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

Mamie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Herbal Riot was an unplanned, serendipitous spark of creativity, fueled by a passion for sharing plant medicine with the world. During the summer of 2020 (mid pandemic, realizing I didn’t want to be in the service industry forever), I enrolled in an Herbalism program here in Denver. The idea to turn my knowledge and passion into a business, started when I created my very first products for my final project in the herbalism course. I realized I had a unique niche to play with and needed to get my products out into the world.

It was SCARY! I remember fully sobbing on the drive to my first pop-up market at Bierstadt Brewery. I was absolutely terrified of sharing my little business with the world. What if nobody *got it*? What if all of my products were already out there and there was no need for them? What if nobody cared? What if they all hated me?
Surprise surprise, my fears were just lingering self doubt, and the community showed up in full force, as they continue to do as Herbal Riot grows. I feel unbelievably grateful.

It’s been truly magical, so rewarding, and absolutely terrifying watching my business grow. I know I have a lot to learn, and Herbal Riot has big things to do- I’m incredibly grateful to be on this ride!

Mamie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mamie (May-mee) Trotter, and I am the owner and creator of Herbal Riot + Plant Riot. I grew up in Northern New Mexico- where recognizing the beauty and medicine of the landscape surrounding me, was simply inevitable. While I didn’t go straight for the plants (long time service industry, almost pastry chef, brief stint in events, and lots of nannying along the way), my path eventually lead me back to them. After enrolling in a 500 hour Herbalism program, I decided I HAD to create medicine, and that I needed to share it with the world. And so Herbal Riot was pushed out of my brain, and in partnership with all of the plants, introduced to the world.

Reconnecting with plants and their beauty and medicine ignited something inside me that I didn’t even realize was there. My first products were a tattoo healing salve, and tattoo tincture, and they gave way to Herbal Riot as a whole. I never envisioned owning my own business- but deepening my relationship and understanding with the plants, is what truly fueled the whole damn thing. I had noticed that the world of holistic healing, and plant medicine, could be incredibly polarizing- deemed “woo woo” or “hippie crap”. My goal was to appeal to people who wouldn’t normally think to reach for plant medicine. By creating effective, and honest concoctions, made to help in my life, I knew there would be a need for them outside of myself. I created potions and remedies to aid with sleep, to use for tattoos, sex, cocktails, and tea for the babes with tummy issues.

I was (and continue to be) in complete shock and utter gratitude for the way that my community received my idea. They continue to show up for me and my business all the time.

In 2022 I decided to expand the scope of Herbal Riot, and add the offshoot- Plant Riot (plant pun definitely intended). I’ve always loved house plants and found myself caring for them at restaurants I worked at- really taking on the title of plant mom. I now design, install, and maintain the indoor plants at a few bars around the Denver area, including Yacht Club and The Tatarian. I also offer custom plant consults and installations for businesses as well as private residences!

It’s been so fun, and so terrifying and exhilarating watching Herbal Riot/Plant Riot grow. I have humbly accepted that I will be a lifelong steward and student of the plants, and that everything I do revolves around them. I also know that Herbal Riot has a lot of amazing things to do, and I feel so grateful to be a part of it.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I feel like most of my career path thus far has been filled with pivots! I needed to try out various industries and professions to figure out what I actually wanted to be when I “grew up”. Still always trying to figure that one out, if I’m being honest! The most significant pivot I’ve taken in my career (aside from deciding to actually start the business) was adding a whole new stream of revenue for myself and Herbal Riot! That was the formation of Plant Riot. I realized that I was kind of providing this service that people placed a lot of value in, but for free. So one day I decided that I was going to get better, and learn more about growing indoor plants (especially in dry, dry Colorado), and reach out to business I wanted to work with. I very quickly began not only caring for plants for consistent clients, but also peddling plants at markets! It added more variety to my business, and what I was able to offer to my community. It felt like an incredibly natural evolution, and I’m glad I allowed it to evolve and grew with it!
It’s been so much fun adding this piece to Herbal Riot.
Plant Riot has allowed me to connect to plants in new ways- passed the medicinal properties and deepening energetic relationships.
Not to mention I get to take care of the plants at some of the coolest bars in Denver!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The absolute best way for me to reach new clients is by networking within my community. I’m all about deepening and strengthening relationships!

100% of the clients I work with for Plant Riot, and probably 60% of Herbal Riot clients, are people and businesses from within my community, who were willing to sit down and have a conversation of me. Friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends, that have all turned into lucrative and fulfilling relationships.
Not only are these invaluable connections from a business perspective, but also on an interpersonal and social level.

I think its incredibly important to work with organizations that you love, that you support, and that you’re proud of. It makes “going to work” so much better.
It feels so damn good when your community believes in you enough to pay you for what you do!

I’ve had great luck networking at social events and pop up markets! Markets are awesome because even if it’s a slower sales day, you’re almost guaranteed to make an impactful connection while talking about your craft!

Contact Info:

• Website: herbalriot.com
• Instagram: @herbalriot
• Facebook: Herbal Riot

Image Credits
Shawn X Campbell Samantha Inmann Elliott Clark Apartment Creative Studios