Hidden Gems: Meet Amanda Furbee of The Herb Shoppe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Furbee.

Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A giant leap of faith brought me into herbal medicine as a line of work. I moved from NC to Portland, OR in 2010 after finishing my Interior Architecture and Psychology degree at UNCG to begin studying as an herbalist. In an instant, I fell in love with what The Herb Shoppe had to offer to the community and each individual. I watched it touch each soul as they entered the door. Within a few months, the original owner and I started brainstorming on how to grow The Herb Shoppe. Within 3 years, we decided to expand the horizons and partner to open The Herb Shoppe on Mississippi Ave in Portland. This space embraces a large production kitchen, events, retail, and herbal consultations. In 2016, I took over The Herb Shoppe as the sole owner. From this point forward, we have re-created all of our recipes, giving our formulas a broader approach to herbal medicine. We source Organic, Wild-crafted, or sustainably sourced products to create our in-house product line. Currently, we make over 400 products for all your needs. You can also custom blend formulas for yourself or your business. We love giving back to the community. We often make donations to the community to help support causes that make a difference. In December 2022, we launched our Non-Profit Community Clinic, providing sliding-scale herbal consultations and product discounts to help folks nourish their mind, body, and soul. The Herb Shoppe plans to expand the market here in NC and has a Wellness Property on the Horizon.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! Has any business had a smooth road? We have most definitely had our struggles from time to time. Being in the herbal medicine business has complications, from credit card processing to regulations with FDA. It is challenging to want to provide for everyone, even those who can not afford it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our top priority at The Herb Shoppe is to provide quality herbal medicine to the community we support and admire. We’re proud to say that our herbs are organic or wildcrafted, locally sourced, and live up to our highest possible standards. Whether you’re purchasing bulk herbs for personal use or buying one of our in-house custom creations, we know you’ll be happy with the selection we’ve gathered for you. The Herb Shoppe is more than just a store; we’re also dedicated to educating our neighbors about herbal medicine. Do we feel it’s important to foster a relationship with our surrounding community and what better way to bring people together than through the healing tradition of herbalism? Between our affordable courses and practitioner services, we aim to make healthy choices accessible while building trust with everyone who walks through our doors.

Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Keep moving forward, and be creative in approaching challenging roadblocks. Talk to everyone you know. Just get started! Everything does not have to be perfect to open your doors. It’s an ever-evolving process. As hard as it is, have a plan but go where the doors open!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theherbshoppepdx.com
• Instagram: @theherbshoppepdx
• Facebook: @theherbshoppepdx
• Twitter: @theherbshoppepdx
• Youtube: @theherbshoppepdx
• Yelp: @theherbshoppepdx
• Other: Tiktok @theherbshoppepdx