We recently connected with Marissa Hughes and have shared our conversation below.
Marissa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.
They get a few things wrong, especially as the wellness industry is growing rapidly, but the big two both concern the way wellness products are marketed. Thinking the same one thing can help everyone is inaccurate. Our bodies are all different, and they respond to wellness practices in varying manners. Not everyone can benefit from the same support, but this isn’t clear with the way wellness products are marketed. The next is the fear-based marketing tactics used for so many wellness products. This just feels so icky to me, and against everything that wellness means. People are looking for guidance and support, not added worry. We need to educate consumers, then they can then make the call if a product or service feels right at that moment.
Marissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Sunshower Wellness offers an approachable way to access the supportive nature of herbs. As an herbal practitioner, I formulate and blend herbal products for retail and see clients 1:1 for personalized guidance on their wellness goals. Everyone is going through different challenges, so personalizing the experience is key.
I specialize in mood, sleep, and perinatal support. These areas in particular benefit greatly from herbs that help us to slow down, rest, and recover. I’ve personally leaned heavily on certain herbs to help me through difficult times (looking to you, milky oats!) and want to share this knowledge with others. My clients are seeking natural and gentle ways to improve their wellness.
Every body is different, and herbs are subtle and nuanced, so my aim with Sunshower Wellness is to match herbs to the individual to help bring harmony to my areas of specialization.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I’m all about connecting in person. In these early stages of my business, it’s important to share my story and educational points about herbalism and herbal products, and have potential clients try the products I offer. By getting into markets and participating in events I am able to do this in the most direct manner that feels authentic to me. Not only do I connect with future clients, but I develop connections and relationships with the community and other vendors that align with my business and values.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Starting Sunshower Wellness was my pivot. Prior to launching, I had a decade-plus career in Product Development and Design for fashion accessories. This had started feeling less and less fulfilling and did not align to my personal values any longer. I didn’t want to keep going down that path, but I wasn’t sure where my passion was. Unfortunately, during this time of reflection I lost a pregnancy. This was, and still is, a huge point of grief and deep sadness. I really wasn’t able to “fake it” anymore in the corporate world, I didn’t have that energy and everything had changed for me. When discussing with my husband what my core values and what I wanted to pivot into, helping and supporting others was a recurring theme. And so, with business plan in hand, I enrolled in an intensive medical herbalism program to gain deep knowledge of medicinal plants. Upon completing the program, Sunshower Wellness was ready to launch.
Contact Info:
- Website: sunshowerwellness.com
- Instagram: sunshowerwellness