Phillip Hedgeman Shares Blunt Factz About Cannabis Business and Education
I’m the owner of D.C.-based brand SouFeast Ratchet Cakes and 1/3 owner of Blunt Factz, D.C.’s only Canna Game Show. I grew up in Washington, D.C., in Southeast to be specific. It really gave me an underdog mentality and the drive to work hard.
When Initiative 71 became law in DC, I wanted to learn about cannabis and help fight the stigma that surrounds the plant. I received a lot of help from advocates who were working hard teaching the community in Southeast about social equity and justice reform for minorities. I started taking pictures and videos of these cannabis education programs early in the city’s legalization process which allowed me to listen and learn while documenting a lot of great history as it was being made for people who I’m happy to call friends today.
The SERC Signature Lunch Box
“…I realized that Southeast D.C. was really underserved on education about cannabis. I wanted to be a liaison to people who didn’t know D.C…”
Through my work, I realized that Southeast D.C. was really underserved when it comes to education about cannabis. I wanted to be a liaison to people who didn’t know about D.C. or cannabis, so I built my network and came up with my own unique way of sharing education and information.
I started by going to community gatherings put on by a group called WERLIMITLESS and giving away cereal treats. I gave the treats a catchy name, “SouFeastRatchetCakes”. People liked the name so much that I started to put it on merchandise and turned the brand into a business and website. Today, our most popular product is the SouFeastRatchet (SERC) Cakes Lunchbox/Stash Box. In addition to SERC, I also launched Blunt Factz, D.C.’s first cannabis game show, with my friends Ali and Eric Kimbrough as a way to have fun and teach people about the plant. I was able to cross-promote my companies with each other and build an even stronger fan base.
My brand has grown organically. I’m an unofficial liaison for a lot of local companies so I meet all kinds of people. Those people buy SERC products and take them back home to wherever they’re from which helps spread the word about my products. I think I’m a pretty regular person so my products appeal to the everyday cannabis enthusiast. In addition to the lunch box the SERC line includes rolling trays, fanny packs, hoodies and t-shirts. Stuff for the everyday cannabis enthusiast.
Blunt Factz at the National Cannabis Festival
“As a small business owner in DC I’ve learned that DCRA is your best friend. You can get access to free courses, seminars and resources that’ll help you develop into a better business person.”
As a small business owner in D.C. I’ve learned that DCRA (Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) is your best friend. You can get access to free courses, seminars and resources that’ll help you develop into a better business person. I’ve completed programs through the Anacostia Economic Business Center, Life Assets and SCORE.org. Even now, I sign up for free courses whenever I see them being offered - that’s my big secret.
“The most important thing I’m learning about owning a business is having a lot of discipline…I made a lot of friends early and I had to learn to keep friendship and business separate.”
Phillip Hedgeman
This year, I was accepted into the 202Creates Residency Program. It’s an accelerator program that helps people develop their business ideas. I saw the application advertised in a DCRA email and applied. They contacted me to ask me if I wanted to take part and I said, “Yes!”
The most important thing I’m learning about owning a business is having a lot of discipline. In business you have to throw emotions out of the window. I made a lot of friends in the cannabis community early on during legalization. Now I’m learning to keep friendship and business separate as well as learning from my mistakes.
In 2021, I plan to expand the SERC product line and include some functional features in my lunch boxes. Another big goal is to finally get to the CHAMPS trade show and get SERC distributed nationally. Learn more about SERC here.