When I was growing up, local health food stores were the undisputed pioneers of wellness. Long before modern medicine began noticing and discussing the preventative benefits of micronutrients, our local health shops were educating the public about their value, supporting the idea that providing the body with proper nutrition is the key to vibrant living.

In my previous article, I began to talk about the two ways to grow a business:

• create new customers

• sell more to your current customer base

 To grow further, I recommend you first establish an emotional connection among the people who work in the business.

 The emotional tone of your business—the sales floor ‘vibe’—is determined by the connection the owner, management, and team share. 

In this column, Ellen introduces you to Tracy Creighton, national sales director at Bioforce Canada (A.Vogel). She has over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness industry as a sales executive and business leader. Tracy has successfully managed high-performing sales teams, developed effective sales strategies, and fostered strong collaboration with retail partners.

Let’s face it—life is more complicated than ever. Many of us feel pressed for time, overstimulated by digital media, and undernourished both physically and emotionally. We seem to have lost our buffer against stress, and, at the same time, our sense of connection has slipped away. When that happens, our well-being—mental, physical, and even environmental—suffers.

There are only two ways to increase sales:

• Attract more customers.

• Sell more to your current customer base.

Simple to say! Harder to remember.

In this column, Ellen introduces you to Brenda Kirk, senior vice president of operations and merchandising at Pattison Food Group. During her 45 years in the grocery industry, Brenda has honed her reputation as a dynamic, strategic and committed leader who’s focused on achieving results and doing what’s right for her team and customers.

Trade show season is the perfect opportunity to discover new trends, connect with key partners, and fine-tune your store’s strategy. Are you prepared to make the most of it?

We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat.” Ongoing research in food and nutrition is giving us deeper insights into how profoundly our food choices affect not just our physical health but also our mental well-being. The foods we consume daily have the power to influence our mood, cognition, and overall mental state in significant ways.

CNHR is pleased to introduce a new column this year. “In Her Own Words” will appear each issue, and it will introduce you to outstanding female leaders and innovators in our natural health community.

The biggest consumer trends affecting natural health retailers in 2025 may not be wellness fads like chlorophyll or gut health (Though those are still going strong on TikTok!). Instead, perceptions of corporate excess are poised to drive more consumers to community-driven stores.

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.

You probably put a lot of effort into your store’s physical location, from perfecting endcaps to alphabetizing supplements. But what about your store’s digital foundation? Here’s a checklist to help you build a strong and successful online presence.

Over the past five years, stress levels have soared, testing our resilience like never before. We all feel it.

Listen up: digital marketing doesn’t need to be difficult. You don’t need to invest in the latest tech or spend thousands on Facebook ads. Instead, you can employ the following simple strategies to set up your store for success in the digital space.

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.