#60 - S7:E2 - Lauren Miele: From FIT & Luxury Fashion to Building KushKards, the First Cannabis Greeting Card

From the Fashion Institute of Technology to building one of the most recognizable greeting card brands in the cannabis space, Lauren Miele has turned creativity, risk-taking, and a willingness to follow the opportunity into more than a decade of entrepreneurship. In Season 7, Episode 2 of The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast, Olivia sits down with Lauren Miele, Founder and CEO of KushKards, the original cannabis greeting card brand known for putting a new spin on gifting and “giving the gift with a lift.” Lauren shares how her background at FIT in visual merchandising, packaging design, and product development helped lay the foundation for KushKards, even before she realized there was an entire industry waiting for the idea. She opens up about leaving New York for Denver to grow the business, taking risks, learning through mistakes, and eventually finding herself called back to the East Coast as both the industry and KushKards evolved. We also talk about Lauren’s biggest collaboration to date with Spencer’s, where KushKards expanded beyond its original product concept into vibrating greeting cards, along with the creative process behind continuing to evolve a product for new audiences. Lauren also dives into the newest side of the brand, from her Gifted, Lifted & Thrifted junk journaling subscription to Puff & Paste events in New York, and how finding a niche community can create entirely new opportunities for connection, creativity, and growth. Most importantly, Lauren shares the lessons she has learned after years of building a business from the ground up: move at your own pace, stay true to yourself, stop comparing your journey to everyone else’s, and actually take action on the ideas you believe in. In this episode, we talk about: - Lauren’s journey from FIT into entrepreneurship - Building KushKards from an idea into a nationally recognized brand - Leaving New York for Denver and eventually finding her way back home - Growing a business through relationships, trade shows, risks, and persistence - The KushKards x Spencer’s collaboration - Expanding into vibrating greeting cards and new product categories - The rise of junk journaling and Lauren’s Gifted, Lifted & Thrifted subscription Creating community through Puff & Paste events Why entrepreneurs sometimes need to say no Taking action instead of waiting for the perfect moment Lauren’s advice for women looking to build a career or business in the industry Find Lauren + KushKards: Instagram: @giftwithalift Website: KushKards.com \--- The Women in CannaBusiness Podcast is a media partner of MJ Unpacked Kansas City, happening October 14–15. Use code CANNABUSINESS20 for 20% off your registration.