Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erin Ethier, owner of Earthly Remedies By Erin, located in Cobleskill, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a community Herbalist that makes herbal wellness products and botanical skincare. I see clients and do herbal consultations. I have an online store, run an herb farm, and teach classes. We moved last year and now have more space to have greenhouses and lots of gardens and trails for foraging herbs. My customers have a large range of ages and genders. I see people all over the US, and I am able to do online consultations. Folks from Florida to California order my products and have them shipped. I attend a few events in places like Great Barrington and Pittsfield, Mass, around the holiday season to help expand my customer base. I started back in 2009, and at this point, it is really a lot of word of mouth. I wholesale with some different mom-and-pop type stores, small coops, and health food stores.
Tell us about yourself
Well, as I said, I officially started my business back in 2009. What motivated me was being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis right after I had my first son 20 years ago. It was at that point that herbal medicine made a bigger appearance in my life and was something I started studying. I first studied on my own and learned from books. We lived in the Adirondacks at the time, so our internet wasn't great, and we lived in the middle of nowhere. I eventually took classes and herbal programs and found a teacher so I could learn more. What motivates me today are my clients, customers, family, and myself. I see the benefits of what plant medicine can do for the body and see the results that I have gained. I treat the MS with herbs, diet, and yoga. I don't take the traditional approach because that didn't work for me, and it almost killed me. I still have my struggles, but I live a more fulfilled life.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is that I am a successful women-owned business. I am here today because I have a lot of family support, especially my husband. There is no way I could have done this on my own. Some of the difficulties with having MS is that I am not able to do everything on my own. Thankfully I don't have to. It took me a long time to be okay with that.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Paperwork... Paperwork is hard for me. It is time-consuming. I hate sitting in front of the computer. I would rather be outside as I am more in my element there. I also struggle with time management and find that is something I have to work on constantly. I am pretty sure I have some ADD, and that makes it hard to focus.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Find a mentor/teacher. Someone that will take the time to teach you. That was the best gift finding a friend who also became my mentor. Herbalists don't know everything, and I am constantly learning and taking classes. Find a good herbal program. There are a few out there. The online ones work well, but in the end, you do truly need to be in an in-person program. There are just things that you can't learn online.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.earthlyremediesbyerin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthlyRemediesbyErin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthlyremediesbyerin/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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