Aces of Trades: Jessie Richmond delved into a new business during the pandemic
CHILLICOTHE – She thought she’d go one way but ended up going another when her interest shifted. And business took off.
“After graduating from OU, I began working in social services with juveniles,” said Jessie Richmond. “I was a drug and alcohol counselor, a behavioral health specialist and a juvenile probation officer.”
Then life took a turn.
“Since first learning about the power of essential oils and herbs, I’ve had an interest,” she explained. “During the pandemic, it gave me an opportunity to further pursue these interests. I started making bath bombs and shower steamers in the kitchen at my house. My sister was persistent in trying to get me to start a Facebook page. Once I did that, she was even more persistent in getting me to start an Etsy page.”
In July 2020, “a small organic herb garden and a big dream” became a reality when Maggie’s Farm & Aromatics launched its Etsy shop.
“Truly, I only did it to get my sister to leave me alone about it,” Richmond said. “Then it took off! I could hardly keep up. I needed help to even fill the basic online orders. I now have five amazing employees who help fulfill our Etsy orders, ship, create and make all of our products.”
“Plus,” she added, “I knew I needed to find a place to manufacture our items outside of our home as I had already taken over three rooms in our house.”
Today, Maggie’s Farm has more than 11,000 Etsy sales and its own brick and mortar shop in historic downtown Chillicothe.
“We’re in the shop 7 days a week making our products,” she said, “while attending to our customers’ needs.”
Richmond grew up in Waverly, graduated from Waverly High School in 2002, then earned a degree in sociology from Ohio University in 2006. She’s now a certified aromatherapist as well as owner of Maggie’s Farm & Aromatics.
“After graduating from OU,” she recalled, “I began working in social services with juveniles. I was a drug and alcohol counselor, a behavioral health specialist and a juvenile probation officer. In the spring of 2021, I knew I wanted to pursue Maggie’s Farm and Aromatics full-time, so I left my career of 15 years and rented the spot where Maggie’s Farm and Aromatics is now!”
It’s called Maggie’s, by the way, after a 1960s song – and Richmond’s cat.
“I think what Jess has done is simply amazing,” said her sister, Melinda Daniel. “She believes in her products, has hired some great staff and continues to develop products that have a purpose and are natural. I’m a huge fan!”
“I didn’t think I would ever do this,” Richmond responded. “But social services is a very high-stress job. Maggie’s Farm & Aromatics gave me an outlet. It came out of a necessity to do something to help myself, and it did.”
Maggie’s Farm & Aromatics is located at 17 W 2nd St. in Chillicothe. For more information, call 740-773-6457 or look on Facebook.
About the Series
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at gaznews@nncogannett.com or 740-349-1110.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Jessie Richmond delved into a new business during the pandemic
