Strawberries & Sunshine Wellness Collective

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nareeta Stephenson, owner of Strawberries and Sunshine Wellness Collective, located in Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada.

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

Strawberries and Sunshine Wellness Collective is a multidisciplinary wellness center with a community of like-minded professionals supporting local families. Our collaborative approach helps families of all shapes and sizes. We also have specific services tailored to children and their families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders.

Tell us about yourself

When I opened my first clinic in 2008, Strawberries & Sunshine was then just a family chiropractic practice. I had young twins at home, a boy and a girl. My son was noticeably "different"—super-smart yet lacking coping skills, ultra-busy, and very unpredictable. He was not sleeping at night, experiencing extreme meltdowns, and having behavioral problems at school. My husband and I had tried all kinds of treatment and therapies, and all of these things helped, but none of them were permanent solutions; he was still struggling. We felt hopeless. Then, as a part of my post-graduate training, I took a class in primitive reflex integration and sensory processing disorder. It changed my life, the course of my practice, and my son's health immeasurably. After six months of implementing exercises specific to his needs, my son was able to relax and be comfortable in his body, his behavior improved, and his nervous system calmed. My entire family began to work their way back to wellness. So my mission became to help moms like me with kids like me find hope and healing. As a result, Strawberries & Sunshine evolved from a chiropractic practice to a multi-practitioner healing center focusing on neurodevelopment disorders and overall family health and wellness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Balancing being the business owner and clinical director while being in full-time practice at the same time. I am also very proud of my family and this journey we have been on together.

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

Turning off my brain at the end of the day. There always seems to be more to do.

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

Progress, not perfection. If you wait for things to be perfect before taking action, it will be very hard to get where you want to go.
Have a sounding board - someone or a group of people you can bounce ideas off and brainstorm with that will support your creativity. It helps if they can also hold your bucket and listen unconditionally when you need to vent.
Don't be afraid to ask for help - you can't be all things, to all people, all the time, and it's ok not to have all the answers. We weren't put on this planet with all these other people to do things all by ourselves.

Do what you love and spark your inspiration. Yes, there will be boring, mundane things that have to be done, but at the end of the day, you need to be able to go home and be grateful for the day you had.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.strawberriesandsunshine.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrawberriesAndSunshineHealingCentre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strawberriesnsunshine/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nareeta-stephenson-34305b53/

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.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.