Get to know Mike Marcotte, General Manager at TFS Houghton.
Why did you want to work for TFS?
I have been passionate about cannabis since my first time consuming about 18 years ago. I never had a medical card, so I was unable to enjoy the dispensary experience until TFS gained their recreational license in Negaunee. Stepping into the Negaunee store for the first time, I immediately felt welcome. The staff was upbeat, friendly, and genuinely happy to be there. The store was inviting, clean, and simply put — cool. I felt a sense of belonging and knew I’d be back again. I had at the time been managing the Verizon store in Houghton and wished TFS was closer to home. Months later I saw a Facebook post with Logan and Stosh standing on vacant land in Houghton, announcing the new location. I immediately reached out and sent a resume to HR. I had to work there!
What’s your favorite part of your job at TFS?
The people and the vibes. Our staff in Houghton is phenomenal. Everyone comes to work each day with a smile, everyone does what they can to contribute, and we all work together so well. Training in Marquette and Negaunee, I could see the same thing. Everyone was so positive and wanting to help! Truly firefam! The customers are also overwhelmingly positive and if not, it’s great to be able to be a part of making their days better. It’s a pleasure to work in an environment where everyone wants to be there!
Tell us about your best day on the job at TFS so far.
The day the Houghton store opened was like a dream come true. Seeing all the staff coming together being a part of something brand new was so cool! Working with the customers and seeing how excited they were to have us in Houghton, watching the smiles walking out the door… it was amazing to realize that we had made it, we did it, and it was just the start of something beautiful.
What’s one thing that has surprised you about your job, the people you work with, or the customers you’ve helped?
There’s a whole lot more to selling weed than what it looks like on the surface. All of the regulations and compliance is much more than I had expected it would be. Also, the variety of customers that come in! Weed is for everyone!
If you could tell someone who is on the fence about trying cannabis for the first time one thing, what would it be?
Relax and go slow. Don’t overdo it, don’t smoke/ingest too much or it could end up being a bad experience. Don’t have plans, be in a comfortable environment with friends. Getting high for the first time is life changing. It is not anything like what you’d expect or what anti-pot propaganda has led you to believe. If you try it, you’ll probably want to try it again =)
What does TFS do better than any other cannabis dispensary in the area?
The customer experience and in-store vibe. TFS employees are happy to be doing what they’re doing. We don’t push sales, we provide above-and-beyond service. We want customers to leave happy and we do whatever we can to make that happen. Customers feel this! They feel welcomed, they feel the warmth of our excitement. Our stores are colorful, clean, and cool. We provide the perfect environment for our customers to want to return to.
What's your story?
Did you recently try a new cannabis product? Have marijuana or The Fire Station impacted your life? We want to hear from you! Share your information at the link below for the opportunity to be featured on TFS social media and win free products!
