FRIENDS OF HAPPY PLACE: MEET THE HERBTENDER
At Happy Place, we’re proud to curate a marketplace filled with brands that truly align with our values: purpose-driven, planet-conscious and passionate about people’s wellbeing.
Friends of Happy Place is a new feature spotlighting the brilliant minds behind the brands we love. These are the founders who are doing things differently, making waves in their industries and bringing meaningful products into the world.
Today, meet The Herbtender. Harnessing the wisdom of ancient botanicals has proved to be fruitful for this thoughtful purveyor of natural, effective wellness solutions in the form of teas and supplements. We sat down with Laura from The Herbtender to hear more about the story behind the brand.
What is the name of your brand and when was the brand founded?
The Herbtender, founded in October 2020.
Who’s behind the brand?
The Herbtender was founded by husband-and-wife team Mark and Laura Neville in collaboration with Medical Herbalist, Schia Mitchell Sinclair. Like many wellness brands, ours began with a deeply personal journey. For me (Laura), years of struggling with sleep eventually led to a midlife ADHD diagnosis, coinciding with the challenges of perimenopause.
In search of natural support during this time, Mark introduced me to the world of adaptogens and medicinal mushrooms, and the results were life-changing. Fascinated yet overwhelmed by the array of herbs and uncertain how to combine them safely, Mark and I turned to renowned Medical Herbalist, Schia Mitchell Sinclair MNIMH for guidance. That first meeting marked the start of not only a trusted partnership but also the foundation of The Herbtender.
What products or services do you specialise in and who are they for?
Modern life is stressful and our health and longevity depend on resilience, adaptability and balance, no matter what the day brings. Our products are designed with this in mind: to support the natural highs and lows of your day. Whether you need an energy boost in the morning, sharper focus, recovery from burnout or a calming wind-down after a stressful day, our blends help you adapt to the moment.
We offer two thoughtfully formulated ranges created by our Medical Herbalist:
· 7 adaptogenic supplement blends - to support energy, focus, immunity, sleep, physical performance and ease anxiety.
· 5 organic herbal teas - functional blends of the highest quality adaptogenic herbs, medicinal mushrooms and ancient botanicals, crafted to promote energy, calm, focus, immunity and sleep.
What is your mission at The Herbtender?
We believe in the body’s innate ability to adapt, recalibrate and thrive when given the right support. For centuries, plants and fungi have played a vital role in daily wellness. At The Herbtender, our mission is to reconnect people with this age-old wisdom through trusted, science-backed formulas, crafted under the guidance of expert Medical Herbalists.
What are your core brand values?
ROOTED IN NATURE: we believe that working in harmony with nature is the only remedy that really works.
HONESTY & TRANSPARENCY: we do what we say we will do; we’re transparent about our ingredients and processes.
APPROACHABLE EXPERTISE: reflects our in-depth knowledge of herbalism and our ‘no BS’ way of sharing this with our community.
CONSIDERED CRAFT: recognises the care and effort that goes into creating, formulating and everything else we do.
PURPOSEFUL & PLANET POSITIVE: we strive to be kind, sustainable and ethical, and we believe in giving back.
What’s the journey been like so far? Any highs or lows?
Our brand journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. We’ve embraced every opportunity and made our share of mistakes. But no regrets! That’s how we learn.
Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of highs and lows every day. Working alongside my husband often means that when one of us feels low, the other keeps the faith. It doesn’t always work out that way, but it’s what has carried us this far. The greatest high for me is when we launch new products, it’s the culmination of so much work, it’s almost like having a baby – the pride and love we feel for our products is everything.
Do you have any favourite products?
My daily non-negotiables to help with ADHD and midlife overwhelm are:
1. Focus & Clarity, for energy and focus in the morning
2. Calm & Collected, to help wind down and switch off my busy brain at night
3. And I always have a cup of Herbtender herbal tea on the go!
Do you have any exciting plans for the brand coming up?
We absolutely do! We’ve been listening closely to our amazing community and we’re working on some exciting new products that you’ve been asking for loud and clear. Watch this space - something special is coming!
Why did you want to work with Happy Place?
We felt that Happy Place’s values align well with our own. Our commitment to plant-based, sustainable and ethical products includes being particular about where we choose to showcase them, and we are delighted to be working with Happy Place. Both Happy Place and The Herbtender are proud partners of Buy Women Built and 1% for the Planet, making this collaboration feel especially fitting.
If you could share one piece of advice to people who aspire to start their own brand, what would it be?
Just start, don’t wait for the right time or for your idea to be perfect. Start messy, start scared but mainly, just start - you can get better as you grow. The time is now!
And finally… how do you find your Happy Place?
My true happy place is outdoors in nature, preferably in a forest or by water. I’m not very good at being still, so hiking, swimming, walking or sailing all relax me. I bring the outdoors in and surround myself with plants and animals while I work.
Cultivate your own patch of calm
Take a wander through The Herbtender products over on the Happy Place Market and discover their expertly crafted adaptogenic blends, rooted in the age-old wisdom of herbalism.
Shop the full range here.