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Simply Health LLC
Owner:   Pat Bratianu RN PHD candidate

Founded:  2005

Location:  1238 Sanchez St. SE Palm Bay Florida 32909

Employees:  myself , sometimes my husband and I get by with a lot of help from my friends

Q: How did you start (or become owner) of the business? I had a “hobby” herb business in Vermont for many years. We relocated to Florida and I decided to expand.

Q:  What made you choose this type of business?  Love of the herbs; desire to help others recognize the many benefits of herbs, variety of tasks,

Q:  What is your background?  I am a nurse. I always liked to play in the dirt. Years ago my mother –in –law gave me a beautiful herbal. I planted an herb garden at a time when I was feeling ill. I noticed that I always felt better when I was in the garden or playing with the herbs.

Q:  What are your biggest challenges as an herb business? Time and energy as I work full time as a hospice nurse also.  Start-up cash flow.

Q:  What are the biggest rewards of being an herb business? There are sooo many. I think that my greatest joy happens when I teach a group of women how to make an herbal /dried flower wreath. Almost every participant comes in saying” I am not creative; I am no artist “etc. Within a couple of hours everyone is amazed to find that they have hidden, creative abilities. They go home with beautiful original creations. Their joy is so invigorating.  I also love just being with the plants. It is especially satisfying sharing herbs with children. We go on a sniffing trip through the garden, giggle when we feel the “toilet paper plant” and pick flowers for Peter rabbit’s tea.  It is also satisfying to help a person get well when we work together to co-create a custom health plan “just for you” Another joy is helping women who have had breast cancer  become strong with the help of herbs as part of a holistic health plan.

Q:  What is your philosophy of customer service?
My job is not just to sell a product or service. It is to share knowledge and appreciation of the natural environment. I think that it is important to meet people “where they are at” For example, when working with my breast cancer clients, I know that incorporating many interventions is important, however I also recognize that energy may be depleted. So rather than overwhelm an exhausted client with a complex protocol, I encourage her to work on one simple thing adding more as she has success and her energy improves.

Q:  What makes you stand out from your competitors?  
My background as a registered nurse for over 30 years as well as my degree in Natural health is important. My ability to work in both conventional health care as well as complementary /alternative healthcare has helped shape my philosophy of health care. I believe that no one health care system has all of the answers. I encourage and empower clients so that they can choose the best of many healing systems. We then co- create a plan that is custom made for them individually. My approach is holistic.

Q:  What plans do you have for your business?
I want to create a healing place full of plants, education about herbs and holistic health for the general public as well as professionals. A center for work, play, education, herb crafts and joy.

Q:  Is your family supportive of your business?
There are not words to describe how incredibly supportive my family is.

Q:  What do you wish you’d done differently with the business?
I wish that I had had the courage to just do it!

Q: What do you think people starting out should know about getting into your type of business? 
It takes time. It is expensive in many ways. There is a lot of work involved that is essential but not directly herb related i.e. marketing, business plan development, learning regulations etc.

Q:  How has the internet helped/hurt your business?
Well I think it has helped a little but no where near as much as I had hoped.  I am not particularly computer savvy. I have a lovely site but don’t know how to update it, add pages etc.

Q: How long has it taken for your website to pay off?
It has not paid off yet

Q: What things have you done to promote your website?
Have it professionally created. Put it on my ads etc,

The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
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