The little shop that grew

Is there anything more healing in this economic climate than hearing of a small business that needs bigger premises?

Even more uplifting that the shop is called Healthwise -- a brand that has been going strong in East London for 30 years,even  as national franchise chains and online sales rise and fall around it.

Owner Aline Driessel said the Retail Park Healthwise branch opens its new -- and bigger -- shop this month. They don't have far to travel.

They are relocating from their corner spot near Mr Price clothing and setting up on the Pick n Pay side of the open-air mall.

"It’s a bit of a celebration so there will be prizes for early birds, discounted goods and ‘goodie bags' when we open on Wednesday September 17," she said.

"We needed a bigger shop to stock our growing product range -- including what I term natural shoes.

"People tend to ignore foot comfort, which is not smart when we spend so many waking hours on our feet.”

Driessel — who has a PhD, taught French in several countries, worked for the Seychelles government and opened a school on the island — came to SA with her husband almost 20 years ago.

She first started a tour company and opened an Alliance Francais language school, then worked as a teacher at Merrifield School.

“I purchased the Healthwise health shops in June 2023," she said. The other branch is in Vincent Park mall.

“Retail was a new experience for me but the shops are catering for a need and are doing really well. We had customers that had been buying health products for many years and they stayed loyal when I took over.”

She had a chronic illness when she was young and curing it not only changed her health but also her view of natural medication.

“In France, where I was born and grew up, I was treated with very harsh medication for my illness and it was doing more harm than good.

"That was when I stumbled across herbs, supplements and aromatherapy.

"That led me to meeting people who assisted me in curing myself and it was the start, a gradual one, of my interest in natural medication and lifestyle change.”

“It is a fascinating subject,” she said, adding there are new products on the market all the time, some targeting new sicknesses and diseases, others aimed at new ways of beating historic illnesses.

Over the years product training and knowledge has played a significant role in Healthwise’s success and led to repeat business from satisfied customers.

Product suppliers are regular visitors to the shops, giving courses on product knowledge for existing and new brands.

“It’s essential that our teams stay updated on all the breakthroughs regarding the brands we stock. Fortunately our team is all as passionate as I am when it comes to service and medication knowledge.”

“One growth area for Healthwise is that people are looking after their diets much more stringently than they once did, Driessel  observed.

“There is a growing trend towards looking after personal health in a proactive way, like avoiding junk food.

"People have embraced the saying ‘you are what you eat’, and paying proper attention to what they put into their bodies.

"Preventing illness is better catered for with nature’s assistance,” she added.

“People come to us for advice on natural products, because what might be good for one person could be dangerous for another.

"For example some herbs are dangerous with a heart condition."

That said, she acknowledges that modern medicine has a role to play.

Once  the Retail Park relocation is over and everyone has settled in, her next targets are researching new shops in East London’s neighbouring towns, setting up an online presence and opening a Healthwise centre, where seasoned practitioners can give advice.

To listen to Ted Keenan’s podcast interview with Aline Driessel, go to DispatchLIVE.

Daily Dispatch