How are small brands surviving in markets dominated by MSOs?

I’ve been watching more and more indie cannabis brands either get bought out, pushed out, or burn out completely. Between insane taxes (hello 280E), supply chain bottlenecks, and the marketing restrictions, it feels like a miracle if a small brand stays alive more than a year. For those of you actually in the game, what’s keeping your brand afloat? Are you surviving off loyal local followings, leaning into vertical integration, or staying niche with specific product types?