Q&A: Nutrishop on what fuels 20-year success

12-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 12-Jun-2023 at 14:29 GMT

Image courtesy of Nutrishop

Nutrishop recently hit a major milestone–celebrating its 20 year anniversary. The company’s founders and COO looked back on the evolution of Nutrishop and the wider industry.

The national retail nutrition franchise that specializes in weight loss, wellness, and more, said in the last decades has allowed the company to become a leading provider of dietary supplements and personalized wellness services via innovative strategies and putting the customer first.

DM: How has the dietary supplement industry evolved over the past 20 years? And how did Nutrishop evolve along with it?

Brian Barthelmess, COO, Nutrishop (BB): The industry has evolved due to the general population’s growing acceptance and understanding of dietary supplements as they pertain to fitness, health and wellness. We have recognized this growing awareness and have adapted by delivering products that align with emerging trends such as gut health, stress management, wellness, and sleep. We stay up to date with the latest scientific research and market trends to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Bryon McLendon, CEO/founder, Nutrishop (BM): The dietary supplement industry has transformed in a number of ways over the last two decades. One of the biggest changes was the emergence of online retailers and the introduction of global brands in some of the big-box stores. These may offer convenience for the small percentage of consumers who know exactly what they’re looking for, but they often lack the relational aspect of doing business, which is vital for customer loyalty.

Another issue with these types of platforms is information overload. Most consumers know what their end goal is, but may not necessarily know how to get there. Plus, some of these platforms are riddled with unsubstantiated product claims, which can deceive consumers, especially those who are not sure where or how to start their health and fitness journeys.

Nutrishop provides so much more than just dietary and nutritional supplements. Aside from our guaranteed low prices, we offer education, accountability and support, and we foster relationships. That’s because we know that building meaningful connections sets us apart and fuels our ongoing success.

DM: What are you most proud of accomplishing in these last 20 years?

Tania McLendon, Co-founder/officer, NutriShop (TM): I’m truly proud of the consistent loyalty and the positive culture we have built and nurtured within our company that extends to our family of franchisees.

BM: I’m proud of the fact that we started with just one location and have grown into a national retail franchise. It’s a testament to our dedication, core values, and the support of our franchisees and loyal customers. It’s been an incredible ride so far, and I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed this company evolve and thrive while staying true to who we are.

DM: What have been some of your biggest challenges?

BM: No doubt, one of the biggest challenges we faced over the last 20 years was the unknown impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a tough blow that hit some businesses hard, but thankfully, it didn’t really impact us as much as we anticipated. In fact, it helped in many ways. COVID shined a light on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and making health and fitness a priority. By taking a proactive approach, we were able to meet our customers’ evolving needs, expand our online presence, introduce some new products in the health, wellness and immune support category, and we continued opening new stores across the country.

DM: What do you hope to achieve in the next 20?

TM: Our goal is to continue to grow our brand and reach new markets both inside and outside the US.

BB: We want to continue to offer new and innovative products and unique in-store services that will help improve people’s lives over the next 20 years. One example is our upcoming NutriGuide Personalized DNA Kit, which helps guide nutritional and wellness recommendations based on each individual’s genetic makeup. Plus, we will continue improving lives using various tools like body composition analysis scans, customized meal plans, and more. If we can help someone feel better and/or look better, then that’s what we want to do.

BM: Over the next 20 years, we plan to expand key partnerships with trusted brands like we’ve done with 24 Hour Fitness and the High Fives Foundation. We also plan to give back to our communities by supporting various non-profit organizations. We also have some exciting new plans that we are not ready to share with the public yet, so stay tuned.

DM: What do you attribute your success to?

TM: We are successful because we have held true to our core values of honesty, loyalty, and integrity, and we operate our business on the premise that everyone is a part of our Nutrishop family. We care about the franchisees who enter the system, their families, and their livelihood. That, ultimately, is why people are attracted to being a part of Nutrishop. We have so much loyalty, even within our own staff. I love that. It says something about the culture we have built over the years. We are truly blessed.

BB: Nutrishop’s success can definitely be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our franchisees and the invaluable customer experience they provide. Additionally, we continue to be successful because of our ability to offer innovative products and services that support consumer demands in conjunction with our commitment to helping people live their best lives.