Zoë Smith is unique in every way possible way. Not only is she a native Detroiter (in her last year of medical school), she’s also an entrepreneur. Being a full time medical school student and running her own business is hard work. It takes strength, dedication, determination and persistence to excel at all of these things at the same time. However, Zoë says it’s in her DNA…she’s from Detroit and Detroit hustles hard. She started her first business in elementary school, buying items in bulk from Sam’s Club (at wholesale price) and reselling them to her classmates at the retail price. This is why following her dreams is easy. It’s in her nature. It’s also why launching a business like The Medicine Mug means so much to her.
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How the Dream of “The Medicine Mug” Became Zoë’s Reality
After earning her undergraduate degree in Psychology (and before enrolling into medical school to become a Dermatologist), Zoë moved from Detroit to New York and worked full time for an Art Merchandising company. During her time there, she worked with different product vendors and learned about creating and licensing products. By the time she left New York and returned to Detroit, she had a full understanding of how to create unique products, connect with vendors and license and sell her own products. She got the idea for The Medicine Mug after looking at her own mug one day and deciding there had to be something more inspiring for hard working medical students, tomorrow’s aspiring doctors.
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A Meaningful Gift for Healthcare Professionals, Medical Students and Coffee Lovers
Zoë says she thought The Medicine Mug would be a go-to gift for everyone in the healthcare field including medical students, doctors, nurses, physician assistants, veterinarians, therapists, and hospital administrators. She thought, “everyone drinks coffee.” She says holding the mug and looking at the “Rod of Aesculapius” design, reminds her of own passion and commitment to medicine, something that she knows will resonate with others.
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Zoe’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Zoë says she would tell aspiring entrepreneurs to “trust your intuition and put your energy into testing your idea”. She says even if you think the market is saturated, it may not be. Don’t automatically assume there’s not enough room in an industry for your products or services. Work to find your niche just as she did with The Medicine Mug.
Zoë also says she faced a few challenges in business as well. She says there can be growing pains along the way but you can get through it, especially when you ask for the support and knowledge of family, friends and mentors. To learn more about The Medicine Mug or purchase a mug for yourself or one of the wonderful health care workers that have touched your life, visit TheMedicineMug.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram.