Here to help

Liz Parry catches up with Julie Goodwin, owner of Natural Health, Hertford, an independent health food store, community and therapy centre, based in Hertfordshire

The Hertfordshire-based independent health store and therapy centre, Natural Health, has undergone a revamp in recent times, including redecoration and a new programme of events.

Owner Julie Goodwin is thrilled with how popular the educational events have been and says that they have helped to attract new customers to the store.

Julie said: “A recent talk on medicinal mushrooms was extremely popular, with over 100 people attending. We had some great feedback from that. We have a beginners’ yoga course starting soon, plus more nutritional talks. Our customers are very interested in all aspects of natural health and are keen to learn and gather information.”

Other popular events have included a skincare workshop where attendees learned about the Gua Sha technique, and also a tasting session for vegan and gluten-free afternoon teas.

Julie has owned the Hertford store since 1997, and until last year she also owned a second store in Welwyn Garden City. The Welwyn store has now closed, enabling Julie to focus on her original shop.

She said: “There’s a real community feel in Hertford. We’ve known a lot of our customers for many, many years. Some of the mums who shop in the store now used to come in when they were children.”

New gift range

The shop sells a wide range of whole foods, supplements, personal care and cleaning products. Above the shop are therapy rooms, where around 20 practitioners offer a range of complementary therapies from acupuncture to reflexology. The therapy rooms have recently been redecorated as part of the revamp.

Another new introduction to the store is a range of spiritual gifts, including crystals, jewellery and yoga accessories, which are proving to be extremely popular. “The gifts are bringing in a whole new generation of customers,” said Julie.

Whole foods interest

Julie’s staff members have a huge range of product knowledge and receive continuous professional development training in natural healthcare. She says: “Our staff are always on hand to offer advice. The main health issues we are asked about are things like stress, anxiety, digestive issues, blood sugar control and menopause.”

Julie and her team are finding that a lot of customers are now using the ZOE personalised nutrition app to find the right foods for their health needs. As a result, there has been an increased interest in whole foods, with nuts and seeds, gluten-free flours and psyllium husk proving to be particularly popular.

The new elements and programme of events are working well for the team at Natural Health, Hertford, and Julie is keen to keep things fresh and interesting for her customers. “We’re tapping into a different market and trying out new things,” she says. “We’re constantly learning and adapting.”