Posts Tagged ‘Retailer Story’

Retailer Story: Jim and Dorie Starks of Lori’s Natural Food Center

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Be Good To The Earth … Be Good To Yourself … At Lori’s Natural Foods Center

By: Marsha Bonecutter

Attention: Be sure you read all the way to the end of Lori’s Natural Food Center Retailer Story! Lori’s has customized limited time special offer for you at the bottom of this post. The limited time offer ends October 17th 2010, and you definitely don’t want to miss it!

By the time Jim Starks was 25 years old; his life experiences far outweighed his years. Jim was a decorated World War II veteran, having been awarded the Bronze Star for rescuing a fellow soldier during a battle in Germany. Jim was also a graduate of Syracuse University, with a degree in marketing. In 1950, Jim began a 31 year career with the Bausch and Lomb Optical Company. In 1951, he reconnected with Dorie Formicola, (they had met briefly in 1949) and they began dating. In 1952, the couple was married. If you think that sounds like a very full and rewarding life, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet!

Raising a family in the fifties may have been simpler than it is today, but it certainly was not any easier. Dorie and Jim planted and maintained a garden and canned and preserved their harvest every year, supplying the family with healthy foods year round. This was the normal routine for the Starks’ family up until about 4 years ago. You cannot be an avid and successful gardener without developing a love and appreciation for wholesome foods. That was the foundation for the next phase of Jim Stark’s already impressive career.

Lori's Natural Foods Center

After wearing many “hats” at Bausch and Lomb, including marketing, scientific instrumentation, materials management, and personnel relations, Jim took an early retirement in 1981. He was only 56 years old. “He didn’t really retire”, laughs Dorie, “he just refocused!” Jim said, “I was looking for something else I could do and be proud of.”

After searching for a time, Jim found a store called the Bread Depot and bought the place. “They carried one line of vitamins and a small quantity of bulk foods like flour, grains and nuts,” remembers Jim. “Gradually, we replaced the products that were there with natural and organic products, plus wellness products including vitamins.” Dorie and Jim began looking for a new name for their store. “We submitted many names of natural food stores,” explains Dorie, “but they were rejected because they were already used.” Their lawyer suggested putting a name in the title. Jim chose the name of his 19 year old partner…his daughter, Lori! “Lori’s just sounded better than Jim’s,” said Dorie. Lori’s Natural Foods Center opened in September of 1981.

Lori's Natural Foods Organic Produce

Located in the Genesee Valley Regional Market, at 900 Jefferson Road in Rochester, NY, Lori’s has expanded many times to accommodate their growth and now boasts a 14,500 square foot store carrying a complete line of groceries, including foods for individuals with food sensitivities, including wheat free, gluten free, low sodium, sugar free and dairy free. Lori’s has a huge selection of organic produce from local organic farmers. Bulk granola cereals, soy milk and yogurts are some of Jim’s personal favorites. An excellent variety of environmentally sound paper and cleaning products, personal care items and supplements can also be found at Lori’s. Customers looking for better choices are regulars at Lori’s, because Lori’s prides themselves on carrying products that other stores don’t have.

Jim and Dorie, now 85 and 81 years old, can still be found at Lori’s every Wednesday, where Jim does some ordering and writes articles for the monthly newsletter. “There are still people who stop to remind us that they have been with us since the first small store way back in 1981,” says Jim.

Berlin Natural Bakery Bread Loris Natural Foods

Lori works mostly from her home these days, quite a change from when she and her father were the only two employees and were at the store all day every-day that the store was open! Lori’s husband, John, has taken the reins and is at the store every day. Lori, who shies away from the limelight, is seen pictured below with John. Yes, she has a bag on her head and he is a banana!

Jim and Dorie Starks Loris Natural Food Center

Some years ago, John and Lori were approached by Bill Mulligan, Senior, an affiliate of the Genesee Valley Regional Market. A musician, Bill had a very catchy tune floating around in his head. John and Lori loved the song, and awhile later, after some “tweaking” in a sound studio they finally used it for a local TV ad. John and some other employees dressed up like fruits and vegetables for the commercial. The jingle is one of those that you just can’t keep from singing along with. It appealed to adults and children alike and is still very popular today… and so is Lori’s Natural Foods, where “you can be good to the earth and good to yourself every time you shop at Lori’s.”

*Lori’s Natural Food Center Limited-Time Special Offers*

To Celebrate our 29th Anniversary Here Is Our Special Offer To You!

29% Off These Two Products Below

1) Berlin Natural Bakery Whole Grain Spelt Bread

2) Berlin Natural Bakery Sprouted Spelt Bread

To take advantage of this special please mention this article to the checker by saying “I saw the article on Berlin Natural Bakery’s website” to get the discount on your selected products!

Offer Expires: October 17, 2010

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Retailer Story: Dan and Ann Berndt of The Supplement Station

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Attention: Be sure you read all the way to the end of The Supplement Station Retailer Story! The Supplement Station has customized limited time special offer for you at the bottom of this post. The limited time offer ends September 6th and you definitely don’t want to miss it!

“Get On Board For Good Health!”

The Supplement Station

Nancy Holmes

By Marsha Bonecutter

All aboard! Next stop, Health and Wellness! Dan and Ann Berndt, owners of The Supplement Station, at 1139 East Pidgeon Road in Salem, Ohio, have been passengers on the wellness train for many years.

Ann pursued her deep-seated passion for health and healing by entering into nurses training right out of high school. She worked as a delivery room nurse and then for a doctor in private practice. During that time she met and married her husband, Dan.

The Supplement Station

Kris Evert and Julie Singleton…Sprouted Biblical, yum!

Dan had many diverse interests that resulted in several businesses over the years, including, car washes, an auto parts store, farms and a feed store—to name a few. One such venture was largely responsible for Dan becoming a staunch advocate of supplements and natural remedies.

The couple had purchased a herd of beef cattle. All was well for awhile—then disaster struck. The cows began calving too early, and then dying. The calves also died. Local veterinarians were consulted and then state vets were called in, but no one could find a solution. It was almost miraculous when a salesman approached the Berndts with a supplement that he swore their cows would eat and would eliminate the problem. “I was amazed,” said Ann, “the cows practically fought over the feed supplement, and they got better!” “As it turned out,” she explained, “the cows rumen (stomach) bacteria were dead and they could not digest their food, so they were actually starving with full stomachs.”

It was a hard lesson to learn, but it led Dan and Ann to open a feed store handling, among other products, the supplement that cured their cows, which was a mineral with “live yeast culture” or the equivalent of probiotics. Eventually, the couple sold the very healthy herd of cattle and chalked the hard learned lesson up to experience.

The Supplement Station

Ann Berndt and Sandy Roberts in the “Vitamin Room”

Some years later, the Berndts became involved in a multi-level company selling vitamins to their friends. “We were taking grape seed extract for health issues and were being helped,” explained Ann, “we were also selling to our friends, but the prices kept going up, so we decided to go direct to a manufacturer to get better prices.” This turned out to be a very good decision for Ann. “We were shocked at how much less a good quality product was when not purchased through multi-level.” At that time, Dan was operating an auto parts and oil business in Salem. “We started buying a few vitamins and selling them in one corner of the store,” recalls Ann, “we wanted to see if there was enough need for such a business in town. Soon, people started coming in and wanting more and more products, so we opened as a health food store in 2000.”

The Supplement Station, so called because their first location was beside a railroad track, now has three rooms to serve the folks in and around Salem.

The “vitamin room” has an unprecedented assortment of vitamins, herbs, other supplements and homeopathic remedies including Baxyl, Silver Biotics, Poison Ivy Relief, Kidney Formula and Graviola. Whatever your health issues are, you are sure to find what you need here.

Make-up, shampoo, lotion, soap and even toothpaste and toothbrushes can be found in the “health and beauty” room. Of course, these products are all natural and homeopathic. Check out this room for all of your personal care needs. Not for women only, there are personal care items for men also.

The Supplement Station

A full line of groceries is stocked in the third room at The Supplement Station. Some of the items you will find are cereal, ice cream, raw vinegar, juices, rice chips, grass fed beef, tea and coffee, and, of course, Berlin Natural Bakery Breads! Healthy and nutritious eating is made easy for you with the selection found here.

When asked what she loves most about operating The Supplement Station, Ann was quick to answer, “Seeing people regain their health by taking supplements or learning to eat in a healthier way is very rewarding. Knowing that you have the opportunity to help people live a better quality of life by educating them about what they put in and on their bodies is a good feeling.”

The Supplement Station

Dan and Ann Berndt have a lifetime of education and experience to share with you. Along with their friendly, knowledgeable and well informed staff and their quality products, they will guide you toward the healthy lifestyle you seek. There is no doubt that The Supplement Station should be your “last stop” on the health and wellness train, where their motto is: “we care about your health”.

*******The Supplement Station Special Offers*******

20% Off All Berlin Natural Bakery Products (Including Noodles)

20% Off KingBio Poison Ivy Relief

20% Off Bragg Vinegar quarts

ON SALE

Supplement Station Brand Vitamin D-3 10,000 IU 60 day supply

Reg $12.99  Sale $9.99

Supplement Station Brand Vitamin D-3 50,000 IU 60 day supply

Reg $17.99  Sale $12.99

To take advantage of these specials please mention this article to the checker by saying “I saw the article on Berlin Natural Bakery’s website” to get the discount on your selected products!

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Retailer Story: Joe and Gloria Novak of Queen’s Nutritional Products, the “Healthy Place To Shop”

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Attention: Be sure you read all the way to the end of the Queens Nutritional Products Retailer Story! Queens Nutritional Products has customized limited time special offer for you at the bottom of this post. The limited time offer ends August 23rd and you definitely don’t want to miss it!

Queens Nutritional Products

From mining engineer, to accountant, to health food store owner, Gloria Novak has stood by her husband, Joe, in all of his endeavors. When Joe changed careers and started his own accounting business, Gloria helped him out, but found that accounting in general was somewhat “boring”. Joe’s first account was Queen’s Nutritional Products, a successful health food store in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The owners, whose name was Queen, had started the business because of the wife’s poor health; they were looking for alternative ways to help her. Over the years, as Joe built a relationship with the owner, he became interested in the different health foods and supplements that Queens carried. “In 1979, when the Queens’ retired,” said Gloria, “we had a chance to buy the store and of course, the rest is history!”

Joe and Gloria Novak

Today, at ages 75 and 88 respectively, Gloria and Joe still work every day—a living testament to the healthy lifestyle they adopted years ago. They are joined by their son, Joe Jr. and his wife Lori Sue, to make their success truly a family affair.

Queens Nutritional Products Store Front

Located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue in Allentown, Queens was a thriving business when Gloria and Joe purchased it, but the couple was not content with the “status quo”. They proceeded to open not one, but four more stores! “Eventually, we sold them, but it was inspiring to create that…expansion”, remembers Gloria. Three of the stores, located in Emmaus, Lebanon, and Souderton Pennsylvania, are still open, each under new management. What an impressive tribute to Gloria and Joe Novak at the parent store.

Another tribute to Gloria and Joe which epitomizes the fundamentals of Queens, is the fact that just six out of their 15 employees have been with the company for a collective total of 115 years! Please check the photographs below to see: Kevin Achey, 35 years, Joe Novak, Jr., 31 years, Peg Sabella, 19 years, Barbara Fluck, 12 years, Diana Pearson, 10 years, and Lori Sue Novak, 8 years. These loyal employees are quite obviously considered “family” even though not all of them possess the surname Novak.

Queens Nutritional Products Staff Photo

BACK ROW:  Joe Novak, Jr., Peg Sabella, Barbara Fluck, Gary Martof, Lisa Rode
FRONT ROW:  Diana Pearson, Houda Salloum, Samera Dayoub, Linda Powell, Lori Sue Novak, Terri Chavar

A wholesale business specializing in nuts and dried fruits operated expertly by Joe Novak, Jr., is another family undertaking. Some of the varieties of nuts are roasted right on the premises—mouthwatering! —and the driver delivers to New Jersey, Lancaster PA, and other nearby destinations. The business is growing more and more popular. “Today it is largely organic,” explains Joe Jr., “it really compliments our retail business.” You can choose from a wonderful assortment of nuts and fruits, such as organic dried mulberries, organic multi-colored popcorn and roasted cashews. Gloria laughs, “The smell of roasting nuts can’t be beat!”

Be sure to stop in today to complete your grocery list with a great selection of organic produce, grass fed beef, free range chicken, and of course, Berlin Natural Bakery breads. The homeopathic remedies and vitamins section at Queen’s Nutritional Products is likely the largest selection in the area. Don’t forget your health and beauty items such as natural soaps, shampoos and make-up.

Queens Nutritional Products

Ross Boozer, Kevin Achey

In total, Queen’s Nutritional Products has been serving the community for nearly forty years, thirty-one of those years under the expertise, care and love of Gloria and Joe Novak. When asked what she loves most about running her own natural health store, Gloria replied, “I love the people we meet: people committed to living healthier lives. It’s very rewarding to be a part of helping people get their health back. They come in looking for alternatives to traditional protocol and come back to tell us how well the products work.”

At Queen’s Nutritional Products, they go out of their way to serve their customers with the best quality products at the best possible price. A local landmark, and an asset to the community, the store has represented health and wellness through nutrition and education for many years. Thank you, Gloria and Joe Novak, wishing you continued success at the “healthy place to shop”.

*******Queens Nutritional Products Special Offer*******

25% off on all Berlin Natural Bakery Breads Products

To take advantage of this special offer please mention this article to the checker by saying “I saw the article on Berlin Natural Bakery’s website” to get the discount!

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Retailer Story: Juanita Ketcham of Back To Basics

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Attention: Be sure you read all the way to the end of the Back to Basics Retailer Story! Back to Basics has customized a special offer for you ending July 11th you won’t want to miss!

Get Healthy…At Back To Basics Organics

Back To Basics Organics

By: Marsha Bonecutter

When we are young, most of us take good health for granted. If we do become ill, we tend to look for the “quick fix”—medications, either prescribed or over the counter, to alleviate the problem. In her early twenties, Juanita Ketcham, owner of Back to Basics Organics in Knox, Indiana found herself in just that type of “no win” situation. “I was on several medications,” says Juanita, “and still having many problems that would not go away.” Thankfully, she stumbled upon a co-op who told her about an herbalist. “After only two weeks on her regimen, I felt much better,” said Juanita. As she (the herbalist) started to analyze my health habits, I found I had alot to learn. She took me through the steps slowly beginning with supplements and moving on to adding and eliminating things from my diet.”

While working closely with her herbalist and making many health changes, Juanita travelled regularly over two hours from her home to get the proper foods and supplements she needed. “During my second year of healing,” remembers Juanita, “the co-op I was shopping at closed. Not knowing exactly what prompted her to do so, Juanita attended the “going out of business” auction for the co-op. “Thinking I was just going to store items in my basement, I was inspired to bid on all kinds of things,” laughed Juanita, “including the Coke cooler.” The memory still brings chills as Juanita recalls a voice behind her encouraging her to bid on the cooler. “The voice was so loud I turned around twice, but no one was there. God was guiding me, but at that moment I was down to my last five or ten dollars, I had no idea how I would validate the purchase to my husband, or how I would get it home, so I did not get the cooler.” That evening, Juanita’s husband, Ron, surprised her with a bonus check he had recieved from work. “I could have purchased the cooler after all!”

Back To Basics

In the days following the auction, Juanita kept mulling over what had inspired her to bid on the cooler. Suddenly, it was clear that she should open a health food store. “I had no idea how to open a business,” said Juanita. “It was definitely divine intervention.” Every bit of knowledge she needed, such as how to get a business license, how to find an available store front, how to find vendors and distributors—just seemed to fall into her lap. “It was a miracle, but just thirty days later, on June 1st. 1987, I opened Back to Basics……without a cooler!”

Divine intervention had accomplished the impossible, the business had opened in just thirty days, but Juanita still had many hurdles ahead. “We opened in a little store on Main Street in downtown Knox. I was only able to fill half of the small space, so I filled the other half with consignment crafters.” The first week they did $38.00 in revenue, but Juanita knew that it was a spiritual calling she had to follow. In only one year Back to Basics moved to their present location in Knox Mall. “We have four times the square feet we started with,” laughs Juanita, “and are almost out of space.”

Back To Basics

You can find everything you need at Back to Basics. Locally raised organic produce from small family farms, grass fed meats also raised on small local farms, quality supplements such as Nature’s Sunshine and Flora, and “of course, our wonderful Berlin Natural Bakery breads fresh baked for us! Come in to shop and visit our Organic Café. We serve juices and smoothies, coffee and tea, soup and sandwiches. There is something for everyone!”

It’s true Back to Basics has products for everyone, but you can also count on solid philosophies, skill and teaching to help you restore health and wellness to your life. “We are here to teach you how to feed your body so your body can heal itself and we carry what you need to make that happen.” As the name implies, (borrowed from a treasured Reader’s Digest book), Back to Basics and Juanita and Ron Ketcham take us to another level of wellness and healing. “I love to see the hope return to people’s faces and the hugs and blessings they give me as their bodies respond to being fed the right foods and supplements chosen specifically for them.”

Many thanks, Juanita, and we look forward to many more years of success. Get healthy at Back to Basics Organics!

*******Back To Basics Special Offers*******

1) Buy ONE get one at 50% off on all Berlin Natural Bakery Products

2) 25% off Nature’s Sunshine Food Enzymes

Take advantage of this special offer today by saying to the cashier “I saw the retailer story on Back To Basics at Berlin Natural Bakery’s Website and would like to take advantage of my special discount on Berlin Natural Bakery’s/Enzyme product.”

Special Offer Expires July 11, 2010.

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Retailer Story: Rick Arledge of Health In Hand

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Attention: Be sure you read all the way to the end of the Health In Hand’s Retailer Story! Health In Hand has customized a special offer for you ending June 26th you won’t want to miss!

Hold On To Health… At A Health in Hand

Health In Hand Logo

As a young man in his teens, Rick Arledge chose a demanding and very effective hobby to get in shape—weight lifting. But Rick didn’t stop there. By the time he reached his early twenties, he was competing in two hour long bike races. It is no wonder Rick has such a vast knowledge of health and nutrition. “I had to fuel my body with the right food,” says Rick. “Organic food and vitamins had to be part of my training and research had to be part of improving my workouts.”

Health In Hand

One might surmise that with such a physically taxing hobby such as bike racing, that Rick had a desk job. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Rick has been remodeling houses his whole life. “I’m currently working on a house built in 1950,” Rick explained, “but I was always into the health aspect of things and I was looking for an outlet to help educate the public on how to take better care of themselves without the use of drugs and chemicals.” A friend of a friend told Rick about a store for sale in Lancaster Ohio. “I have always loved the beautiful Hocking Hills area and had bought property there, so it seemed like a perfect time to strike out on a new venture.”

In August of 2000 Rick opened Health In Hand on Lincoln Avenue in Lancaster. The hard work and discipline Rick adhered to in the early days paid off when he opened the store. “All of my training and research made me a good source of information, and I am happy to share my knowledge with my customers.” Helping others has always been the major motivator for Rick. Over any other reason, helping others was the inspiration to open Health In Hand. Even the unique name Rick chose says it all. “If you think about the things you touch everyday, either you have ‘health in your hands’ or things that will harm you. Which will you choose today?”

Health In Hand

Business grew, and Rick always hoped for more space and a better location. “I called the building (on Lincoln) “the cave”, laughs Rick, “it had tiny windows high up across the front of the store and no other windows at all. It was hard to display the products and you had to have the lights on all the time.”

In November of 2004, Health In Hand moved to their present location at 639 North Pierce Avenue in Lancaster. The store is bigger, not to mention bright and cheerful with private parking– so no more fighting for a parking space. Stop by for a wonderful selection of the finest quality fresh, natural, organic and whole foods, nutritional products, and body care products. “I believe in every product that I sell. I love Berlin Bread, of course, and I recommend Berlin to alot of customers. I also use Berlin products for my family.” Rick also carries two favorite brands of supplements- Garden of Life and New Chapter. Rick advocates probiotics and essential fatty acids and tells all of his customers to “get wheat out of their diet.”

Health In Hand

Something must be working, and working very well, because though Rick stopped racing bikes approximately 15 years ago, he still rides a bike on a regular basis. “I still ride, and God willing, will continue to ride until I’m just not able to do it any longer.” “Natural has worked for me,” says Rick, “and in ten years of helping others I have seen that it really works for them, as well. I have been blessed to be able and willing to help so many people and at the same time have so many helping me support my family.”

In addition to all the great products you can find at Health In Hand, you can also always count on genuine concern and commitment to you as their customer. “We will always try to help, or steer you in the right direction to best help yourself,” promises Rick, “that has always been our commitment to the customer. Everyday we strive to better educate ourselves so we can have a better educated customer.”

Many thanks to Rick Arledge and his staff and we look forward to many more years of success at Health In Hand.

*******Health In Hand Special Offer*******

15% Off All Berlin Natural Bakery Products

Take advantage of this special offer today by saying to the cashier “I saw the retailer story on Health In Hand at Berlin Natural Bakery’s Website and would like to take advantage of the special discount of 15% on Berlin Natural Bakery’s products.”

Special Offer Expires June 26, 2010.

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