We were lucky to catch up with Sharon Mayberry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sharon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

When I decided to become a certified aromatherapist, I really just wanted to expand my knowledge to best help myself and my family, I had no plans to open a business; however, part of my school requirements were to submit case studies for volunteers, and that is when I changed my mind. When I realized that, even as a student, I had the ability to help others in a natural, safe, and holistic way, I just knew I wanted to continue helping in any way possible.

Of course, essential oils are readily available from so many sources, so the fact that I am work with essential oils is certainly nothing out of the ordinary. What IS out of the ordinary was the level of training I received – by now well over 1000 hours – from the most respected aromatherapists in the world. Sadly, there is a lot of misleading and often dangerous information circulating surround aromatherapy, and I am so fortunate to have received such excellent training in this regard. It is such an honor to help my clients and see the results. Nothing makes me happier than having healthy, grateful clients!

Sharon, 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?

I am a certified clinical aromatherapist who mainly creates custom blends for my clients based on their individual needs. I take all aspects of their situation into consideration when creating essential oil blends for them. For example, if a client has insomnia, I love learning more about their particular issues regarding sleep. Knowing their own unique story helps me to best help them. If, for instance, they have racing thoughts, heart palpitations, and I notice from their records that they also have hypertension, I can then create an oil blend which is calming, sedative, and addresses these issues. Knowing their preferences also helps me best decide what kind of product to create for them, whether it is a lotion, rollerball, personal inhaler, diffuser blend, etc. I do offer some “tried an true” recipes on my website for clients who just like to click and shop too.

What sets a certified clinical aromatherapist apart from others who sell oils is the amount of training, which includes in depth knowledge of chemistry, anatomy and physiology, safety considerations, etc. This is really a huge issue, as the number of essential oil related injuries, and even hospitalizations is on the rise. Just because someone can sell you an oil or you can purchase it at a store doesn’t mean it is safe to use in all instances. Many essential oils are dangerous to use during pregnancy and lactation, on or around children and pets, with certain prescription medications, in the sunlight, etc. It is always prudent to check with a certified aromatherapist before using essential oils.

I believe the thing which clients most appreciate about what I do is my attention to detail as well as the fact that I truly care about each and every client – and I believe that when you love what you do and care about your clients, it really shows in your work!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For me, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth. That is why it is absolutely crucial to be caring, loyal, approachable and offer effective solutions for each one! This may sound obvious, but I also feel it is important to get back to clients as soon as possible – I never let more than 24 hours pass before responding to someone, and I generally respond within 1 or 2 hours whenever I can.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I keep in touch with clients in various ways. I send a monthly “newsletter” to clients and subscribers. I try to keep the content varied and interesting and also use relevant photos. In addition to providing recipes, essential oil information, etc, I also use the newsletter to promote any new products, specials, and seasonal packages, such as Mother’s Day and Christmas gift boxes. I also make sure to follow up with new clients to make sure their aromatherapy products are working for them and that I don’t need to adjust any of their recipes for maximum effectiveness.

Contact Info:

• Website: rockroseapothecary.com
• Instagram: rockroseapothecary
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockroseapothecary
• Yelp: Rock Rose Apothecary