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Mary Lou has over 30 years experience in the natural products industry, much of it on the retail side of the industry. She owns ML Marketing, LLC, based in Midway, Utah, and is one of H&A's outstanding sales reps.
What was your path to enter the natural products industry?
I started the first health food store in Chandler, AZ in 1979 with my life-long friend. Our two families worked together in the store the 1st five years. With the birth of my 2nd child, my friends and business partners bought me out and after a brief break I returned to the natural products industry. My friends and former business partners still work with me today providing customer service and education to the retailers for quality companies like H&A. How fortunate I am to have these enduring friendships and work in an industry that I love.
How did you come to develop an expertise in telemarketing natural products?
After I left the health food store, I met a married couple at the local swimming pool who owned a small brokerage firm in the natural products industry. I went to work for them building their business for 10 years. In the beginning I did the telemarketing from home and later moved into a management position traveling the Rocky Mountain region. .
With the birth of my 4th child, I did not want to travel anymore. My business partners purchased my shares of the brokerage business and I started ML Marketing, LLC. It allowed me to be home with my children and in later years when my husband’s work required multiple moves, I was able to keep working in different states all around the western United States.
I developed my sales presentation and telephone etiquette by learning what delivered results, listening to my customers, and knowing my products.
How did you first find out about Herbalist & Alchemist and how did that develop into who you do for the company now?
My daughter, Paige, now runs ML Marketing with me. When Paige and I were at an Expo West show in 2014, we met Alice and Beth at their H&A booth. I immediately resonated with their message and the quality of the products. I loved the education component that they offered. Although I have a team of customer service reps working with me, H&A is a line that I wanted to work with personally. It allowed me to return to my roots of learning about the herbs and sharing this information with the retailers.
How has studying with David impacted your work?
I am so grateful to David and Beth for allowing me to take David’s Herbal Studies course. I did not have the medical background that so many of his other students have and really no desire to be a practitioner. However, I use the knowledge I gained from the classes to better educate the retailers, and engage with practitioners in helping them select products for their protocols. I have also gained a greater confidence in using herbs and natural products in keeping myself and my family healthy.
What are your favorite H&A products and why?
I think in categories when it comes to H&A products. With four daughters we use a lot of products from the Women’s Health category. The Adaptogens, especially Calm Adapt, is a popular one in our family. The immune and stress products are a necessary part of our daily programs.
