There is just about every kind of cannabis gadget out there, but still, more continue to blow our minds. One company — Forti Goods — has taken the stash box to new levels by creating a series of furniture for cannabis lovers.
The Start of Forti Goods
Based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Forti Goods is an online-based business that creates functional, modern, and lockable stash furniture. Targeted towards the modern-day cannabis consumer, Forti Goods launched in October of 2020.
Owner and CEO of Forti Goods, Sharon Kevil, formed her business in 2018-2019 after she saw an opportunity for a new product.
“It was definitely a bonkers time to be launching a business [in a pandemic and during an election] — it was a little bit scary, I’m not going to lie,” said Kevil.
The company faced issues along the way because they started a cannabis-based business in Wisconsin — a state that hasn’t legalized cannabis yet. Similarly, they took a chance going into the furniture aspect of cannabis, a less popular and fairly new horizon.
Despite the challenges that the past year has brought, Forti Goods surpassed its predicted forecast of online traffic.
Unearthing Their Concept
Stash boxes are one thing. But Forti Goods offers high-quality sustainable furniture that comes with a lock system. The initial idea for the product was to target cannabis consumers who need to keep their stash secure. However, Kevil explains that the stash box has many functions.
As a mother, Kevil took that into consideration when establishing Forti Goods. Her goal was to create something for canna-parents who need to keep their stash out of their children’s reach.
She also said that it can be used for other reasons, like hiding stashes from pets, or nosey roommates. Alternatively, the pieces don’t have to be used for cannabis; they can also conceal other items of value.
What Forti Goods is Made of
Forti Goods makes all of its products with the use of sustainably forested wood. That means their products can’t affect the environment negatively, and won’t end up in landfills or turn into pollution.
“And that [forested wood] is mainly solid wood, but we do have some veneer products, and some hybrid, solid wood and veneer pieces,” says Kevil.
According to the World Resource Institute, “with deforestation causing ecosystem losses valued at about $2 [to] $5 trillion annually, businesses and citizens must take action now in order to maintain forests for the future.”
Forti Goods makes sure that they contribute to the well-being of the environment, sourcing their products from sustainable wood and linoleum materials.
As for the accessories, they are made up of linoleum, which is 100% biodegradable, according to Recycle Nation.
The accessories alone also have smell-proof carbon filters in them and organize and store your stash freshly.
All Forti Goods products stand on their own, literally, as the word “forti” means strong in Latin, which is why Kevil chose that name. Also with rounded edges, there is no room for accidental injuries with kids running around the house.
Securing Stashes
An application on the owner’s phone controls the stash boxes. After they receive their furniture, the company then instructs the consumer to download the Forti Goods app. Then, they pair their Bluetooth on their phone to the device.
Kevil explains that the app allows the box’s owners to give access to others. It also keeps a history log of all of the access dates and times.
Forti’s Furniture
Forti Goods offers four different categories of furniture to choose from. Starting with Entertainers, which are larger boxes that consumers can use to stash their flowers, but also all of their other smoking toys and gadgets.
“What do you do with your bong? What do you do with your rig? What do you do with all of your rolling papers, all your lighters, and all that other stuff?” Kevil asks.
The Entertainers also have a spot to display all things cannabis, with a glass showcase included.
Forti Goods also offers coffee tables that come designed with storage space. With a tabletop surface, and drawer space, the coffee tables and the Entertainers are the best sellers, says Kevil.
The company also sells small side tables. The side tables are their smallest piece of furniture and are typically used as side tables, nightstands, and accent tables.
Aside from furniture and boxes, Forti Goods also has stash jars, joint holders and displays, extra locks, and more for sale.
Forti Gives Back
With Forti Goods still in its early stages, Kevil made sure that her company is giving back. In particular, Forti Goods supports the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), an organization that promotes drug policy reform at the national level.
“So by investing in a group that has a track record of helping to make sure equity is part of the new cannabis laws, that’s something that we feel good about,” Kevil says.
The CEO added that they plan on having a larger percentage of sales going towards organizations like MPP in the near future.
Besides MPP, Forti Goods also gives back to youth programs in Milwaukee. They company also works with a women’s networking group, which helps address issues of inequality for women and people of color.
So, just when we thought nothing else can possibly be made to accommodate the cannabis community, Kevil stepped in and defied the odds.
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