We recently connected with Shery Zimmermann and have shared our conversation below.
Shery, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Absolutely. It was 2022, and I had studied herbs and home remedies for over a decade as a hobby and to support my family and friends. I developed a broad range of self-care products that received great feedback from mostly-random online testers, and with some encouragement from loved ones, decided to take my hobby shop out of my yarb cellar, off the Internet, and into the real world.
For me at that time, “the real world” meant a springtime street fair in my small town of roughly 1,500 people, but in my head, it may as well have been 15,000,000 people. I was so nervous to show my products to the public! I put so much of myself – my passion, knowledge, time, and care – into each one of those little bottles of plant magic that the idea of putting them all out on display made me feel very vulnerable. What if no one liked my remedies? What if they boo’d me off the street? What if I completely missed the mark?
I spent ten weeks preparing to meet customers face-to-face. In that time, I bulked up my product inventory and took my first real stab at branding and marketing. I created a schedule for what I needed to get done each week to keep myself on track. I wrote informational pamphlets and sales pitch scripts and practiced them in the mirror. I designed a new look for my brand and spent too much time on perfecting product labels. Doubt crept in often, and there were several days I thought I wouldn’t be able to pull it all together in time. On those days, I leaned heavily on the prep schedule, telling myself that if I just did the things on the list for that day, I could worry about the rest tomorrow.
Before I knew it, tomorrow was Festival Day and I had a table full of bottles, jars, and tins of plant power ready to share with my local community. The day of the fair, I arrived early and set up my table. I placed a Crickside Yarbs sign on the sidewalk, turned on some bluegrass music, and mentally ran through my sales pitches while waiting for my first customer.
At the end of the day, the customer reviews were a mixed bag: some people loved what I was doing, and other people were put off by the ‘witchcraft’ that is sometimes associated with folk herbalism. My boxes of products were not as heavy for the car ride home, and I had a few extra papers in the cash box, but I didn’t come anywhere near selling out. The overall experience, however, changed my entire perspective, and I was filled with a new set of questions: What if there are more people out there who would like my remedies? What if they lined up in the street? What if I’m on to something here? I’ve been trying to answer those questions ever since.
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.
Of course! I’m Shery, the founder of Crickside Yarbs and a proud descendant of seven generations of Appalachians. I grew up surrounded by nature and developed a deep appreciation for plants and their healing powers. This coupled with the devastating effects of the opioid crisis and the lack of affordable healthcare in my community motivated me to pursue my passion for affordable, natural, and holistic self-care.
I started making my own remedies in earnest in 2013, experimenting with different combinations of herbs to find the best formulas for various skincare and wellness issues. Each remedy I offer today is a unique blend of herbs that work in synergy to enhance well-being. Whether someone is looking for a soothing tea for a sore throat, a tonic for a cold, or a calming infusion for a stressful day, I’ve got them covered with Crickside Yarbs.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
If I could go back, the only thing I would change is starting it all sooner!
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Connecting with people has been the most helpful skill in growing my business. This may seem obvious to some people, but as a natural introvert, it was very counterintuitive for me in the beginning. I used to think that if the product was good enough it would sell itself, and now I chuckle to myself at the thought.
Telling the origin stories of my journey, my brand, and my products forges a connection with people who may have had similar experiences and may be seeking the same solutions I have found. The genuine connections made through storytelling have been key to my success in this field.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cricksideyarbs.wordpress.com
- Instagram: cricksideyarbs
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Victor Hamilton
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