Health Store Ireland’s (HSI) newly elected President, Erica Murray, has spoken of the “power of connection” and the unique bond that exists between health food retailers in Ireland in a wide-ranging interview with Natural Newsdesk.
In the interview Murray, a retailer herself for 46 years (and co-founder of The Hopsack in Dublin), talks about the huge opportunity to convert health-curious consumers into health store regulars, as well as challenges facing indie health food retailers – including the threat of disproportionate regulation and the impact of the prioritisation of online sales by many specialist brands.
The power of connection
“High profile”? I’m not so sure about that! I simply connect with people and have a huge passion for the natural products industry.”
What I stand for
“Most people in HSI know who I am and what I stand for in relation to health. Broadly stated, enabling people to manage their own health in natural ways, minimising the use of pharmaceutical medicines, is my passion.”
Regulation and over-regulation
“I rail against inappropriate and disproportionate regulation of food supplements and herbal products, diminishing consumer choice”
Too often the argument for regulation is couched in terms of protecting public health, when in fact it is about enabling global commerce for the large corporates – ie harmonisation.”
Stronger together
“Together we’re stronger, whether that be in a retail trade association, or in a manufacturer/suppler organisation – and the two can collaborate when appropriate, particularly when it comes to challenges such as regulation.”
Strengthening the bond
We’re a relatively small community in Ireland with a population of just over 5 million. People know people here and we are ace communicators! I often refer to ‘Ireland the village’ – we’re very connected as a tribe. This makes it easier for us to bond as a diverse group of independent health store owners.
Convincing the health store-hesitant
“We hope the findings of our ‘Customer Insights’ survey will be quite revealing about consumer attitudes to health stores, how we are perceived and consumer spending patterns, both in health stores and in other retail outlets. We’re always doing battle (in our heads) with the 90% of consumers who never darken our doors. This is an attempt to analyse the reasons for this.”
Health stores are being bypassed
“Online selling has become a much greater issue for independent health stores since the pandemic. Health stores are being bypassed increasingly by producers going straight to online platforms, not seeing the huge advantage to selling product through independent health stores, where trained staff who are trusted by their customers in their local communities, actively promote products brands they like and trust. Once producers commit exclusively to this or any online sales model, they will have burned their boats where health stores are concerned.”
Regulation
“We have been awaiting the setting of maximum permitted levels (MPLs) since the passing of the FSD 23 years ago! With the publication of the report by the EU Heads of Agencies (HOA) last year, this is moving closer. The report also issued proposals on botanicals. Plans have yet to be worked out, but it seems that retailers will be called on once again to engage consumers in a campaign ahead of EFSA determining MPLs for food supplements.