Health Stores UK is pleased to welcome on board three new members.
Our new joiners are:
Down to Earth in Midhurst, West Sussex
Yfda Health Store in Aberaeron
Lechyd Da Health Store, Cardiff
Commenting, Health Stores UK chair, Len Glenville, said: “It’s always great to welcome new members. Our new joiners each have very different types of stores, demonstrating the extraordinary diversity of retailers – health stores, wholefood stores, natural food stores among them – that Health Stores UK represents. We’re delighted to welcome Down to Earth, Yfda Health Store and Lechyd Da Health Store on board, and we look forward to seeing them at our regular online meetings and supporting them on their retail journeys.”
Two of the stores have taken up the option free one-to-one business mentoring, which comes with new membership. Committee member, Cheryl Thallon (owner of Sheaf Street Health Store) is facilitating this. She says: “This is very much a retailer focused initiative. It usually starts with a Zoom call to sound out, and hear from, the new member about their business situation. We aim to find out from them what they’re doing well, where they think they might benefit from support or fresh ideas – and, importantly, where they want to get to as a business.”
“Before reaching out to the new member, I’ll usually do a little bit of research on their demographic. I’ll check out the local competition, and see – for example – if there is a Holland & Barrett or refill store nearby. It’s a lot about listening and asking questions, and being a sounding board. It’s being someone who will listen you, and someone who gets it! It’s also an opportunity for a retailer to talk in confidence about business issues that they might not want to share with team members.
“And, of course, we have a fantastic smorgasbord of knowledge within the the Health Stores UK Committee and wider membership that I can draw on. So I’m confident we can offer tailored advice and support to independent health foods retailers of every type and size. Because health food and wholefood stores are all different. They’re independent – that’s the point!”.
