We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Teri Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Teri, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I’ve been in the health and wellness world since 2013, but did not get fully into herbalism and skincare until 2017-2019. After seeing how over the counter medicine affected my then 2.5 year old, I wanted to find natural ways to care for my family, and their self-care. That journey, over time, led me to obtain licenses and certifications in various health and wellness modalities to include, but limited to: licensed esthetician through the state of Texas, certified yoga instructor, certified personal trainer, level 1 & 2 reiki practitioner, home and family herbalism, and community herbalist.

I grow most of the herbs I use for medicines & skincare in my garden, and I source from reputable businesses and other established herbalists in my area.

I created The Melanated Apothecary to provide wellness services to my community, and to share my story in order to help others, (especially people of color) in their wellness journey whatever that may look like for them.
I included skincare in 2020, and it’s been the best addition to my business. Additionally, I was blessed to have opened a healing space.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For people who don’t know me, my name is Teri Williams, and my own health scare is where health and wellness started for me. ..that’s where and when it all began for me. In 2013 I was diagnosed with hypertension after a really scare weekend of almost suffering a stroke. It made me take a good hard look at how I was taking care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally . I started to eat right, practice yoga (I was already practicing, but mostly off and on), work out (CrossFit), 5k’s, and obstacle mud runs (Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, Savage Race just to name a few). The more I got into taking care of myself the more I searched for guidance and information from people who looked like me; an African-American woman that was tall and has curves.

Due to representation being hard to come by, I decided to be that person that others sought out. A few years later, life happened and I became pregnant with my son in 2014, but I didn’t let it stop me or change my course. I just included him into my journey. He came down with the common cold and I got a first hand look of how over the counter drugs affected his little body. He was bouncing off the walls, running around in circles, and then just crashed. With that his fever got worse, and he developed hives, and night terrors. All things an 18 month old shouldn’t have to experience.

I put in the time and research, and in the fall of 2019 The Melanated Apothecary was born. I wanted to show my son, and others that wellness and self-care looks different for everybody. To be in a position to teach others how to better take care of themselves and different ways to live a healthier life. I enrolled in herbalism school at The Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine in Austin, TX, then later enrolled in cosmetology school to become a licensed esthetician. I envisioned The Melanated Apothecary as a place rooted in self-care and wellness that meets the needs to foster self-care for people from all walks of life of all colors. A true educational hub of how to take care of yourself and support yourself outside of traditional means and modalities.

Today, The Melanated Apothecary is well on it’s way to being the vision and wellness hub I know it can be.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I stayed true to who I am and keep it real! I’m just like the person standing next to me. I am down to earth, and able to share the trials and tribulations that the next person has. I can relate, because I don’t fit the mold of your average yoga instructor or licensed esthetician. There’s nothing wrong with that either. I like being me. I want someone to look at me, and believe in themselves that they too, can do “it”, whatever that “it” may be. I like that I can be a safe space for someone, because The Melanated Apothecary is a judge free space.

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

My number and email is every where. I always encourage my clients to reach out to me with any questions that they have be it big or small. Living in a small community helps foster that. I make it a point to respond to each and every message, phone call, and text message in a respectable and reasonable amount of time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @the_melanated_apothecary
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/themelanatedapothecary