DiscoverThe Entrepreneur ExperimentEE465 - From Pharmacy Counter to 1,500 Stores: How Laura Dowling Built Fabu Wellness
EE465 - From Pharmacy Counter to 1,500 Stores: How Laura Dowling Built Fabu Wellness

EE465 - From Pharmacy Counter to 1,500 Stores: How Laura Dowling Built Fabu Wellness

Update: 2025-11-27
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In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Laura Dowling — “The Fabulous Pharmacist” — a pharmacist, founder, educator, entertainer, and one of Ireland’s most recognisable health voices.

From 20 years behind the pharmacy counter to running a fast-growing wellness brand stocked in 1,500+ stores, Laura shares the real story behind Fabu Wellness: the failures, the stolen idea, the long nights in labs with breastfeeding babies, the near-quit moments — and the explosive online launch that changed everything.

She reveals how she built a deeply engaged audience during COVID, why simplifying health information is her superpower, the truth about going viral, and how humour, honesty and empowerment built a movement behind her sell-out show Viva La Vulva.

If you're a founder, creator, health professional or anyone thinking of starting something from scratch — this episode will give you courage, clarity and a reminder that nothing is ever “overnight success.”

Show Notes

In this episode, we cover:

  • How Laura built her platform by simplifying health information during COVID.

  • The power of answering real patient questions and showing up consistently online.

  • Why humour is her secret weapon for breaking taboos in women’s health.

  • The origin story of Viva La Vulva and how it grew into a national tour.

  • The 12-year journey behind Fabu Wellness — including the major setback that nearly stopped her.

  • Leaving pharmacy in 2022 to go “all in” and launching Fabu via Instagram Stories.

  • Selling out her first launch and securing distribution with Wholefoods Wholesale.

  • Scaling to 1,500+ stores while staying authentic and refusing fear-based content tactics.

  • Mistakes entering the UK market — and why toning down the humour didn’t work.

  • How she handles criticism, customer care, and running a business with her family.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

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Music Credit: “Nobody Knows” by Andrew Applepie — used under royalty-free license.

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EE465 - From Pharmacy Counter to 1,500 Stores: How Laura Dowling Built Fabu Wellness

EE465 - From Pharmacy Counter to 1,500 Stores: How Laura Dowling Built Fabu Wellness

The Entrepreneur Experiment