November 6, 2024 • 56 mins
Renee Southard's journey from battling personal health challenges to becoming a successful entrepreneur and advocate in the natural products industry is nothing short of inspiring. Her story, rooted in her own struggles with allergies and the quest for natural remedies, mirrors the experiences of many who seek holistic well-being. As the owner of Organic Marketplace and president of SENPA, Renee shares how her background in education and working with at-risk youth laid the groundwork for her success, emphasizing the pivotal role of independent retail ownership in nurturing community connections and promoting a lifestyle centered around natural living.
The transformation of education in the retail industry unfolds as we explore the impact of the internet on how people access information. There's a warm nostalgia for past in-person events, once led by industry pioneers, now juxtaposed against today's digital learning opportunities like webinars and online courses. Despite the digital shift, the resurgence of brick-and-mortar stores highlights a consumer yearning for personal connections and trustworthy advice, underscoring the critical role of knowledgeable staff in building community relationships and ensuring retail success.
Running a small retail business presents its unique set of challenges and strategies, all of which are explored through engaging discussions on employee retention, community involvement, and networking. Insights into maintaining a dedicated team and fostering strong industry connections reveal the essence of thriving in retail. Organizations like INFRA and SENPA offer invaluable support, while community engagement through local clubs underscores the importance of personal growth and volunteerism. Join us in celebrating the power of relationships, the value of a supportive network, and the art of sustaining a successful business in today's ever-evolving market landscape.
Connect with us:
Email: info@naturalproductsmarketer.com
About Amanda Ballard
Amanda has worked in natural products marketing in the retail setting since 2016 and has a great understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that retailers in this industry face. More than anything, she wants this industry to continue to boom and believes much of that success hinges on the ability of retailers to do well in their businesses and market their products effectively.
About Tina Smith
Since 2014, Tina has worked with multiple natural products businesses, discovering how to market their CBD products online, without having their payment processor shut them down, to letting customers talk about their health issues those products have helped them solve. She knows first hand how experts like you offer the best products and a superior customer experience, that is why she is committed to helping you find an easy way to grow your natural product business.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Renee Southard (00:00):
I tell my employees, especially new ones.
I would far rather you say Idon't know, but I can find out.
You know, because that is goingto build your credibility with
your customer.
Tina Smith (00:16):
Welcome to the Natural Products Marketer
Podcast.
I'm Tina.
Amanda Ballard (00:20):
And I'm Amanda, and we're here to make marketing
easier for natural productsbusinesses so you can reach more
people and change more lives.
Hey guys, welcome back to theNatural Products Marketer
Podcast.
Today, we are joined by thewonderful Renee Southard.
She is the owner of OrganicMarketplace in Gastonia, North
(00:41):
Carolina, and she is currentlythe president of Senfa.
I've known Renee for a longtime and she is just a gem of a
human and has done so much forthis industry, and so I'm so
excited to have her here.
Thanks for joining us, Renee.
Renee Southard (00:56):
Thank you, amanda.
I appreciate it.
We're very excited to have you,hey, tina.
Tina Smith (01:02):
Hi.
So this is fun for me, renee,too, because you are a retailer,
and we are really enjoyingspeaking to the retailers on
this channel because there's somuch opportunity for retailers
to learn from other retailerswho are doing really well.
So we are going to pick yourbrain about all the great things
that are going on at your store.
(01:23):
So let's get started.
Amanda Ballard (01:26):
Okay, yeah, so before we dive into that, renee,
we always like to know what gotyou into the natural products
industry, because we found some,some trends, and so we always
like to hear how you got into it, Just so we have a frame of
reference.
Renee Southard (01:44):
Well, the way I got into it is like so many
other people that I hear andtalk to, you know, as I'm out in
the field is through my health.
You know I was having a lot oftrouble with allergies, stuff
like that.
I had been teaching school andended up leaving that.
(02:05):
That was kind of when it gotcrazy.
And, you know, things werebeing brought and my husband at
the time did not want me, didn'tfeel like it was safe.
So I was at the gym and I washaving all these health issues
and I thought, you know, I lookover there and there's this wall
(02:25):
full of pills and I'm like,okay, maybe something over there
, you know, will help, because Iwas actually taking allergy
shots and you know it.
Just, I had never had allergiesbefore in my life, so I felt
like there had to be somethingelse I could do.
So that was the initial thingthat probably got me into
(02:49):
looking for a different method,you know, a gentler way to deal
with my body and the conditionsthat it was presenting to me.
Tina Smith (02:59):
So so what?
Yeah, that's some sorry.
That sounds really normal.
I think that Amanda and I bothhave a similar story, so always
when, when there's a healthissue, you always go looking for
the answers and, man, I wishthat I would have had way back
when people like you to helpdirect me to the right place.
So it gives us a real passionfor the independent retail
(03:22):
owners out there real passionfor the independent retail
owners out there.
Renee Southard (03:29):
Well it's.
You know, being an independentis really an honor and it's kind
of keeping true to our roots,because, you know, we're just a
bunch of old hippies.
You know we still like to wearfun clothes and, you know, do
things as naturally as we canand you know that I think that
that mindset was getting lost inin the surge of medicine.
(03:53):
You know, being able to come upwith things I mean, let's face
it, when I started doing thisthere were no cell phones.
You know the internet was not aplayer, you know, in anything.
So the way you learned andstarted going to these health
food stores because it was thealternative, but then actually,
(04:19):
further back than that, most oftheir grandmothers used a lot of
home remedies.
That was what they were calledthen.
It was all you know, the homeremedies.
I actually had mymother-in-law's home remedy book
.
It's probably, you know, likeAdele Davis and you know people
like that, that we, that welearned from and a lot of you
(04:39):
will not know who Adele Davis is, but you know, look her up,
because she was really anamazing, amazing woman for her
time.
Tina Smith (04:50):
I'll tell you, my grandmother passed back in 2020,
but at the time I was at herhouse and she had some old
things that she'd clipped out ofmagazines and different books
and she had them posted on theside of her cabinet and it was
so funny to look at things andthey were from, they were old
(05:12):
and brown and yellowed and theywere from so long ago and, at
the same time, it's the stuffthat we're coming back to now of
the way to take care ofyourself and have good health.
And it just made me laughbecause I was like, wow, full
circle, that we've come from thetime that she was born in the
twenties and then we're sittinghere in 2020.
(05:33):
And I was looking at thathealth guidance and I was like
that seems pretty legitimate,like that's some pretty good
advice to follow.
So even they knew way back whenhow to do it right.
Renee Southard (05:46):
Right, that's true, yeah.
Amanda Ballard (05:49):
So, renee, what caused you to decide to open up
your own store and when did youdo that?
Renee Southard (05:57):
Well, back in again, going back to where I
really got first introduced toherbs and stuff in that gym it
was, you know, my local gym, andthe guy had lost the person
that was selling them and so heasked me.
You know I started havingreally good results and you know
(06:20):
, prescription for NutritionalHealing was the Bible back then
you know Phyllis Bosch and herhusband, and you know it was it.
It was just an eye openingthing whenever, you know, I
could see what they were doingfor me.
Then I got very curious becauseI came out of a teaching
(06:41):
position.
So I was working withjuvenilevenile Justice
Department for dropoutprevention and so we had at-risk
kids in the class and I didthis for about three years and
so when I left doing that andhad this herbal epiphany and all
(07:02):
this wonderful stuff happeningin my health, I wanted to know
more.
That's just my nature is, youknow, I guess coming from a
teacher stance, is I want toknow why.
You know, why did that work?
Or why did this do that?
And if it does that, certainlyit might, could even do
something even bigger and betterthan that, you know, don't?
You know, close in your eyes,you know, open your horizon and
(07:24):
your view as to what possibly isa potential for this.
And so I studied.
I went to Stephen Horns.
The guy there wanted me to sellhis Nature Sunshine herbs.
So it was Nature Sunshine whoso many of us in my age bracket
(07:45):
probably started with NatureSunshine, and they were an MLM
company.
They had amazing education.
That's one of the things thatyou know in some of your other
questions I think we'll get into.
I think it's been a little bitlost in the industry is the
degree of education that peoplein the stores you know, the
(08:06):
retailer themselves you knowexhibit.
So I started learning more.
I started learning how to think.
Stephen Horn was a greatherbalist.
He studied under JohnChristopher, who was probably
one of the best herbalists thiscountry has ever put out.
A lot of people know DrChristopher and I think his son
carried on a lot of his work,but Nature's Sunshine was also a
(08:31):
part of his legacy, and so Ilearned how to think.
I just started learning how tothink in systems of the body and
I learned iridology.
So it was a way you know.
Back then you looked atpeople's tongue, you looked at
the skin, you looked at theirnails, you looked at.
You know we did it verydifferently than you know it is
(08:55):
now Somebody go through that.
I learned muscle testing andagain iridology, so I had a lot
of tools in my toolbox that Iwas able to start working with
people and I worked for mymentor for about two years in a
(09:16):
little health food store and oneday I just came home and I
thought you know, I can do this,I should do this for myself.
So I opened organic.
Well, it was Nature's Path atthe time, that was the first
name of the store and that's ahilarious story.
But I opened it with $2,000 andfurniture from my house,
(09:45):
products that were set, you know, five inches apart, you know,
because I had money to have twoof everything you know that I
felt like was important to carryand and the rest of it's kind
of history.
Amanda Ballard (10:00):
Yeah, I love that you kind of talked about
how much things have changed,and that was one of our
questions is I'd love to knowmore about, like what, what
you've seen change in theindustry for better or for worse
, because there's been a lot ofchange and you've you've been
(10:22):
doing this for so long, so I'dlove to just hear, hear, your
honest thoughts.
Renee Southard (10:24):
I think the the biggest thing that's changed is
the internet.
And you know, years and yearsago, when all this started
coming about, and you know,things like Dr Oz, dr Oz,
women's World, the magazine,remember, whatever came out that
week, you know you had to goget.
And it was the same thing withOz, you know, I think at first
(10:48):
he was very relevant because hewas a medical physician talking
about natural things.
So it was a beginning.
You know, it was a beginning ona national platform, to getting
back to our roots, right Togetting back to the things that
have always been done, you know,to assist our body in dis-ease.
(11:10):
So I think the internet changedthe way we educate.
I think it changed the way wegather and not, you know, not
like COVID did, of course, butyou know, not like COVID did, of
course.
But you know, you probablyremember back, I'm sure you were
very young, but you know storeevents used to be big education
(11:32):
events and you'd have the BrendaWatsons and the Terry Lemerons,
you know, coming into the cityand it was an event and the
newspaper would come, come, andyou know all of that.
And the internet changed thattoo, because people were like,
well, I can get my informationhere, or you know, I'm going to
(11:53):
do what Dr Oz tells me.
He's a doctor, so you know thatshould work.
And I think those changes Ithink they were good and I think
they were bad.
I think they opened us up tounderstanding how credible the
information that we imparted topeople on a sales floor was.
(12:16):
You know, your past employer,ed Jones a very, very good
example of that, jones, a very,very good example of that.
I think Nutrition World's donean incredible job and that's
because, you know, ed has alwaysremained true to that, to that
education piece.
And as the president of SEMPA,you know that was where my heart
(12:40):
was won, because I waseducation chair before I was
ever the president.
And you know, amanda, you and Idid a lot of this.
You know, together we saw somany people helped by the
information.
We were able to get back into agrassroots stance and go to
people's stores and talk to themand ask them.
(13:02):
You know what's going on.
You know I think networking waslost a little bit In the shuffle
.
You know we had our trade shows, but let me say honestly, I
never even knew about tradeshows when I first started this.
All I knew was the educationthat I could sign up for and go
(13:25):
to, you know.
So I think that over the yearsthat has changed dramatically.
Even people getting CEUs ontheir license can do it all
online now.
So I think that that was.
I think that was a big, biggame changer.
So you know, I guess it's.
(13:46):
You tell me, what do you thinkReally?
Was it better then?
Was it better then or was itbetter now?
Consumers seem to feel they'regoing back to the trend of brick
and mortar, because they wantto see somebody, they want to
look at your face, they want youto look in their eyes and tell
(14:06):
them the truth, and I think it'sour responsibility to be
credible and to do continuingeducation.
So I think a lot of retailersare getting back to it.
You have podcasts.
You have Zoom.
Zoom, you know, evolved in theCOVID days.
Right, I'm sure it washappening in corporate America,
(14:28):
but it certainly wasn'thappening in our industry like
that.
Webinars, webinars, weresomething that companies would
get out education pieces for,but nothing really replaces
seeing Brenda Watson up on astage.
You know talking about, youknow your intestinal health.
(14:48):
We all became very comfortablewith you know talking about
people's business, so to speak.
So you know she was absolutelyone of my mentors, for sure, and
a dear, dear friend.
You know I just I have learnedso much from her but she and so
(15:10):
many of you know the leaders,the retail leaders, the Peggy
Rangers you know of the world.
She was just really, really bigon education and having a real
educated staff.
Think that education isprobably one of the pivotal
(15:33):
points of things that havechanged and the way we get, give
it, you know and receive it.
Tina Smith (15:42):
I think that's true, renee and I you know trends
that we're seeing.
You're right.
I think there's a head back tothe retail stores.
I think people wantrelationships.
I think they want to know theperson who's giving them advice,
because you can get on aYouTube channel and you can.
There's just so much informationTick tock, youtube, instagram,
(16:04):
all these places but you can'task those people a question or a
follow up question or aquestion after that If you're
confused about something or tomake sure that you understood it
correctly, and there'sdiffering advice out there.
And so, finding someone in yourlocal community that you feel
like knows what they're talkingabout and you can ask them so
(16:25):
many questions, I think it makesit super important for those
retailers to have a lot ofeducation, to know how to walk
people down the right path, beable to answer questions and,
even if you don't have all ofthe information, that you have
the resources at your fingertipsto go look something up and
find what people need and orpoint them to a resource that's
(16:47):
credible, because anyone canstart a TikTok channel these
days and they can say whateverthey want and they're not
necessarily held accountable forhow true it is or whether it's
scientifically proven or if it'sgoing to work for the
particular person, because theydon't have all the information
behind that.
But that is what retailers cancertainly do is have that
consultative approach and bringpeople the resources they need.
(17:09):
So I think it's more importantthan ever to have good education
at the retail location and tobe someone that your community
can trust to get them theinformation that they need and
have this back and forthdiscussion, because health is
personalized.
Renee Southard (17:26):
Yes, it is, and you know.
You go back to say when youknow Jackie Onassis had, you
know, that horrible healthcondition.
You know it just shows that.
You know you actually can buyyour health by the food you put
in, using organics, usingnon-GMO products, taking quality
(17:49):
and good herbs, you know, andvitamin supplements, and good
herbs, you know, and vitaminsupplements.
Using great things on your skin,you know people tend to forget
that.
You know the skin is thelargest organ of elimination as
well as assimilation, right?
So these are all things that wehave the opportunity to give to
our community.
(18:10):
And you know, and, beingcredible, I tell my employees,
especially new ones, I would farrather you say I don't know,
but I can find out, you know,because that is going to build
your credibility with yourcustomer for sure.
You know is being honest.
You know you don't have to knoweverything about everything.
(18:31):
That would be virtuallyimpossible, especially in our
world, because nature is ourworld, right?
So it's, it's where everythingcomes from and it was where, you
know, the promise was alwaysthere would be something in
nature for it kind of how thingshave evolved.
Amanda Ballard (18:51):
I do find it interesting how I think at least
in my opinion we had this hugeinternet boom and everything's
like starting to go more digitaland all of that, and I think
stores weren't really sure howto handle it, but they were
doing okay.
And then when the pandemic hit,it was like oh gosh, like
everything has to be digital andthings were just so weird for
(19:15):
so long.
And then, as soon as we kind ofcame out of that, it was like
wait, we miss people.
And it was like how can webring back events, how can we
bring back these places wherepeople can connect?
And I do think that that isactually like I have a lot more
hope for small independentretailers now, because I'm like
people want to get back to that.
(19:37):
Like I feel like it's justwe're in a new world now and
people still just crave thatcommunity.
And I think that by not havingit for you know, a year or two
years however long it was, Ican't even remember it felt like
forever that now people arelike we need that back again.
Renee Southard (19:57):
Yeah, no, I think you're right, amanda, I'm
seeing a research of that aswell.
You know, companies I thinkhave been and I'm talking about
manufacturing companies havebeen a little perplexed in
trying to figure out what's thebest way for me to reach a
retailer.
Because I'll tell you in mycircumstance, I run a very small
(20:20):
staff.
I always have.
I have staff members.
This year DJ will have beenwith me for 20 years, libby for
19, years, libby for 19 andEmily's going on nine.
(20:41):
So that's my key core staff.
I have two other staff members,caleb and Susie, and both of
them, caleb's been with meprobably three, maybe four years
, so we don't have a lot ofturnover and you know.
So these people do know thepeople that come in the store
because they are who theyconsistently see and I think
that, because we have smallstaffing issues and I think it's
(21:05):
an issue with trade shows, Ithink it's why we're seeing
trending there, which you know Ithink we should talk about too.
But I think that you know it'stime.
So how much time can I take asix-person you know staff and
(21:25):
pull them away to either educatewith a rep or to, you know, be
able to do a function afterthey've worked all day, right.
Then you pull them off toanother function.
It's a real giving of youremployees to do that, you know,
and it's a real important thingfor you as an employer to
(21:46):
recognize and value their timeand what you're bringing to them
.
So you know, you don't want yourstaff educated to every little
thing coming down the pipe.
You want them educated to whatis pertinent and current for you
, your location and what yourmarket is, because all of our
(22:07):
markets are different.
In North Carolina, we don't doas good with infant baby
products.
I've never understood, you knowthey're the newest thing we've
got and we should be, you know,just taking such great care.
But we have historically foundthat we have a difficult time
(22:29):
maintaining an apartment likethat, a department like that,
whereas maybe in Florida youknow it's one of your top 15%
producers, right?
So every area is different andeverything that you're going to
educate your staff, yourcommunity too, should be what
(22:50):
you're being asked for and youknow what is happening currently
in your area, right?
Yeah, so we're big hours inplace.
Tina Smith (23:01):
Yeah, so I'm curious , like how big is your store?
Renee Southard (23:17):
My store is 5,000 square feet but it is on
two levels.
So we recycled a fire stationand no, it did not have a pole.
That was my biggestdisappointment.
I know people that are veryconnected to poles just joking
but we always thought it wouldhave been a cute thing just to
put one in there anyway.
But no, we have a staircase, soI have 2,500 on one level and I
have 2,500 on another.
So we have a little organiccafe in the bottom and the store
(23:40):
occupies the top part of thebuilding, which I would say we
are probably at 65%.
Wellness items, which wouldinclude personal care products,
herbs, supplements, shakes, youknow that kind of thing to about
(24:02):
35% of food items.
In our market we are alwaysfirst to market.
That's the beauty of being anINFRA member and, you know, a
SEMPA member because you know Ido attend a lot of trade shows
and I do have a lot of industrysupport because I am a smaller
(24:25):
part of a bigger whole right.
So it's important for us togather and to put our resources
together because we can alwayskeep our pricing better than
masks can If you've got, youknow, a CVS next to you that
carries some of your products.
(24:46):
They don't have the educationto sell that product, and I
think retailers get reallycaught up in this because you
know it's.
One of the points I want to makeis you know, there was a time
all of this was exclusive to us,right?
You didn't go see it in a lotof mass stores and, of course,
again, you didn't have theinternet.
(25:07):
So I think the internet was agame changer on that in so many
ways.
But I will always be of thebelief there is enough for
everyone.
There really is, you know, andwe need to work together.
So I feel like being acollective positive.
You know, health providingcommunity is far more important
(25:33):
than wondering who's carryingwhat you carry or whatever.
It really doesn't matter.
I don't think, I think that youcreate, you know your own
destiny, you create your ownsuccess and you create a lot of
your own failures, you know.
I mean you got to learn somehow.
(25:53):
So you know, I think we've beenthrough a whole lot of your own
failures.
You know, I mean you got tolearn somehow.
So you know, I think we've beenthrough a whole lot of that.
Amanda Ballard (25:57):
Yeah, you know, renee, one thing that I'm just
so fascinated by and I we hearall the time about how staffing
is such an issue for people andI like when you're saying, oh,
this person's been with me 20years, 19 years, I'm like, how
Like to me.
That just blows my mind in aretail setting.
So what's your, what's yoursecret to such amazing employee
(26:18):
retention?
Renee Southard (26:21):
Knowing that they're my biggest resource.
My employees are my biggestresource.
I can have all the education, Ican have the best products that
you know money can buy, but ifI don't have a dedicated and
(26:41):
highly functional and highlycaring group, I mean, let's face
it, you know retail is a peoplebusiness.
If you're not a people person,you don't need to be on the
retail floor.
Now there are a lot of otherplaces you're going to shine.
You know you could be doing thebest books, but you're not
(27:01):
going to be the person I'm goingto choose to put out there and
tell Susie you know which haircolor to pick.
You know that, won't, you know,bleed hurt her hair, whatever.
So you know everyone has theirplace, but it I do believe that
valuing your employees are iscritical.
Uh, there's another store thatuh Garner's down in Greenville,
(27:26):
south Carolina.
Uh, candace, uh Garner has beenso successful in maintaining
and growing her independentbusiness.
She has five stores now and shehas employees that she's had
just as long as I do.
And the thing that we bothwe've been very good friends for
(27:49):
a long time.
We've networked together, we'vehelped each other.
Her place was the first place Iever met Brenda Watson.
So these are the relationshipsthat you form and you have
relationships with your clientsand your staff have
relationships with your clients.
When I stepped back a little bitto do the presidency, my staff
(28:14):
if it wasn't for my staff, Iwould not have been able to do
that, you know, and they used toalways say, well, I want to
work with Renee.
Now, the last time I was in thestore one of DJ he was off and
one of his customers needed helpand I went to help him.
She goes no, you know that man,that man, you know the one with
(28:36):
all the hair.
He knows what I do, he helps me, he this, that and the other.
And she just kept going and I'mlike, okay, that's great,
that's great, but I probably, ifyou need it today, I could
probably help you.
And she goes well, I don't know, do you know as much as he does
?
And I just laughed.
(28:58):
I said you know, he was one ofthe first apprentices I ever had
.
I probably know close, you know.
But you always want to build upyour staff.
You know I don't want to.
He earned every bit of thatlove and admiration that she was
showing him and you can't buythat.
(29:19):
You've got to pick the rightpeople.
You've got to be lucky.
You've got to be a little lucky.
I think I've been very, veryfortunate.
But you really have to treatyour people like you would want
to be treated, because you can'tbe successful on your own if
you cannot replicate what you do.
(29:39):
I've heard that for years andyears probably a Dale Carnegie
thing.
If you can't replicate whatyou're doing, then how can you
really consider yourselfsuccessful?
You know, so they are.
My biggest success they reallyare is my employees.
Tina Smith (29:58):
Renee, I love that so much because making an
investment in your team, ittakes a lot.
It's a little bit of a sacrificefrom a store owner, but I love
learning from you guys howimportant that is and how much
it keeps people sticky to yourstore.
So maybe they stay around longerif you're investing in them and
(30:18):
you're treating them the waythat people should be treated,
um, and as part of the mostvaluable part of your store, um,
and you said something elsethat I want to double click into
, and that's around this hey,you don't have to be afraid of a
manufacturer being in massmarket and I know we're going
(30:39):
off book here, but you're sayingso many great things that
people have a lot of questionsabout and I want to talk about
what can manufacturers do.
If they're going omni-channellike that maybe they're in the
CVS down the street or somethingelse what can manufacturers do
to let you know that they'regoing omni-channel like that?
Maybe they're in the CVS downthe street or something else
what can manufacturers do to letyou know that they're still
investing in you?
(31:00):
Are there things that you stillwould like from them to help
you out to promote that?
You are a great place to come,especially if there's a
consultation involved, becausethat's exactly what you're
talking about as adifferentiator for stores like
you.
Renee Southard (31:18):
It's a really it's a touchy area, you know,
because I think the youngergeneration, our emerging leaders
, I think they understand thewhole piece.
That there's enough.
You know the whole piece, thatthere's enough.
You know.
People who've been in it aslong as I have still have a bit
(31:38):
of resentment about people, youknow, sort of jumping ship.
They call it a lot of times tothe omni-channel.
However, I think the reality is, why aren't we looking at it as
in, how many people can wetouch and help?
There are people, until COVID,that never would have walked
(32:01):
into a health store.
Covid did a lot for us, frankly, because we were deemed
essential.
Everybody should alwaysremember that we are essential,
you know, and I think thatmanufacturers I think they're
really trying to do it right.
(32:22):
However, ok, this is a goodpoint to bring this up.
You know you go to a trade show, you spend your company's money
, you take time out of, you takean employee, say, out of the
store, like for simple, when youcome to Soho Expo, we have the
(32:42):
best education in the land, Imean, and we have geared it now
towards a business education day, okay, so whenever
manufacturers come to our showsand the retailers attend our
shows.
I think it would be great if wecould go back to the discount
(33:04):
you get is because you are thereat that show, you've had
one-on-one time to do yourpromotional calendar, to talk to
them about your anniversarysale, to say, hey, earth Day's
Monday, I need stuff to promoteyou, and that kind of thing.
Those were the benefits.
(33:25):
For me when I first startedgoing to a trade show was that
that's where I made all myrelationships.
That's where I met Amanda,that's where I made all my
relationships.
That's where I met Amanda.
It's where I met you for thefirst time, tina, you know.
So I think that getting awayfrom that is a mistake because
you still need that time to gettogether and network.
(33:46):
I also belong to Infra.
I would love to see everysingle independent retailer
belong to Infra.
It's a buying group.
It is completely different fromSEMPA.
Sempa is someone thatrepresents independence in
manufacturing, retailing,brokerage, nutritional
(34:08):
counselors.
They cover a people side,whereas Infra covers procedural
things and we are a buying group.
So collectively, you know,we're stronger together.
So I feel like manufacturersstill need to respect and work
(34:30):
with us with discounts a littlestronger, because work with us
with discounts a little strongerbecause some of the
manufacturers will give, say, aWhole Foods or a Sprouts a
six-month lead time on one SKU.
Let's just say, maybe it's aweight loss product and it comes
in powder and it comes in apill.
(34:50):
Well, they want an exclusive onthe pill.
So a lot of times that happens.
Well, the problem with that iswhen we as a retailer go in and
say, well, why it's just oneskew?
I mean, why is that soimportant, you know, for them,
whereas it's all our people areasking us for and we can't get
(35:10):
it.
And you know a lot when theiradvice to me is, well, tell them
to go online and get it.
That doesn't make me happy,that doesn't make me feel good,
it doesn't make me feel heard,it doesn't make me feel
appreciated for the work and theeducation that I give their
consumers, my customers, ontheir product.
(35:34):
So more just a level playingfield.
Give you the opportunity to doit as well, exactly, and we need
a level playing field.
So I think again, there are alot of companies that have very
strongly adhered to MAP.
I love to see every one of mymanufacturers, you know, doing
(35:57):
that.
Amanda, you have championedthat work and I thank you and
applaud you and Chase, for allthat y'all have brought to the
industry.
I mean, you've served a very,very important role that was
being neglected and it was notbeing looked at.
Now because of their work.
(36:17):
You know let me blow herwhistle a minute Because of
their work.
One of the first thingsmanufacturers will say well, we
have a map policy.
You know, because we have beentaught and schooled and drilled
that in a survival sense and alevel playing field arena,
(36:40):
everybody has to have rules thatthey follow, just general,
basic, respectful rules.
And I think manufacturers needto continue doing what they're
doing for map policing findingthe offenders.
You know they're bad pennies.
Every industry's got them.
(37:00):
You know we're not immune to it.
You know we're really not.
But, uh, but yeah, a levelplaying field is, frankly, all
we need.
You know we, we've been doingthe rest forever.
You know, um, most of thecompanies were built on our
backs, so you know it'd be niceto be thanked for that and have
(37:23):
promotional calendars that comeout before the month.
You know that you need to bepromoting them in and you know
just some organizational thingson their part that help us do a
better job at what we do, whichis passing on discounts.
You can't be successful ifyou're not.
You're working with yourmanufacturers, you're getting
(37:44):
discounts and then you'rekeeping it to help your margin.
Well, that's not how you makemoney.
You make money by making turnsand giving people good value and
making them feel that they'renot getting ripped off when they
come to your store, when theycome to your store, but to feel
(38:05):
like they're supporting localand they're supporting a
business that has been anindustry for far longer than the
American Medical Association'seven been recognized.
So you know we're not going togo away.
The health of the independentretailer is good Let me be the
(38:26):
one to say that because it isgood and we have the ability to
do a lot of things we really do.
But manufacturers do need togive us a level playing field.
That's a good point, amanda.
Tina Smith (38:38):
Well, renee, this brings us to an interesting
point, because you were namedWhole Foods Magazine Retailer of
the Year, so you're doing a tonof really successful things.
So when you talk about thehealth of the industry growing
well, I think that you're ashining North Star for people to
look at, and I know you do alot in your community and
(39:00):
locally and a little bit lessonline.
So people are talking aboutonline all the time and, of
course, I do a lot of thingsonline, but you have proven that
it doesn't all have to beonline.
You're doing things to show upin your community that are very
localized and that are notnecessarily digital.
So tell us more about that.
(39:21):
Give us some insights on yoursecrets digital.
Renee Southard (39:23):
So tell us more about that.
Give us some insights on yoursecrets.
Well, I think that number onethe community that you open up
your store in that is your hub.
That is the place that you needto go in as a retailer and find
out what are the needs of thiscommunity, what are the needs of
(39:45):
these people?
I, very early on and I thinkit's why I love retail is I've
really found a lot of value indonating my time and service to
communities.
I started.
My first was I did substituteteaching for my kids' schools.
(40:07):
So you know my children are intheir 40s now, so you know
that's a long time ago.
But I was on the AIDS Councilwhen all of that was first
coming around.
I was part of Civitans.
First coming around, I was partof Civitans.
(40:31):
I did the Girls and Boys Cluband what that did for me just
those three.
It helped introduce me toleaders in my community.
Okay, so join your Rotary Clubs, join your Civitans, support
your Boys and girls clubs.
Then I got on the board of mycity and it's called Keep
Gastonia Beautiful and I was onthat board for close to 20 years
(40:51):
.
Emily, now my general managerat the store, sits on that board
and I feel like it's importantfor someone from our store to
always be on that board becausewe do recycling.
We do.
You know the touch points, thefarmers markets, the you know
all of that.
We're a bee city, so you knowemily's very, very involved in
(41:16):
in that movement and it's anationwide movement.
You know there's all kinds ofcities that are that are bee
cities, but you know it's aboutbringing that awareness to your
community through learning whoyour community is, you know.
So those were really importantthings to me.
And then I don't think you canbe a successful retailer without
(41:39):
your tribe.
You know we consider ourselves.
We had a wonderful friend,leslie Larson.
She always called it the tribeand you can't do it without your
tribe, you really can't.
So it's, I think it's being aservant.
(42:02):
You know you're a volunteer,you're serving your community.
You've got to be active in it.
Or you don't know who you'reserving, you don't know.
You know what you're doing andthat time spent, or that time
that you delegate maybe one ofyour managers to be, you know,
(42:24):
in Rotary or Civitans or any ofthe community groups, your
Chamber of Commerce, you knowthings like that.
We did that as well.
You know, but you can't doeverything, you know.
But over the years you know youneed to share the love.
I mean, you know, as I came offthe AIDS council I went into
(42:45):
the Boys and Girls Club.
So you know, I just personallyI've always kept myself in a
serving place because that's howI learned and that's how I know
what to do.
Sempa probably grew me more thananything, because going on the
board of my peers the peoplethat you know I respect, I look
(43:10):
up to, I idolize there's somethat I just think are just such
amazing people.
So many of them are amazingpeople, but they all
collectively represent a tribeof like-mindedness that we all
share.
And I think, giving away Ilearned that the more I gave,
(43:34):
the more I got.
I mean it's that whole.
You can't out give God, right,I mean.
So the more you give, you'realways going to get so much more
back, because you do thingslike that from your heart and
without another motive.
You know you just do it becauseit's the right thing to do and
(43:57):
I think people care about doingthe right thing and I think it's
important that they do that andI know that that without I've
been with the SEMPA now 11 years.
We usually have 10 year terms tobe on the board, but you know I
did the education and the roadshows for five, maybe six years.
(44:18):
Then I went on to the executivecommittee.
So I've always segued my timeand that's something that is
important.
You've got to see what'simportant to you.
That was during a time thatindependents were suffering,
infra was still growing.
It wasn't what it is today, youknow.
I remember when INFRA startedso and SEMPA is 53 years old,
(44:43):
you know old in producing tradeshows and I believe we're
60-some years as an association.
So you know it's being involvedWithout being involved, without
going to trade shows, withouthaving the peer support that I
do from the retailers.
(45:04):
Marie Montemaro I call.
She has lovies down inWilmington.
Everyone in our industry knowsMarie, she's just, she is
absolutely a light and you knowshe is part of a community that
believes very much as I do, thatyou support the people that are
(45:26):
doing what you do, that lovewhat you love, that are involved
in helping and making you knowthe world a better place for us
and for our kids, you know.
So I think those were some ofthe key things and I'll always
go back.
I'll never take any honorwithout saying.
(45:48):
My staff is 100% of the successand the wonderful honor.
It was to be Retailer of theYear.
It was quite.
It was a gift for all of us.
It should have been retailerswith the S because it takes a
(46:12):
village.
It definitely takes a village.
Tina Smith (46:17):
It's so fun and I'm so thankful to you that you
recognize your staff the way youdo, because I think it does
take a team to do pretty muchanything, and it's so lovely to
hear you You're the leader ofthat group.
The buck stops with you.
You've taken so much risk tohave that store open and you
(46:38):
have a moment where people arehonoring you and you turn around
and honor other people.
You have a moment where peopleare honoring you and you turn
around and honor other people,and that's just.
I'm grateful to hear thatbecause and I think this
industry is like that I thinkthere's so many people that are
part of this industry that havegrateful hearts like you do,
which is one reason I love to behere as well.
Renee Southard (46:59):
Thank you, thank you, I appreciate that I really
do so what's next for you guys?
Tina Smith (47:08):
What's next for you guys at the organic marketplace?
Is there anything new andexciting that's coming down the
pike?
Renee Southard (47:14):
Well, I mean, I think that we will continue to
remain relevant.
I mean, isn't that really thegoal that everyone has in
business, that you have in yourbusiness Whenever you chart out
to make a change in your life,like stuff that's going on with
(47:35):
you?
Amanda, you know it's one ofthose things that you're like
okay next, you know what's goingto be next.
I don't know, I might do someconsulting.
I definitely love being out inmy yard and dealing with all
that.
The spring's been real allergyintensive this year.
(47:57):
I don't know what's going onwith that.
Maybe it's, you know, our earthgetting a little warmer, but
nevertheless, I think organicmarketplace has its place.
You know, we you don't go onautopilot ever, really, you know
(48:18):
, but I think we have theformula that works in our market
.
I don't really have that muchinterest in opening up more
stores.
I really like keeping the storethat I have, the space that
whenever somebody comes in fromout of town, they go oh my gosh,
(48:38):
we have the best health foodstore.
I've got to take you there.
These people are great.
I mean, sometimes we're likecartoon characters.
We just entertain people and dowhat we do.
We give away a lot of stuff,because that's just how we are.
Retailers have never been knownas great business people, but
(48:59):
we've got a big old heart.
We're getting ready to do ourEarth Day event and you know we
played with.
Everybody tries to do eventsright and Earth Day seems to be
our national holiday for, youknow, the natural health
industry.
So everyone starts saying, well, everybody's doing it on
(49:22):
Saturday.
So finally, I just said youknow what, I don't care what day
Earth Day falls on, that's theday that we're going to do it.
So you know, that's kind ofwhat we've done.
But as for new things forOrganic Marketplace, I feel like
we will be very stronglyinvolved.
(49:45):
We will remain stronglyinvolved with SEMPA, because I
can't do what I do without thesupport of an organization and
you know it only cost me $100 ayear.
It's something that I find is agreat value year.
(50:09):
It's something that I find is agreat value.
We will probably enlarge.
I know Emily does a lot for thestore.
She's my general manager andshe's been with me I think nine
years at this point and she doesa great job.
But she is very, very active inthe functions that go on with
SEMPA as an emerging leader, butalso with INFRA as doing their
(50:32):
share groups, because that'swhere we learn some business
savvy.
That's where we have, you know,understand why our buying club
does or chooses or does thethings.
You know that they areencouraging us to do and you
know we learn from that.
And Emily is very, very good atbeing present and listening.
(50:56):
I know Amanda, you know Emilywell and you know so probably in
the future, you know she'll bemuch more involved with SEMPA,
potentially maybe even the board, but definitely with Infra,
because you know it is one ofthe things that help us
financially remain relevant,whereas I feel like SEMPA is
(51:19):
where I learn and keep all myrelationships strong and alive
and get my education.
So they're both equallyimportant.
They really are, but that's forme.
You know, every independentshould consider definitely being
a part of both of them, becauseit does help you be one of the
(51:43):
best independents that you canbe by learning from others.
And people in our industry areso beautiful in that they are so
willing to share theirsuccesses.
Like I know, I put mypromotional calendar, um, in the
resource library because youknow it doesn't belong to me.
(52:04):
Somebody gave it to me, youknow.
So you know it's like passingit on and I feel like that
moving forward.
We are in our 31st year thisyear and that's exciting, but I
feel like that you know it's ourresponsibility to help any up
(52:26):
and coming retailer or any onethat is wanting to join the
industry.
You know as many people thatare sort of my age that are
retiring, and you know you'reseeing stores close.
You're seeing groups, though,like Healthy Edge Group.
You know they help retailers tocome and collectively they, you
(52:51):
know, have a great buying power.
So they again can, you know,help maybe a mom and pop that
didn't have good strategicplanning to where you know they
had succession plans and stufflike that.
But you know it's my job, it'smy store's job, to always be a
(53:13):
resource.
I want to always be a resourcefor manufacturers.
We have manufacturers that callus Ryan Sensenbrenner with
Enzymedica.
I love it.
He'll call me up.
I'm on a national sales call.
We've got a question for aretailer.
Do you have a minute?
You know it's.
I mean, that's an honor that hecalls me and does that.
(53:37):
You know, no matter what I'mdoing, I would stop and go talk
to him.
So you know, hopefully I'llalways be able to continue to do
stuff like that.
Amanda Ballard (53:50):
Yeah Well, renee , this has just been so lovely
speaking with you.
You truly are a gem, and I'mjust very thankful to know you
and just all of the knowledgethat you've acquired over your
31 years in business.
It's just incredible, and Ijust thank you so much for your
willingness to share it just sofreely.
(54:12):
It's truly a gift to all of us,so thank you so much for being
with us today.
Renee Southard (54:16):
Well, thanks for asking.
I really appreciate you and Iappreciate the job that you guys
are doing, and I appreciate thejob that you guys are doing,
and you know, gettinginformation and putting a forum
together where people can reallylearn other things that they
can bring into their business ordo, or personal, you know,
personal growth, which we allneed to continue to do.
(54:37):
But, thank you, I reallyappreciate being a part of the
podcast you.
Tina Smith (54:45):
I really appreciate being a part of the podcast.
Yeah, it's been great havingyou here and we just look
forward to all of the wisdom forthe rest of the audience that's
listening today, and if theyhave any questions or they want
to contact you directly to pickyour brain, how would they get
in touch with you?
Renee Southard (54:58):
Renee.
Email is a really.
I check my email a couple oftimes a day and, uh, it's just
my name, renee R-E-N-E-E, uh,o-m-p, which is like initials
for organic marketplace at Gmail.
So that's.
That's usually my best contact.
Tina Smith (55:19):
Perfect.
Well, it's been great havingyou and we look forward to
seeing you at Soho.
Renee Southard (55:24):
Okay, all right, we'll see you next week
actually.
Amanda Ballard (55:27):
Bye-bye.
Thanks so much for listening tothe Natural Products Marketer
Podcast.
We hope you found this episodeto be super helpful.
Make sure you check out theshow notes for any of those
valuable resources that wementioned on today's episode.
Tina Smith (55:41):
And, before you go, we would love for you to give us
a review.
Follow, like and subscribe onApple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
or wherever you're listeningtoday, and make sure you join us
for our next episode, where wegive you more marketing tips so
that you can reach more peopleand change more lives.
I tell my employees, especially new ones.
I would far rather you say Idon't know, but I can find out.
You know, because that is goingto build your credibility with
your customer.
Tina Smith (00:16):
Welcome to the Natural Products Marketer
Podcast.
I'm Tina.
Amanda Ballard (00:20):
And I'm Amanda, and we're here to make marketing
easier for natural productsbusinesses so you can reach more
people and change more lives.
Hey guys, welcome back to theNatural Products Marketer
Podcast.
Today, we are joined by thewonderful Renee Southard.
She is the owner of OrganicMarketplace in Gastonia, North
(00:41):
Carolina, and she is currentlythe president of Senfa.
I've known Renee for a longtime and she is just a gem of a
human and has done so much forthis industry, and so I'm so
excited to have her here.
Thanks for joining us, Renee.
Renee Southard (00:56):
Thank you, amanda.
I appreciate it.
We're very excited to have you,hey, tina.
Tina Smith (01:02):
Hi.
So this is fun for me, renee,too, because you are a retailer,
and we are really enjoyingspeaking to the retailers on
this channel because there's somuch opportunity for retailers
to learn from other retailerswho are doing really well.
So we are going to pick yourbrain about all the great things
that are going on at your store.
(01:23):
So let's get started.
Amanda Ballard (01:26):
Okay, yeah, so before we dive into that, renee,
we always like to know what gotyou into the natural products
industry, because we found some,some trends, and so we always
like to hear how you got into it, Just so we have a frame of
reference.
Renee Southard (01:44):
Well, the way I got into it is like so many
other people that I hear andtalk to, you know, as I'm out in
the field is through my health.
You know I was having a lot oftrouble with allergies, stuff
like that.
I had been teaching school andended up leaving that.
(02:05):
That was kind of when it gotcrazy.
And, you know, things werebeing brought and my husband at
the time did not want me, didn'tfeel like it was safe.
So I was at the gym and I washaving all these health issues
and I thought, you know, I lookover there and there's this wall
(02:25):
full of pills and I'm like,okay, maybe something over there
, you know, will help, because Iwas actually taking allergy
shots and you know it.
Just, I had never had allergiesbefore in my life, so I felt
like there had to be somethingelse I could do.
So that was the initial thingthat probably got me into
(02:49):
looking for a different method,you know, a gentler way to deal
with my body and the conditionsthat it was presenting to me.
Tina Smith (02:59):
So so what?
Yeah, that's some sorry.
That sounds really normal.
I think that Amanda and I bothhave a similar story, so always
when, when there's a healthissue, you always go looking for
the answers and, man, I wishthat I would have had way back
when people like you to helpdirect me to the right place.
So it gives us a real passionfor the independent retail
(03:22):
owners out there real passionfor the independent retail
owners out there.
Renee Southard (03:29):
Well it's.
You know, being an independentis really an honor and it's kind
of keeping true to our roots,because, you know, we're just a
bunch of old hippies.
You know we still like to wearfun clothes and, you know, do
things as naturally as we canand you know that I think that
that mindset was getting lost inin the surge of medicine.
(03:53):
You know, being able to come upwith things I mean, let's face
it, when I started doing thisthere were no cell phones.
You know the internet was not aplayer, you know, in anything.
So the way you learned andstarted going to these health
food stores because it was thealternative, but then actually,
(04:19):
further back than that, most oftheir grandmothers used a lot of
home remedies.
That was what they were calledthen.
It was all you know, the homeremedies.
I actually had mymother-in-law's home remedy book
.
It's probably, you know, likeAdele Davis and you know people
like that, that we, that welearned from and a lot of you
(04:39):
will not know who Adele Davis is, but you know, look her up,
because she was really anamazing, amazing woman for her
time.
Tina Smith (04:50):
I'll tell you, my grandmother passed back in 2020,
but at the time I was at herhouse and she had some old
things that she'd clipped out ofmagazines and different books
and she had them posted on theside of her cabinet and it was
so funny to look at things andthey were from, they were old
(05:12):
and brown and yellowed and theywere from so long ago and, at
the same time, it's the stuffthat we're coming back to now of
the way to take care ofyourself and have good health.
And it just made me laughbecause I was like, wow, full
circle, that we've come from thetime that she was born in the
twenties and then we're sittinghere in 2020.
(05:33):
And I was looking at thathealth guidance and I was like
that seems pretty legitimate,like that's some pretty good
advice to follow.
So even they knew way back whenhow to do it right.
Renee Southard (05:46):
Right, that's true, yeah.
Amanda Ballard (05:49):
So, renee, what caused you to decide to open up
your own store and when did youdo that?
Renee Southard (05:57):
Well, back in again, going back to where I
really got first introduced toherbs and stuff in that gym it
was, you know, my local gym, andthe guy had lost the person
that was selling them and so heasked me.
You know I started havingreally good results and you know
(06:20):
, prescription for NutritionalHealing was the Bible back then
you know Phyllis Bosch and herhusband, and you know it was it.
It was just an eye openingthing whenever, you know, I
could see what they were doingfor me.
Then I got very curious becauseI came out of a teaching
(06:41):
position.
So I was working withjuvenilevenile Justice
Department for dropoutprevention and so we had at-risk
kids in the class and I didthis for about three years and
so when I left doing that andhad this herbal epiphany and all
(07:02):
this wonderful stuff happeningin my health, I wanted to know
more.
That's just my nature is, youknow, I guess coming from a
teacher stance, is I want toknow why.
You know, why did that work?
Or why did this do that?
And if it does that, certainlyit might, could even do
something even bigger and betterthan that, you know, don't?
You know, close in your eyes,you know, open your horizon and
(07:24):
your view as to what possibly isa potential for this.
And so I studied.
I went to Stephen Horns.
The guy there wanted me to sellhis Nature Sunshine herbs.
So it was Nature Sunshine whoso many of us in my age bracket
(07:45):
probably started with NatureSunshine, and they were an MLM
company.
They had amazing education.
That's one of the things thatyou know in some of your other
questions I think we'll get into.
I think it's been a little bitlost in the industry is the
degree of education that peoplein the stores you know, the
(08:06):
retailer themselves you knowexhibit.
So I started learning more.
I started learning how to think.
Stephen Horn was a greatherbalist.
He studied under JohnChristopher, who was probably
one of the best herbalists thiscountry has ever put out.
A lot of people know DrChristopher and I think his son
carried on a lot of his work,but Nature's Sunshine was also a
(08:31):
part of his legacy, and so Ilearned how to think.
I just started learning how tothink in systems of the body and
I learned iridology.
So it was a way you know.
Back then you looked atpeople's tongue, you looked at
the skin, you looked at theirnails, you looked at.
You know we did it verydifferently than you know it is
(08:55):
now Somebody go through that.
I learned muscle testing andagain iridology, so I had a lot
of tools in my toolbox that Iwas able to start working with
people and I worked for mymentor for about two years in a
(09:16):
little health food store and oneday I just came home and I
thought you know, I can do this,I should do this for myself.
So I opened organic.
Well, it was Nature's Path atthe time, that was the first
name of the store and that's ahilarious story.
But I opened it with $2,000 andfurniture from my house,
(09:45):
products that were set, you know, five inches apart, you know,
because I had money to have twoof everything you know that I
felt like was important to carryand and the rest of it's kind
of history.
Amanda Ballard (10:00):
Yeah, I love that you kind of talked about
how much things have changed,and that was one of our
questions is I'd love to knowmore about, like what, what
you've seen change in theindustry for better or for worse
, because there's been a lot ofchange and you've you've been
(10:22):
doing this for so long, so I'dlove to just hear, hear, your
honest thoughts.
Renee Southard (10:24):
I think the the biggest thing that's changed is
the internet.
And you know, years and yearsago, when all this started
coming about, and you know,things like Dr Oz, dr Oz,
women's World, the magazine,remember, whatever came out that
week, you know you had to goget.
And it was the same thing withOz, you know, I think at first
(10:48):
he was very relevant because hewas a medical physician talking
about natural things.
So it was a beginning.
You know, it was a beginning ona national platform, to getting
back to our roots, right Togetting back to the things that
have always been done, you know,to assist our body in dis-ease.
(11:10):
So I think the internet changedthe way we educate.
I think it changed the way wegather and not, you know, not
like COVID did, of course, butyou know, not like COVID did, of
course.
But you know, you probablyremember back, I'm sure you were
very young, but you know storeevents used to be big education
(11:32):
events and you'd have the BrendaWatsons and the Terry Lemerons,
you know, coming into the cityand it was an event and the
newspaper would come, come, andyou know all of that.
And the internet changed thattoo, because people were like,
well, I can get my informationhere, or you know, I'm going to
(11:53):
do what Dr Oz tells me.
He's a doctor, so you know thatshould work.
And I think those changes Ithink they were good and I think
they were bad.
I think they opened us up tounderstanding how credible the
information that we imparted topeople on a sales floor was.
(12:16):
You know, your past employer,ed Jones a very, very good
example of that, jones, a very,very good example of that.
I think Nutrition World's donean incredible job and that's
because, you know, ed has alwaysremained true to that, to that
education piece.
And as the president of SEMPA,you know that was where my heart
(12:40):
was won, because I waseducation chair before I was
ever the president.
And you know, amanda, you and Idid a lot of this.
You know, together we saw somany people helped by the
information.
We were able to get back into agrassroots stance and go to
people's stores and talk to themand ask them.
(13:02):
You know what's going on.
You know I think networking waslost a little bit In the shuffle
.
You know we had our trade shows, but let me say honestly, I
never even knew about tradeshows when I first started this.
All I knew was the educationthat I could sign up for and go
(13:25):
to, you know.
So I think that over the yearsthat has changed dramatically.
Even people getting CEUs ontheir license can do it all
online now.
So I think that that was.
I think that was a big, biggame changer.
So you know, I guess it's.
(13:46):
You tell me, what do you thinkReally?
Was it better then?
Was it better then or was itbetter now?
Consumers seem to feel they'regoing back to the trend of brick
and mortar, because they wantto see somebody, they want to
look at your face, they want youto look in their eyes and tell
(14:06):
them the truth, and I think it'sour responsibility to be
credible and to do continuingeducation.
So I think a lot of retailersare getting back to it.
You have podcasts.
You have Zoom.
Zoom, you know, evolved in theCOVID days.
Right, I'm sure it washappening in corporate America,
(14:28):
but it certainly wasn'thappening in our industry like
that.
Webinars, webinars, weresomething that companies would
get out education pieces for,but nothing really replaces
seeing Brenda Watson up on astage.
You know talking about, youknow your intestinal health.
(14:48):
We all became very comfortablewith you know talking about
people's business, so to speak.
So you know she was absolutelyone of my mentors, for sure, and
a dear, dear friend.
You know I just I have learnedso much from her but she and so
(15:10):
many of you know the leaders,the retail leaders, the Peggy
Rangers you know of the world.
She was just really, really bigon education and having a real
educated staff.
Think that education isprobably one of the pivotal
(15:33):
points of things that havechanged and the way we get, give
it, you know and receive it.
Tina Smith (15:42):
I think that's true, renee and I you know trends
that we're seeing.
You're right.
I think there's a head back tothe retail stores.
I think people wantrelationships.
I think they want to know theperson who's giving them advice,
because you can get on aYouTube channel and you can.
There's just so much informationTick tock, youtube, instagram,
(16:04):
all these places but you can'task those people a question or a
follow up question or aquestion after that If you're
confused about something or tomake sure that you understood it
correctly, and there'sdiffering advice out there.
And so, finding someone in yourlocal community that you feel
like knows what they're talkingabout and you can ask them so
(16:25):
many questions, I think it makesit super important for those
retailers to have a lot ofeducation, to know how to walk
people down the right path, beable to answer questions and,
even if you don't have all ofthe information, that you have
the resources at your fingertipsto go look something up and
find what people need and orpoint them to a resource that's
(16:47):
credible, because anyone canstart a TikTok channel these
days and they can say whateverthey want and they're not
necessarily held accountable forhow true it is or whether it's
scientifically proven or if it'sgoing to work for the
particular person, because theydon't have all the information
behind that.
But that is what retailers cancertainly do is have that
consultative approach and bringpeople the resources they need.
(17:09):
So I think it's more importantthan ever to have good education
at the retail location and tobe someone that your community
can trust to get them theinformation that they need and
have this back and forthdiscussion, because health is
personalized.
Renee Southard (17:26):
Yes, it is, and you know.
You go back to say when youknow Jackie Onassis had, you
know, that horrible healthcondition.
You know it just shows that.
You know you actually can buyyour health by the food you put
in, using organics, usingnon-GMO products, taking quality
(17:49):
and good herbs, you know, andvitamin supplements, and good
herbs, you know, and vitaminsupplements.
Using great things on your skin,you know people tend to forget
that.
You know the skin is thelargest organ of elimination as
well as assimilation, right?
So these are all things that wehave the opportunity to give to
our community.
(18:10):
And you know, and, beingcredible, I tell my employees,
especially new ones, I would farrather you say I don't know,
but I can find out, you know,because that is going to build
your credibility with yourcustomer for sure.
You know is being honest.
You know you don't have to knoweverything about everything.
(18:31):
That would be virtuallyimpossible, especially in our
world, because nature is ourworld, right?
So it's, it's where everythingcomes from and it was where, you
know, the promise was alwaysthere would be something in
nature for it kind of how thingshave evolved.
Amanda Ballard (18:51):
I do find it interesting how I think at least
in my opinion we had this hugeinternet boom and everything's
like starting to go more digitaland all of that, and I think
stores weren't really sure howto handle it, but they were
doing okay.
And then when the pandemic hit,it was like oh gosh, like
everything has to be digital andthings were just so weird for
(19:15):
so long.
And then, as soon as we kind ofcame out of that, it was like
wait, we miss people.
And it was like how can webring back events, how can we
bring back these places wherepeople can connect?
And I do think that that isactually like I have a lot more
hope for small independentretailers now, because I'm like
people want to get back to that.
(19:37):
Like I feel like it's justwe're in a new world now and
people still just crave thatcommunity.
And I think that by not havingit for you know, a year or two
years however long it was, Ican't even remember it felt like
forever that now people arelike we need that back again.
Renee Southard (19:57):
Yeah, no, I think you're right, amanda, I'm
seeing a research of that aswell.
You know, companies I thinkhave been and I'm talking about
manufacturing companies havebeen a little perplexed in
trying to figure out what's thebest way for me to reach a
retailer.
Because I'll tell you in mycircumstance, I run a very small
(20:20):
staff.
I always have.
I have staff members.
This year DJ will have beenwith me for 20 years, libby for
19, years, libby for 19 andEmily's going on nine.
(20:41):
So that's my key core staff.
I have two other staff members,caleb and Susie, and both of
them, caleb's been with meprobably three, maybe four years
, so we don't have a lot ofturnover and you know.
So these people do know thepeople that come in the store
because they are who theyconsistently see and I think
that, because we have smallstaffing issues and I think it's
(21:05):
an issue with trade shows, Ithink it's why we're seeing
trending there, which you know Ithink we should talk about too.
But I think that you know it'stime.
So how much time can I take asix-person you know staff and
(21:25):
pull them away to either educatewith a rep or to, you know, be
able to do a function afterthey've worked all day, right.
Then you pull them off toanother function.
It's a real giving of youremployees to do that, you know,
and it's a real important thingfor you as an employer to
(21:46):
recognize and value their timeand what you're bringing to them
.
So you know, you don't want yourstaff educated to every little
thing coming down the pipe.
You want them educated to whatis pertinent and current for you
, your location and what yourmarket is, because all of our
(22:07):
markets are different.
In North Carolina, we don't doas good with infant baby
products.
I've never understood, you knowthey're the newest thing we've
got and we should be, you know,just taking such great care.
But we have historically foundthat we have a difficult time
(22:29):
maintaining an apartment likethat, a department like that,
whereas maybe in Florida youknow it's one of your top 15%
producers, right?
So every area is different andeverything that you're going to
educate your staff, yourcommunity too, should be what
(22:50):
you're being asked for and youknow what is happening currently
in your area, right?
Yeah, so we're big hours inplace.
Tina Smith (23:01):
Yeah, so I'm curious , like how big is your store?
Renee Southard (23:17):
My store is 5,000 square feet but it is on
two levels.
So we recycled a fire stationand no, it did not have a pole.
That was my biggestdisappointment.
I know people that are veryconnected to poles just joking
but we always thought it wouldhave been a cute thing just to
put one in there anyway.
But no, we have a staircase, soI have 2,500 on one level and I
have 2,500 on another.
So we have a little organiccafe in the bottom and the store
(23:40):
occupies the top part of thebuilding, which I would say we
are probably at 65%.
Wellness items, which wouldinclude personal care products,
herbs, supplements, shakes, youknow that kind of thing to about
(24:02):
35% of food items.
In our market we are alwaysfirst to market.
That's the beauty of being anINFRA member and, you know, a
SEMPA member because you know Ido attend a lot of trade shows
and I do have a lot of industrysupport because I am a smaller
(24:25):
part of a bigger whole right.
So it's important for us togather and to put our resources
together because we can alwayskeep our pricing better than
masks can If you've got, youknow, a CVS next to you that
carries some of your products.
(24:46):
They don't have the educationto sell that product, and I
think retailers get reallycaught up in this because you
know it's.
One of the points I want to makeis you know, there was a time
all of this was exclusive to us,right?
You didn't go see it in a lotof mass stores and, of course,
again, you didn't have theinternet.
(25:07):
So I think the internet was agame changer on that in so many
ways.
But I will always be of thebelief there is enough for
everyone.
There really is, you know, andwe need to work together.
So I feel like being acollective positive.
You know, health providingcommunity is far more important
(25:33):
than wondering who's carryingwhat you carry or whatever.
It really doesn't matter.
I don't think, I think that youcreate, you know your own
destiny, you create your ownsuccess and you create a lot of
your own failures, you know.
I mean you got to learn somehow.
(25:53):
So you know, I think we've beenthrough a whole lot of your own
failures.
You know, I mean you got tolearn somehow.
So you know, I think we've beenthrough a whole lot of that.
Amanda Ballard (25:57):
Yeah, you know, renee, one thing that I'm just
so fascinated by and I we hearall the time about how staffing
is such an issue for people andI like when you're saying, oh,
this person's been with me 20years, 19 years, I'm like, how
Like to me.
That just blows my mind in aretail setting.
So what's your, what's yoursecret to such amazing employee
(26:18):
retention?
Renee Southard (26:21):
Knowing that they're my biggest resource.
My employees are my biggestresource.
I can have all the education, Ican have the best products that
you know money can buy, but ifI don't have a dedicated and
(26:41):
highly functional and highlycaring group, I mean, let's face
it, you know retail is a peoplebusiness.
If you're not a people person,you don't need to be on the
retail floor.
Now there are a lot of otherplaces you're going to shine.
You know you could be doing thebest books, but you're not
(27:01):
going to be the person I'm goingto choose to put out there and
tell Susie you know which haircolor to pick.
You know that, won't, you know,bleed hurt her hair, whatever.
So you know everyone has theirplace, but it I do believe that
valuing your employees are iscritical.
Uh, there's another store thatuh Garner's down in Greenville,
(27:26):
south Carolina.
Uh, candace, uh Garner has beenso successful in maintaining
and growing her independentbusiness.
She has five stores now and shehas employees that she's had
just as long as I do.
And the thing that we bothwe've been very good friends for
(27:49):
a long time.
We've networked together, we'vehelped each other.
Her place was the first place Iever met Brenda Watson.
So these are the relationshipsthat you form and you have
relationships with your clientsand your staff have
relationships with your clients.
When I stepped back a little bitto do the presidency, my staff
(28:14):
if it wasn't for my staff, Iwould not have been able to do
that, you know, and they used toalways say, well, I want to
work with Renee.
Now, the last time I was in thestore one of DJ he was off and
one of his customers needed helpand I went to help him.
She goes no, you know that man,that man, you know the one with
(28:36):
all the hair.
He knows what I do, he helps me, he this, that and the other.
And she just kept going and I'mlike, okay, that's great,
that's great, but I probably, ifyou need it today, I could
probably help you.
And she goes well, I don't know, do you know as much as he does
?
And I just laughed.
(28:58):
I said you know, he was one ofthe first apprentices I ever had
.
I probably know close, you know.
But you always want to build upyour staff.
You know I don't want to.
He earned every bit of thatlove and admiration that she was
showing him and you can't buythat.
(29:19):
You've got to pick the rightpeople.
You've got to be lucky.
You've got to be a little lucky.
I think I've been very, veryfortunate.
But you really have to treatyour people like you would want
to be treated, because you can'tbe successful on your own if
you cannot replicate what you do.
(29:39):
I've heard that for years andyears probably a Dale Carnegie
thing.
If you can't replicate whatyou're doing, then how can you
really consider yourselfsuccessful?
You know, so they are.
My biggest success they reallyare is my employees.
Tina Smith (29:58):
Renee, I love that so much because making an
investment in your team, ittakes a lot.
It's a little bit of a sacrificefrom a store owner, but I love
learning from you guys howimportant that is and how much
it keeps people sticky to yourstore.
So maybe they stay around longerif you're investing in them and
(30:18):
you're treating them the waythat people should be treated,
um, and as part of the mostvaluable part of your store, um,
and you said something elsethat I want to double click into
, and that's around this hey,you don't have to be afraid of a
manufacturer being in massmarket and I know we're going
(30:39):
off book here, but you're sayingso many great things that
people have a lot of questionsabout and I want to talk about
what can manufacturers do.
If they're going omni-channellike that maybe they're in the
CVS down the street or somethingelse what can manufacturers do
to let you know that they'regoing omni-channel like that?
Maybe they're in the CVS downthe street or something else
what can manufacturers do to letyou know that they're still
investing in you?
(31:00):
Are there things that you stillwould like from them to help
you out to promote that?
You are a great place to come,especially if there's a
consultation involved, becausethat's exactly what you're
talking about as adifferentiator for stores like
you.
Renee Southard (31:18):
It's a really it's a touchy area, you know,
because I think the youngergeneration, our emerging leaders
, I think they understand thewhole piece.
That there's enough.
You know the whole piece, thatthere's enough.
You know.
People who've been in it aslong as I have still have a bit
(31:38):
of resentment about people, youknow, sort of jumping ship.
They call it a lot of times tothe omni-channel.
However, I think the reality is, why aren't we looking at it as
in, how many people can wetouch and help?
There are people, until COVID,that never would have walked
(32:01):
into a health store.
Covid did a lot for us, frankly, because we were deemed
essential.
Everybody should alwaysremember that we are essential,
you know, and I think thatmanufacturers I think they're
really trying to do it right.
(32:22):
However, ok, this is a goodpoint to bring this up.
You know you go to a trade show, you spend your company's money
, you take time out of, you takean employee, say, out of the
store, like for simple, when youcome to Soho Expo, we have the
(32:42):
best education in the land, Imean, and we have geared it now
towards a business education day, okay, so whenever
manufacturers come to our showsand the retailers attend our
shows.
I think it would be great if wecould go back to the discount
(33:04):
you get is because you are thereat that show, you've had
one-on-one time to do yourpromotional calendar, to talk to
them about your anniversarysale, to say, hey, earth Day's
Monday, I need stuff to promoteyou, and that kind of thing.
Those were the benefits.
(33:25):
For me when I first startedgoing to a trade show was that
that's where I made all myrelationships.
That's where I met Amanda,that's where I made all my
relationships.
That's where I met Amanda.
It's where I met you for thefirst time, tina, you know.
So I think that getting awayfrom that is a mistake because
you still need that time to gettogether and network.
(33:46):
I also belong to Infra.
I would love to see everysingle independent retailer
belong to Infra.
It's a buying group.
It is completely different fromSEMPA.
Sempa is someone thatrepresents independence in
manufacturing, retailing,brokerage, nutritional
(34:08):
counselors.
They cover a people side,whereas Infra covers procedural
things and we are a buying group.
So collectively, you know,we're stronger together.
So I feel like manufacturersstill need to respect and work
(34:30):
with us with discounts a littlestronger, because work with us
with discounts a little strongerbecause some of the
manufacturers will give, say, aWhole Foods or a Sprouts a
six-month lead time on one SKU.
Let's just say, maybe it's aweight loss product and it comes
in powder and it comes in apill.
(34:50):
Well, they want an exclusive onthe pill.
So a lot of times that happens.
Well, the problem with that iswhen we as a retailer go in and
say, well, why it's just oneskew?
I mean, why is that soimportant, you know, for them,
whereas it's all our people areasking us for and we can't get
(35:10):
it.
And you know a lot when theiradvice to me is, well, tell them
to go online and get it.
That doesn't make me happy,that doesn't make me feel good,
it doesn't make me feel heard,it doesn't make me feel
appreciated for the work and theeducation that I give their
consumers, my customers, ontheir product.
(35:34):
So more just a level playingfield.
Give you the opportunity to doit as well, exactly, and we need
a level playing field.
So I think again, there are alot of companies that have very
strongly adhered to MAP.
I love to see every one of mymanufacturers, you know, doing
(35:57):
that.
Amanda, you have championedthat work and I thank you and
applaud you and Chase, for allthat y'all have brought to the
industry.
I mean, you've served a very,very important role that was
being neglected and it was notbeing looked at.
Now because of their work.
(36:17):
You know let me blow herwhistle a minute Because of
their work.
One of the first thingsmanufacturers will say well, we
have a map policy.
You know, because we have beentaught and schooled and drilled
that in a survival sense and alevel playing field arena,
(36:40):
everybody has to have rules thatthey follow, just general,
basic, respectful rules.
And I think manufacturers needto continue doing what they're
doing for map policing findingthe offenders.
You know they're bad pennies.
Every industry's got them.
(37:00):
You know we're not immune to it.
You know we're really not.
But, uh, but yeah, a levelplaying field is, frankly, all
we need.
You know we, we've been doingthe rest forever.
You know, um, most of thecompanies were built on our
backs, so you know it'd be niceto be thanked for that and have
(37:23):
promotional calendars that comeout before the month.
You know that you need to bepromoting them in and you know
just some organizational thingson their part that help us do a
better job at what we do, whichis passing on discounts.
You can't be successful ifyou're not.
You're working with yourmanufacturers, you're getting
(37:44):
discounts and then you'rekeeping it to help your margin.
Well, that's not how you makemoney.
You make money by making turnsand giving people good value and
making them feel that they'renot getting ripped off when they
come to your store, when theycome to your store, but to feel
(38:05):
like they're supporting localand they're supporting a
business that has been anindustry for far longer than the
American Medical Association'seven been recognized.
So you know we're not going togo away.
The health of the independentretailer is good Let me be the
(38:26):
one to say that because it isgood and we have the ability to
do a lot of things we really do.
But manufacturers do need togive us a level playing field.
That's a good point, amanda.
Tina Smith (38:38):
Well, renee, this brings us to an interesting
point, because you were namedWhole Foods Magazine Retailer of
the Year, so you're doing a tonof really successful things.
So when you talk about thehealth of the industry growing
well, I think that you're ashining North Star for people to
look at, and I know you do alot in your community and
(39:00):
locally and a little bit lessonline.
So people are talking aboutonline all the time and, of
course, I do a lot of thingsonline, but you have proven that
it doesn't all have to beonline.
You're doing things to show upin your community that are very
localized and that are notnecessarily digital.
So tell us more about that.
(39:21):
Give us some insights on yoursecrets digital.
Renee Southard (39:23):
So tell us more about that.
Give us some insights on yoursecrets.
Well, I think that number onethe community that you open up
your store in that is your hub.
That is the place that you needto go in as a retailer and find
out what are the needs of thiscommunity, what are the needs of
(39:45):
these people?
I, very early on and I thinkit's why I love retail is I've
really found a lot of value indonating my time and service to
communities.
I started.
My first was I did substituteteaching for my kids' schools.
(40:07):
So you know my children are intheir 40s now, so you know
that's a long time ago.
But I was on the AIDS Councilwhen all of that was first
coming around.
I was part of Civitans.
First coming around, I was partof Civitans.
(40:31):
I did the Girls and Boys Cluband what that did for me just
those three.
It helped introduce me toleaders in my community.
Okay, so join your Rotary Clubs, join your Civitans, support
your Boys and girls clubs.
Then I got on the board of mycity and it's called Keep
Gastonia Beautiful and I was onthat board for close to 20 years
(40:51):
.
Emily, now my general managerat the store, sits on that board
and I feel like it's importantfor someone from our store to
always be on that board becausewe do recycling.
We do.
You know the touch points, thefarmers markets, the you know
all of that.
We're a bee city, so you knowemily's very, very involved in
(41:16):
in that movement and it's anationwide movement.
You know there's all kinds ofcities that are that are bee
cities, but you know it's aboutbringing that awareness to your
community through learning whoyour community is, you know.
So those were really importantthings to me.
And then I don't think you canbe a successful retailer without
(41:39):
your tribe.
You know we consider ourselves.
We had a wonderful friend,leslie Larson.
She always called it the tribeand you can't do it without your
tribe, you really can't.
So it's, I think it's being aservant.
(42:02):
You know you're a volunteer,you're serving your community.
You've got to be active in it.
Or you don't know who you'reserving, you don't know.
You know what you're doing andthat time spent, or that time
that you delegate maybe one ofyour managers to be, you know,
(42:24):
in Rotary or Civitans or any ofthe community groups, your
Chamber of Commerce, you knowthings like that.
We did that as well.
You know, but you can't doeverything, you know.
But over the years you know youneed to share the love.
I mean, you know, as I came offthe AIDS council I went into
(42:45):
the Boys and Girls Club.
So you know, I just personallyI've always kept myself in a
serving place because that's howI learned and that's how I know
what to do.
Sempa probably grew me more thananything, because going on the
board of my peers the peoplethat you know I respect, I look
(43:10):
up to, I idolize there's somethat I just think are just such
amazing people.
So many of them are amazingpeople, but they all
collectively represent a tribeof like-mindedness that we all
share.
And I think, giving away Ilearned that the more I gave,
(43:34):
the more I got.
I mean it's that whole.
You can't out give God, right,I mean.
So the more you give, you'realways going to get so much more
back, because you do thingslike that from your heart and
without another motive.
You know you just do it becauseit's the right thing to do and
(43:57):
I think people care about doingthe right thing and I think it's
important that they do that andI know that that without I've
been with the SEMPA now 11 years.
We usually have 10 year terms tobe on the board, but you know I
did the education and the roadshows for five, maybe six years.
(44:18):
Then I went on to the executivecommittee.
So I've always segued my timeand that's something that is
important.
You've got to see what'simportant to you.
That was during a time thatindependents were suffering,
infra was still growing.
It wasn't what it is today, youknow.
I remember when INFRA startedso and SEMPA is 53 years old,
(44:43):
you know old in producing tradeshows and I believe we're
60-some years as an association.
So you know it's being involvedWithout being involved, without
going to trade shows, withouthaving the peer support that I
do from the retailers.
(45:04):
Marie Montemaro I call.
She has lovies down inWilmington.
Everyone in our industry knowsMarie, she's just, she is
absolutely a light and you knowshe is part of a community that
believes very much as I do, thatyou support the people that are
(45:26):
doing what you do, that lovewhat you love, that are involved
in helping and making you knowthe world a better place for us
and for our kids, you know.
So I think those were some ofthe key things and I'll always
go back.
I'll never take any honorwithout saying.
(45:48):
My staff is 100% of the successand the wonderful honor.
It was to be Retailer of theYear.
It was quite.
It was a gift for all of us.
It should have been retailerswith the S because it takes a
(46:12):
village.
It definitely takes a village.
Tina Smith (46:17):
It's so fun and I'm so thankful to you that you
recognize your staff the way youdo, because I think it does
take a team to do pretty muchanything, and it's so lovely to
hear you You're the leader ofthat group.
The buck stops with you.
You've taken so much risk tohave that store open and you
(46:38):
have a moment where people arehonoring you and you turn around
and honor other people.
You have a moment where peopleare honoring you and you turn
around and honor other people,and that's just.
I'm grateful to hear thatbecause and I think this
industry is like that I thinkthere's so many people that are
part of this industry that havegrateful hearts like you do,
which is one reason I love to behere as well.
Renee Southard (46:59):
Thank you, thank you, I appreciate that I really
do so what's next for you guys?
Tina Smith (47:08):
What's next for you guys at the organic marketplace?
Is there anything new andexciting that's coming down the
pike?
Renee Southard (47:14):
Well, I mean, I think that we will continue to
remain relevant.
I mean, isn't that really thegoal that everyone has in
business, that you have in yourbusiness Whenever you chart out
to make a change in your life,like stuff that's going on with
(47:35):
you?
Amanda, you know it's one ofthose things that you're like
okay next, you know what's goingto be next.
I don't know, I might do someconsulting.
I definitely love being out inmy yard and dealing with all
that.
The spring's been real allergyintensive this year.
(47:57):
I don't know what's going onwith that.
Maybe it's, you know, our earthgetting a little warmer, but
nevertheless, I think organicmarketplace has its place.
You know, we you don't go onautopilot ever, really, you know
(48:18):
, but I think we have theformula that works in our market
.
I don't really have that muchinterest in opening up more
stores.
I really like keeping the storethat I have, the space that
whenever somebody comes in fromout of town, they go oh my gosh,
(48:38):
we have the best health foodstore.
I've got to take you there.
These people are great.
I mean, sometimes we're likecartoon characters.
We just entertain people and dowhat we do.
We give away a lot of stuff,because that's just how we are.
Retailers have never been knownas great business people, but
(48:59):
we've got a big old heart.
We're getting ready to do ourEarth Day event and you know we
played with.
Everybody tries to do eventsright and Earth Day seems to be
our national holiday for, youknow, the natural health
industry.
So everyone starts saying, well, everybody's doing it on
(49:22):
Saturday.
So finally, I just said youknow what, I don't care what day
Earth Day falls on, that's theday that we're going to do it.
So you know, that's kind ofwhat we've done.
But as for new things forOrganic Marketplace, I feel like
we will be very stronglyinvolved.
(49:45):
We will remain stronglyinvolved with SEMPA, because I
can't do what I do without thesupport of an organization and
you know it only cost me $100 ayear.
It's something that I find is agreat value year.
(50:09):
It's something that I find is agreat value.
We will probably enlarge.
I know Emily does a lot for thestore.
She's my general manager andshe's been with me I think nine
years at this point and she doesa great job.
But she is very, very active inthe functions that go on with
SEMPA as an emerging leader, butalso with INFRA as doing their
(50:32):
share groups, because that'swhere we learn some business
savvy.
That's where we have, you know,understand why our buying club
does or chooses or does thethings.
You know that they areencouraging us to do and you
know we learn from that.
And Emily is very, very good atbeing present and listening.
(50:56):
I know Amanda, you know Emilywell and you know so probably in
the future, you know she'll bemuch more involved with SEMPA,
potentially maybe even the board, but definitely with Infra,
because you know it is one ofthe things that help us
financially remain relevant,whereas I feel like SEMPA is
(51:19):
where I learn and keep all myrelationships strong and alive
and get my education.
So they're both equallyimportant.
They really are, but that's forme.
You know, every independentshould consider definitely being
a part of both of them, becauseit does help you be one of the
(51:43):
best independents that you canbe by learning from others.
And people in our industry areso beautiful in that they are so
willing to share theirsuccesses.
Like I know, I put mypromotional calendar, um, in the
resource library because youknow it doesn't belong to me.
(52:04):
Somebody gave it to me, youknow.
So you know it's like passingit on and I feel like that
moving forward.
We are in our 31st year thisyear and that's exciting, but I
feel like that you know it's ourresponsibility to help any up
(52:26):
and coming retailer or any onethat is wanting to join the
industry.
You know as many people thatare sort of my age that are
retiring, and you know you'reseeing stores close.
You're seeing groups, though,like Healthy Edge Group.
You know they help retailers tocome and collectively they, you
(52:51):
know, have a great buying power.
So they again can, you know,help maybe a mom and pop that
didn't have good strategicplanning to where you know they
had succession plans and stufflike that.
But you know it's my job, it'smy store's job, to always be a
(53:13):
resource.
I want to always be a resourcefor manufacturers.
We have manufacturers that callus Ryan Sensenbrenner with
Enzymedica.
I love it.
He'll call me up.
I'm on a national sales call.
We've got a question for aretailer.
Do you have a minute?
You know it's.
I mean, that's an honor that hecalls me and does that.
(53:37):
You know, no matter what I'mdoing, I would stop and go talk
to him.
So you know, hopefully I'llalways be able to continue to do
stuff like that.
Amanda Ballard (53:50):
Yeah Well, renee , this has just been so lovely
speaking with you.
You truly are a gem, and I'mjust very thankful to know you
and just all of the knowledgethat you've acquired over your
31 years in business.
It's just incredible, and Ijust thank you so much for your
willingness to share it just sofreely.
(54:12):
It's truly a gift to all of us,so thank you so much for being
with us today.
Renee Southard (54:16):
Well, thanks for asking.
I really appreciate you and Iappreciate the job that you guys
are doing, and I appreciate thejob that you guys are doing,
and you know, gettinginformation and putting a forum
together where people can reallylearn other things that they
can bring into their business ordo, or personal, you know,
personal growth, which we allneed to continue to do.
(54:37):
But, thank you, I reallyappreciate being a part of the
podcast you.
Tina Smith (54:45):
I really appreciate being a part of the podcast.
Yeah, it's been great havingyou here and we just look
forward to all of the wisdom forthe rest of the audience that's
listening today, and if theyhave any questions or they want
to contact you directly to pickyour brain, how would they get
in touch with you?
Renee Southard (54:58):
Renee.
Email is a really.
I check my email a couple oftimes a day and, uh, it's just
my name, renee R-E-N-E-E, uh,o-m-p, which is like initials
for organic marketplace at Gmail.
So that's.
That's usually my best contact.
Tina Smith (55:19):
Perfect.
Well, it's been great havingyou and we look forward to
seeing you at Soho.
Renee Southard (55:24):
Okay, all right, we'll see you next week
actually.
Amanda Ballard (55:27):
Bye-bye.
Thanks so much for listening tothe Natural Products Marketer
Podcast.
We hope you found this episodeto be super helpful.
Make sure you check out theshow notes for any of those
valuable resources that wementioned on today's episode.
Tina Smith (55:41):
And, before you go, we would love for you to give us
a review.
Follow, like and subscribe onApple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
or wherever you're listeningtoday, and make sure you join us
for our next episode, where wegive you more marketing tips so
that you can reach more peopleand change more lives.
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