometimes “shady,” delivery drivers that would bring their medication. With certainty that a greater performance could be achieved, APC began operation with incredibly high standards that took many by surprise, setting a trend that to this day is increasingly hard to emulate.
What’s the story behind the name of your delivery service?
The namesake of Alternative Patient Care (APC) stemmed from the directors’ desire to provide patients with individualized, tailored deliveries. The “Patient Care,” that members receive is typically “Alternative,” to anything they have experienced in the past. Plus, the catchphrase, “It’s as easy as A-P-C,” has a nice ring to it!
What does your delivery service offer patients that they can’t find anywhere else?
The one thing that cannot easily be replicated is APC’s profound level of professionalism and compassion. From basic human psychology, to empathy and respect, this service aims to make patients feel comfortable and most importantly, special. This is an operation that takes, “delivery,” to a whole, new level. APC spends an extensive amount of time and resources in order to train staff to become ideal representatives of the brand’s lifestyle. Consequently, this creates a trust and loyalty between patient and organization that is invaluable to the company’s success.
What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a delivery service? . . . Biggest joys?
The biggest challenge currently in the cannabis industry is being a pioneer. Speaking from a common thread for many founders, being a pioneer means anticipating risks and dealing with obstacles that you don’t even know exist yet. New regulations, operational procedures, and state expectations can certainly be challenging to keep up with, and set the pace for. Directly correlated to being a pioneer, sometimes the biggest joy is overcoming the industry obstacles set in front of you.
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What is the one thing you want patients to know about your delivery service?
Alternative Patient Care is a premier delivery service, a one-stop collective that patients can rely on. From accepting all major brands of credit cards, to a diverse menu that offers something for everyone, and an educated staff that makes you feel like family, APC strives to be known for their exclusive approach to patient satisfaction and compassion. Pivotal aspects to this business include a hassle-free, patient verification process and the option for not only over-the-phone ordering, but also online, text and even email ordering. Every day of the week, various discounts are also extended to veterans, seniors, students, industry members and those who are disabled.
If someone wanted to open a delivery service and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them?
The biggest piece of advice for other entrepreneurs looking to get into the cannabis industry is to be prepared for the regulatory landscape. Many business professionals underestimate the costs associated with legal counsel, proper employment practices and the cannabis product itself.
What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the cannabis community?
Our entire vision, and consequently process, structure and strategy, is aimed toward helping suffering individuals find absolute relief. It is of the utmost importance to APC, that those patients seeking our medicine truly find significant benefit from its use.
