From left to right: Daniel Sowers & Derek Wall

Budding interest in hemp and cannabis in Virginia has led to healthy growth for The Buffalo Hemp Company.  Having already established the Floyd location in 2019, TBHC has been so successful that it was not only able to open the second location at 1110 Main Street in Roanoke but has recently opened a third location at 208-A N. Main Street in Blacksburg!  They are also pleased to announce that they have outgrown the original Floyd location at 315 East Main Street and relocated to a more spacious, historic building at 710 East Main Street.  Co-owner Derek Wall attributes the company’s success to local relationships, persistence, and commitment to continuous evolution.
“We were fortunate to begin with our own crop, our products, and our own brand,” says Wall.  But Wall and his business partner, Daniel Sowers, soon found that there were a lot of people growing excess hemp.  This led to TBHC growing less of their own crop every year and opting instead to support local farmers who could grow hemp that met the company’s needs for quality and safety.

“Local sourcing is everything,” Wall continues.  “Whenever possible, we buy local flower, and we’ve been successful in finding local farmers.  The hardest part is the processing aspect, where CBD is extracted from hemp flower for mixing into oils, vaping products, edibles, and topicals.”  Wall also explains that understanding fluctuating timelines and workflows among local processors were tough lessons that the company is now steadier for having learned.
With positive early sales at special events, Wall and Sowers experimented with wholesaling through other outlets but knew their premium product was not meant to compete with the commodity brands.  “We had to find a way to connect with people interested in a premium product from a trusted source,” says Wall.  “So that’s what we developed.”
The Buffalo Hemp Company opened its shop to offer the town of Floyd a personal experience that focused on its products.  As a result, TBHC offers a more custom experience when compared to convenience store, big grocery, or even smoke and vape shops that sell many brands alongside non-hemp items.  In those outlets, staff would have limited in-depth knowledge of individual hemp products.
“That’s why someone would come to a specialized shop like The Buffalo Hemp Company,” says Wall.  “To ask questions about each product, where it’s from, how it affects you, how it’s used.  You get that here.  We want to be the leading source for education and responsible use.”
It can be a challenge, however, when competing with brands that don’t spend the money for laboratory quality testing or for maintaining a retail operation.  However, it has been worth it for the Buffalo Hemp Company.  Customers know the products are safe and effective.  It also allows customers the personal touch of experienced staff listening to their needs and sharing essential knowledge of what is offered.
It is the Floyd location’s success with personal service and brand-specific knowledge that led to the opening of the stores in Roanoke (spring of 2020) and Blacksburg (spring of 2021).  “Roanoke came at the beginning of the pandemic when nobody was coming into any store.  Now, it’s our best sales location,” says Wall, attributing the achievement to Roanoke’s larger population.  Though the Blacksburg location opened just before the summer lull in downtown traffic, the company expects that location to soon catch up with the pace of the other two shops.  Derek Wall says his staff has done a good job evolving with the industry and product developments.  “They’ve stepped up to the plate to educate our customers.  You can see that in our ratings and reviews. People comment on the great service they got from a staff member who helped them.”
The original store’s move in the summer of 2021 to the former Floyd Press building can “make Floyd proud of a brand that was developed here, and can show Virginia what Floyd has to offer,” says Wall, proud that the company’s dedication to knowledge and service will continue in the larger headquarters.  “This new shop will give us a bigger storefront with more space to do things that were difficult in our first location.  We may process in this location, or bring in a local processor, and it gives us growth potential for storage and shipping.”
In addition to growth, product quality, customer service, product knowledge, and supporting local farmers, Wall and Sowers are also proud that The Buffalo Hemp Company currently employs nearly a dozen people across the three locations.  Though many businesses in the pandemic era have had trouble finding employees, TBHC has gotten regular inquiries from people knowledgeable about hemp who want to work for an established and respected brand.  “We want to be sure to employ people who are knowledgeable.  Many cross our doorstep with experience, and the rest learn from our tenured staff.  We work hard to find the right staff and make sure they have the knowledge about our products to provide excellent service to our customers.”
Since July, when Virginia legalized adults growing up to four cannabis plants, as well as being in possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use, The Buffalo Hemp Company has seen more interest in recreational products.  “People are starting to explore and embrace the potential of the cannabis plant,” says Wall, referring to hemp-derived Delta 8, a plant compound akin to the THC familiar to cannabis users.  Where CBD is strictly for therapeutic uses, however, Delta 8 products are used more for recreation.
“We’re determined to be responsible about it,” says Wall.  “As I learned from being in Colorado, where cannabis products are now mainstream, responsibility is everything to your business.”  According to Wall, edible Delta 8 needs a higher level of special care when compared to Delta 8 vaping products that can be dosed at a desired level with ease.  “With edibles at a high concentration of Delta 8, if someone unfamiliar consumes the whole product, they may not have a positive experience.”
With legalization, the company has also gotten inquiries about providing cannabis seeds.  Since selling cannabis plant material is not yet permitted, The Buffalo Hemp Company has had to politely decline.  “We are an ethical company.  We regularly get legal counsel to ensure we’re operating in compliance, because we want to make sure our customers can feel as comfortable with our practices as with our products.”
In an ever-changing industry, TBHC is always researching and finding people to help them along the way.  No matter the situation, whether it be legal guidance, processing, or understanding FDA or state requirements for labeling, they are always grateful for the best insights.
“Changes can be confusing and sometimes frustrating,” says Wall, “but The Buffalo Hemp Company sees hemp and cannabis as here to stay, and with legalization of cannabis in Virginia, the company is staying alert to licensing opportunities.”
With growing customer need for education about hemp, CBD, Delta 8, and cannabis, Floyd’s own Buffalo Hemp Company can help lead the charge by finding the right information and sharing it through its staff, stores, and online presence.  “We have a team of people always watching out for changes in regulation, new products in the market, and local suppliers to keep a finger on the pulse of the hemp industry.”
With its connections, growth, and outreach, The Buffalo Hemp Company is also able to share other benefits with the communities it serves.  “We like to be involved in events like Steppin Out in Blacksburg,” says Wall, “as well as Floydfest or Yoga Jam here in Floyd.  We also support local nonprofits, like Plenty! food pantry.  We’re working with the Floyd Humane Society now to provide them with pet products at reduced cost.”
Wall sees The Buffalo Hemp Company’s role in the community as vital.   “You have to work in your community to make sure your business is giving back.  We’ve done well for the resources we have as a young company.  It’s been embedded in me from family business values to give back to the community that supports you as a business owner.  I think the biggest challenge for us as a company is to make sure we’re evolving and always doing the right thing so that customers can trust us.”

The Buffalo Hemp Company
Derek Wall & Daniel Sowers
www.TheBuffaloHempCompany.com
www.facebook.com/TheBuffaloHempCompany
Floyd store  540-745-8242 • Roanoke store 540-655-4367
Blacksburg store 540-315-9070