Sindy, can you tell us a little about your background and how you became interested in the natural products industry? My first experience with natural products came when I was in high school working at a small co-op in Pueblo, Colorado. I always felt that the community that shopped at the store, and the people who worked at the store, shared the same values as I did. Food should be clean, beauty products should be simple and pure and nature truly provides everything you need to be healthy and happy. Customers brought their scobies to share with other customers. There were several women working there who were “herbalists” and as I learned more about what that was, I knew with certainty that I had to follow that path. I had to become a herbalist myself.
You are the Vice President of Business Development at WishGarden Herbs. What are your tasks? In short: I do everything I can to help WishGarden succeed as a company! I oversee all marketing functions for WishGarden. We are currently refining our brand standards, updating labels for the women’s and children’s lines, and developing a robust social media strategy. From a business development perspective, we would like to update our website to create a better shopping experience for customers. I’m also super excited to work with our formulator Goddess, Catherine, on developing new products that will bring WishGarden to a national stage and portray them as the innovators they have always been. With the new website we can pave the way for these exciting new products!
What does your typical day look like at WishGarden? I would say none of my days are typical, which is really cool! I currently work remotely three days a week and in the office two days. During the three days I’m home, I try to get face time with my colleagues on Zoom. At the office we try to get as much out of it as possible, because that ‘personal time’ is so valuable. There’s a lot of creative work going on at the moment, so I’m pretty wiped out every day, but very happy and grateful! Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I actually get to work with one of the most talented female founders in the industry. Baffling emoji!
We are currently witnessing explosive growth in the natural products industry. What do you attribute that to? I think most consumers of natural products have always believed that self-care is critical to a balanced life. Now people are home more than ever and can focus on those priorities.
Where do you see WishGarden in five years? This question makes me dizzy. I only see growth for WishGarden! The magic of WishGarden is that this company has been self-sustaining for over 40 years and has a following of people who really love the products. All the work that has been done and continues to be done is laying the foundation for WishGarden to be a nationally known and loved brand.
You have extensive experience in the industry. What advice would you give to people wanting to work in the natural products industry? Be authentic. Immerse yourself in the world of natural products. It won’t be work if you do that. Build relationships. Almost my entire tribe was created from all the wonderful people I’ve met throughout my career. Be willing to do whatever it takes to make the company you work for succeed.
Focus on that success. Don’t get carried away with BS. Life is too great for bullshit, no distractions! And finally, have fun with everything!
Do you have a favorite herb? Throughout my life I have had many love affairs with different plants for various reasons. Osha is my early years. I made Osha talismans for prosperity. Later in life I learned of my Ute heritage, which made that relationship even more special. St. John’s wort. I used to wildflower the flower with permission from Boulder County Open Space because it was defined as an invasive species. That ruby oil was beautiful! Nettles. Wow, I love getting stung by nettles and they make the best tea! Passionflower…I love everything about this plant. Hemp. That plant has really been in my life the longest and has really become a big part of my professional work over the past four years. Through physical stores I was able to bring hemp to a national platform. Right now I’m having a love affair with the aromatics of plants. I think that the aromatic properties of plants have unprecedented potential, so I study: ).
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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