Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer and Chad Beacham.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Registered Nurse, herbalist, and stone medicine woman. This wasn’t always my path. I have worn many hats: cake decorator, actor, jewelry maker, barista…they all play a part of where I am today. About ten years ago, I had a health issue that changed the course of my life. Once full of energy, I was now living in constant pain with no relief in sight.
After months of failed treatments, a friend suggested I see an acupuncturist. It provided immediate relief. I was amazed! They suggested I change my diet and look into herbal medicine. I had dabbled in herbal medicine so I dove in headfirst, learning all I could about healing herbs, especially cannabis. Who knew the true power of these plants? It changed my views from taking pills and injections to making my own medicines with plants. I could heal myself. It was empowering and I wanted to share this knowledge.
I searched for work which was less strenuous on my body and more gratifying. My husband and I loved mining and had collected quite a few crystals from our excursions. We were looking to bring in a little extra money, so we decided to sell our crystals. And this is how RockBelly Minerals began.
RockBelly Minerals is a family run business. We sell crystals from all over the world. We began selling out of the trunk of our car at farmers markets and have grown our business to selling at local artist markets, gem shows, and herbal conferences. We also have thriving online sales. During one of our markets, I met a woman named Sarah Thomas, now mentor and friend, who opened my eyes to a new understanding of crystals through the lens of Chinese medicine.
In the various fields I work, people come to me with their medical problems. I am able to pull from all of these specialties: plants, crystals, medicine making, Western and Eastern medicine traditions, to create true healing and empowerment of the individual. I create tinctures to heal mind, body, and spirit. My philosophy is treat the root of the problem, not just the symptom.
I work with clients individually to craft plant and crystal-based medicine specifically for them. I share this knowledge by teaching how to create medicines at herbal conferences, as well as work with clients individually. I am a life long student of plants and stones. My joy is to empower others with their teachings so they may in turn feel the joy, gratitude and self-fulfillment in trusting their own intuition while also being a steward to the earth.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a business is full of challenges. I am fortunate to have a partner in life with whom I work very well. We each carry strengths which help us find balance in the tasks of running a business. It has been a pretty smooth road, maybe taking some sharp turns at times, but with each new challenge presents opportunity to learn and grow.
We started the business as something fun, a way to bring in a little money on the side so my husband could home-school his son and work on his novel (he is an author). It has organically grown into an entity bigger than we could have ever imagined. We are not just in the business to sell a product, we are constantly educating ourselves and our clients about stones. There is so much to learn!
One challenge with running our own business is time management. Every aspect requires our personal attention. Communicating with customers is extremely important. We enjoy this personal aspect but as our business grew we needed to hire a couple of employees to help manage tasks so we could better focus on our customers.
Like life, the road is curvy with potholes and detours. However, sometimes the drive is smooth with incredible views. When you pursue something you love, obstacles and challenges are part of the road. Work hard, practice patience, and enjoy the ride!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Rockbelly Minerals – what should we know?
RockBelly curates a collection of mineral & crystal specimens from around the planet, handmade jewelry, and crystal infused tinctures/skincare products. We carry items for adults, kids, collectors, and all budgets. Our booth is fun, colorful, educational, and always a crowd favorite!
Our intention is offering quality stones at reasonable prices by developing relationships with miners from around the world. We handpick from thousands of pieces to bring a unique array of specimens to live and online markets.
Building personal relationships is a gratifying part of our business. We have wonderful clients who support us and we couldn’t succeed without them!
Looking for a special or hard to find stone? We offer personal shopping when we attend large gem and mineral shows. In fact, the world’s largest show happens in Tucson, AZ in January and early February. If you’re searching for a special stone, we can help you acquire it. Contact us to get started!
Though a large portion of our business is online, we love selling in the community at local markets, street fairs, herbal conferences, and gem shows. Our upcoming events are listed on our website at rockbellyminerals.com and we hope you’ll stop by to see us.
Our website also provides information about specific stones, educational blogs, and our product listings.
We showcase stones on Facebook in our group ‘Rockbelly Shop at Home’ and @rockbelly on Instagram. Feel free to email requests, questions, and comments to [email protected]
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Success is finding joy in my creative pursuits. I love personal shopping for clients and finding them the perfect stone. Or have a customer say, I purchased this pendant from you years ago and wear it every day. It truly warms my heart!
Success in our business is practicing gratitude. Gratitude to the earth for producing wonders of nature that create an air of mystery, magic, and awe. Gratitude to work as a family, traveling to cities all over the US and meeting people from all over the world. Gratitude to our customers who make it all possible! Gratitude to VoyageLA for this opportunity and gratitude to YOU for spending the time getting to know RockBelly.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rockbellyminerals.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @rockbelly
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1125832690783404/
- Twitter: @RockBelly
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