For Thayer Gowdy, creativity isn't just part of the job—it is woven into everything they do. As a partner atIsland Pond Cannabis Company, a ceramicist for The Wilder Ceramics, a photographer, and a home designer, Thayer brings a distinctly creative perspective to the Vermont cannabis industry.
Founded in 2023 alongside Thayer's two brothers, Island Pond Cannabis Company began as a true family business. With one brother serving as a master grower, the family came together to create and share high-quality cannabis flower with their Vermont community.
Today, that same attention to craft extends beyond the product itself and into every detail of the brand's packaging.
The cannabis industry comes with its own unique challenges, particularly when it comes to packaging. In Vermont, strict packaging requirements mean brands have to carefully balance compliance, product freshness, and visual identity.
For Island Pond Cannabis Company, the goal was to meet those requirements without sacrificing the beauty and personality of the brand.
“We wanted to meet the strict requirements while maintaining high design,” Thayer explains.
Paper tube packaging provided the flexibility the brand needed to accomplish both.
The inspiration behind Island Pond Cannabis Company's packaging comes from two seemingly different worlds:beauty brands and old-school whiskey bottle tubes.
That combination helped shape a package that feels both refined and nostalgic while still being distinctly Island Pond.
The result is an all-over design that gives the brand plenty of room to communicate its story. Beautiful colors, matte finishes, and gold details come together to create packaging that Thayer describes simply as“beautiful.”
The tube isn't just a container—it is an extension of the brand.
One of the biggest advantages of the paper tube is the amount of space it provides for branding and storytelling.
For Island Pond Cannabis Company, that extra canvas allows the team to communicate more than just what's inside the package. It creates an opportunity to share the feeling, personality, and inspiration behind the products.
As Thayer puts it, “Branding is more than looking good.”
For the Island Pond team, it is about sharing beautiful products that make people feel good and creating an experience that begins before the package is even opened.
Island Pond Cannabis Company explored different packaging possibilities before choosing Paper Tube Co., ultimately finding a partner that could deliver more than just a beautiful package.
“[They have] the best customer service, consistent results and quality control,” Thayer says. “They help us solve problems and maintain our brand.”
That combination of design flexibility, consistency, and collaboration has allowed Island Pond Cannabis Company to create packaging that meets the demands of the cannabis industry while staying true to its creative identity.
At the heart of Island Pond Cannabis Company is a simple goal: continue creating beautiful flower for the people of Vermont.
The company's commitment to its local community is reflected in both its products and its packaging. Every detail is intentional, from the carefully designed tubes to the flower inside them.
“We love sharing our ritual flower with the fine folks of Vermont while giving them an inspirational package.”
It is an approach that makes Island Pond feel less like a traditional cannabis company and more like a creative family business with a passion for craftsmanship.
Thayer's creativity doesn't stop with Island Pond Cannabis Company. Alongside their work with the family business, they are a ceramicist for The Wilder Ceramics, a photographer, and a home designer.
And they already have plans for what's next.
One future dream is to create a small collection of self-catered cottages for the creative community on a small island with wild clay—a project that brings together many of Thayer's passions in one place.
For someone who says, “I am already doing all the things,” it's clear that creativity will continue to be at the center of whatever comes next.
Island Pond Cannabis Company is proof that compliant packaging doesn't have to come at the expense of creativity.
By combining thoughtful design, high-quality materials, and a strong sense of brand identity, the company has created packaging that feels as intentional as the products inside.
For Thayer and the Island Pond team, the partnership with Paper Tube Co. has helped bring that vision to life.
“Paper Tube Co. is a great partner in bringing that to our folks.”
And ultimately, that's what great packaging should do: protect the product, communicate the brand, and create an experience that makes people feel something before they even open the box.
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