Grower Stories #33: Dale Falkenstein

The Great Green North: An Interview With Cannabis Accessory Company Canada Puffin

We caught up with Canadian smoking accessory company Canada Puffin to ask about their high-quality pipes, what makes a quality bong and even their favorite stains.

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Tia (AskGrowers) : How did you guys start Canada Puffin? What's the story behind your origins?

Dale Falkenstein : With our professional background in product development and branding, we started Canada Puffin to create a product line that people would be proud to leave out and display. This is why all of our pieces are designed to stand upright.

As cannabis becomes less stigmatized, we believe cannabis gifts will be more commonplace, and accessories will even become a standard gift piece, similar to a bottle of wine.

With us being proud Canadians, we wanted to design a line that took elements from classic Canadiana and create a high end, quality product and help position Canada as the leader in the global cannabis space.

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Tia : Why are you interested in working in the cannabis industry?

Dale : We are very appreciative to be a part of the cannabis industry. The people in the industry are so warm, positive and inviting. It’s a very inclusive industry where everyone wants to see others succeed and are even willing to help, mentor and give referrals.

It’s a very exciting time to work in the cannabis space. There are new companies launching every day, and it’s great seeing all the new products, design and innovative ideas.

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Tia : What’s your experience with using bongs? What characteristics of a bong (eg size) affect the smoking experience/high??

Dale : With bongs and pipes, it really depends on how you intend to use them. Smaller pipes give more control over the experience but aren’t as smooth. It’s also important to identify the type of percolator. The percolator is the main factor of how cool and smooth the experience is.

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Tia : Which one of your products stands out the most? What makes it so popular?

Dale : Our Arctic Bubbler is our best selling product. Without a doubt, the quality of the craftsmanship and how smooth it is to hit, has made it our top product. The bubbler has a built-in 9-slit showerhead percolator, oversized bowl and an extra-large chamber, which makes the smoke extremely smooth. It is on the larger size for a bubbler and is the perfect balance between pipe and bong.

The piece uses handblown borosilicate glass and authentic Canadian Maple wood. All the wood components and the glass mouthpiece disassemble for easy cleaning. Each bubbler is also packed in a satin-lined gift box.

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Tia : What would be your advice for choosing the best bong? What should customers look for?

Dale : The first thing to look out for is the quality and durability of the materials. Not all glass is the same. The design and thickness of the glass will have a big impact on the experience and its durability. There are a variety of different types of materials (glass, wood, silicone, ceramic, stone, metal), with each offering benefits and levels of durability.

Our pipes use a combination of glass with wood to add to the lifespan of the product.

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Tia : Do you think customers should be looking for strains with super high THC levels or something more balanced?

Dale : I like to compare it to wine. There are different types of wines for different environments. There are wines that are suited for social events, and specific wines for after dinner.

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Tia : What’s your favorite strain to consume and why?

Dale : I have recently been blown away by the Platinum Gelato from Boaz. It’s a great balanced hybrid that is very calming and tastes incredible.

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Tia : What would your advice be for cannabis novices/newbies looking to get their first accessory?

Dale : Your first pipe will often end up being your favorite in your collection.

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Tia : What do you think is the most common mistake that new companies make when it comes to their branding?

Dale : My opinion is that some companies play it too safe with their branding. They want to be inclusive and appeal to everyone, but it ends up diluting their messaging.

Smoking accessories are very personal pieces, and customers will want to use products that align with their values.

Consumers do not want another generic line of products, a company’s branding, design and marketing have to easily convey what makes them unique to their specific target consumer.

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Tia : Where do you hope to see Canada Puffin in the next five to ten years?

Dale : I would love to see Canada Puffin as being synonymous with Canadian cannabis and as the go-to accessory brand in the country.

We are aiming to expand our market outside of North America, and create a premium gift brand abroad. Just as certain countries as known for wine and alcohol, it is our mission to help brand Canada as the world leader in cannabis.

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Tia : Are there any brands you appreciate and follow?

Dale : There are so many brands that I am appreciative of and follow closely. Canada Puffin would not be where it is without support from other companies and the great people we have met along the way.

We have a great working relationship with a lot of accessories manufacturers. Canadian Lumber and Eco Four Twenty were some of the first companies that we met. The industry is small and it’s always great to collaborate with these brands and find ways to help each other.

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Tia : If you could smoke with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? :)

Dale : I would love to smoke with Elon Musk. It would be very entertaining just to listen to his takes on reality, space and technology.

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Tia : Are there any plans for brand expansion? What do you plan to add to your product list moving forward?

Dale : Definitely! We are always looking to grow and expand our line. We are in the process of designing a bong at the moment, as well as adding some smaller pieces and accessories.

After those additions, we would love to expand the line to add more customizability and options for customers. These could be different glass colors, wood shapes and species, attachments and personalization.

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