What began as a personal wellness journey over 12 years ago has grown into a six-figure digital business that helps busy moms turn food into wellness through meal plans, programs, and coaching.

Twelve years ago, Marisa Tolsma wasn't thinking about building a six-figure business. She was thinking about feeling better.

The gut health issues she'd been dealing with led her down a path that changed everything.

Not just her own wellness, but eventually, the way hundreds of families eat.

Today, as the founder of Bumblebee Apothecary, she runs a digital business that teaches busy moms how to use food as medicine.

Meal plans. Programs. One-on-one coaching. All built around a simple idea: real food works.

The Problem: When selling digital products feels harder than making them

The technical side of selling digital products felt like learning a foreign language.

Payment gateways that required a familiarity with 'developer documentation' and 'the API.'

Delivery systems that broke when files were too large. Platforms that promised simplicity but required plugins, integrations, and hours spent browsing YouTube tutorials just to process a single sale.

"I kept thinking, 'I'm a gut wellness coach, not a developer.'"

"I just wanted to sell a meal plan without spending three hours figuring out why the download link wasn't working."

She had two young kids at home. Time was sacred and finite. Every hour spent troubleshooting tech was an hour not spent creating content, helping clients, or being present with her family.

And then there was the fear: What if I finally get this set up and it doesn't work when a customer tries to buy?

What if the file doesn't deliver?

What if they email me asking for help and I can't figure out what went wrong?

A business friend, Laura Ascher of Our Oily House, told her about SendOwl. One recommendation, and Marisa found what she'd been looking for. A platform that got out of her way so she could do what she actually wanted to do:

Help moms feel better.

Finding SendOwl

What sold Marisa on SendOwl wasn't flashy features or promises of automation. It was straightforward functionality that actually worked.

"It's simple, easy to use, and has the features I need," she explains.

For Bumblebee Apothecary, that meant:

• Selling eBooks and printable labels directly from her YouTube videos
• Delivering digital meal plans instantly to customers
• Managing programs and coaching offers without juggling multiple platforms
• Spending time creating content, not troubleshooting payment systems

Her first sales came through YouTube. She'd mention her products in videos, link to SendOwl checkout pages in the description, and the platform handled the rest. No complicated cart systems or failed downloads.

Just clean, reliable transactions with customers.

Building a business rooted in life



When asked to describe her work in a single sentence, she doesn’t hesitate: “I’m a certified gut wellness coach, and I help busy moms turn food into wellness with my meal plans, programs, and coaching.”

The spark to start came from her own health journey. After experiencing the life-changing effects of real food, she wanted to share what she learned—and build a business that would also allow her to be home with her kids.

Her first sales came from a YouTube channel, where she offered eBooks and printable labels. By weaving mentions of her products into videos and linking them below, she not only reached her first customer but also began building a sustainable business model.

Lessons learned along the way

Like most solopreneurs, she’s had her share of trial and error. One of the most powerful lessons came from a “flop.” She changed some offerings without first finding out if her audience was interested. The new offers didn’t land! But it taught her to validate before launching.

Her biggest daily win? Listening.

She credits her ability to truly hear her audience’s needs as the small but powerful habit that drives long-term growth.

And when overwhelm inevitably creeps in? She resets by stepping away from the computer and getting outside. “It helps me see things in perspective, simplify, and get back to focusing on what actually moves the needle.”

Pivoting when Google changed the game

For years, Marisa's website ranked well on Google. Traffic flowed in. SendOwl converted visitors into customers. Then Google's shift toward AI-driven results changed everything.

"Much of my traffic—and sales—came from Google rankings," she says. "When that started dropping, I had to rethink my entire strategy."

Instead of panicking, she pivoted. Instagram. YouTube. Email marketing. Launch-style campaigns. All feeding back to SendOwl checkout pages.

The platform's flexibility meant she could adapt her marketing without rebuilding her sales infrastructure. Whether a customer found her through a YouTube video or an Instagram post or her email list, SendOwl handled the transaction.

Looking ahead



If she could ask someone a stage ahead one question, it would be: “What is the number one thing that helps you get very good at wording your content and making your marketing feel in such a way that it really resonates with your ideal avatar so that buying from you is a no-brainer?”

It’s a question that reveals both her humility and her relentless focus on growth.

Visit Bumblebee Apothecary

From meal plans to coaching, Bumblebee Apothecary is helping families everywhere turn food into wellness. You can explore her work here: bumblebeeapothecary.com