Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharmaine Willis.
Hi Sharmaine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My journey started in 2021. I am a Critical Care Registered Nurse by profession, and I love what I do. I love the opportunity to be able to help people and make a difference in their lives, most especially when they are in their lowest times. However, working during the COVID pandemic has changed something for me. As frontline health workers, we had to adapt to the evolving situation, juggle the influx of patients with limited resources, and work tirelessly for 12-16 hours. You help patients all day doing anything and everything you can, but the constant death of patients made me lose the sense of purpose I had with nursing. The emotional and physical stress caused me to struggle with burnout, and I didn’t want to feel that way. I still have a passion with helping people, so I looked for opportunities to use my nursing degree to help others without over-exhausting myself.
I’ve always had the desire to be an entrepreneur or a nursepreneur as we call it. While I was burnt out from working in the hospital, I was motivated to step out in faith and start my business. During my 6+ years of working as a nurse, I take care of the sickest patients that come in with different diseases. But they all have one thing in common… They all wanted to be healthy again. I strongly believe that self-care and wellness impacts our health and I wanted to start there. I wanted to be a part of a solution of advocating for improving our well-being so we can maintain optimal health. As I was doing my research, I came across IV Therapy. I was intrigued and the more I researched about it, the more I saw the health benefits it could bring. I see many people all the time who are frequently sick and others struggle with constant stress, poor eating habits, low energy, and effects of dehydration, such as headaches, and fatigue. And the long-term effects of these things could cause a detrimental effect to our health. While there are factors, we can’t control, the advances in medicine such as IV therapy could become a revolutionary solution to revitalizing our health.
After researching the industry, I then started my business in June 2022 as a mobile IV therapy. Now, I have a small studio in Grapevine, TX where I see my clients. With my studio, I wanted to give my clients a place to relax while they get their service compared to if they go to an urgent care or the hospital. It gives me a sense of purpose again when clients tell me that they feel so much better and more energized after getting an IV drip. Plus, I get to spend time with my clients individually, get to know them, and focus on them instead of running around trying to keep different patients alive. It’s such a rewarding feeling and this reminds me of why I went to nursing in the first place– to help people and make a positive impact in their lives.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not! There were a lot of tears shed! Since starting this business, I don’t think I’ve ever worked harder in my life. One of my biggest struggle at first was trying to navigate the healthcare business industry. I’m excellent in nursing but I have zero experience in business. I had no idea how to register a business, or develop a business plan, or even do marketing. It was discouraging for sure but that did not stop me from achieving my goals. Instead of giving up, I changed my mentality and instead of concentrating on the problem, I focused more on finding solutions. I invested in courses, read books, joined Facebook groups within the industry, and asked advised of people who are succeeding in the business. And when I was finally getting somewhere, self-doubt creeps in and fear of failure and disappointment heightens. It was a constant struggle for me and still is. But I never gave up. I persevered, developed a positive mindset, held on to my faith, and constantly prayed that God would give me the wisdom to make decisions and strength to push through. With every mistake I made, I tried to learn something from it and carried that experience to make better decisions and grow as a nursepreneur.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is called Vitality Quick Drip. I do IV Therapy which is the method of giving fluids, vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients through a small catheter inserted into the vein. The goal is to deliver vitamins and nutrients directly into the bloodstream for cells to use in order to optimize health, performance, and functionality. When we ingest food or take supplements, it goes through a digestive process and by the time it gets to our blood it’s only <50% available. That also depends on your gut health and whether you have the necessary enzymes to absorb those nutrients. Some people have dietary restrictions or choices that prevents them from getting the nutrients their body needs. With IV therapy, you are getting 100% of the fluids, vitamins, and nutrients that we are giving you. There are multiple benefits including restoring your electrolytes, flushing out toxins, rehydrating your body, boosting and supporting your energy and immune system, and providing relief of nutritional deficiencies. IV Therapy also helps with reducing stress and fatigue and may be used to help manage certain conditions such as migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hangover.
I pride myself with providing the best care, bringing the highest quality products, and taking multiple steps to ensure the safety of my clients. I have a Medical Director that oversees my business and a consulting pharmacist to develop the protocols I use. We do telemedicine consults with every client getting an infusion to make sure that they are safe to receive our services. Our Hydreight platform is HIPAA compliant to protect our clients’ health information. Also, I constantly research the best practices for the industry and implement that in my business. With every client, I take time to educate them about the service and answer any questions they have.
The services I provide include Vitamin infusions and injections. I have different blends that targets a variety of goals. These are: Hydration, Hangover relief/detox, Immunity boost, Beauty, Athletic performance, Migraine relief, Fat burning, Energy, and my all-time favorite- the Myers Cocktail. Our injections include: Vitamin B12, Beauty glow, Skinny shot, and Try-immune. I can see two clients in my clinic and do mobile service if it’s more than 2 clients. I offer memberships, packages, and 20% OFF discount on first-time clients.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising… probably that I have a childlike spirit/personality. I love positivity, laughing, enthusiasm, and just being fun and playful. I also internalize a lot. I think many people see me as someone who is put together but in reality, there are many crazy and stressful things happening in my brain that I just don’t show. 😀
Pricing:
- IV Infusions ($100-$215)
- Injections ($30-$40)
- Memberships ($100-$200)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vitalityquickdrip.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/vitalityquickdrip
- Facebook: facebook.com/vitalityquickdrip
Image Credits
Yana Cooper Photography
