Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Lerch.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s been quite the unexpected journey. Backstory- A little of 6 years ago, five of my closest girlfriends and I attended the Route 91 Country Music Festival in Las Vegas on October 1st, 2017. The evening ended in a mass shooting casualty that took the lives of 58. While my friends and I were not “physically” injured, the mental replays of that horrific night are forever ingrained in our minds. Like many others, coming home and back to reality was a struggle. I personally struggled with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Trying to navigate this new “normal,” all while trying to work, be a mom, a wife felt too much. I would often mask my feelings, pretend to be ok or “strong”, but the truth was- I was not ok. I felt numb most days, desensitized, and like a shell of a human. I was desperate to feel better and wanted to get back to the fun and outgoing person that I used to be. I tried multiple pharmaceuticals, which I felt were unsuccessful and often times made me feel worse. It started to feel like there was no way back to normal.
About 9 months after the tragedy, I was introduced to CBD from a friend of mine. She had opened a store in Florida after successfully using CBD for her Crohn’s disease. She knew I had been struggling with anxiety and mailed me a bottle of water-soluble to try. At first, I didn’t notice anything, but after about a month of taking the products consistently, I started to notice an improvement in my quality of life and was feeling so much better. I was so surprised by how well it worked I felt lead to open my own store. A couple months later, we opened Your CBD Store in Thousand Oaks, which was the first California storefront location. We have since expanded our locations and now serve in Santa Clarita, Ventura, Malibu, and Palm Desert.
Our mission is to empower modern wellness through education and a personalized experience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say a little bit of both. I didn’t dream of doing this, for me it started on accident. My goal initially was really just to open a little store, to raise awareness towards mental health, and offer a more holistic approach to plant medicine. Every step forward is further than I thought I would ever be able to go, so I stay thankful and humbled by that.
With that said… yes! We have had our trying times. I had never ran a business before, and there have been a lot of trial and errors along the way. We opened 3 stores in almost a year, so the fast growth was exciting but also challenging too. In addition, we, like many businesses, had to pivot and find creative ways of operating through the pandemic. And with this industry, we’ve seen a lot of people come in for the wrong intentions and saturate the market with subpar products. This can create a challenge of people thinking all CBD is the same, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Your CBD Store | SunMed?
Your CBD Store | SunMed is the largest brick & mortar retailer in the country of CBD products. We are focused on plant science and have finished 2 successful clinical trials. One for weight loss, along with the largest CBD sleep study to date. Our storefronts are quite special. When clients come in, they are welcomed by one of our wellness experts. We listen to what the needs are from the client, sample appropriate products, and find the best products for each client. The best part is, is we stay committed to each client during their wellness journey. If they are looking for good sleep, less anxiousness, more focus or something for their pets… we are committed to helping them find the right option/s.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I would say my love for people. And by that, I mean- I truly care for each person that walks through our door. We don’t take it lightly that people trust us as a guide. Our staff feels this too. We are a kind and caring group of people that are humbled to play a role in one’s self-care.
I would also say my drive. I love what I do, which makes it easy to come to work every day. I am dedicated to a life of helping others, and hearing constant testimonies from clients keep me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: cbdofsocal.com
- Instagram: @cbdofsocal
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbdofsocal/
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