Doghouse | Packaging Case Study
Building a Premium Pre-Roll Experience From the Inside Out
When you’ve been growing cannabis long enough to remember the “nickname days,” you tend to be pretty opinionated about quality—and even more opinionated about pre-rolls.
Just ask Jon Hudnall, (AKA Hound Dog), founder of DOGHOUSE, a multi-state cannabis brand operating in Oregon, Washington, Michigan, and Florida. Doghouse has built its reputation on premium flower, strong branding, and a refusal to cut corners—even when the market gets tough.
As pricing pressure increased across the industry, Doghouse faced a familiar challenge: how do you scale efficiently, reduce costs, and make your product stand out on the shelf?
That’s where RollPros came in.
The Challenge: Scaling Without Compromising Quality
Like most cannabis operators, Doghouse has ridden the industry’s rollercoaster—price crashes, COVID spikes, and the post-pandemic squeeze on consumer spending.
“It’s just a constant rollercoaster,” Jon says. “So we try to operate as lean as possible and not blow too much money, so we can withstand the storms.”
Pre-rolls were a growing part of Doghouse’s business, but the traditional cone-based process came with problems:
- Inconsistent fills
- Poor smoke quality
- High labor costs
- Packaging that didn’t fully match the premium brand vision
Jon was also blunt about one thing:
He hated smoking most pre-rolls.
“I don’t like the cone shape. I don’t like the thickness of the paper. I don’t like how they’re filled… I always wanted one that was straight.”
Doghouse needed a better way to produce pre-rolls at scale—and packaging that actually reflected the quality inside the joint.
The RollPros Solution: Machines, Packaging, and a Surprise Bonus
Doghouse originally partnered with RollPros for the BLACKBIRD JOINT ROLLING MACHINE, attracted by its ability to create straight, evenly rolled joints that smoke like a hand roll (or better).
“It’s the closest thing to a hand roll you can get. It might even be better than a hand roll.”
The impact was immediate:
- 4× production output
- ~75% reduction in labor costs
- Dramatically improved consistency
“We were spending around $20–25K a month in labor. Now we’re about a quarter of that and putting out four times as much.”
Jon Hudnall
- Founder, Doghouse
But what Jon didn’t expect was everything that came with it.
“When we signed up to buy the RollPros, I didn’t realize you guys had all these other awesome things that come with the machine—like helping us with the packaging.”
Packaging That Finally Matched the Brand
Doghouse already had a deep brand story—mythical symbolism, celestial references, and a premium black-and-gold aesthetic. Translating that into packaging had been a struggle… until RollPros’ design team stepped in.
“I’ve worked with so many graphic designers over the years, and they never seem to get it right. Lou knocked it out of the park.”
Jon Hudnall
- Founder, Doghouse
Lou Angulo is RollPros’ in-house designer that has a knack for bringing vague ideas to life in the best way possible.
With minimal meetings and fast turnaround, RollPros delivered:
- A bold matte-black box design with gloss and gold accents
- Packaging that elevated the Doghouse brand presence
- Resealable cellophane for freshness (and margin-friendly costs)
And the numbers spoke for themselves.
“Our packaging cost went from about 85 cents per five-pack to 20-something cents—with a box that looks ten times better.”
Jon Hudnall
- Founder, DoghouseThe Results: Better Design, Lower Costs, Stronger Shelf Appeal
Even before the first batch hit shelves, the response was clear.
“Everyone that’s seen the packaging has fallen in love with it.”
Doghouse now has:
- Premium pre-rolls that smoke consistently
- Packaging that turns heads at retail
- Lower per-unit costs
- A scalable system built for growth across multiple states
And yes—Jon still hopes competitors don’t copy it.
“Well, I don’t want theirs to look as good as mine.”
Jon Hudnall
- Founder, DoghouseFair enough.
A Smarter Way to Build Pre-Rolls
For Doghouse, RollPros wasn’t just a machine supplier—it became a full production and packaging partner.
“That’s another benefit of working with you guys. We saved on cost, got a better design, and ended up with a product that’s just better across the board.”
In an industry where margins are tight and shelf space is crowded, Doghouse proves that smart automation and smart packaging can make all the difference.
