Agency Transforms Cannabis Marketing with Mobile Gaming Van

My biggest risk came when advertising restrictions hit our cannabis clients hard in 2019—platforms were banning accounts left and right, and traditional paid ads became nearly impossible. Instead of playing it safe with compliant digital tactics, I convinced my team to invest everything into physical experiential marketing with a branded mobile gaming van.

We bought a Sprinter van, loaded it with gaming setups, and started parking outside dispensaries and high-traffic areas. People could play NBA 2K and Mario Kart, then redeem in-store promotions. My team thought I'd lost it—we were a digital agency pivoting to what looked like a food truck operation.

That mobile tour became our signature offering and drove 20% increases in first-time customers at every location we visited. The organic social content from people filming themselves gaming in our van went viral multiple times, and we landed five new six-figure clients who specifically wanted our "van strategy." Revenue jumped 180% that year.

The lesson: When your industry's rules change overnight, don't just adapt—completely reimagine what's possible. My advice for bold moves is to look at what everyone else considers impossible due to regulations or limitations, then find the gap where creativity meets compliance. Sometimes the biggest opportunities hide behind the biggest restrictions.

Stephen Gold, Business Owner, The Gold Standard