Davis Clayton Kiyo is the founder of Myster High-End Accessories, a company that specializes in modern and innovative cannabis hardware. Davis’ mission has always been to change the negative stigma associated with being a cannabis user.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
In my early 20s, I had a clash with the federal government pertaining to cannabis, where I ultimately beat the charges leading me to double down on his passion and dive headfirst into the industry, spending years on product development and advocacy.
Myster’s signature product is the Stashtray Bundle where the kit includes everything you need for an efficient ritual – a container for your flower, a grinder, an ashtray, a magnetic lighter case, and a magnetic rolling tray. Having all the parts magnetically attached to the tray makes it effortless to use on the go and less likely to have things get dropped and spilled.
What are your plans, how do you plan to grow this company?
Myster was born out of his frustrations with the lack of clean-cut products and brands in the industry. Myster is a high-end accessories company that elevates cannabis culture by designing accessories that look classy, feel good, and work well. Beyond innovative design, Myster is on a mission to reframe outdated stereotypes about being a cannabis enthusiast. Today, people from all walks of life use marijuana medicinally and recreationally. All of the products are designed with professionalism and sophistication in mind so you have products that you’d be willing to show off, but that you can also store discreetly.
What was the biggest problem you encountered building this product? and how did you overcome it?
I opened my first Myster shop in Petworth, DC, and his next one in Bethesda, MD and things were going well; until the cops showed up. Police raided the Bethesda shop, seizing $53,000 worth of inventory. I was then charged with three felonies based on the CBD operation－Maryland law states that THC is a controlled substance, and our CBD products contain it, even just trace amounts. Laws around cannabis are very strict and can differ from state-to-state. Despite having many ideas, I essentially learned to play by the rules.
What were the top mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
The cannabis industry is under a heavy microscope and comes with lot of challenges. This includes 280E, banking, compliance, licenses, and the list goes on. We purposefully focused on hardware in part due to those reasons. Still, we run into many obstacles in selling, merchandising, collecting payments, etc. We’ve had multiple payment processors drop us because of it.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
I want to elevate rituals and change the stigma of cannabis. I often joke there are so many opportunities and not enough time to accomplish them all. It’s a hard, yet exciting process to brainstorm, create a prototype, mass produce the it, sell it, and ship it around the world to customers. It’s not about the money for me, I just want to change the way the world gets high. Our products are innovative, and I am so excited to see these opportunities emerge in the next coming years.”
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
I try to manage my stress. Breath work is a big thing for me. I try to do it every morning to set myself on the right path for the day. It has been very helpful for the stress that comes along with the business.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
We must be very creative with most of our marketing because we can’t spend money on traditional online advertisements, therefore, make content that gets attention organically. We heavily invest in visually appealing content. Videos and images are key to telling our story. Since we are an e-commerce business, it can be tough to sell things online without those assets.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Be ready to work hard. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It is painful. It isn’t easy. You experience great highs but be ready for the lowest of lows. You have to really love what you’re doing to get through the parts you will dislike.
What is your favorite quote?
My own personal favorite quote is, “Be a maker not a taker. Our country used to be super industrious and make things. Now it seems like we are a lot of bankers and middlemen. I believe the people who don’t create value, “the takers or the middlemen” are in trouble.
Nowadays, you need to have a competitive advantage, otherwise companies like Amazon will see your margin as their opportunity.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can visit my company Myster, find me on social media via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also email Chelsea Hudson at chelsea@getmyster.com
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