Joe Altobello -- Raymond James -- Analyst
Yes. Okay. Just to be clear.
Chris Hagedorn -- General Manager
You know, the Roundup is through two cases leaving like 12,998 left to go, but given the environment we thought we we're in, I think we spent the money extremely well and I think you're seeing the results of it. So we didn't know how is going to go and I can't predict that it's going to be as good next year. We're two cases into this and it's the court of public opinion and consumers that matters here. Not what we hope, it's -- but I think the money has been spent really well and I think you're seeing the results. But I don't know what it means.
Randy Coleman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Yeah, I'll just say, Joe, again, this is the payment on April 1st and the sale of the JV on April 1st were both the result of conversations that deep way back to the fall, it took many months to consummate, so that was how we got here, like Jim said. Looking forward we're encouraged by what's happening this year. Difficult to predict the future, really happy the way this year is turning out and we'll go from there. But so far so good.
Joe Altobello -- Raymond James -- Analyst
Okay, understood. And if I could ask a question for Chris. I figured out I'll (inaudible) Jim's voice a little bit but, on California hydroponics, have you like the market's bottom there, where does supply demand stand for cannabis in California. And are you still seeing movement toward the black market which I think would be good for you guys?
Chris Hagedorn -- General Manager
Yes. So we are definitely seeing -- the market there on the legal side, I think is beginning to resolve itself. That being said, I don't think it's happening quickly enough to satisfy, just a pent-up consumer demand there. So we do believe that there is a shift taking place back toward the black market. I would chalk that up largely to again just a sort of a slow rate of legal changeover, as well as just the fact that even in a state like California things I think are relatively permissive and becoming more so, it's still -- it's hard to be a legal grower due to the way that businesses are taxed, the way the businesses can bank at a legal level. I think a lot of folks who dip their toes in the legal market found that unfortunately due to the way that the laws are written, it is more beneficial from them as individuals to remain in the black marker. So there's been a shift back toward that, at least that's what we've seen as the feedback we get from our retailers.
Now the product set that we have that has traditionally serviced that market, it is a relatively high margin product set. So it's not something we're lamenting, but I do hope that the state federal government can work through its issues and we continue to see it toward the white market because I think that's just better for everybody, long-term.
Joe Altobello -- Raymond James -- Analyst
Got you. Okay, thank you guys.
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Thank you, Joe.
Operator
We will now move on to our next question from William Reuter of Bank of America. Please go ahead, your line is open.
Unidentified Participant -- -- Analyst
Hi guys, this is Michael for Bill. (Technical Difficulty)
Jim King -- Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs
This is Jim King. John, if we can put that caller back in the queue at the help us understand the question. We will be glad to take later. I think there's so much static on the line. (Technical Difficulty) let's do that.
Operator
Of course, sir. No problem. We will move to our next question from Chris Carey of Bank of America. Please go ahead, your line is open.
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Testing, is this a Bank of America issue or can you hear me as well?
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Loud and clear.
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
All right. It's just the clarity in then. Okay. That's what you get. So I guess I was kind of hearing in the prepared remarks, maybe during the Q&A, I can't remember, that maybe Marvin and team going over to Lowe's has caused the change in strategy there, maybe more engagement, maybe a more aggressive approach to driving these product categories, maybe branded. I wonder if you can elaborate on that a little bit more?
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
I can'make it easy, yes. I was having a haircut this weekend and I live that road from (inaudible) me while I was in the chair at the barbershop on Saturday and said, why is Lowe's is looking so good. And I said, well, there is a new management team and this is what I would chalking it up to. It's a very merchant-oriented leadership team there who aims to compete and I view that is good for this business. And we're doing our best to be very fair to all retailers, but I would say Marvin and the team, Bill Boltz are doing really good work and they want to make an impact and if I said, you know, what is it all about. I would say, it's a very aggressive merchant culture that I think is healthy for this business. MIke, anything you would --
Michael Lukemire -- President & Chief Operating Officer
No, I think that you said it right. They're just being aggressive, their first market. They're competing.
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Okay, makes sense. So obviously, the inventory fill was strong as you guys had expected and the POS is coming through in a pretty strong way and you have the kind of May overhang with being such a strong month. So I'm just trying to marry sort of the risk of working through some of this inventory and the consumption with the comments that you made about the potential to raise guidance when you update the market in June. So do you need POS to continue to be really strong in May in order to get reorders here or is there something else that you're seeing that would suggest that you can get that activity over the next month?
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Okay. So just a couple of points I'd throw out. One, I think pretty much at this point, Mike (inaudible) already ordered up, meaning he's got orders in-house, already to cover May. So then it is a matter of selling product off the shelf. So at the end of the day, it's going to be consumer takeaway that means either during May or beyond May where you add. Effectively where we're at is our feeling is if we can comp May, Randy will have good news in June.
So that's kind of the internal give and take of how do we manage this call, how do we manage expectations. I think we meaning, Randy, Mike and myself are kind of seeing how May goes, which is what customer POS look like. I was listening to news this morning on the way in and the May forecast for the East Coast, long-term forecast, whatever that is 30 days, looks very attractive for the East Coast. So, you know, I think we're in a good place and Randy will be willing and that kind of the challenge is can we comp May. If we do, that's going to be a good result for the year. I don't think we are feeling like there's a lot of risk to the expectations we set, put it that way. So I think we're comfortable where we are. I don't think unless it snows every weekend for rest of the year, I doubt we miss, but the challenge is are we want to call up and I think right now we're just saying, just give us a month and we will tell you.
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Okay. And I'm conscious of where the call is in time. So just I'll get a quick question from here on, just on promotions in Hawthorne, I'm trying to understand maybe why you've been so promotional and more importantly why you think that going forward do you expect it to become less promotional. Thank you.
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Why? I accused them of being gun shy and they are also red hot now. So the opposite of gun shy right now. And we have something to say in the industry and we're saying it. I think we -- I'll put myself in the operator at least bias which is somewhat a conflict with my operating finance boss. I think we've reached his tolerance level probably the end of this year for aggression when it comes to use of margin, really on both sides, which is on Hawthorne and on the consumer side, because generally when Mike and I come back from some place, we made a multi-deal to drive the business which Randy also kind of has a smile on his face, but I kind of -- I view it as something that will evaporate over time.
I think we have something to prove that this business will recover and we can show that, I think we have; that we can take share on Hawthorne, I think we have; and that we can develop the skill set in the professional horticulture market in cult jobs that partners will recognize us as a central to their business. I think we've done that and I think we're doing that on the consumer side as well. So, I think we're pushing Randy about as hard as we can. But all of us, including Chris, recognize that we're going to have to show some more profit discipline next year and beyond and we accept.
Randy Coleman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Chris, the only thing I'd add is, Jim's taught me that once you've made the sale, it is nothing else to add. So, I want to thank him for representing me still while being through your question, so thank you.
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Thank you for your answers.
Operator
We will now move on to our last question from Jason Rodgers of Great Lakes Review. Please go ahead, your line is open.
Jason Rodgers -- Great Lakes Review -- Analyst
Yes, thanks for taking the question. Just wanted to have a follow-up question on Hawthorne. You mentioned offering service packages with the durable and consumable sales. I was wondering what percent of Hawthrone sales are currently derived from service. Is there a recurring revenue opportunity here, just if you could provide some more information how services are bundled with that equipment sale with the large growers. Thanks.
Randy Coleman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Yeah, so I probably should have phrased it differently. We have a tech services team that we deploy across pretty much the breadth of our business, really prioritizing our larger what we would consider kind of key accounts, particularly in Canada right now. It's not something that we've been charging for. I don't foresee us at least in the near term making that a revenue driver, it's more of a sales tool and it comes sort of bundled with using us as a supplier.
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
I wanted to just add how critical I think that is. This is a relatively new industry, particularly at the scale that you're talking about where customers like this in a single site could have tens of thousands of lights and they've got to combine that and grow the product that's of quality and predictable, all the stuff you'd expect and everybody's learning as they go. Our ability to step in as a major supplier with a highly professional tech support group that says, what's going on here, how can we help, what's not working. If you are one of the big LPs in Canada and something is not working, you need help and being a partner that can step in with experienced technical support, including R&D, sort of sales, lighting, et cetera, nutrients and say let's get them back up and running or solve a problem as quickly as possible and saying, it doesn't cost anything for that. All you got to do is buy our products. You buy our products, you'll get something that I don't think anybody else can offer for nothing. That's the model and this works right.
Randy Coleman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jason, this is Randy. I would just add, if you could meet the people that we have on this team, they are seasoned, they are knowledgeable and they are experienced, here to help, you become really impressed.
Jason Rodgers -- Great Lakes Review -- Analyst
Very good. Thank you
Operator
It appears there are no further questions at this time. I'd like to turn the conference to Mr. King for any additional or closing remarks.
Jim King -- Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs
All right. Thanks, John. That's all we've got today. If we've not gotten people's questions, please call me directly, that's 937-578-5622 and because we have not gotten enough plugs in yet this morning for John Anderson's conference, Randy and I would be there on June 6th to give you an update on where we stand year-to-date. Thanks for calling, everybody, and have a great day.
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation, you may now disconnect.
Duration: 77 minutes
Jim King -- Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs
James Hagedorn -- Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Randy Coleman -- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Bill Chappell -- SunTrust -- Analyst
Chris Hagedorn -- General Manager
Michael Lukemire -- President & Chief Operating Officer
Jon Andersen -- William Blair -- Analyst
Joe Altobello -- Raymond James -- Analyst
Unidentified Participant -- -- Analyst
Chris Carey -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Jason Rodgers -- Great Lakes Review -- Analyst
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