Interview: Lewis Hamer about Hometown Hero

Hometown Hero isn’t just another cannabinoid hemp company. The Austin, Texas-based brand has evolved over the years to reflect the current state of the industry. We spoke with Lewis Hamer, Co-Founder at Hometown Hero.

Lewis Hamer, Co-Founder at Hometown Hero

Tell us a little bit about your brand. How did it start, what’s the story behind it?

Hometown Hero was started in 2015 in Austin, Texas, with a mission of creating the best products, supporting our community and veterans, and doing things differently. We believe everyone should be free to choose and explore options that work best for them, and this is why we fight so hard to keep hemp products legal in Texas and around the country.

What makes your brand stand out?

Hometown Hero stands out through our advocacy for the hemp industry and leadership with new, innovative products. We were the first in the hemp space to release a product with live rosin, one of the first to release a hemp-derived Delta-9 THC product, and we’re leading the way in legislation with our lobbying efforts.

What is your process for CBD – from raw hemp to extraction to final product?

The hemp used in our products is grown on a small no-till farm that’s not too far outside of Austin. We have a close partnership with the people that grow it. They use a variety of organic and sustainable practices, such as using locally-sourced compost to enrich the soil and select microbes in place of chemical fertilizers. Every step of the process, from growing, processing, and manufacturing the final product, takes place here in Texas. 

How do you feel about the announced Marijuana Reform and more states putting cannabis on the ballot? Do you think it will help to grow consumers’ interest towards CBD?

Absolutely! There is so much good that comes from the cannabis plant, whether it’s hemp or marijuana, and we’re just scratching the surface of mainstream adoption. The more states move towards legalization (whether that’s more open markets for hemp or marijuana), the better it is for everyone.

We think that one of the most important things for any e-commerce business is to have loyal customers. How do you estimate your customer retention rate?

We have a retention rate of around 60%, and we’re always looking for ways to improve. Our customer service representatives at our Austin office have firsthand experience with our products. And they’re always taking care of our customers whether they have questions regarding shipping or hemp-derived cannabinoids. We always strive for perfection, but our customer service team will go above and beyond to make things right when things slip through the cracks. 

What are your goals for the near future, how do you plan to grow your business?

There are many people out there who can benefit from hemp but don’t even know that it’s an option. So right now, we’re working especially hard to bring new people into the fold. If more people can try these products and experience a quality of life improvement firsthand, the better it is for our goals and the industry as a whole. 

What are your projections for the CBD industry in the course of the next few years? What do you think will change?

We’re just scratching the surface when it comes to the adoption of these products. This industry has unfathomable growth ahead as more and more people discover hemp-derived cannabinoids. We will still need to fight in the legislature to keep these products available, but the wind is at our backs as more and more people discover the benefits of these products. 

Do you personally use CBD? If yes, what do you use it for and what are your favorite products?

Yes, I do. I’ve recently been using our Delta-8 Roll-On a few times daily for topical relief on my knee, and my wife uses our Live Rosin Gummies to help her wind down at night. 

Which product would you say is the bestseller of your brand, and why do you think it is the bestseller?

Our Live Rosin products have been extremely popular with our customers. For these products, our partners on the farm forego the curing process with the hemp they harvest and instead use it to make bubble hash. Then, with a special press, they “squeeze” the live rosin out of the plant material. This solventless concentrate contains the plant’s full, live terpene profile, which can enhance the effects of cannabinoids in the final product. 

Most important message from your brand to the consumers?

We’re always going to do what’s right. That means fighting to keep these products legal, keep putting our products through multiple rounds of safety testing with lab results readily available for our customers, and going above and beyond with customer service.