Hidden Gems: Meet Chelsea Fox of Indigo Vibes Apothecary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Fox.  

Hi Chelsea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Entrepreneurship has always been a goal of mine because I desire a flexible, freedom-filled life. Not that entrepreneurship doesn’t come with hard work, more time spent working on your business than not, but it does come with a flexibility that punching a clock does not, and that is what I desire. 

In July of 2020, I felt a strong urge to revisit making products because, up until that point, I had only offered a service-based business. However, the pandemic shutdown took all of that in-person work away. Working in my garden one afternoon, sipping a cup of tea, it hit me, a tea company. 

Frankly, I knew little passed the basics of tea, and what type of tea I personally liked, yet I felt a deep knowing that I could make it work and learn all that I needed to know. That was the day Indigo Vibes Apothecary came to be. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business is anything but smooth. There have been many hurdles that Indigo Vibes Apothecary has overcome and many more that I continue to work through. In the beginning, knowledge was number one. Knowledge about tea, tea consumers, licensing to properly sell tea in the state of Michigan, packaging, what type of tea sell, how to make tea, and where to sell tea at with everything still shut down. Little by little each answer presented itself. Now challenges that still come into play are packaging, variety of teas, technology, and scaling. Again, these answers are presenting themselves, and I have been very blessed to meet wonderful helpful people almost daily that are willing to share knowledge with me to help solve these challenges. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Indigo Vibes Apothecary. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Indigo Vibes Apothecary offers loose-leaf tea and a small selection of bagged teas. Tea people of Michigan can always expect flavorful, high-quality teas from Indigo Vibes Apothecary. I take pride and time in sourcing my teas from great suppliers across the USA. I offer a variety of green, black, fruity, and herbal tea. I love a good challenge as well, so I am open to special orders. I have done exclusive teas for yoga retreats, holiday blends, and baby shower parties. Connecting with more shops, specialty grocery stores, or restaurants looking to offer locally-made teas to their patrons is a big goal for the next few years for Indigo Vibes Apothecary. 

The brand slogan is Make Tea, Not War. Why? This company was born during a time when people, country, and world were experiencing fear, uncertainty, and unknown. People acted out, spoke harshly, and made war with others more than they made tea. I want this brand to stand for bringing peace between those we disagree with and even bring peace within ourselves. When anger strikes your heart, take a moment to “make tea” with it before you make war. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
It’s not just one memory but a compilation of memories that involve camping. Growing up in northern Michigan, almost every weekend was a canoe trip or camping weekend. There are so many beautiful spots in this state worth visiting, and my favorites are ones without cell service. Specific memories that stick out are UP overnight trips on the river. Mom and Dad would pack the canoe full of camping supplies, food, and fishing gear. We would head out on a Thursday or Friday to launch our canoe, and we would paddle until we found a spot to camp for the night. The next morning, we would pack up camp and head on down the river. I loved these trips because it felt like we lived out there, and I would even forget about our home back in Gladwin. 

These adventures built my love of the outdoors and nature. I’m still heavily involved in camping, canoeing, hiking, hunting, and fishing. If I’m not working, I like to be in the woods or on the water as much as I can, enjoying God’s creation. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://indigovibesapothecary.com/
• Instagram: @indigovibesapothecary
• Facebook: @indigovibesapothecary