A natural succession

When a mother needed help, a daughter steps in and keeps the business true to its original ideals Business: The Herbarium Mother: Kathleen Duffy Daughter: Andrea Carrier Ages when began working together: Kathy: 45; Andrea: 20 Year business founded: 1978 When Andrea came into the business: "Eighteen years ago or so I came in to work the store. My mom was doing consultations and couldn't handle the store any longer. I got to come in and have free reign." How the two worked together in the business: "Again, about 18 years ago we started teaching classes together, and that [continued] for about 10 years. "It worked well because she was the teacher and I like being behind the scenes and taking care of everything. It was a way for us to spend time together." How Andrea handled the business: "I came in and completely took over. What was nice is that she trusted me. What was mom's vision, that's what I tried to bring to The Herbarium." How she's handled her siblings in relation to her Mom's business: "I have an older brother and a younger sister. My younger sister worked with me for awhile, but it just wasn't her passion. "We have different personalities; I like to run the business and take care of everything, but also be in the background and let the employees run the store." How she handled her mother becoming an absentee owner: "Mom left her consultations 10 years ago. It was hard when she wasn't here any more. "But her passion was to bring aromatherapy into the hospital. She's come full circle from being a nurse to becoming an herbalist to going back into the hospital and bringing her oils and herbs with her and doing what she loves working with with the nurses and the patients." The hardest thing about taking over her mother's business: "Now I would like to have a relationship with my mother that is just my mother, without the stress of the business." Andrea's own passion: "I have my own business a retail store in my mother's old classroom. It's a primitive gift shop. I make organic soaps and salves and incorporate them, with antiques and gifts for the home. I run both businesses like a crazy person." The Herbarium is located at 264 Exchange Street in Chicopee. Hours: Mon.- Fri. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; thurs. 9:30 a.m.- 6 p.m.;, Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tel: 598-8119 www.theherbarium.com