Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christain Watt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christain, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I spent over 15 years working in the corporate sector–climbing ladders and breaking records, but always having to explain myself. Corporate life was full of proving myself– not only as a woman, but also as a relatively young woman in comparison to my colleagues. At the end of 2018, I realized that this grind wasn’t fulfilling and that life was too short to spend it chasing accolades and recognition.

Before this realization, my mom had been diagnosed with brain cancer (she is 7 years cancer free now!) I had always lived a very holistic lifestyle, so my immediate reaction to her diagnosis was to figure out how I could help her naturally. This led me to forums and blogs where folks were talking and raving about hemp/CBD products. Hemp wasn’t quite federally legal yet, but I was intrigued.

Once the Federal Farm Bill was passed, I started to use CBD products for my own anxiety and depression–finding relief from issues that I had been battling for years. When I decided that I couldn’t do the corporate thing anymore, the desire to share the hemp plant with people became my new life’s mission. It was late one night at the end of 2018, shortly after the bill passed, that I was going to open a CBD store. The next morning, my husband and I started making plans. We weren’t sure how we were going to make it work, where it was going to go, or how it was going to turn out–but we knew that we could use the knowledge we had from the business world, the passion we had for plant based care, and an overall drive to live a life that was fulfilling to make it happen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the owner of Kentucky Botanical Co., mama to a teenager, and dog-mom to a 2 year old Havanese baby girl. I ditched the corporate life for a slower, more intentional path in 2019 when I opened my first shop with my husband, Chad.

My passion for natural remedies and wellness sparked my interest in the CBD industry. Witnessing the positive impact that CBD had on people’s lives, I was motivated to start a business that would create and bring high-quality products and exceptional services to our clients. We were able to expand to three locations in Northern Kentucky in the first two years, bringing the conversation about plant based care to a larger population of people looking for a non-pharmaceutical option. You can find us in Bellevue, Covington, and Florence, KY.

At Kentucky Botanical Co, we specialize in a range of CBD products, herbal tinctures (like our new Adaptogen line that I am so excited about!!). Our offerings include premium CBD oils, soothing topicals, delicious edibles, convenient capsules, and the ever-growing-in-popularity higher THC content products. We take pride in sourcing our hemp from a local farm in Kentucky who we partnered with in the very beginning of this all. Kentucky is known for our rich soil and ideal growing conditions, so we try to keep everything as local and pure as we can. From seed to sale is a favorite motto of ours. There are a couple of companies that I have found across the US who are practicing like minded growing methods and who I trust enough to share with my clients. The adaptogens that I mentioned include lions mane, reishi, and maca products -all sourced from some of the top farms in the country. You can also find herbal concoctions featuring goldenrod, tulsi, white pine, elderberry, tumeric, and more inside our walls.

Our mission is to enhance the well-being of our clients, from the inside out. We understand that individuals are seeking effective solutions to manage stress, promote relaxation, alleviate discomfort, and improve overall wellness. Through extensive research and meticulous product development, we have crafted formulations that address these needs and deliver consistent results.

What sets us apart from others in the industry is our unwavering commitment to quality. We prioritize using organic and natural ingredients, employ rigorous third-party testing to ensure purity and potency, and adhere to strict manufacturing standards. This dedication allows us to provide our clients with safe and reliable products they can trust.

One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive feedback we receive from our customers. Hearing stories of how our products have improved their quality of life is truly rewarding. It inspires us to continue innovating and providing the best plant based experience possible. It is truly why we started this adventure–to help people feel better.

Our focus goes beyond selling products; we aim to build a community of individuals dedicated to living a balanced and fulfilling life. In 2020, we expanded our offerings to focus on sustainability and eco-friendly products–so you can now find a full refill bar and some pretty amazing sustainable swaps in our Bellevue and Covington locations.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When we first started Kentucky Botanical Co, one of the significant obstacles we encountered was the difficulty in obtaining banking and insurance services. Due to the close association of hemp with marijuana and the extreme infancy of the industry, many financial institutions and insurance providers were hesitant to work with businesses in the hemp industry.

We faced numerous rejections and roadblocks, but we refused to let these setbacks deter us from pursuing our vision.
After months of perseverance and networking, we finally connected with a forward-thinking bank and insurance provider that recognized the value and legality of hemp-derived products. Their support enabled us to establish secure financial transactions and obtain comprehensive insurance coverage for our operations.

The experience not only taught us the importance of resilience but also shed light on the stigma surrounding the hemp plant. We realized that misconceptions and preconceived notions about hemp’s association with marijuana were pervasive, hindering the growth and acceptance of the industry as a whole.

As a result, we decided to take an active role in educating our community and challenging the stigma. We partnered with local organizations, participated in industry conferences, and hosted educational events to raise awareness about the distinctions between hemp and marijuana. By sharing accurate information, we aimed to debunk myths and foster a better understanding of the potential benefits of hemp-derived products.

Over time, we witnessed a shift in attitudes and perceptions. As more people became informed about the differences between hemp and marijuana, the stigma surrounding the hemp plant gradually diminished. It was a small victory that reaffirmed our commitment to breaking down barriers and promoting the legitimacy of the hemp industry.

Through the challenges we faced with banking and insurance, as well as the persistent stigma, we remained resilient, determined to overcome obstacles, and forge a path forward. Today, we continue to thrive as a trusted and respected brand, providing high-quality CBD products while actively working to reshape perceptions and advocate for the potential of hemp.

Our journey serves as a reminder that resilience is key in the face of adversity. By persisting, educating, and challenging misconceptions, we can create a brighter future for the hemp industry as a whole.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, and it played a significant role in establishing our reputation. Satisfied customers who experienced the benefits of our CBD products shared their positive experiences with friends, family, and their communities. This organic, grassroots endorsement helped us gain trust and credibility, attracting new customers to our brand.

Consistency is vital in our industry, where customers rely on products to deliver reliable results. We made it a priority to maintain consistency across our product line, from the sourcing of high-quality hemp to the extraction and manufacturing processes. By ensuring consistent quality and potency, we earned a reputation for delivering reliable and effective products that consistently met our customers’ expectations.

We also have a very strong belief that the quality of ingredients directly impacts the efficacy of our products. I have always been dedicated to using premium, organic, and natural ingredients in all our formulations. By prioritizing the purity and integrity of our ingredients, we were able to create products that provided maximum benefits to our customers. This commitment to quality resonated with our audience and helped establish trust in our brand.

It’s important to note that reputation is not built overnight; it requires consistency, transparency, and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. We continuously strive to maintain these qualities and exceed expectations, which has been instrumental in establishing our reputation within the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kybotanicalco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kybotanicalco
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kybotanicalco

Image Credits
Jen Kruskamp Photography City Pig Media Hailey Bollinger Photography