The Healing Sanctuary – Brand Spotlight

In our brand spotlight, we feature Abound brands who are ready for retail. This week we sat down with Andrea Fix, founder of The Healing Sanctuary. The Healing Sanctuary sells organic tea, crystals, and jewelry, is based in Romeo, Michigan, and has been in business for four years. 

Robin: Why did you decide to start this business? Why this business and not a different one? 

Andrea: I am a Reiki Master, it is my gift I give to the world. I myself have done a lot of inner work and realized I loved Reiki. All of my products are used for helping people. They are all blessed in ceremony with Holy Fire Reiki!

R: How do you make your product? What’s your process like?

A: I create the recipes and order the herbs wholesale and blend them myself in small batches.

R: How do you decide which herbs to use? 

A: The herbs are based on the recipes, creating recipes and blending herbs is an art. It is really just understanding which flavor of herbs go together.

R: How did you decide which wholesaler to use? Have you had any problems with them? What advice would you give to businesses trying to pick out a wholesaler? 

A: There are only a few herb wholesalers that sell organic. I love them and only use them, I have several wholesalers for my crystals. Picking out wholesalers can be difficult, unfortunately you win some and lose some. If they have great customer service that is a win for me.

R: What’s your day to day like? Do you have any favorite and least favorite parts?

A: Honestly, every day is completely different. I am a one man show, I do everything from ordering to putting out the orders. I take all of my own pictures, do the accounting, wash and sort the crystals. 

Marketing and social media always seem to take a back seat. I honestly don’t do personal social media, so even for work it is hard for me. I am an empathetic introvert by nature, so putting myself out there is very difficult for me. I also don’t like accounting, yuck!

R: What was your initial investment? How did you get the money?

A: I seriously started with $150, it was my security deposit which had been sent back to me from the gas company. Everything I made I put back into the business.

R: Where was the first place you started selling your product? What places do you sell your product at now? 

A: I decided I wanted to open an Etsy shop. I started with a few products and within three years I have worked my way up to be ranked in the 1% of all shops on Etsy! Right now I just sell on Etsy.

R: What are some of the most frustrating challenges and/or moments you’ve had with your business?

A: I would say growing too fast. Trying to get organized and stay focused. I have moved my shop over three times, yuck! A lot of lifting and reorganizing, I like to call them growing pains, lol.

It is nice to grow your business, a must for sure, but it can be very challenging as well. As soon as you think you are all set, more stuff comes up.

R: What are some of your greatest achievements and victories you’ve had with The Healing Sanctuary?

A: I would say being ranked in the top 1% of Etsy shops, that gives me a lot of advantages.

R: What advantages do you get for being in the top 1% of Etsy stores? 

A: Higher chances of being seen, the more you sell the better placements you will get in the searches.

R: Why do you think your store made it to the top 1%? 

A: It is all based on sales.

R: What advice do you have for someone who wants to open an Etsy shop? 

A: Read the manual, take the time to read it, it has a lot of good information. It takes time to build a business. What you put into your work you will get out of it.

R: What advice do you have for people who want to sell a product?

A: Find what you love to do, believe in yourself and stay positive! Your attitude determines your success. Nobody succeeds the first time, it is how we deal with the low times that makes us who we are.

R: Is there any business advice or quotes you’ve heard that you think about often?

A: Soooo many, too many in fact to list. I love affirmations, I am extremely spiritual and read them everyday. I love anything quote from Buddha or the Vedas.

R: What’s your favorite thing about owning The Healing Sanctuary?

A: My schedule. Owning your own business has its ups and downs for sure but being able to be flexible in your job is nice.