Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marissa Hughes, Founder of Sunshower Wellness, located in Longmont, CO, USA.

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

Sunshower Wellness offers an approachable way to access the healing nature of herbs. As a certified herbalist, I formulate and blend herbal products for retail and see clients 1:1 for personalized guidance on their wellness goals. Everyone is going through different challenges, so personalizing the experience is key.

I specialize in mood, sleep, and perinatal support. These areas, in particular, benefit greatly from herbs that help us to slow down, rest, and recover. I’ve personally leaned heavily on certain herbs to help me through difficult times (looking to you, milky oats!) and want to share this knowledge with others. My clients are seeking natural and gentle ways to improve their wellness. Every body is different, and herbs are subtle and nuanced, so my aim with Sunshower Wellness is to match herbs to the individual to help bring harmony to my areas of specialization.

Tell us about yourself

My own experience with trauma and the subtle strength of herbs aiding me throughout my healing led me to this work. Needing true authenticity in all areas of my life, I left the chaos of the corporate world and stepped back in sync with nature. I now hold a certificate in Medical Herbalism from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and a certificate in Mind-Body Therapy, a holistic approach to healing the psychological, spiritual, and physical. I’m also passionate about sustainability and earned an Executive Education Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from NYU Stern in 2020. Uniting these trainings through Sunshower Wellness, I specialize in gentle herbs that guide each individual’s systems toward balance and rhythm. I strive to cultivate openness in my practice, a space for all who arrive to be comfortable with all parts of themselves and to feel supported.

To be able to share my knowledge and provide real, tangible ways that others can address their concerns and goals is everything to me. I gather motivation in the small moments. The conversations with individuals I meet along the way. The chance encounters where someone wasn’t sure what they were looking for but found Sunshower Wellness and opened up just enough so I could guide them, providing recommendations that make their daily life just a little bit easier.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Putting myself out there in a vulnerable way. What I offer my clients is beyond a product, but a way of connection, which can get quite personal. I am my business; therefore, I need to be open and transparent. My clients want to see who they are going to be working with, so it is critical that I give them the honesty they deserve.

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

Wanting to do it all and getting ahead of myself. Ideas and projects must be broken down into manageable tasks based on importance, so that overwhelm doesn’t set in. I have some big ideas that I’m super excited to release, but I need to make sure I get there in a sustainable manner. Not to be glossed over is everything outside of my business. We all have our personal lives, which are so important to not forget in the conversation of entrepreneurism. I was 6 months pregnant when I launched Sunshower Wellness. Finding out who I am as a founder of a business and a mom at the same time comes with a lot of challenges and internal dialogue as to who this version of myself is. Doubt is never far away and can seep into my mind at times. Having my family’s support helps to dismiss these doubts, so we should always talk about the personal when we talk about being a business owner.

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

  1. Create a business plan. If you aren’t exactly business savvy, crowdsource your information. Find a friend whose brain you can pick, or join some online communities to gather the info you need to start.
  2. Build your community. But do it authentically. You need to be able to connect with others if you want a successful business. The community support cannot be underestimated.
  3. Don’t try to do it all. Stick to your business plan’s mission statement, and make sure everything you do aligns with this. Editing is important!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sunshowerwellness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshowerwellness/

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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