Image: TribeTokes Co-Founders Degelis Tufts and Kymberly Byrnes

Kym Byrnes is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at TribeTokes, a brand that “creates and distributes merchandise with an elevated aesthetic for the next generation cannabis consumer - who respects plant science, consumes mindfully and expects top quality products from trusted brands.” 

Can you tell us more about your company?

Founded in 2016, TribeTokes is a brand focused on vaping and CBD with a goal of making vaping sexier. Since its introduction, the Tribe Brand has since expanded and led to the creation of TribeTokes, TribeTats, TribeRevive and TRIBeauty, lines that encompass the versatility that CBD offers in the form of lifestyle, beauty and wellness.

It’s been important to us since the beginning to empower women through our company. We really believe in giving woman in our community the opportunity to enter the industry, so we are proud to employ mostly women.

Have you always been an entrepreneur?

Pretty much. My dad used to give me quarters to get things out of the refrigerator with my shopping cart, and my mom got me a red wagon so that I could sell popcorn and lemonade out on our street. When I turned 25 I got into the real estate game and did some buying and selling, and I also opened a small collection of boutique fitness studios in Palm Beach County. Coming into my 30’s I became increasingly involved in the cannabis industry, and since then I’ve owned and operated several businesses until getting the opportunity to partner up with Degelis Tufts and grow the TribeTokes brand.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?

If you really want to be part of the industry, you have to show up. You have to show up for yourself and you have to show up for your community. You have to show up because business doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen.

What brought you to this point in your life?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a serial entrepreneur and up until now I’d never had a partner in any of my businesses. But when I met Degelis, we hit it off right away and our goals were aligned. We really wanted the same thing. She comes from a finance background and has worked for some big companies, including JP Morgan and Sands Capital. I’m more of an extrovert myself so I like to market and network, while she is really good at doing the important tasks on the back end of things- design, sourcing, everything. Our strengths really complement each other, so it made perfect sense for us to partner up because we both had skillsets that were imperative to have in a start-up. An added bonus is that we’ve always enjoyed spending time and working together and we still do a few years later.

What do you think Is the best part of the cannabis industry?

Getting paid to smoke weed. In all honesty though, being able to break the stigmas and pushing the (cannabis) movement forward is the best part. There have been very few times in history where people have been able to be a part of something this big. The end of alcohol prohibition was similar in a way, but the rise of cannabis is a lot bigger and has a deeper significance overall. To be the part of the end of this prohibition and to be pushing the idea that there is no shame in feeling empowered by a plant… it’s powerful.

What in the industry would you say still needs work?

Social equity and social justice are definitely two areas that still need work. There are a lot of opportunities for women to pave the way for more women in the industry, so I would love to see that taken advantage of moving forward. I love how empowering the community has been towards women, but its still a huge area of opportunity to pave the way for more women for the future.

What do you do in your spare time?

I absolutely love to go to the gym and do anything health-and fitness based. Staying active is what I love to do. I’m lucky because I’m based in New York City, so I’m able to walk everywhere and I have access to the newest and most trending fitness classes in the world which keeps me busy. On top of that, I’m a Lululemon ambassador so I’m obsessed with fitness gear and clothing. I’ll spend a lot of time putting together workout clothes that I can wear to the office [laughs]. That’s really one area where I love to put my time and energy into.

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in New York, and I lived in Chicago for a bit with my family when I was younger. I moved to Boca Raton, Florida for about 7 years and that’s when I opened a bunch of different Pilates and fitness studios down in Palm Beach County.

Who would you say is your inspiration?

My biggest source of inspiration has always come from the women figures in my family. My sisters especially- they have so many amazing attributes that embody my late grandma and mom, and I feel that they live on through them.

To learn more about TribeTokes, head on over to tribetokes.com or follow them on Instagram: @tribetokes

To connect with Kym, follow her on Instagram @cannabiswithkymb

Interview by High Green News