Scale Doesn't Matter: How Independents Beat Big Retail With Rebecca Dyck

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I might not be the most popular for my opinion, but kind of what I've shared with you is the more people who are buying vitamin and natural health products, it means that there's more customers consuming these things.
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And so it's good for everybody because there's more customers available.
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And so yes, that means you have to share some of the market with big box stores.
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But in my case, I always say that we need to compete where scale doesn't matter.
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So, you know, big box stores have a really hard time creating a really unique experience.
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They have a hard time providing great service.
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They have a hard time doing personalized things like grocery karaokes.
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They have a hard time offering education and advice, um, feeling welcome, like creating that vibe and that space in the store.
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Hi, welcome to In Conversation with.
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I'm Bruce Cole, your host.
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Thanks for joining me today.
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This is a podcast where I talk to people in the natural health industry about what's going on, and basically I help them tell their stories.
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Um, the goal is for us to share these stories in the hope that they will ultimately benefit everyone in the industry, but particularly our natural health retailers.
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Because as we say here at In Conversation with, when the retailers win, we all win.
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I'll just take a moment to thank our sponsors, our original sponsors, CANP and uh and Pravita.
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And today we also welcome the Canadian Health Food Association or the CHFA as our newest sponsor.
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Uh the support of our sponsors are greatly appreciated.
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And today I'm really glad I'm going to welcome Rebecca Dick, the chief executive officer and owner of Dad's Organic Market.
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Uh, work with three stores in Saskatchewan, two in Saskatoon and one in Regina.
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But before we welcome Rebecca, let's hear from our sponsors, Camprev, Pravita, and the CHFA.
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Hi, we're back.
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I'm very happy to welcome the aforementioned Rebecca Dick, who is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Dad's Organic Market with three locations in Sask in Saskatchewan.
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Thanks for joining me today, Rebecca.
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How's it going over there?
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Hi, it's going great.
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It's nice and sunny, and I'm so happy to be here with you, Bruce.
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Well, we've had a couple conversations over the years, and um I mean I'm a fan of dads.
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I I think the first time I went was 2010, and then I think I went once more in the the mid-2015s or something.
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So I was always very impressed with your store.
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So um I thought maybe we could um we could start by telling the listeners a little bit about dads.
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Um your in-laws, Carolyn Andick, started dads in 1989.
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Is that right?
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Yep, that's true.
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So they uh started the store.
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Um, it was obviously a lot different than it is today, but it was started kind of out of a need to find health and kind of fix some stomach issues that were going on within their family.
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And so they were just really started to look at their food and how that was impacting them.
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And then that brought them to kind of the vision of dad's, and it's kind of uh been been growing ever since.
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Wow.
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So I mean, I remember dad's as being a full service store.
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You offer everything, you're really truly like a fresh market.
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Is that is that accurate for all three stores?
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Yeah, for sure.
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The only thing that we don't really have is a bakery, um, just because logistically it's not something that that we've done.
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Um, but other than that, you can find bread at our store resource kind of from local vendors and stuff like that to keep it on the shelf.
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And obviously we have the frozen section.
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Um, but other than that, we offer yeah, meat, dairy, produce, supplements, body care, cleaning, uh, the whole bit.
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Um I'm not sure how much you get out, but are you the largest full service stores in uh in Saskatchewan?
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Yeah, definitely for like independence, we are the largest, yeah.
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Okay.
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And and really it started as a food store.
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I didn't know that.
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Yeah, that was a, you know, we've always had supplements, but a really big part of it is been focused on food, which a lot of people don't know.
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Um, and even if you look at kind of like what we believe and that kind of thing, supplementation is great, but the food is your foundation.
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So you really need to kind of have that in check as well.
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Yeah, I I guess um with Carl and Ann, they very much followed the pattern of the uh the early retail pioneers in our industry who probably only carried food and all the other stuff came later on.
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Yeah, for sure.
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Yeah, that's kind of one thing that they had and a lot of um gluten-free stuff, like which back then you could find very little of.
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So um, they really were like a niche market um back then.
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And so that allowed them to grow and like reach a certain demographic that wasn't being served at the time.
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Yeah, no, no, okay.
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No, that's good.
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Thanks for the background on that.
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But Rebecca, let me let me ask you a little bit about you.
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Like when you were a little girl, did you someday dream of working in the natural health food retailing sector?
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Uh no.
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I you know what?
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I don't know.
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You know, I had this project when I was little that I have, and I said I wanted to be a lawyer, um, which is funny because I I don't think that I would ever want to do that now.
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But um fate has it that I that I am in this journey, which is great.
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Um, I was kind of involved in retail through university, and then after that, I met Kevin and his family owned this store.
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And he's like, why don't you come work for the store?
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And I was like, sure.
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And so that's kind of how it all started.
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Like I knew very little about the industry.
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Um, I knew some about retailing and management and stuff like that, but nothing about like the natural health um field.
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And I'm very thankful to Carl and Anne in that perspective because they taught me everything I know.
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Um, even when I made mistakes, there was one order I did.
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And literally, if we would have had one more box, there wouldn't have been room in the freezer.
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And they were gracious and allowed me to make mistakes and really, yeah, just really get involved in the business.
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And it was, and it was a wonderful thing.
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And and I've fallen in love with it, and it's my passion now.
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So, what what were your studies at school?
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Like when you're in university, what were you kind of aiming for?
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Well, so I was a bit um, I wanted to go in business eventually, so I was just kind of in general studies, and then when I met Kevin, I think I was quite young.
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We've been married for 20 years, so I I kind of I think I I just thought I'd be like the stay-at-home mom and I'd marry Kevin, and he would be like my meal ticket, and it would be good, but that that was different, and so we've kind of just like transformed and you know made this kind of beautiful life with our kids and have the store, and so it's been it's been a really great opportunity.
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So yeah.
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So you you really were right at the very very beginning of your career when you started at Dad.
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Yeah, for sure.
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Yeah, I was uh I think I was 24.
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I'm 42 now, so um have almost 20 years here.
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Um yeah, it's it's been a great journey.
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And the and the best industry.
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I mean, over the years I've helped some friends with different industries, and just the people in this industry are just top-notch good people who want good things for people, and so it's it's just a welcoming environment and it's wonderful.
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Yeah, it sure is encouraging, right?
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Like it's almost like no matter what job you have in this industry, although I shouldn't generalize, but it feels like people like going to work and they like working with their coworkers.
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Yeah, for sure.
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And we spend so much time at work that I really feel it's pivotal to be a part of something bigger and feel happy about going to work.
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Yeah, there's nothing like it.
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Um, so so Kevin, your husband, who you've been married to, I think you said 20 years now.
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Yeah.
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Um is is he uh involved in the store?
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Is does he have an active role?
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Yeah, so he does some of the marketing and looks after kind of the website, the in-store promotions, the posters, does a lot of the graphic design, um, is forever my advisor because I come home and he hears all of it.
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Um so yeah, he's really supportive of the business, kind of on the back end, but still really key.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So you're kind of looking at the business from two different angles.
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And that's probably extremely helpful for you.
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Yeah, for sure.
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Yeah.
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I'm a I'm a talker, so I like to talk through things.
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I like to work through problems.
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So it's always good to have another opinion as well and not kind of be in just an echo chamber, but yeah, he puts me in my place when I need to be, which is good.
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No, that's good because you you mentioned before that Kevin is more of an introvert, but yeah, again, growing up in that business like he did and working in it now, a different part of the business than you, what a valuable resource for you.
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Yeah, 100%.
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So much experience between his family and him.
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Um, there's hardly ever a question you have that they're not able to answer or kind of like, you know, be like, you need to be going this way or this direction.
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So that's been invaluable.
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Yeah.
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What about um the major hurdles you may have had you had to overcome in working with a family business?
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I guess I'm talking about family dynamics, although you're not a uh I don't even know where to take that, but I thought you might want to jump on that one.
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Yeah, that's that's an interesting one.
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There are family dynamics a hundred percent.
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It is hard.
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It there we've had hard days, um, we've had challenges, we've had problems.
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Um, but mostly we just try and put those aside.
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Like when we're doing family stuff, we try not to talk about the business and that kind of thing.
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Um, one thing that I think it has taught me though is really resiliency because you're never gonna grow without being challenged.
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And so being in that family dynamic has been kind of cool because it's really pushed me to grow, but also that I just can't run.
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Like I gotta stick it out, I gotta figure it out.
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You know, I love these people.
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This is what we need to do, and we need to figure it out.
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And so a lot of people even say my age.
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Um, I've seen them job hop a lot.
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And I know like you don't have that family to keep you in there.
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Um, but I feel like that that's really been a benefit to me that I've had to stay and work through those challenges and ultimately has really brought me to a higher place in in my own leadership, in my own life.
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So yeah, it's been great.
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So you bought the stores in 2022.
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Yeah.
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And I was wondering, was that a huge step for you out of the blue, kind of, or was that just a natural evolution?
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Was that always in the books?
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Yeah, we had kind of always talked about it.
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Um, it was a little bit of an evolution, but also at the same time, I think Carl had just decided that, and it was a little bit um surprising to me, like when it actually happened.
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Um, I had been really involved in the business and running kind of what was going on.
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So I was really comfortable with that.
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I would say my biggest hurdle in all of this was one feeling like an imposter.
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Because at first I was like, should I be here?
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Should I be doing this?
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Even though my job scope hadn't changed a lot.
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Um, it was very different feeling though, taking on the responsibility of those decisions.
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Because before, if Carl made a bad decision or somebody else, you know, I could roll with it and I had to deal with it, but it wasn't the same weight of being like, Rebecca, this was your decision and you messed it up.
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So that's been one of the biggest things.
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Um, and yeah, but like I said, you grow from hard hard experiences.
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And uh yeah, it I feel like I've definitely grown in the last four years, that's for sure.
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Yeah, no, I can imagine.
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Um, you just mentioned leadership.
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I wanted to ask you about that too.
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I mean, if you could identify some of your foundational keys to leadership, what would they be?
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Um, so I always approach things with like an optimistic, fun perspective.
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Um, I really believe business is a force for good.
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So I try and incorporate that in my leadership style.
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I like to lead with possibility, ask a lot of questions of our employees, and I'm really hands-on.
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So if I need to be in the store running the till, like if somebody was to call me and say somebody didn't show up, I would just run the till for the afternoon.
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So um I really believe that you should be able to do the things you expect other people to do, um, be honest, hardworking, and um, yeah, really make an environment for people to thrive.
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Were there um were there some uh areas of your leadership that you identified and said, wow, I better work on this, I better make this stronger?
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Yeah, for sure.
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Yeah.
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I would say that most of the things we talk about, they sound positive, but there's an equal amount of hard times that had to come with that.
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Um leadership for me, I would say I'm a bit of a people pleaser at points.
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So that's been hard to lean into at points when when you've decided that this needs to change and just trying to figure out how to do that gently but firmly with people and and how that goes.
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So I've had to really learn how to do that.
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Um, managing mood, like so.
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I'm really, if you work around me, you would say probably that I'm quite happy.
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Um, I've had to work on like really stabilizing my mood.
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So like if the worst happens, I'm kind of like, you know what, it's okay, we'll deal with it.
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It's okay.
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Um, because people reflect off my mood.
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So if I come in there hot and heavy and all that kind of stuff, then that's the that's the traits that people are going to put forward.
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So I try to be a really good example that way of just being really level-headed um and happy and and joyful.
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I love how uh a minute or two you said you go around the store and talk to the staff a lot and and they're pretty open with their opinions with with you or their ideas or their suggestions.
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Do you find that?
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Yeah, for sure.
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Uh the higher you go up in leadership wherever it is, you get people, they're not as honest with you, which is um, you know, kind of a tricky trait.
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But that being said, that is just like an indication that you really need to listen even more when somebody's trying to tell you something hard and they've actually gotten up the courage to say that to you to acknowledge that and thank them.
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Thank them.
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Thank you for telling me.
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I really appreciate your you telling me that because there can be a little bit of a yeah, like we're not gonna tell her the truth because we don't want, we don't want to upset her or we don't want to do whatever.
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And so yeah, just staying curious and asking questions and creating that environment that people are comfortable to ask you questions.
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That's that's so important.
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Yeah, no, I I agree with you.
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You know, I always tried to do the same, you know, when I owned a business, which was uh was talk to the people I worked with because I found if you took their opinions and their ideas, they would buy in more.
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Did you find that too?
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Oh, yeah, for sure.
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Um, and I think when you look at like staffing and that kind of thing, you need to give them the why and how they're making a difference in what they're doing.
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And I think even more so now, that's really important because people have a lot of choices with where they go work and they want to be able to feel like they're a part of something.
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And you asking their opinion and taking those things and implementing it is is super cool for them to be a part of that.
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Are there any leaders that you've come across over the years that have inspired you?
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Um in what way?
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Like uh like big podcast leaders or yeah, yeah, anybody, anybody, or maybe maybe local business people, people you've worked with, or you know, people you've read about.
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Yeah, for sure.
00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.279
I really like Craig Rochelle.
00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.200
He has a leadership podcast.
00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.039
I listen to that regularly.
00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.759
Um, I listen to Diary of a CEO.
00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.640
Um other than that, local people, yes, for sure.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.200
Um just trying to think of here.
00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:44.240
Um I can't think of anybody local by name, but um, even some of our managers that we have here, our directors, um, they are so cool and I learned lots from them.
00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:53.440
And it's just such we have a good synergy, like we're able to kind of talk back and forth problems, and and they're able to, you know, speak honestly to me and and back.
00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.599
And so yeah, it's really good, good vibe.
00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.920
You can learn lots from other people for sure.
00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.480
Yeah, I guess it's ongoing, right?
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.119
You're always you're always learning and building.
00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.880
I always, yeah, I love to say that that I'm a lifelong learner.
00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.839
I love learning about all sorts of different things.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:18.319
Management, obviously, I I spend a lot of time um in that space because I always think that it's it's a great area to improving.
00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:20.880
Um, but yeah, lifelong learner.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:27.279
W could you identify a couple of the challenges you have as a leader of dads?
00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.279
As a leader of dads, yes.
00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.519
Um, I think consistency sometimes.
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:46.559
I can be really good in at pumping an idea from the beginning, but sometimes um I don't see it through to completion or uh I kind of gas out because I I spent my energy at the first first bit.
00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:50.880
Um so consistency can be a bit of a challenge for myself personally.
00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:54.079
Um yeah, I would say that's probably my biggest one.
00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:55.759
That's good.
00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:59.440
You find your your it's getting better like over the over time.
00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.640
Yeah, for sure.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:04.400
And I think for me, you're looking at the people around you.
00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:11.200
And I think that that's a big thing for me to look at how my behavior and my actions affect other people.
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:24.640
And so that's a really big motivator for me to show up and not do those things because I want to be at my best and for myself, but also um when leaders are their best, everybody else gets better.
00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:31.839
So it's just one of those kind of key principles that I try and remind myself that you know, you're not just doing it for you, you're doing it for everybody.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.759
That's a really good point.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:37.599
Um I know you said you listened to podcasts.
00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.119
Would you would you recommend other retailers do the same?
00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.799
Oh, yeah, for sure.
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:47.039
Um, and oftentimes on a podcast, it's not even like the whole thing.
00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:58.319
It's like there can be like this little nugget of information, and it just takes your mind to a different place and expands your knowledge and what you think about you know, life.
00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:03.680
And you know, it could be that one little thing that that really changes everything, and you just never know when that is.
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.640
So yeah.
00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.640
And who doesn't have time when they're doing their hair, driving a car?
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:17.039
Yeah, you know, in instead of just listening to a song or or something like that, you could be like infusing your brain with like good ideas and thoughts.
00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.480
Yeah, I I like how you mentioned doing your hair because I I can't really identify with that anymore.
00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.000
I'm jealous.
00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:27.359
It's I wish I could just like shampoo and go.
00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.799
Just show up, yeah.
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.480
I don't know.
00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.319
Um, you mentioned podcasts.
00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.200
What about reading?
00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:35.200
You read any leadership management books?
00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.000
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.160
I love reading um too.
00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:43.119
I love reading leadership books, um, books about hope, about life.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:43.680
Yeah.
00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.279
Kind of yeah.
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:49.519
The last book I've been reading is uh I forget the author's name, but it's called I Hope So.
00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.359
And it's just finding hope.
00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:59.680
Um, and she's providing like antidotes in a world that feels sometimes like there is no hope, and how that that is really, really the answer is.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200
Is keeping helping.
00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.920
Yeah.
00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.440
Well, that's good.
00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:05.680
Um, last question on that topic.
00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:16.960
The are is there like a leadership support group or a group of people you hang out hang out with, like or you can confer with or talk to about maybe it's people your own age, or maybe it's a formal or informal group?
00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:21.039
Yeah, there's um one lady that I've been quite connected with in Sastituting.
00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:22.000
Her name's Jaclyn.
00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.559
She's from Alpha and Omega Strategies.
00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:39.920
Um, whenever I kind of have questions or or am facing something that's really heavy into the leadership, she always is able to um meet with me and just kind of walk me through it and be like, hey, Rebecca, this is what it is, this is what we need to do.
00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:43.839
Um, and it's a really good, like unbiased um approach.
00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:46.079
So yeah, I really appreciate her.
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.599
Um, yeah.
00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.960
Um, I thought it was really cool.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:56.640
Last year you were nominated for the uh CHFA John Holtman Memorial Leadership Award.
00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:01.440
And uh I just wondered what did that what did that nomination mean to you.
00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:05.039
Well, it was so cool to be recognized, to be honest with you.
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:12.240
I know we had chatted a little bit about that, how you know you're just kind of doing your own thing and my work is my passion.
00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:23.759
And so having that recognition was just kind of yeah, it was really cool to see that like you know, you're bigger than yourself sometimes, and um the industry's big and that somebody recognized you.
00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.880
So that was that was awesome.
00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.839
That was very cool.
00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.480
Yeah.
00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:32.079
I love how you said um you just do your thing and you love what you do, and then wow, someone recognized this.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.039
I didn't expect that.
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.400
I I'm just doing my thing.
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.119
I'm really happy.
00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:39.519
I don't really need attention or recognition, but yeah, it's kind of great when it happens, right?
00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.039
Yeah, yeah, no, for sure.
00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:43.279
It's and it's a surprise who was like, What?
00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.799
So it was great.
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:46.720
What a great surprise, though.
00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:53.920
Hey, Rebecca, before we get go any further, let's just take a little break so we can hear from our friends at Proveeda, Camprev, and CHFA.
00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.039
We'll we'll be right back.
00:23:55.359 --> 00:24:03.680
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00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:16.000
Hi, we're back in conversation with Rebecca Dick from Dad's Organic Markets in Saskatchewan.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.200
Rebecca, can I talk to you a tiny bit about geography?
00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.400
Yeah, for sure.
00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.200
Let's go.
00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:26.079
You are um, you have two stores in um Saskatoon.
00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:30.240
Um I think Saskatoon has just over 300,000 people.
00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.119
Does that sound right?
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.960
Yep, that sounds about right.
00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:38.400
And um you're in the middle of Canada, uh, although you're slightly to the western part.
00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.599
You I mean, you're not you probably say you're a western province.
00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.359
You wouldn't say you're a central province.
00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.400
No, yeah, we would probably identify more with the western.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.119
Yeah.
00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:47.920
Yeah.
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:54.559
Well, um, what are the challenges of being up there geographically when it comes to running a business?
00:25:54.880 --> 00:26:01.440
Yeah, so sometimes in the winter, sometimes the produce is frozen, which is super wonderful when that happens.
00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.759
But um, overall, the suppliers are really good about getting us products.
00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:12.000
Um, I had mentioned to you that when we go out east, sometimes suppliers are like, we're not gonna ship to you.
00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.440
Uh, you're too far.
00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:15.119
Logistically, it doesn't work.
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:18.720
So, you know, we have to put all of our brains together and make a really good case.
00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:21.119
There's been a few items we've really wanted.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:24.960
Um, there's the Alderwood pasture-raised eggs.
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.960
We don't really have a pasture-raised egg.
00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:32.400
And I have been like on John Luke O'Neal, being like, 'We need these eggs, we need these eggs.
00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.519
How do we get them?
00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:38.640
Please, we need them.' And so that fight still continues, and they're working on it.
00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:47.759
But yeah, sometimes it just takes a bit of tweaking, but it's uh it can be challenging being in the middle of nowhere essentially, but it's a beautiful nowhere.
00:26:47.920 --> 00:27:01.920
So um I I find it kind of funny that after all these years and all the sophistication of our industry and all the vendors, and I I didn't think it'd be a big deal getting stuff sent up.
00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:04.640
It's not like you're on Baffin Island or something.
00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.079
Yeah, for sure.
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.200
Well, you know what?
00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:14.960
I think sometimes it's just that little bit of extra work it takes, just that little bit of heart being like, you know what, I'm gonna care about this, I'm gonna figure this out.
00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.480
Because that's really what it is.
00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:20.640
It's just logistics figuring out how do we get this to you and that kind of thing.
00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:25.359
So it just takes that person who really loves their job to be like, you know what, I'm gonna make this happen.
00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.920
Um and and we we love that.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:32.640
We love when people work with us and we love to champion vendors who support us.
00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.720
And so yeah, it's good.
00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:42.640
Um, so you know, it sounds rare when you you find a brand at CHFA show and they don't send it up to you.
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:45.039
It sounds very, you know, it's very rare.
00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:50.480
So, but but how do you get around that in the event someone won't send you really like the product?
00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.640
Do you what do you do there?
00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:57.039
Um, well, I mean, it depends how much we like the product.
00:27:57.279 --> 00:28:09.440
Um, but we've gone as far to be like, um, you know, actually, we lost one of our big natural chicken farms here, uh, Pine Bee Farms, and they just they just decided to close operations.
00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:11.759
And so we really had no natural chicken.
00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:20.640
And Ross Down chicken, which is in the uh Frasier Valley, I believe, out by where you guys are, they had chicken and we went to CHFA.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:25.119
I'm like, I will distribute this for you, I will get other stores involved.
00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.960
Like, I need the chicken.
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:30.160
So, um, and like I I was adamant.
00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:36.559
I was like, we need this chicken, and to this day, they've worked with us, we've made the relationship, and it's it's been really great.
00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:48.480
And so, yeah, I I I would say that it just takes um consistency, persistence, and being willing to kind of go the extra mile, being like, I will make this worth your while.
00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:51.440
If you can do it for us, we we we want to participate.
00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.519
We wanna we wanna buy from you.
00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.000
Well, that's kind of thinking out of the box.
00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.839
You basically become a distributor for them.
00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.079
But if that's what gets you your chicken, you do what you're doing.
00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.880
I know, exactly.
00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.799
I was like, I will do anything.
00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:08.880
And where do you um find most of your new your new products or your new brands?
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.079
New vendors.
00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:15.359
Uh, we spend a lot of time online, um, going through trends, that kind of thing.
00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:27.680
We've noticed, especially with body care, um, some of those B2B businesses um with body care that you just order directly from, um, they've spent a lot of money on like digital marketing and stuff like that.
00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:37.279
So it's been a really good pivot for us in that space because we've been able to stock that on our shelves and customers are really after and looking for those things.
00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.200
So I would say we do a lot of research.
00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.960
Sometimes we just bump into things.
00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:44.559
Uh, LinkedIn's another good resource for finding new brands.
00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:49.759
And yeah, you just make a connection and if it resonates, then it's great for both parties.
00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.400
Who does uh the searching for the brands?
00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:54.640
Is it you or your department managers?
00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:56.079
Um, I love that.
00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:00.400
I love the procurement of new items, I like new shiny things.
00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:14.640
Um, but um on our team, we have our directors, Karen and Aaron, which are they're both wonderful, and they do a lot of that sourcing too and making sure that we're on top of trends and that they're in all of our stores.
00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:18.559
Have you had a lot of success buying local?
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.440
Yeah, we do have a good, good local base.
00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:25.440
Um, obviously, sometimes you can't have everything.
00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:33.839
Um, we do have this new cookie company that we just brought in, and she is like a rolling, like cookies flying out the door.
00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.880
They're so good.
00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:38.559
Um, but but selling lots, and that's like a local vendor.
00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:49.039
And so yeah, it's been it's been great because those people are in your community and you can talk to them about you know different problems they're facing, problems you're having, and they can kind of problem solve with you.
00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:52.400
And so that local aspect's really invaluable as well.
00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:56.079
Um, okay, no, thanks, Rebecca.
00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:00.480
I just I I wanted to talk to you about that, but I really want to talk to you too about competition.
00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.519
Yeah, for sure.
00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:06.000
Um, I mean, there's um there's much more competition now.
00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:13.839
As as the the category has grown of natural health, it's attracted more people, but it's also brought in uh more channels.
00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:21.440
So um, and we talked a little bit about this previously about uh you know competing against big box and online and stuff.
00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:24.799
Where do you think most of your competition is coming from?
00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:33.359
Yeah, I would definitely say online's a big competition, uh, Costco, so like the big box stores, um, that kind of thing.
00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:39.359
And um, you know, I might I might not be the most popular, for my opinion.
00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:48.160
Um, but kind of what I shared with you is the more people who are buying vitamin and natural health products, it means that there's more customers consuming these things.
00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:52.160
And so it's good for everybody because there's more customers available.
00:31:52.319 --> 00:32:04.319
And so, yes, that means you have to share some of the market with big box stores, but in my case, I always say that we need to compete where scale doesn't matter.
00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:09.839
So, you know, big box stores have a really hard time creating a really unique experience.
00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:23.599
They have a hard time providing great service, they have a hard time doing personalized things like grocery carryouts, they have a hard time offering education and advice, um, feeling welcome, like creating that vibe and that space in the store.
00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:25.359
And that's all things they can't do.
00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:30.720
And so I think we get like locked in our mind that, like, oh, we have to fight against this.
00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:38.799
Um, instead of just really focusing on where we're at and the really unique things that we're bringing to the table, and that attracts customers.
00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.799
You get customers by doing that.
00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:44.960
So um I think in general, it's it's helpful.
00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:50.400
Obviously, we still have the times when somebody's like, I went to Costco and I bought this for 40 bucks.
00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:56.240
And there have been a few items that we've just had to like, we can't compete and it's confusing for the customers.
00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:01.200
But over and above, like even law laws, our prices are consistent with each other.
00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:07.359
So even if they can get it there, um, it's not like they're getting a way better deal necessarily.
00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:16.720
Um, but when they come in to our store, we want them feeling like they've been focused on that they're cared for, and that's not something they're gonna ever get at law laws.
00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:20.160
No, that's that's a really good point.
00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.720
I love that.
00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.599
I love your attitude.
00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:23.359
I wish I was more like you.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:26.319
So no, I I think you are.
00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:29.440
Um, you know, you you touched on this a minute ago.
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.880
Well, you gave a few points.
00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:34.880
What advantages that traditional health food stores have over other channels?
00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.319
And you just touched on them.
00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:47.119
I don't know if you can add any more, but just the vibe and um and and the the level of expertise you have in in your stores, that that must really make a difference too.
00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.400
Yeah, for sure.
00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:58.559
Um, yeah, just having the history of education that's always been something that's been really foundational for dads is having a place where somebody can come in and get help.
00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:22.239
And whether that be looking for a supplement or even just saying, like, hey, I think you need to drink more water, like it doesn't even necessarily need to be, but it's being a part of the community and giving the community a resource um that ultimately is really important because you're dealing with people's health and longevity, and that's worth everything.
00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:27.679
Like if you've ever had a health scare or something that's happened, I mean your health is invaluable.
00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.440
Yeah.
00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:31.840
Rebecca, we had a conversation not long ago.
00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:35.679
I loved a couple of things you said because I made notes because that's what I do.
00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:40.800
Um you said when it comes to mass, you're always focused on what we are doing.
00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:46.480
You're always looking for opportunities that are unique, things that they can't do.
00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.960
And you talked about attitude.
00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:53.039
You can't be negative because people will resonate with what you say.
00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.400
Yeah, 100%.
00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:00.800
So everything, one thing that I've learned, especially being the owner, is everybody's always watching you.
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:05.360
They're watching what you're saying, they're watching the interactions that are just like a random Tuesday.
00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:08.800
And so attitude is so important in so many ways.
00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:14.320
But I think when you're dealing with talking about mass market, you want your team to feel like they're winning.
00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:19.199
You don't want your team feeling like, oh, we're just we're just not able to be Costco.
00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:30.000
It's like tell them all the great things that you're doing, tell them the things that are, you know, making really successful things in people's lives, and that that's what they're doing.
00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:36.719
And when you feel like you're winning, your team starts cultivating that that energy as well and that attitude.
00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:40.880
And it doesn't bother them as much anymore that like superstore is selling something.
00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:46.000
They're really focusing on what they can do to make a positive impact with where they are.
00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:53.599
Um, well, it sounds like whatever you're doing is working because last year you opened a third store.
00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:58.000
You, you know, your newest store, which your second store in Saskatoon.
00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:01.280
Um, why the need for a second store?
00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:21.599
Well, you know, I think I think when I bought it, I was um I really wanted something of my own, you know, because I I had been involved in the business and and you know, that was wonderful, but I really wanted something that I had built myself um within the same kind of channel.
00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:24.079
And so, you know, I started dreaming about that.
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:25.679
Like, what would that look like?
00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:27.119
That would be cool.
00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.639
I think we could do it.
00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:31.039
Um, and from there it just kind of grew.
00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:46.159
And so um, it's been a really beautiful thing to see all three stores because they're really unique in how they operate and they all have such good qualities, but also really unique things they do well at all on their own.
00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:55.199
And so it's kind of cool to be able to pull from each store and be able to kind of say, like, oh, Primrose is doing really well at this, or 8th Street's doing really well at this.
00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.480
Can we help this way?
00:36:56.639 --> 00:37:00.960
And it's been kind of like a really cool community within our own group.
00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.840
Wow, it's got its own little ecosystem, I guess.
00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.440
Yeah, for sure.
00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:10.960
Um, I I didn't I didn't know this, so I wanted to ask you, what is a square footage?
00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:12.079
I'm putting you on the spot now.
00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:13.599
You're you're oh that's okay.
00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:14.960
You're store in Regina.
00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:23.840
Regina's about 6,400 eight streets, about 7400, and then the Primrose one is about just under eight.
00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.760
So they're all kind of really similar.
00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:29.599
Is uh is uh your original store is that on eighths?
00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:30.480
Eighth Street is that the one?
00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:32.559
Eighth Street's the original, yeah.
00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:35.840
So those are all good size spaces to work with.
00:37:36.719 --> 00:37:38.400
Yeah, no, yeah, they are.
00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:41.920
Is your new store a lot different than the other two?
00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:45.840
Well, it's new, so obviously it's very shiny and pretty.
00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:58.000
Um, so yeah, and the thing I really like about the new store is that there's lots of space, and so there's lots of space for people to kind of look around and just kind of see what we have, what we have to offer.
00:37:58.239 --> 00:38:05.119
We have a lot of customers who like to read labels, and so it kind of just gives you like a really nice chill vibe to do that.
00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:11.920
Um, so and a lot of people have said it kind of reminds them of like a West Coast store or you know, that kind of thing.
00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:17.440
So that was kind of a cool compliment as well that that it was just kind of a fun nod.
00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:21.840
Did you have um outside help to design it?
00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.679
Did you do most of the design?
00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:24.480
Um, yeah.
00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:35.440
So we worked with a local designer here, and we also had somebody on staff who he's a project manager, so he was really fundamental in getting like the bones of it together.
00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:45.760
Um, and then also Kevin was really instrumental in like kind of figuring out this is where the shelves need to go, like this is the flow of the store, this is how we want the customers to go through.
00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:48.880
So yeah, everybody kind of had their hand in it for sure.
00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.800
No, no, that's good.
00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:54.079
Um, were there things like the two original stores?
00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:57.119
You're going, oh, I wish we could do this or we should have done that.
00:38:57.280 --> 00:39:00.159
Were you able to uh employ those things in the new store?
00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.559
Like things you always thought the stores needed?
00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.760
Yeah, for sure.
00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:09.599
Um one really big thing we added that's kind of like has nothing to do with sales, but we put a tree in the store.
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:11.119
A tree?
00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:12.000
Yeah, a tree.
00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:14.000
It's uh so it's it's kind of fun.
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:19.760
I'll send you a picture of it, but um, it's kind of right in the middle of the store when you first walk in.
00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:26.480
And it's really cool because it's you know, it's fresh, it's growing, it symbolizes growth.
00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.840
There's so many cool things.
00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:30.960
So I really like that that detail for sure.
00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:37.440
Well, I told you before, one of the things I loved about your um the two stores I visited.
00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.960
I I remember the truck.
00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:48.239
You had a really beautiful old delivery truck in your store, which I and you just would merchandise around it, but it was was an amazing prop.
00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:51.679
Um tell me about the truck or or okay.
00:39:51.840 --> 00:40:04.800
So the first original truck was Carl's and it was a 1974 Ford, and he had built in the back kind of like a wood um stand that kind of sat on the back and it held all the apples and stuff.
00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:06.960
So it looked kind of like a delivery truck.
00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:09.199
And so that was kind of his vision.
00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:14.000
Um, and he it was a full, like the truck worked, all that kind of stuff.
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:15.039
It's still around.
00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:16.480
Carl still owns it.
00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.920
Um, it's fully functional.
00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:21.599
They take it out sometimes in in the summertime and cruise around.
00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:23.360
So that was a really cool idea.
00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:38.400
Um, so when we were looking at the new store, just the legacy piece of it, because I've always been trying to be aware that that's where we came from and in kind of paying respect to to where we came from.
00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:41.599
And I was like, we should put a truck again in the new store.
00:40:41.679 --> 00:40:50.639
And it just so happens that this beautiful green truck showed up one day on, I think it was Facebook Marketplace, and we were like, we're gonna go get this thing.
00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:56.079
And we didn't really know how it would work um because we had to drive it in way before construction was done.
00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:59.119
Like it just sat covered for a long time.
00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.800
And now, yeah, it's in there.
00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:09.920
It's a 1952 Dodge, and it's it's like a little beat up, which it was great for us because we like to let kids sit in it.
00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.159
Um, we build displays around it.
00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:21.679
We're not really worried about banging it up, but it's such a focal point, and it's just like a really cool piece of our history, but as well, how often do you go into a store and see a truck?
00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:25.599
What a conversation piece, especially people coming in with their kids.
00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.480
They must love it.
00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:27.679
Yeah, the kids love it.
00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:31.280
They love they love rolling down the windows and like sitting in there.
00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:34.480
So yeah, it's a good, it's a cool, it's a cool imagine.
00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:36.239
Imagine kids now rolling windows up.
00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:37.519
They go, Mummy, what is this?
00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:42.480
You know, yeah, it's actually a good training thing to be like this is how it used to work.
00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:46.320
So go call home on that landline over there, yeah.
00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.519
Yeah, for sure.
00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:54.159
Um, hey, I wanted to to talk to you about um staffing because that's been an issue for forever for everybody.
00:41:54.320 --> 00:42:04.159
So you've got over 300,000 people in Saskatoon, and I I'm not sure the population of Regina, but is that a big enough pool for you to find good quality staff?
00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:08.000
It's been a challenge, and I think that this is top of mind for everybody right now.
00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:16.320
Like I've talked to a few other retailers, and and it's it's hard because the atmosphere around it has changed a lot.
00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:18.880
Um, and I'm not I'm not entirely sure why.
00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:21.039
I think we're still trying to figure that out.
00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:31.679
Um, oftentimes you'll hear people say, like, oh, the young generation, or, you know, the boomers, or you know, you'll get you'll get people talking kind of negatively about it.
00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:38.960
And I really try and fight against those notions and just kind of be present in it and be like, okay, this is where we're at.
00:42:39.119 --> 00:42:43.519
Let's not fight, let's not go, you know, too far against the grain.
00:42:43.679 --> 00:42:49.360
Um, because every generation has really remarkable things that they bring to the workspace.
00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:55.920
Um, people though, right now are looking for they're looking for flexibility, they're looking for growth, they're looking for respect.
00:42:56.239 --> 00:42:58.800
Um, they want to be a part of something bigger.
00:42:59.039 --> 00:43:03.599
And I think if you're not offering that, they they go find it.
00:43:06.239 --> 00:43:08.400
Um, where are you finding people?
00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:12.000
Like, have you had any success in certain areas or certain methods?
00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:27.039
Um, I would say, you know, I used to not like hiring customers um because like if anything went bad, then you're you're not only losing like maybe a good person, but you're also losing um a customer.
00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:31.440
Um, but that's been a really that's been a good thing um lately.
00:43:31.599 --> 00:43:38.320
We've had a few customers that have come to work for us and they bring a lot of knowledge, but also they're very passionate.
00:43:38.480 --> 00:43:44.880
So I would say it's easier to find somebody, it's harder to find somebody who has a lot of natural passion for the industry.
00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:49.840
So what we've had to do though is kind of bring people on and teach them that passion.
00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:59.760
So it's been more about like marrying those two ideas of having, you know, a really good worker, but we're gonna teach you how cool this industry is, we're gonna teach you why we care and that.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:07.599
kind of thing as opposed to maybe you know 10 years ago we could have found somebody who is more um had both of those things together.
00:44:09.360 --> 00:44:17.519
Now I was at a a session last year with about 50 retailers and I asked the group um what's the most important thing to you?
00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:26.559
Do you want to find someone who's really good with people or do you want to find someone who's extremely knowledgeable about natural health products but maybe isn't great with people.
00:44:26.719 --> 00:44:29.199
And everybody said we got it we want the people person.
00:44:29.280 --> 00:44:30.559
We could teach the other stuff.
00:44:30.880 --> 00:45:04.880
100% yeah yeah yeah and somebody with a good attitude no matter where you put them they're gonna they're gonna thrive so yeah having that added again we were talking about attitude a little while ago having a good attitude is is such a key valuable thing to learn whether you are a frontline worker or whether you're a manager attitude is everything can you think of one person that you've uncovered or discovered one amazing person that you would never would have expected to find there that turned out to be a great employee for you?
00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:09.039
Like maybe you were out somewhere and I'm not saying you poached him but maybe you poached him.
00:45:09.119 --> 00:45:09.519
I don't know.
00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:12.239
Yeah um have you got a little story?
00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:29.840
We have this one worker right now his name is Kirby and he is immigrating from the Philippines and he started out in the meat department and he he's quiet and you know was kind of struggling I think fitting in with what we were doing.
00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:34.880
And then one day we have this conversation and I was like Kirby where where did you go to school?
00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:36.000
Like what were you at school for?
00:45:36.079 --> 00:45:40.320
And he's like accounting and so it's like completely different than what he's doing.
00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:47.920
So he's actually been promoted now and he's working as kind of an analytical person in our accounting department.
00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:53.280
But he's also helping with the meek because he became really close to the people at the store.
00:45:53.760 --> 00:46:19.360
But now he'll like he'll notice like this is out of stock and this needs to be on the shelf and it's in the back and he's really just bloomed into this beautiful person who gets along with everybody but also is like super forward thinking and looking out for the business and he's just really gone from like zero to a hundred and it's one person that you kind of when you think about it I I don't know who we would replace him with because he's amazing.
00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:23.679
Wow so that sounds like a real bonus surprise that's kind of what I was fishing for.
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:25.199
So that's that's a good story.
00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:54.320
Yeah so yeah and and yeah just I mean yeah he has a great again attitude and he approaches life with positivity and yeah he's great and everybody loves him like you would walk around the store and everybody knows who Kirby is you know just totally off topic but right on topic I've always thought people at work in hospitality like when you check into a hotel um you know some of the people are just so outstanding and I always think this person should be working in a health food store.
00:46:54.559 --> 00:47:03.679
Oh yeah for sure there's been a few times where I've been out and I've been like do you need a job because you're very good at what you do.
00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:17.440
Yeah and and those people are their gifts when you when you have them around because they they go over and above they think about other people's needs they think about what they need before they even need it sometimes.
00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:24.239
And so it's just a great great synergy when you have you know a team like that who's really locked into customer service.
00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:33.440
Yeah I I don't want to bore you with my story but I was in um Lethbridge once having a meal with the the folks from Oliver's from Oliver Health.
00:47:34.320 --> 00:48:10.079
Yeah and um there was a conversation going on at the end with all the serious guys and I was kind of at the end of the table and the young woman serving us was just great she was wonderful uh great personality you know really thorough uh good sense of humor and I just quietly said you know what do you do in real life when you're not here and and she said well I've just graduated from you know naturopathic or nutrition college and I said well is that your goal your passion she said yeah yeah yeah I really want to get into it and I said well do you know Oliver's health she goes oh my goodness yes I know all of us they're the greatest I love those people and it's a wonderful store I said this is the Olivers right here sitting with me.
00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:18.079
Oh that's awesome and um they connected and I Ryan Oliver told me years later that that young woman worked with them for years.
00:48:18.159 --> 00:48:33.199
And I thought what a fluky thing you know yeah but I'm sure she would have excuse me I'm sure she would have found Olivers anyway but just at that moment her telling me how much she loved it and those people were sitting five feet away I just thought it was a it was kind of a happy ending.
00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:49.679
Yeah you never know and that's why you know community um and networking that kind of thing is so important because you never know when that one conversation is just going to like propel you to something you never even thought of so yeah it's so cool to just kind of connect with people.
00:48:50.400 --> 00:49:01.920
Hey is um is your staff I I know you're you're known for having an educated staff along with you know passionate educated staff but is having a designation important to you?
00:49:02.320 --> 00:49:14.480
A designation so you know back when we were having some trouble um finding our wellness advisors I was like okay we need to have some kind of standardization to be like this is what everybody has.
00:49:14.639 --> 00:49:31.440
So now we put them through uh the Alive Natural Products course every one of our advisors has that and and then that gives us kind of the standard and then they kind of branch off from there to kind of they all have their own things that they like whether it be mushrooms or maybe they're really into digestive health.
00:49:31.599 --> 00:50:07.679
So they kind of branch off there but it kind of gives them the really good base and then that also allows us to provide our customers to say hey they've had this training every single person um within this department can help you and you're gonna get great advice do you think um the designation angle is important to customers is that a big selling feature for you um I don't know if it's a selling feature so much because I I feel like we have built that trust I feel like if it was a news store people might question that more like you know why are you talking about this?
00:50:07.920 --> 00:50:10.079
Who do you know like that kind of thing?
00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:22.159
But I think for us, I think I think it's important to to give to the customers that we have a level of of um education that we've kind of reached and that we do a lot of trainings.
00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:28.639
They do a lot of trainings with companies and that kind of thing um also on the back end we've made education really important.
00:50:29.119 --> 00:50:36.000
They study every week and we give them time we give them paid time to study different things and that kind of thing.
00:50:36.159 --> 00:50:37.840
So I I think it's really important.
00:50:38.559 --> 00:51:08.079
I'm not sure if the customers so much notice it but they definitely notice it in their experience because they can come in with you know a list of whatever and generally somebody knows how to help them um I want to ask you about the benefits of storytelling you know for for decades I think our natural health industry and I've heard this countless times was you know the reason for the the key reason for the success and growth of the natural health retailers was the ability to tell stories.
00:51:08.239 --> 00:51:12.320
And how do you uh include and utilize storytelling at DADs?
00:51:12.960 --> 00:51:17.679
Yeah so for me relling and storytelling just go hand in hand.
00:51:17.840 --> 00:51:21.360
Like those are things that just pair so well together.
00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:26.719
So I think storytelling when we look at history is it's the story of what came before us.
00:51:26.880 --> 00:51:32.000
It's who we are, it's where we came from it's the values we hold.
00:51:32.320 --> 00:51:41.679
And I think the biggest thing about storytelling is that we can look at the past and we can analyze what's working and what's not.
00:51:41.760 --> 00:51:49.920
And as long as we have the courage to kind of change those kind of things you can really hold on to your values but also change what you're doing for the future.
00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:56.159
And I think that that creates a stability and a really long-term case for a good business.
00:51:56.559 --> 00:52:02.000
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00:52:25.280 --> 00:52:34.000
Registered at chfanow.ca Rebecca how do you include and utilize storytelling in the Dodge operation for sure.
00:52:34.239 --> 00:52:59.119
So from the day to day I think that we see that in a lot of brands um Karen our grocery director she's been doing that lots on LinkedIn and if you go look at Karen's LinkedIn suppliers love her because she's doing such a good job at connecting the brand and what they've spent their time doing and then also conveying that in our store to our customers.
00:52:59.280 --> 00:53:03.360
And customers are looking for that right now they're looking for that story.
00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:17.360
They're looking for the what they're looking for the why they want to know and so that's also a competitive edge when we were talking about mass market um customers really want to know that they're buying something solid and what they're consuming is good.
00:53:17.519 --> 00:53:35.519
And so storytelling through that um because you have so many brands that have worked so hard at creating their own story with all these cool little offshoots of all the great things they're doing so if that's not being communicated through the retail store then it kind of gets lost.
00:53:35.679 --> 00:53:41.599
So storytelling is so important and it's it adds fun to the to the business.
00:53:42.480 --> 00:54:46.079
What about um the dad story uh how important is that in sharing you know I I guess what I mean is the history of your story does that resonate with people yeah for sure I you know I think I think looking at the history kind of protects your values um obviously values are a little bit individual but I think it when you're looking at the history and where you've come from and telling the story of where dad comes from and understanding the hardships they face and some of the challenges and the successes I think it allows you to go forward and the values you have it kind of makes you not chase every little thing, every shiny object but it allows you to really focus in on like okay this is where we come from this is where we want to grow and does this reflect where we've come from and I think that that is a really good guiding light and principle that can go forward through the the history and the story of the store.
00:54:46.960 --> 00:55:04.719
Yeah I don't I I sometimes wonder if it means things to everybody but I think it's I think it's a huge advantage because it's 37 years for you now probably a lot of people coming to shop at your store you know uh they haven't been around that long so I would think that's meaningful to them.
00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:14.960
Yeah for sure and we still have customers who have been with Carl and Ann from the beginning of time you know and they and they remember those days.
00:55:15.119 --> 00:55:24.480
And so you know for them when they come into a store you know they want to feel like the old times and they want to you know have that experience as well.
00:55:24.639 --> 00:55:31.760
So it is worth protecting because you do have those long cut long term customers who have supported you kind of through those hardships.
00:55:31.920 --> 00:55:51.679
They're not just on the newest trend in the store you know they've been there through sick and thin essentially yeah no those those are the people you love right um I want to ask you about for lack of a better title I want to call it community outreach and um what what methods do you use to promote dance?
00:55:52.960 --> 00:55:55.039
Um like marketing wise?
00:55:55.199 --> 00:56:22.559
Yeah yeah marketing um so we spend a fair a bit on um Instagram and Facebook just with the quality of content um that we're putting out so we make sure that everything's really current it looks nice um and that they're really telling the story of what's going on in store so that the the I guess the shiny stuff on the internet is matching the experience in the store.
00:56:23.519 --> 00:56:32.400
Because that's that's kind of a crappy thing hey when you like see something you really like but then when you go experience you're like oh that's nothing like that's not the same.
00:56:32.639 --> 00:56:38.159
And so we spend a lot of time just kind of talking about how do we make sure that these two are the same.
00:56:38.320 --> 00:56:49.119
And so I feel we've done a really good job with that um through that we don't spend a lot of money on like external advertising but a lot of word of mouth and experience kind of base.
00:56:50.000 --> 00:56:54.159
So do you have a pretty good mailing list then or uh I I guess an email list?
00:56:54.639 --> 00:56:56.559
We actually don't have an email list.
00:56:56.639 --> 00:58:06.239
That's like one thing working on uh it is 2026 we should have an emailing list we should have a newsletter um so it's definitely on my radar as something that we need to be a part of for sure um but but it like you said Facebook and LinkedIn if you have faithful followers that must really work for you then yeah for sure like we find that there's a lot of good connections we get lots of good conversations going that way customers um really feel comfortable emailing the page being like hey is this in stock have you seen this um so it's a really good way for us to also connect with our customers so but yeah email would also be a good thing yeah so you have a really great in-store experience do you ever take that out do you do community events do you are you asked to speak uh get involved so um the two last community events we did um there's a little girl here named McKenna and she had a brain injury when she was little and her parents were fundraising for an accessible playground for her and they have raised over just close to$400,000.
00:58:06.960 --> 00:58:08.639
But they were kind of at their tail end.
00:58:08.800 --> 00:58:17.119
So um at the end of um June here we did a fundraising day for her and we raised$10,000 within the store.
00:58:17.280 --> 00:58:24.800
So that was that was a really cool thing to be a part of and we got to go to the um like the breaking of the ground because it's getting built.
00:58:25.199 --> 00:58:28.320
So that was a really cool community initiative that we did.
00:58:28.800 --> 00:58:47.760
Another one we um hosted a bouncy castle at a park and we gave out organic popsicles and just hung out with people and that's sometimes what it's about you know it's not even about making a sale but it's making those connections to be like we're a part of the community we love being here we love chatting we just we just love talking to you.
00:58:47.840 --> 00:58:49.920
So yeah it's been it's cool.
00:58:50.719 --> 00:59:30.960
Those sound very successful yeah they were they were fun events and good yeah okay I'm gonna get a little more serious now what about working with the local practitioners do you have a good relationship with uh some of the naturopaths and homeopaths in in in town yeah for sure I mean I think a lot of people recommend us just because we have a really wide selection um I think that that could be strengthened though um between us I think that there are some things we could do to kind of work more proactively with practitioners to kind of make their life easier um and see kind of the their needs and kind of catering more towards that but we do have a few that we work with yeah.
00:59:31.599 --> 00:59:37.360
I know some stores actually have in-store practitioners or once a week you know they'll have somebody come in.
00:59:37.440 --> 00:59:38.719
Have you ever looked at that?
00:59:39.360 --> 01:00:01.119
We've had a few speakers and stuff that have come in over the years um and they do general talks kind of similar to like a staff training but kind of on a bigger scale um and that goes right in with our education piece so we love that we love having anybody in so if there's ever an opportunity we definitely grab a hold of it and try and make kind of like a community event out of it.
01:00:01.519 --> 01:01:05.519
Yeah I mean community is everything right yeah for sure yeah and and that's a part of like the business is for good like those are the things that really boost up business and make that a really good thing because you're adding goodness to the world yeah everybody wants that right yeah for sure more of that yeah okay let me ask you this um what's next for dads you opened your second uh Saskatoon store last year you got any plans for another store or am I asking you too early I kind of said that to people it's like when when somebody has a baby it's like or you can have another one and uh I you know what I don't know I I'm really passionate about taking care of what I have right now and so we're still kind of figuring out we're still stabilizing learning from our mistakes so I don't know right now like it's just it's it's just me and the family and and the team I have so it's not like we have investors or anything like that where you know we need to kind of appease them.
01:01:05.679 --> 01:01:28.480
So it's just kind of like rolling into it now seeing where it goes we have about 55 staff and um yeah it's just it's loving where I'm right now and who knows who knows I would love to grow more because the more we grow the more influence we have but I also wouldn't want to grow and then have that jeopardize kind of what we've built.
01:01:28.880 --> 01:01:32.239
No like you just said you got to look after what you got now.
01:01:32.320 --> 01:01:55.679
So well let's talk about something maybe it's not store related are there other opportunities you see or you're working on that kind of related to dads but maybe aren't directly related to retail um this is kind of strange but um I have always been really interested in like um like kind of more natural burial methods.
01:01:55.840 --> 01:02:41.440
I know that that sounds really crazy um but like the the composting or the yeah that kind of thing I think that that there that's a real I guess need up and coming like for non-traditional ways of of dealing with with that but yeah so that I mean that's kind of really different but yeah it kind of it kind of interests me like the water acclimation and yeah so but that's a whole other thing you would need like training and yeah you would need government regulation coming in and so but yeah that would be fun and it's not something you file and find an aisle five either so nope so but yeah it's it's kind of cool it's like a different way and obviously like it blends with kind of I don't know going back to nature and that kind of thing.
01:02:41.519 --> 01:02:45.280
So yeah yeah I really yeah it's kind of a cool cool thing.
01:02:45.519 --> 01:02:50.800
No but I think you're in line because it's more natural and it's more traditional probably than what we have now you know.
01:02:50.960 --> 01:02:57.440
Yeah for sure makes makes you think when did it when did funerals become the way they are you know now.
01:02:57.840 --> 01:02:58.880
Like when did that start?
01:02:59.039 --> 01:03:01.199
When did someone anyway that's you're right.
01:03:01.280 --> 01:03:03.039
That's a whole other thing.
01:03:03.440 --> 01:03:55.039
So um look this is a time where I say to you uh this has been a great conversation I think we've been like an hour so that's amazing well it's it's good it was really good um but I wanted to um open it up to you and say is there anything you want to talk about that I didn't cover maybe something close to your heart you'd like to share or uh maybe I didn't ask you something I don't know we covered we covered a lot we covered a lot of my thoughts and my opinions um yeah I mean I would probably just finish off with just gratitude for yourself and kind of the advocacy you've done in our industry and just everybody in the industry who keeps growing it because it's it's such again such a cool thing to be a part of and I feel really blessed to have experienced it.
01:03:56.880 --> 01:04:06.800
Yeah you know I think it's just over 30 years for me in the industry and when I joined you know a lot of the people that were in the industry when I joined are not around anymore.
01:04:06.960 --> 01:04:10.960
They're either departed or retired or whatever.
01:04:11.280 --> 01:04:26.000
I'm so encouraged by seeing all the incredible young people that have come in and and I mean I even I count you there you know young people who come in with passion and and ideas like what our industry has turned into is just remarkable and it continues to grow.
01:04:26.239 --> 01:04:37.360
Yeah and it's recognizable on like a global scale now like it's not just I mean we have like codes tax codes that like categorize us and and stuff like that.
01:04:37.440 --> 01:04:38.719
So that's it's awesome.
01:04:38.800 --> 01:05:23.840
It's a it's a great thing to be a part of yeah yeah no I I agree with you um Rebecca that was great I I just want to um wrap it up by saying thanks for joining us today and giving us an update on dads and and what you've been up to yeah that was a lot of fun i um I just want to close off by thanking my podcast team Hannah on social media me shak our video editor and Lori Ingram who books all of our guests and of course our producer Raji the man who brings us all together uh thanks to our sponsors Proveeta Camprev and CHFA we appreciate your support thanks to everyone who tunes in and uh please share this podcast especially those in the retail community we're trying to help the retailers as much as we can.
01:05:24.079 --> 01:05:27.920
So until next time thanks for joining me on In Conversation With