Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Karina Aldredge, Founder of Sacred Elements, located in Portland, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sacred Elements reconnects you with the natural world. We help rebuild the botanical bridge between plants, the planet, and people and encourage self-care through plant care. Through our natural home and garden education, extensive blog post library, and social media platforms, we inspire health from the inside out and offer organic, concentrated, plant-based tonics, heirloom seeds, luffa sponges, and a curated collection of handmade products.
Tell us about yourself
Sacred Elements was born from my desire to find more tranquility and mental clarity. I found the answer when I took time to notice and reconnect with the natural world inside my home with houseplants, outside in the garden, and on neighborhood walks. I began sharing this experience and therapy on social media before growing into a commerce business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm honored to say that my work of sharing natural world therapy has inspired millions of people over the past eight years to feel less anxious and develop a newfound appreciation of our precious planet.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Showing up regardless of what happens is the hardest part of owning a business! It's vital to stay committed, open, and honest to yourself, your team, and your community to maintain an authentic business. When our original Instagram feed @sacredelements (8 years and over 207k followers) was disabled this November, right before the holiday season, it was a huge loss both emotionally and financially, but I did not give up, and neither did my team and our community has showed up to support us too!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be authentic, always.
- Plan on working 60+ hours a week for years. I recommend you start a business you believe in and that you truly love; otherwise, it's extremely difficult to maintain this kind of commitment.
- Have financial backing. It's a rollercoaster of finical growth and loss. Starting and growing a business from scratch is more time-consuming and more expensive than I think most people realize! I still haven't paid myself yet!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sacredelements.world/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sacredelements.world
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredelements.se/
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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