BlackKat Herbs
Owner:
Sandi Wakefield
Location: Smithville, TN
Employees: me, 10 cats and 2 family members who can be
bribed at times
Q: How did you start (or become owner) of
the business?
Just sort of happened. I’ve always loved working with herbs. I
shut down my antique shop as I became burned out and my
hubby suggested an herbal business….16 years ago and still going
strong!
Q: What made you choose this type of
business?
I’ve always been interested in herbs and healing and when we
moved
to Tennessee from Florida we had the land to start my dream. My
daughter has been diabetic from age 5 and I was always looking
for alternative ways to help deal with her diabetes. It all
just kind of fell together for me.
Q: What is your background?
Grandmother was a healer and I learned from her. I’ve taken
Rosemary Gladstar’s Course
and Herbal Healing Academy Course. I am a voracious reader and
my office is lined floor to ceiling with herb and homeopathy
books! I’ve taken David Little’s Homeopathic Course which is
great for homeopathic information and I have taken a course thru
the British Institute of Homeopathy.
Q: What are your biggest challenges as an
herb business?
I think that financial is the biggest challenge. Then there is
keeping up with all the latest FDA rules! Then just having
enough hours
in the day to get everything done! LOL Another big challenge
is finding new and different items to motivate customers sales
and
keep them returning to the website.
Q: What are the biggest rewards of being
an herb business?
My biggest rewards are owning my own company and meeting new
people and helping them thru my love of herbs. It’s amazing to
see the transformation people’s health!
Q: What is your philosophy of customer
service?
I have been very lucky in this department because I pay strict
attention to my orders. If something is not right, then I only
have myself
to blame….and I make it right with the customer. It is all
about customer loyalty and repeat business. My customers are
always
telling friends and family, so keeping customers happy is number
one!
Q: What makes you stand out from your
competitors?
Not really sure on this question. I like to think that we are
all doing this because of our love of herbs and the desire to
help people
better their health. I don’t look at others as competitors,
but as fellow helpers in the fight to get alternative medicine
into
mainstream society.
Q: What plans do you have for your
business?
I have another website in the works for natural animal
health. This is my passion so it will become a reality in
2007! My oldest
daughter and grandson will be a major part of developing new
products and the production. I have a Newsletter and one of my
goals
for 2007 is to do this monthly or at least bi-monthly. Keeping
in contact with customers is something that is important to me
as a business woman.
Q: Is your family supportive of your
business?
200% supportive! I am very blessed with such a great
family! My husband has always been my biggest supporter – Thank
you Ray!
Q: What do you wish you’d done
differently with the business?
Nothing really – everything has evolved as it should and it
has been a terrific learning experience for me…and I am learning
every day!
Q: What do you think people starting out
should know about getting into your type of business?
That it takes a lot of effort and hard work and be sure that
you have some money to tide you over the rough spots. A
strong commitment to yourself and the business is essential
because there are lots of obstacles and pitfalls when you have
your
own business. It definitely is not for the faint of heart!
Q: How has the internet helped/hurt your
business?
The internet has helped me immensely. I live in a very
small town. Very allopathic oriented and not all that open to
alternative
medicine, although it is getting better as more and more
*northerners* and *Floridians* move into the area. I did not
want to open
a *store* and be tied down, so the internet has been great. It goes
everywhere in the world for me and some of my best clients are
in foreign countries.
Q: How long has it taken for your website
to pay off?
Well, I keep making changes to the site, overhauling it,
etc. so it is a work in progress and a money pit! LOL
Q: What things have you done to promote
your website?
My web mistress does a really good job of making sure I am
in all the search engines and we are always finding like-minded
sites
to link to my site. I also send out a Newsletter, although not
as often as I would like but that is another goal for 2007! I
also belong
to several groups and organizations – The Herb Growing and
Marketing Network being my favorite one!
Who are members of
The Herb Growing & Marketing Network. Each issue of our
online Bu$iness of Herbs features a member profile. Find
out about who are members are, what services and products they
offer and some interesting facts they've learned along the way
about having a natural products business. |