Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steve St Clair, CEO of Enerhealth Botanicals, located in Longmont, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Enerhealth Botanicals formulates, manufactures, markets and ships a variety of nutritional and herbal supplements. From organic coffees and cocoa infused with extracts of medicinal mushrooms to herbal tinctures, we are where modern technology meets ancient wisdom. Our customers range from 18-65+ years of age, about 65% female, and we have a wide mix of customers' whole interests ranging from vegetarian/vegan options to food security. We engage in wholesale and eCommerce and have had many of them for 17 years!
Tell us about yourself
My background is in finance, and before Enerhealth, I was involved in money management and became exhausted by the constant push to generate returns. I decided I wanted to do something that was "of service" to others and still make a living. Having been interested in plant-based diets and alternative health programs since I was 16, I started Enerhealth in 2005 with two products, our Enerfood and Coconut milk powder. Since then, we have created several novel products. In 2007, we began roasting and infusing organic coffee beans with mushroom extracts, then our signature Cocoa Mojo, organic cocoa powder. In 2015 we acquired a friend's herbal extraction/tincture business and then began to process industrial hemp introducing the spagyric extraction technique, an ancient technique that really ups the power of the herbs.
Recently, we have focused on employing a novel extraction technique for our mushroom extracts using the fruiting bodies. We are also introducing freeze-dried coffee that has these extracts freeze-dried along with the coffee. I love the creative aspects of this business, new products, processes, and delivery methods that don't require the customer to remember to take their supplement.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Introduction of novel processes and products that have definite health benefits that improve you.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The most difficult parts since COVID are attracting and managing people that we need to expand our business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Things usually take more money and time than you anticipate. Pay attention to your data and metrics. Pivot when necessary.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://enerhealthbotanicals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnerhealthBotanicals/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enerhealth_botanicals/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Enerhealth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enerhealth-botanicals/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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