“My name is Mark Nagib and I am the Creative Director for Pink Fox, a lifestyle brand located in Washington, D.C. I was born and grew up in Orlando, Florida with my sister, dad and mom. My dad is Egyptian, and my mom is from the Midwest. I lived in Orlando until moving to Jacksonville for college. I like to say I escaped from Florida about 10 years ago and have been in the DMV 10 years, with 7 of those years being inside D.C.” 

My career in cannabis started in earnest in 2014 when the residents of Washington, D.C. voted to pass Ballot Initiative 71, making it legal for adults 21 and over to possess, consume, grow and share cannabis. My business partner Kelley and I decided to take a leap and create an apparel company called Pink Fox. 

No great business is launched without a lot of research. My intensive “research” really started in college, when I decided to give cannabis a try. I quickly learned that it was something I enjoyed a whole lot more than drinking alcohol. From that point on I enjoyed cannabis as a recreational user, but it wasn’t until 2015 that I first pursued a career in the cannabis industry. 

“In the summer of 2015, we were laid off and as the adage goes, "when one door closes, another opens...We took that as a sign that it was time to take the  opportunity to create a cannabis-themed apparel company called Pink Fox. "

Before creating Pink Fox, I worked for 3 years at the Motion Pictures Association of America, a lobbying organization in D.C. That is where I first met my current business partner, Kelley. We started toying with the idea of exploring opportunities in the cannabis industry, but they were just ideas at the time. In the summer of 2015, we were laid off and as the adage goes, "when one door closes, another opens...". We took that as a sign that it was time to take the  opportunity to create a cannabis-themed apparel company called Pink Fox. 

While this certainly was not the door I expected to be opening and walking through, deciding to make Pink Fox my full time focus was a very easy choice, if I am being honest. I think that the determination to pursue our vision came into focus for Kelley and myself when we saw that even though D.C. had this law (Initiative 71) that allowed for recreational cannabis, there was no means to participate in the regulated plant-touching market. This is to say that because DC does not have statehood we have to deal with congressional oversight. So despite the fact that DC voters voted “yes” on adult-use cannabis, because of congress the city was not able to license storefronts where an adult 21 or over could shop for recreational cannabis. Since owning a medical cannabis dispensary was not an accessible option, I leveraged my long-held interests as a designer and we developed a clothing company around cannabis themes to get name recognition in the cannabis industry and provide great designs on high quality merchandise for our fans.  

“Getting access to capital to get the business off the ground and running is tough, but even before that you need an idea, a mission statement, a business plan, a reason why you are going to do what it is you are going to do. And then, you have to figure out how you are going to do it. “

The challenges we faced as we launched the company are similar to a lot of challenges that most new businesses face.  Getting access to capital to get the business off the ground and running is tough, but even before that you need an idea, a mission statement, a business plan, a reason why you are going to do what it is you are going to do. And then, you have to figure out how you are going to do it. 

For any business operating in the cannabis space, you will absolutely want to consult with and get the advice of a lawyer and trusted advisors before making major investments. There will always be a new challenge or issue to face and/or solve, but don't worry, just because something is challenging it doesn’t means it isn’t working.

“There will always be a new challenge or issue to face and/or solve, but don't worry, just because something is challenging, doesn’t mean it isn’t working.”

When we were launching Pink Fox, there were many people I looked to for advice and inspiration. From David Victorsen author of 37 Tons to Steve DeAngelo, founder of Harborside and even local influencers like Phone Homie and DC Scroger.  All of these individuals had foresight to understand what the industry could be and they went all-in. Seeing their appetite to challenge the status quo has been inspirational.

The evolution of Pink Fox over the years has been incredible to see and experience. From starting with a single t-shirt design to having a line of shirts, sweaters, pants, and more -  it has been incredibly rewarding. I often look back and compare where we are now to where we began. Even our roles in events have changed, like starting as an exhibitor at National Cannabis Festival (NCF) and growing to become a more involved partner. 

The key to our business growth has been consistency, good customer service and good communication. My typical work day starts at about 9am. I wake up and read the news, check email for any immediate "fires" and/or overnight online orders, and finally do a quick scan of social media. Pink Fox opens at 11am and we start meeting with our customers (by appointment only). Some days you are working on customer service or on sales. Some days you work on art or an email blast or strategy for a large scale event like the NCF. Some days are full of accounting and bookkeeping calls with your accountant or meetings with your lawyer on operation and art (trademarks). Once a week we record a podcast in our office studio and once a week we also check in with our home growers network to see what strains they’re producing. Everyday is a little different which helps to keep things interesting.

Like all business owners, our current challenge is the uncertainty around COVID-19, the global pandemic. It has absolutely impacted our business. It has absolutely decimated adult-use cannabis networking in DC, but Pink Fox agrees with the closure of all non-essential business during this crisis, and we will continue to be diligent and follow the guidance of the DC Mayor's office and reopen once we are able to do so safely. 

My experience as a cannabis entrepreneur continues to be exciting. It can be tense and stressful like any other job, but it is also incredibly rewarding. To see the enthusiasm people have for cannabis, a wide age range of people, is very inspiring and motivating.

Learn more about Pink Fox here.