As the saying goes, ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ This adage holds particularly true for natural health food retailers, especially during the busiest times of the year from November to January.

Since moving into the role of owner, I have been continually surprised by how thoughtful I must be about every business expense. Every time I make a decision about inventory, I have learned to always pay attention to the needs of the customer.

After earning my degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC), I landed my dream job in management consulting where I lasted only 90 days. It was 2008, and Occupy Wall Street was in full swing. I found myself questioning my contributions to the world around me. After quitting, I worked in the non-profit sector for a while. But I had a desire for something more.