We were lucky to catch up with Bethany Meyers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bethany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Being seen does not always equal sales. In my world of small business owners we are expected to produce social media, website and in person content for our company’s. We not only create our products which in themselves require alot of time and money but then we have to advertise. I’ve learned the hard way that you can post on every apps you have, pay for their ads, pay to have your Etsy appear on the top of everyone’s pages and still not see a huge amount of sales. Even though online presence is still so important it doesn’t replace in person sales and building a group of customers who know you personally. There has to be a balance of all things to truly succeed. Word of mouth is still a very valuable thing in this age of amazing technology. Once people around you believe in your products you can grow alot from that point.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Bethany Meyers and I am an Artist and Herbalist. Almost a year ago on Dec, 1st I launched Bethanysbotanicalshop.com a website where I sell handmade vegan botanical body products made from herbs I grow myself in a 1500sqft garden in San Diego, CA. What started as a huge batch of grass and the need to help my family naturally quickly became me remaking my yard into a Willy Wonka inspired edible garden. With over 50 medicinal herbs and another 25 fruit and vegetables plants annually my once small dream because a thriving beautiful creature of its own. After years of gardening and learning about each plant I started making massage oils for my husband’s body pain and hand & foot cream for my bestfriend who was working alot in the ICU as a nurse. With the encouragement from my friends and family I built up my products and started my online adventure into sales. What started with two simple but wonderful products turned into a whole line of Bath Salts, Sugar Scrubs, Soaps, Candles, Infused Oil Roll ons with Crystals, Healing Body Products, Shower Steamers and many more things to come. With my base products created and my company’s website and social media running I decided to venture into expressing myself with art.

Then from this love of creating I started to produce and sale my art. I love to create abstract paintings using acrylic and other mediums. I soon began selling my work at The Cave of Wonders in North Park, CA at 3819 Ray St, San Diego, CA 92104. The owner Jackie is amazing so kind hearted and lovely. She sells amazing crystals and metaphysical objects. She currently has my Fairy Garden Sculptures, Dream Catchers, Paintings and Candles for sell.

My passions grew into two Etsy shops I’m currently running Bethanysbotanicalshp and Hippymommathriftshop. My side passion is vintage items, which I collect and sale with great pride.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The biggest thing with social media is stop comparing yourself with anyone else. You never know who pays other people to run their presence online. Just do what makes you happy and what you find beautiful. If you have to post which you should then make sure it honest with who you are and what your offering.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Nothing sober you right up like no sales. You can post til your blue in the face, do in person markets and still see very little profit. The biggest thing to remember is it takes time which sucks so hard. Every little thing you do will cost money from launching a website, selling online, product creation. business cards and advertising. Don’t go overboard make sure you take the time to research how to spread your brand around without alot of money spent because money out doesn’t always guarantee money in.

Contact Info:

• Website: Bethanysbotanicalshop.com
• Instagram: Bethanysbotanicalshop
• Facebook: Bethanysbotanicalshop
• Other: Etsy Shops: Bethanysbotanicalshp and Hippymommathriftshop Tik Tok: Bethanysbotanicalshop The Cave of Wonders at 3819 Ray St, San Diego, CA 92104