Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Susan Horning, Founder of Unity Herbals, located in Vancouver, BC, CA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I create purely plant-based herbal tisanes, tinctures, and skin salves. I love tea and wanted to create a product that is free of artificial flavors and uses just whole plants. All of my teas are created with dried plants that extract easily in water. Some of my richer blends are made of roots and barks and need to be boiled on the stove, creating a deeper flavor more like a coffee - great with milk and honey!
Tell us about yourself
I am a naturalist, and it's my goal to help people live in harmony with nature. I offer yoga retreats and classes, support people with their health with plant products, and provide spiritual counseling with astrology and self-awareness coaching.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My greatest accomplishment was running a store and yoga studio for 16 years. I've let it go now in favor of working with people on a deeper level, but I loved those busy years of community growth and connection.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of owning a business is by far managing staff. People have different motivations and needs, and a lot of people have their own ideas about how your business should work. It's hard to get people to work toward the interests of the business and not just their own!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start slowly and take it step by step. Growth takes time and patience, and even if you have great ideas, implementing them takes time. But anything that is done step by step seems to last the longest! We are all unique individuals, meaning we all need to define for ourselves how much we charge, how we operate, and what we have to offer.
- Use your connections - genuine one-on-one contacts build a business best.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
In business, I think it's easy to compare what we do to what other people are doing, and I think that can really strip away the authenticity, inspiration, and genuine interest that we may inherently be trying to create. Don't compare yourself to others; go your own way!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://unityherbals.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unityherbals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unityherbals/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QkSG0t
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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