Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy And Molly Vanderpool And Rogers.
Hi Amy and Molly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our family has always been open to more natural forms of healing for everyday ailments and common sicknesses. We believe God provides us with plants of all kinds to heal and keep us healthy. Hospital visits were limited to bone breaks and stitches. LIke so many others, the onset of Covid had us questioning the necessity of so many pharmaceutical interventions. With six people in our household, we decided to try some more traditional ways of healing. Our first product was a sleep salve that we still sell, and has worked for many people in the 4 years since we started. It worked so well, in fact, we then tried a skin salve, and our own version of fire cider. By this time, family and friends began asking for other products for common complaints, which allowed us to develop our product line. Realizing this might be something others could benefit from, we decided to start our online business and reach more people. We did some festivals and quickly found the ones that catered to our target consumer, as well as the ones that didn’t. We enjoyed the interactions with those who were both curious about folk medicine, and those who knew more than we did! Two years ago we decided to take online classes through herbal schools to expand our knowledge base and give us more resources to pull from. We have enjoyed getting to know the history of herbal remedies and continue to learn about the plethora of ways they can be used.
In late February of this year, we were offered the opportunity to open a brick and mortar location (so we didn’t have to work out of a garage and two bedrooms!), and dove in head first! It has been a labor of love turning a former hair salon into our workshop and store, but we already feel at home here and the community has been incredibly supportive so far!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the beginning, trying to find people in our target market was a little difficult. Neither of us are sales people by nature, so festivals where shoppers were not interested or were skeptical about what we make were a lot of trouble and expense with little financial return. It was also challenging at times to find people who were willing to test the products we made, since we are only willing to sell products we know have worked for someone.
Opening a brick and mortar location has been exciting and offers a chance for more community interaction, but also involves a lot more time and energy away from our families. Thankfully, close friends and family jumped in to help with the remodel, allowing us to open our doors after just a few weeks.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being a former military and homeschooling family, we have had the privilege and flexibility to make our own schedule and learn at our own pace. We are a mother and daughter partnership, and enjoy working together as much as serving others. We love the process of finding or creating new recipes, making new products and hearing the stories from the people who have used them and found relief. While there do seem to be many people in our area who are looking for natural alternatives for healing, we have also found that there aren’t many places like ours. We are excited about the opportunity for community connection and healthier living!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Maybe that neither of us are especially extroverted, and so much of this journey has been praying for God to give us the courage to meet and talk to new people.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tnsassenachs.com
- Instagram: tennessee_sassenach
- Facebook: Tennessee Sassenachs Herbal Apothecary LLC
