Herb-filled pillows generate more than a million dollars
Lauren Rosenstadt was a single mother who worked at an herbal company in Bethesda, Maryland. An herb (pronounced “erb”) is a plant that has medicinal, flavorful, or aromatic qualities. One day, while having lunch with a friend whose daughter suffered from insomnia, Lauren thought, “If I could fill a pillow with herbs, it would be relaxing and help my friend’s daughter sleep.”
A few days later, the Sydney Greensheep, a pillow shaped like a sheep and filled with dried herbs, was completed. Lauren gave Sydney to her friend to try out with her daughter. The next morning, her friend reported, “That’s amazing, she slept like a baby!”
Insomnia is an epidemic in our fast-paced American lifestyle. 40-50% of Americans complain of occasional bouts of insomnia. 10-15 percent of the US population suffers from chronic insomnia. Each year, up to 10 million Americans seek the help of a doctor for sleep disorders. Up to 10,000 car accident deaths each year are the result of someone falling asleep at the wheel.
Lauren showed Sydney to her boss, who was impressed enough to provide her with space at the company’s booth at a trade show. Many fairgoers liked the herbal pillow idea, and by the end of the fair, Lauren had orders for over 100 pillows.
Lauren hired a seamstress to sew the sheep-shaped pillows. Then she filled them in herself. Buyers at the fair displayed the pillows in their stores, and within days, they all sold for between $18.00 and $22.00 each.
Encouraged by these results, Lauren sent samples to department stores and specialty stores. The orders began to arrive. To sew the pillows, she listed small home sewer companies. It was hard work delivering rolls of cloth and 40-pound bags of stuffing to her home. In the first year, she raised over half a million dollars.
Now, Lauren’s Herbal Animals can be found in more than 750 health, gift and natural living stores worldwide. Lauren’s company employs 13 people and has revenues of over a million dollars a year.
It is interesting to note that Lauren Rosenstadt did not start out as a hobby seamstress or crafter. She was a person who used her insight to help a friend comfort her daughter. After recognizing an opportunity, Lauren didn’t give up. She did the thought and work necessary to achieve success.
Visit Lauren’s website www.herbal-animals.com
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