Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and beauty but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bridget Von Markgraf, owner of Elder & Willow, located in Merrimack, NH, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Elder and Willow is a small herbal tea and botanical skincare company located in southern NH. This business began as a way for me to share my love of herbs and herbalism with the world. I’m passionate about helping people live their healthiest lives and educating them on the benefits of using natural ingredients without harsh chemicals or toxins. I feel that incorporating herbs into your daily life can improve the quality of mind, body, and spirit.

Tell us about yourself

I began studying herbalism about seven years ago after learning about how the products we use, and things we ingest, can affect our well-being. My two children were both diagnosed with Autism in the early 2000s. As I researched the possible causes, environmental toxins came up repeatedly. I didn’t want to “heal” them or change their Autism, but I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to support them and help them be as healthy as possible. I looked into more natural approaches to living well, and herbalism kept showing up in my searches.
I started my herbal journey reading books on my own and then went on to complete several certificate programs over the last four years in both western herbalism and Ayurveda. The more I learned, the more I was hooked! It’s a lifelong course of study that includes the human body and its systems, botany, the herbs, their constituents, the benefits, and the proper way to use them. It has been extremely rewarding, and I look forward to every new aspect of my education. It’s also such a gift to share this knowledge with others.

The business began with making Botanical skincare when my daughter got eczema. The organic products I created worked so well that I decided to start selling them on Etsy. The website came a year later, and more products with it, including herbal teas. I believe strongly that the best way to heal on the outside is to nourish from within. Teas are my favorite way to incorporate the benefits of herbs into my daily life. They provide so many vitamins and nutrients that our bodies need, so I knew I wanted to offer that to my customers. I worked very hard to learn how to blend teas that would not only provide health benefits but also be delicious! Sometimes the process of creating a new blend takes a few weeks of tweaking amounts of each herb until it tastes just right.

I’m motivated by my children mostly. Showing them that it’s possible to do something you love for a living and giving them an opportunity to help run a family business fosters their sense of accomplishment. My other motivation is my customers. It’s so inspiring when someone tries one of my products for the first time and loves it. To know that they are benefiting from something I made and are doing something to care for themselves helps me to keep creating and sharing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel like it was the belief in myself even to start a business was my biggest accomplishment. I had thought about it for years when my kids were small but always felt that I wouldn’t be able actually to do it. Conquering my fears and taking the leap was challenging at first, but I’m grateful every day that I did.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For me, it’s the amount of time it takes. As a small business owner, I do it all. I’m the creator/maker, photographer, marketer, and social media manager. All the little details like ordering herbs, containers, shipping materials, and supplies, plus website management, events, and answering emails, are a huge part of keeping the business not only operating but growing. Navigating all of the business aspects while being a single Mom can be a lot to handle, and I have to remind myself to take a moment for self-care sometimes so I can recharge.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you are starting out. It can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning, so reaching out to family or friends can be so helpful, even if it’s for little day-to-day tasks.
  2. Know your customer base. If you are selling a specialized product (or even a not-so-specialized one), it is really beneficial to connect with the needs of the people who buy from you. Being open to their input and suggestions can not only foster the trust that you care about their wants, but the insight will help you know what areas to focus on for growth.
  3. Find your tribe. Other small business owners love to help each other. I’ve made so many connections and am gratefully part of an amazing community of makers and business owners. They have helped me in more ways than I can count on by giving me tips that worked for them, sharing information on how to grow my business, and encouraging me not to give up when it felt hard.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Believe in yourself. Running a small business is a lot of work, but it’s also so rewarding. Don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out right away. Not even in the first year. Be gentle with yourself as you learn and navigate the ins and outs of business ownership but above all, trust that you have the ability to accomplish your goals.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.elderandwillow.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elderandwillow/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elder_and_willow/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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