Course 19 | Herbal Business

The world of herbalism is vast and expansive with so many business possibilities, as diverse as the plant world itself. Imagine being surrounded by the beauty of botanicals everyday, and turning your passion for plants into a livelihood. For many, this is a dream come true! Whether you want to be a self-employed entrepreneur or employed by a plant-loving company, this course goes through the step by step process of how to build a solid foundation for a successful career! 

First, we begin with some inner exploration: what calls you to this path? Knowing your why, beyond financial rewards, will breathe life into your dream, filling it with your soul’s passion and heart’s fire. What calls you and inspires you to embark on this path, and how can you combine your natural talents and skills into a viable business? Perhaps it is one-to-one consulting, being a herbal writer or blogger, or operating a product line. This course helps you explore those questions and zero in on the sweet spot where your talents and interests meet the needs of the community you choose to serve. This is the secret sauce to creating a business that is filled with a magnetism and vitality that can’t help but garner lots of attraction! 

Deciding what shape your business should take in structure and form is the critical next step. Will it be solely online? Only brick and mortar? Or a combination of both? Understanding possible revenue streams and then narrowing to the ones that will maximize profitability while also keeping to your mandate is crucial. We explore market research, what it really means, and why it’s necessary before setting out on your path. What’s your mission? What do you stand for? And how can this be combined with your natural talents (and take into account your weaknesses) to serve your community? And who is the community or demographic you want to serve? We look at the legalities of making a herbal product and what to avoid (and include) in labeling and advertising. 

Wholesaling vs. Retailing makes a big difference in terms of profit margins and organizing your business. Getting a handle on this before you set out on making a product line is vital to avoiding high costs. We talk about money: pricing, profit margins, mark-ups, start-up costs, and knowing what to charge, all while making sure you pay yourself. Will you be working with products that have a short shelf life (food items) or one’s that don’t have any at all (botanical art and textiles!). Brand identity, building a website, and social media are all discussed in terms of making your mark on the world and creating your ‘voice’ in a sea of digital noise.

Upon completion of this course, you will have the ability to:

• Come up with your unique business plan or plan of action 
• Feel confident with information about creating, marketing, and selling your own herbal products or service 
• Understand your why, what you have to uniquely offer your demographic, and how to streamline your ideas into a profitable business 
• Grasp the concept of pricing, whether wholesale, retail, and understand the legalities and why they are important 
• Create a business that stands out and develop a presence online that generates organic traffic