Natural products retailers sound off on the state of the industry, what they plan on changing in different categories in the coming year, how their store is faring and what they are seeing in 2010.
5. Programs to help consumers identify products for specific health conditions
6. Do you believe that retailers have a responsibility to ensure the safety and efficacy of the dietary supplement products they carry?
7. What steps does your store take to ensure the quality and efficacy of the supplements that it carries?
8. Had it passed, Senator John McCain's Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 would have put more responsibility on retailers to ensure supplement manufactures are registered with the FDA. Do you believe new legislation should be created to increase the legal responsibility of retailers to sell only safe and legally produced dietary supplements?
How do the following product attributes rank in order of their importance in your purchasing decisions?
Are there product categories that you'd like to expand? Are there product categories that you feel are problematic?
Do you have programs or initiatives designed to help consumers identify and compare healthy foods? For example, consumer classes on nutrition or labels that highlight healthy products.
Do you have programs or initiatives designed to help consumers learn about and identify products that address specific health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or Celiac disease? For example, consumer classes on maintaining a healthy diabetic diet or labels that highlight gluten free products?
How does your store's gross sales revenue compare to this time a year ago?
What current actions are you taking at your store to help increase sales?
Which organic product categories in your store are being most impacted by the economy?
Approximately what percentage of your store's sales are private-label products (excluding fresh, unpackaged produce)?
How does your store's private-label sales revenue compare to this time a year ago?
What percentage of the private label products in your store are: (total should add to 100%)
How do your store's inventory levels compare to a year ago?
Please rank your biggest competition, with 1 being the largest competitive threat.
Please indicate which categories you specify, recommend, authorize, purchase or have influence in purchasing (check all that apply):
How would you classify your store according to the following definitions? Definitions: Natural Products Store – less than 40% of sales from supplements Health Food Store – more than 40% but less than 80% of sales from supplements VMS Store - >80% supplements