Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Kunning.
Hi Lily, 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?
I am the staff herbalist for Haven Herbs. Haven Herbs is a worker-owned, small-batch apothecary that was born out of a small brick-and-mortar apothecary (called Boline Apothecary in Clintonville) that I (Lily) alone owned. I decided to create a worker-owned cooperative as a business model and were advised to create a new business model- so Haven was born. We are online, sell wholesale to small independent shops and cooperative businesses.
We sell nationwide and have started selling abroad as well. We are unlike most herbal apothecaries out there, because we not only sell artisinal body care but also remedies and tonics for wellness. We sell in recyclable, reusable, and compostable packaging (to avoid plastic waste and toxicity) and practice democracy at work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been easy. One of our main challenges has been finding the right folks to join us as worker-owners. It’s not the same as finding an employee- because we own the business and that sometimes means sacrifices, odd hours, or working above and beyond your regular job description. And it’s not quite like an entrepreneur or start-up business because we are a cooperative team that makes decisions together. Finding the right candidate(s) means a long “discovery period” and saying goodbye to many candidates along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What we do: We make small batch herbal remedies, body care, and tonics to promote health and wellness. We specialize in effective remedies, but we like to keep it fun (who else would name their urinary tract formula “Urine It to Win It”?). We are working on educational videos for each and every product this year as a goal.
How are we different?
All our formulas are created by a clinical herbalist with decades of experience. We are dedicated to doing well by doing good- we spent a lot of time on educational efforts and community outreach.
We are hosting a holistic COVID webinar at the end of February, for example. We also teach monthly for free at Cancer Support Community. And we have a Round-Up for Reparations feature where we pick a different BIPOC organization each quarter for folks to donate to.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
We have learned so many things!
We have learned that herbalism is so desperately needed in this time of massive un-and-under insured people.
We have learned that teamwork makes the dream work and cooperative workplaces are special and amazing!
We have learned that the more we give, the more we get back from our community, including our customers.
And we have learned that too few people have learned about how herbalism can help them- so we dedicate many hours each month to education.
Pricing:
- $14 one-ounce tinctures
- $12 tea blends
- $20 face serums
- $15 8 oz. elixirs and oxymels
Contact Info:
- Email: lily@havenherbs.com
- Website: https://havenherbs.com
- Instagram: @havenherbs
- Facebook: havenherbs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZY_Te9s9i3Rtl9FqEdTKA
Image Credits
Angela Fortin Studios
