Herbal Apothecary
Shop Stories may get paid commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Interview with Alexander Greene, Owner of Greene's Herbal Apothecary in Portland, Oregon.
Q: How did you get started with Greene's Herbal Apothecary?
A: My interest in the natural healing powers of herbs started when I was young. My grandmother was a midwife and taught me about the plants she used in her practice. As I got older, I started experimenting with herbs and creating my own remedies. Eventually, I wanted to share my knowledge with others which led me to open Greene's Herbal Apothecary in 2012.
Q: What challenges did you face when starting your business?
A: One of the biggest challenges was getting the word out there. We are a small, local store and competing with larger companies can be difficult. Also, finding reliable sources for our herbs and ensuring their quality was a huge challenge.
Q: What steps did you take to overcome these challenges?
A: I started offering classes on herbal medicine and had various flyers made and distributed all around the city. I also made sure to create a highly informative and user-friendly website which was essential to having a strong online presence. As for the quality of our herbs, I am always researching and ensuring we are partnering with reliable growers and producers.
Q: Your business has become an unexpected success, can you tell us how this came about?
A: One of the biggest game-changers for us was when we started using Shopify. It streamlined our online sales and made it so much easier for us to manage our inventory. Also, we made a commitment to providing exceptional customer service and constantly look for ways to improve. The dedication to these factors has helped us become a reliable source of guidance for health and wellness in the community.
Q: It sounds like technology has played a role in your success, how important do you think it is for small businesses to utilize modern tools?
A: In this day and age, technology is crucial for any business, big or small. Utilizing modern tools allows us to have a wider reach, stronger online presence, and more efficient operations. For example, Social media has been a great way for us to connect with customers and tools like Shopify have streamlined our operations and maximized our productivity.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their own herb store?
A: Firstly, make sure there is a need for your business in your community. Offer classes and informational sessions and create a strong online presence. Most importantly, be passionate about what you are selling and be committed to providing the best customer service possible.
Q: You've been in business for almost 10 years and have seen a lot of success, what are your future goals for Greene's Herbal Apothecary?
A: One of our goals is to create even more of a community around natural health and wellness. We want to continue offering classes and workshops and create a space that is welcoming and informative. Additionally, we hope to open up more locations in the future.
Thank you for your time, Alexander, it has been a pleasure speaking with you.
A: Thank you, it was great to have the opportunity to share my story.
Shop Stories is designed to provide inspiration through stories about ecommerce success. Articles on this site including names, businesses, locations and any other element of the story have been created with a combination of human inspiration and generative AI. Articles may contain inaccuracies, untruths and possibly incorrect or dangerous advice. Use at your own risk.