Got indigestion? Andrea Rockett might suggest you take marshmallow root. How about high blood pressure? She might advise that you try garlic or magnesium.

For the last quarter of a century, Andrea has been dispensing her wisdom and selling natural medicine as the owner of Jacob’s Herb Shop in Fairview Heights, a community in Metro East in suburbs of St. Louis.

“Jacob’s Herb Shop is an herbal store that meets the needs of people. It’s economical to where people can afford it if they need mental, physical, health or spiritual help,” explained Andrea with her hands gesturing toward a carefully organized inventory.

“We sell herbs and supplements,” added Andrea. “We also sell basic things that people may need like natural candies and foods.”

A calling to heal

The name of the store carries a meaning that is deeper than most customers might initially realize.

“Jacob refers to the Old Testament. Also, Jacob was an herbalist. He gave herbs and supplements to the people that were in need,” said Andrea, who noted that Jacob used herbs for breeding and health. “So, that’s how I got the name of Jacob’s Herb Shop.”

But the path to opening her own herbal sanctuary was anything but straightforward. Before becoming the go-to herbalist of Fairview Heights, Andrea lived a dramatically different life tied to travel and the airline industry.

“I lived in Atlanta for 12 years. I was a trainer. I would open up businesses for travel agents. I worked for Delta, TWA, and Northwest,” recalled Andrea. “I would go to different countries, cities and states and open up travel agencies.”

Yet it was during those very travels that the seeds were planted for her future professional calling.

“While I was flying around a lot, I was going to different states and eating different types of food, and drinking water. One night I woke up, and I was sick. I could not function properly,” Andrea shared with a serious look. “So, I went to an herbal store. I took some supplements, and I felt much better. Once I started feeling better, I became sold on a more holistic way of living.”

The dawn of the new millennium brought unexpected change and Andrea was forced to make drastic life decisions.

“When the airlines laid me off in 2000, my job was taken to e-commerce. So, I could not find a job,” noted Andrea. “At that point, I used to sell herbs out of the back of my car. But, I couldn’t live in Atlanta because the expenses were too high.”

Andrea decided to return to her home in Illinois, which she said proved to be the catalyst that she needed.

“Somebody encouraged me to go to the bank and get a loan,” recalled Andrea. “The bank gave me a loan for selling herbs, and I created a job for myself, and here I am at Jacob’s Herb Shop,”

Andrea still owns the 1999 Ford that once served as her mobile apothecary. In fact, the car sits in the parking lot outside Jacob’s Herb Shop without a battery under the hood and rust eroding its red frame in several places.

“I still have the car, but I do not drive around in it at this point,” Andrea said with a smile. “It reminds me of where I came from. It reminds me of the struggle, and I just don’t have the heart to give it away.”

Opening the doors to Jacob’s Herb Shop required more than courage. It demanded knowledge.

“When I started out this business, I never had any experience in retail. But I learned. I would make errors and I would make mistakes. But we learn from mistakes,” explained Andrea with a prideful smile.

“Once I realized that I wanted to go into the herbal business, I began to enroll myself in classes for herbalism. I went to school to learn about herbs. I went to school for about ten years,” stated Andrea. “I became very knowledgeable in herbs and supplements.”

Building trust, one conversation at a time

Andrea says she has developed a loyal client base without flashy advertising campaigns or social media blitzes. She says her reputation has spread the old-fashioned way through word of mouth and proven results.

“My customers are the people in the community, people that are in the church. I did a lot of free seminars at churches, and I also did seminars at people’s homes,” smiled Andrea. “So, people know me by word of mouth. This is how my business started.”

Her approach to customer care goes far beyond simply handing someone a bottle and collecting payment.

“I study the products that I sell to people, because it’s important that I sell customers the right item or the right supplement to help them to be successful,” Andrea said. “I also give them clarification of how to take the supplement.”

Not everyone who walks through her door arrives as a believer in natural remedies. Andrea noted that she has heard from doubters of natural medicine, and thus developed a straightforward response rooted in scientific reality.

“What do I say to people that don’t believe in herbs? Most pharmaceuticals are formed with supplements and with herbs,” explained Andrea. “Herbs are nothing but food, and that’s what I tell people who don’t believe. Herbs are nothing but food. They’re sifted, clean and safe.”

The range of concerns that bring people to Jacob’s Herb Shop is as varied as humanity itself.

“I get customers that have issues with ED (erectile dysfunction). I get customers with digestion issues or they can’t keep food down,” said Andrea. “Some people come and simply are not able to sleep or are in some type of pain.

“So, when people come to me with their issues, I recommend or suggest items that they can take from our wide variety of herbs and supplements,” added Andrea.

A human connection

What truly distinguishes Jacob’s Herb Shop extends beyond the products lining the shelves. It is an atmosphere of trust that Andrea has cultivated over the years. Many of her customers arrive carrying burdens, which she says they have struggled to share with medical professionals.

“People come to me when they have issues with communication to their doctor or any type of profession,” shared Andrea. “What I do is I form a relationship with them. When you form a relationship with people, they open up more. I make it comfortable for people to let me know what’s really going on with them.

“I think my business matters to people, because people matter. People need love. People need attention,” Andrea continued with warm smile. ”People also need help. This is what led me to open up a business, so that I can help the community.”

Words of wisdom

After 25 years of navigating the challenges of small business ownership, Andrea has distilled her experience into practical guidance for those considering their own entrepreneurial journey.

“If you’re considering a career in retail, I would like you to study your product, understand your customers, and also be confident in yourself. How do I get confidence in myself? Because I love myself. I am true to myself. I study the products that I sell to people,” stated Andrea as her voice cracked and tears started to form.

Ask Andrea why she continues to show up day after day, year after year, and her answer has nothing to do with profit margins or inventory turnover.

“I love retail because I can be a blessing to others and I can also inform them as well,” said Andrea. “It has made me a better person. I’m able to communicate with people better, and I’m also able to love them and myself.

“Life with Jacob’s Herb Shop has been an experience that I will never forget, and I’m just so thankful and grateful to God that I had an opportunity to be able to help people that need help, but it also made me a better person. I learned how to love myself more and appreciate everything that God gives me. These are not tears of sadness,” said Andrea. “These are tears of joy, to know that I created something that could be a help to other people.”