Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Wanless, Founder of Holistic Health Remedy, located in Dearborn, MI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is Holistic Health Remedy. The vision of the company is that we hope to grow and to help assist people in their journey to becoming a better version of themselves. I am a holistic health and wellness practitioner and enthusiast. On my website, you can find blogs and articles that will bring value to people interested in holistic health and natural remedies. In addition, we launched a shop in July. There are holistic health products for sale in the shop that are all used to enhance spirituality and well-being. My target audience consists of both men and women that are looking to increase happiness, boost their spirituality, or improve nutrition. My blogs cover a range of topics from sleep, and pain, to spirituality and wellness. Our products are environmentally friendly; we do not promote products that have artificial chemicals. All of the profits from sales are reinvested into the company to maintain sustainability and enable us to continue to grow.

Tell us about yourself

I was born in New Orleans and then moved to Michigan when I was still a baby. I did not spend much time living in Louisiana, though I will always keep that bit of southern hospitality with me. The New Orleans feel is embedded in my roots. I went back to the city for years after we moved away to visit family and friends. After being immersed in all the Louisiana food and environment, the Cajun culture just stuck with me. I will always be Southern at heart, and I’m tied to the city of New Orleans forever on.

The people of Louisiana are very friendly and family oriented; they embrace a loving, caring culture. That ignited my keenness to be close and embrace family and friends. I brought all these good experiences from down south in Louisiana to the North in Southeast Michigan. My mother moved my family to Michigan to be closer to relatives.

I enjoyed biking as a teenager and carried that passion through to adulthood. In my free time, a Like to ride local mountain bike trails; it’s a wonderful feeling to be outside and exercise while interacting with nature. Things that I am passionate about are promoting peace, caring, and spirituality. During the summer I like to visit Ludington and go swimming in Lake Michigan. I appreciate nature and simple things, and I partake in daily meditation practices and mindfulness.

My mother is a nurse and was always very kind to family, friends, and people she didn’t even know on the street. One time I witnessed my mother help a runner on the street who was having a seizure. She escorted him home safely and contacted EMS to come to assess him. The benevolence and graciousness displayed by my mother rubbed off on me. Her actions inspired me and led me to develop altruism and courtesy towards others.

While growing up in Michigan, I realized I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and help people as she did. I enrolled in Nursing school at Henry Ford College and graduated in 2016. After graduating and earning my degree, I was ready to jump feet first into the healthcare field. I furthered my education with advanced courses in nutrition and chemistry at Wayne State University. In 2018 I went back to school to earn my Bachelor’s degree in nursing with a focus on holistic caring and spirituality.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I believe my biggest accomplishment was taking the first step of starting my business in 2021. I was proud to publish my first blog post and excited to see the responses. In July, the Holistic Health Remedy store officially launched. Each day our audience continues to grow, and I am continuously more information and education topics to the blog. Most recently, I became a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I am constantly working on something, whether it’s a new idea or writing an article. You have to keep your motivation and determination up. I am always busy, but that is part of my personality. I don’t let myself get discouraged if something doesn’t work out on the first try.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don’t take on too many tasks at one time; it can easily become overwhelming.
  2. It’s important to be passionate about your business.
  3. Plan ahead to avoid any unexpected surprises or setbacks.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I am currently working on developing my brand so we can reach a wider audience. I hope to add value to anyone interested in becoming a healthier version of themselves. The blogs are written to help people work on bettering themselves. I have written articles on holistic remedies for sleeping better, holistic practices, and natural pain treatments. The remedies include interventions from using melatonin to reducing screen time and using aromatherapy. There is an article on holistic pain treatments which covers a range of interventions that you can do to help decrease acute and chronic pain. Coming soon, I plan to add an article covering essential oil use and how to utilize it safely and effectively.

The Holistic Health Remedy shop carries natural and holistic products used for the promotion of wellness, nutrition, and spirituality. Many of the items for sale are imported from India. Indian society and its cultural beliefs promote holistic practices and natural remedies. Currently, there is handmade natural incense made from charcoal for sale in the shop. Much of the incense produced today contains artificial chemicals which make it unhealthy to breathe in; our incense is produced naturally from charcoal and is safe to burn in your home. We have recently added incense burners to our inventory as well. They are hand carved from soapstone. The Incense burners are stylish and are designed to be the perfect addition to your corner nook or favorite Zen space.

Our most recent additions belong to the essential oil product line. Essential oil use is increasing, and it plays an important role in aromatherapy. The hand-carved soapstone oil diffuser is imported from India. In a perfect teak color, the diffuser works with tealight candles. Just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the bowl filled with water. Unlike mass-produced plastic electronic diffusers, this will create a natural experience. The lavender essential oil is coming soon and will be natural oil to accompany the diffusers.

I am always excited to hear about what techniques and practices work for you. If you recommend a particular holistic practice that worked for you, I would love to hear about it; please email me at Mark@holistichealthremedy.com.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://holistichealthremedy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthremedy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic_health_remedy/

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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