Berlin, Germany—Many people turn to chocolate as a feel-good treat during stressful times. Well, the “Ahh…that’s better” effect of chocolate isn’t psychological; it’s biological, according to research published in the Journal of Proteome Research. Researchers gave 30 individuals with low to high anxiety dark chocolate (1.4 ounces) every day...
Coventry, U.K.—Taking too much selenium will negatively affect your cholesterol, say researchers from the University of Warwick. The group, led by Saverio Stranges, published data in the Journal of Nutrition indicating that those with higher levels of selenium in their blood (more than 1.20 µmol/L) had increased total and...
There may be another reason to feel guilty about choosing to eat that burger for dinner, beyond the realms of animal rights or fat content—the environment. But, can the same logic be applied to…tomatoes? According to The New York Times, labels listing carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production...
Retailer survey reveals opportunities for success. In this month’s Annual Retailer Survey, natural products retailers give new insight into success. One of the key findings from this year’s survey is that stores that stay small—less than 1,000 square feet—and focus on vitamins, supplements, and health and beauty aids, are...
Surely at some point during a shopping experience, you have walked into a store, only to be ignored by the sales staff. In these situations, you can’t help but wonder, “Does this person want my business?” Not putting the needs of your customers first is off-putting, since they count...
How a small complaint led to big sales. There are three areas in which businesses compete; people, product and place. Investing in one area takes pressure off the other two. If you pay your nutrition staff well, for example, you can spend less on your physical space. Here’s a story...
Tips for Generating Opportunities in Today’s Economy As I began researching the social media world looking for retailer opportunities, I quickly discovered many new ways to communicate directly with customers and save marketing dollars at the same time. In today’s economy, it’s important that retailers wisely manage their marketing and...
The Story of How One Retail Store Helped an Industry Grow "We have to remember the roots, the traditions of the natural health movement passed over time." In October 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). This momentous bill allows our industry to exist and gives...
Make Room for Betty Crocker and Your Local Supermarket! Many independent natural products retailers are breathing a sigh of relief because gluten-free foods are boosting sales as the economy cuts customer counts. Life is good again, at least for a while. General Mills, which makes Betty Crocker-brand baking products, says...
I can remember 12 years ago, there was a buzz about the coming of an “information highway” that would change how we do business. Then, all of a sudden, a line listing was added to my budget for Internet and web services. According to Internet World Stats, there are...
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