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All Goode Gifts
Owner:  Karen Mallinger

Editor's Note: Karen has been a god(ess)send to me in keeping up with the Ask the Herbalist section on HerbNET.  I’m not going to say I always agree with her answers.  But she’s been incredible in handling a barrage of strange questions about health issues for me.   And it all started out with her saying “What can I do to promote my website?”

Business Name:  All Goode Gifts                                          

Owner(s):  Karen Mallinger

Founded:  1995

Location:  New! 22 Krooks Road, Negaunee, Michigan 49866

Employees:  Just me!

Annual Sales:  Between 50 and 60K. I don’t have the good numbers till I do taxes!

Q: How did you start (or become owner) of the business?  I grew up making natural remedies and using herbs in cooking. As I started experimenting, folks started asking for more and more products, so I decided to start a business.

Q:  What made you choose this type of business?  I love herbs and all things earthy and natural. I grew up in Amish Country and we used herbs for everything every day. It was just a way of life. After a long bout with depression and becoming sick and tired of being sick and tired, I decided to start learning more about the healing properties of the herbs I grew up with. Educating people to the natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals has become a calling and a passion.

Q:  What is your background?  Computer programming, Business and Project Management. (Plus 20 years in the Navy while I “found” myself!)

Q:  What are your biggest challenges as an herb business? Not compromising on the desire to keep things all natural and still being able to provide a pure product that won’t harm my customers in any way. Also, not getting too big. I have no desire to be the next “Million dollar Business”. I want to keep it small enough to maintain the personal care and attention I can now provide my customers while still making enough money to keep the wolf from the door.

Q:  What are the biggest rewards of being an herb business? Playing in the garden, coming up with new formulas, having a customer write or call and tell me how my formula was wonderful and helped them. Seeing people finally “get it” and move into a more healthy life balance from my teachings, or coachings.

Q:  What is your philosophy of customer service? Each of my customers is unique. They deserve my personal attention and care whether they are spending $8.00 on a tincture or hundreds of dollars on a variety of things. Their health and wellness is my number one concern and I’ll do whatever is in my power to help them get there.

Q:  What makes you stand out from your competitors? I’d have to say my willingness to treat each customer individually and do custom orders. Not many companies will do that. It’s not very cost effective sometimes, but it allows me to be the one person providing what others either don’t have time for or aren’t willing to pursue – A truly custom made product.

Q:  What plans do you have for your business? Now that I’ve retired, I plan to do a lot more advertising and take it to the next level. I’m also planning a book as well as a Saturday morning “Ask the Herbalist” radio program.

Q:  Is your family supportive of your business? Absolutely. I’m even training the DH to do some of the administrative and packing tasks so I can focus on manufacturing.

Q:  What do you wish you’d done differently with the business? I wish I’d started seriously studying it sooner. I always used herbs, but didn’t start serious study until my late 40’s. It’s a life long pursuit, so I feel behind the pack.

Q: What do you think people starting out should know about getting into your type of business? That if you’re going to do it right, you’re going to throw a lot of things out and spend a lot of money in the learning process. But you have to be willing not to cut corners and keep learning. This isn’t an overnight business if you want to do it right. You have to be willing to spend lots of time
learning, reading, talking, attending seminars etc. If you won’t put in the time, don’t get into it and give the rest of us a bad name.

Q:  How has the internet helped/hurt your business? Since my business is currently totally web-based, the internet IS my business! All my business comes from the internet and the majority from my column at Herbnet.com.

Q: How long has it taken for your website to pay off? Pay off. What does that mean? Pay for itself? Pay enough for me to quit work? I think it “paid off” from day one. The first order was the pay off for me. As order kept coming, the business kept growing. Of course, I have an advantage that many don’t have. The Ask the Herbalist column has been a Godsend. I’m not sure how quickly the
site would have grown without it.

Q: What things have you done to promote your website? Since the business has been part time up until now, I have purposely
not promoted it, other than through the column. I wanted to keep it small enough to manage since I had a day job I was holding down. With retirement 8 days away, I’m going to be looking for ways to promote it. I belong to several different organizations, so I’m published that way, but it is more passive than active. I want to start actively promoting and see what happens.

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