Admin
Sneezing and itching tend to keep people indoors—encourage them to come out and enjoy the blooming season.
Winter hibernation is pretty much over and your customers are just itching to get outside and explore the warming world. Others know that by doing so, they will indeed be itching and sneezing and coughing—and feeling miserable because of it.
Spring fever often brings these problems to millions in the form of allergies, which are triggered by numerous pollens (trees, flowers and grasses), and molds that grow in the spring. Some of your customers, especially those who will be dealing with allergies for the first time, may not know the difference between predatory pollen and a simple cold. “Is it allergies or a cold” you may be asked.
“That’s often the big question retailers face in spring,” said Edward Griffen, ND, senior education manager, Florida-based Natural Immunogenics. “Over the past three years, the importance of distinguishing between seasonal allergies or something else has become increasingly difficult. In many cases the symptoms are almost identical.”
However, a key question that will help point your customer in the right direction is “Do your eyes itch?” A cold ignores aggravating the eyes.
Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, BS, MS, senior director of research and development and national educator for Texas-based Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation, said, “allergies, in their most basic form, are just the body doing its job. Well, perhaps overdoing it. Unfortunately, there is no cure available in the marketplace for allergies.”
However, she added, allergies can be managed with proper prevention and natural remedies. Seasonal allergies or “hay fever” irritate millions of people every spring, as well as in the summer and autumn. Fact: allergies are the sixth leading chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages. Further, with repeated exposure to allergens, many individuals can develop allergic asthma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that today, approximately 50 million Americans (one in five Americans) suffer from allergies and allergic asthma, and the prevalence has been increasing steadily since the early 1980s across all ages, sex and racial groups, except for during COVID.
Factors that have caused a rise in the number of affected individuals include genetics and environmental factors (e.g., air pollution, climate change, and bacterial/viral infection), Sugarek MacDonald elaborated. For example, she provided, concerning genetics, if one parent has allergies of any type, chances are 30 percent to 50 percent that each child will have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely (60 percent to 80 percent) that their children will have allergies.
Exposure to environmental allergens can cause allergies to develop later in life because of the excessive amount of environmental toxins the body must filter daily, especially by the liver. Over time, she said, this buildup can cause the immune system to become over-reactive to toxins, triggering inflammatory reactions that initiate a cascade of events, causing the immune system to overreact.
Audra Dunleavy, partner, Tennessee-based Natural Path Silver Wings, related that cases of allergies have continued to rise also because of common environmental factors such as air pollution, genetically modified and processed food exposure which have impacted the autoimmune systems of a much higher percentage of our population versus years past.
“Further adding to increased allergy cases are the daily exposures to chemicals, additives, empty food fillers and genetically modified ingredient substitutes, which our bodies are not designed to digest, and over time these take a toll on our entire digestion system which directly affects our immune system,” she added.
A study released in November 2022 by researchers at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found that those who are allergic to pollen would find that early morning hours are “friendlier” to their allergies than later in the afternoon. In a typical 24-hour cycle, pollen counts tend to be lowest in the early morning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an interesting effect on allergies. In 2021, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reported that fewer people experienced seasonal allergies from pollen. This trend occurred because fewer people, mostly children, did not go outside as per quarantine, thus limiting their exposure to pollen. “However, as communities emerged from the shutdowns, the statistics for those afflicted by seasonal allergies quickly rose to pre-COVID levels,” noted Sugarek MacDonald. “This resurgence of seasonal allergies has kick-started sales once again for seasonal wellness solutions and favorites like NAC, quercetin, elderberry and many others.”
Dan Curtin, executive vice president, Arthur Andrew Medical, Arizona, observed that consumer perceptions about seasonal wellness have changed considerably over the past three years. “Seasonal wellness particularly has morphed into a necessary part of maintaining overall health and well-being. More people have access to a broader range of information than they did only three years ago. This has made it much more likely for consumers to research and understand different seasonal health issues and has allowed them to take an active role in managing their own health as opposed to simply talking to their primary doctor or taking an allergy medication.”
Retailer Tim O’Brien, founder of the four-store chain Your Healthy Place, Wisconsin, related that “Each year we have a river of people coming in around this time for relief from their allergies. We find that many are trying to get away from the OTC (over-the-counter) and pharmaceutical drugs.
The Your Healthy Place team “is equipped with a variety of natural alternatives that help our community breathe again,” said O’Brien. Through consultations with customers, O’Brien and his staff have found allergy products with quercetin, nettle, bromelain and vitamin C tend to provide the most relief from most forms of allergies. The product Inhale Exhale by Lively Vitamin Co is the top seller in the stores.
O’Brien noted that a second recommendation he and his team always give in this case is probiotics, explaining their relevance in supporting against allergies. “Your good and bad bacteria is always in a race and whichever one is winning decides the state and health of your body. In fact, the higher your good bacteria is the lower your sensitivities, reactions, and allergies will be! Our top-selling probiotic is Great Guts by Lively Vitamin Co.”
As the temps warm and the environment greens up, you will encounter customers who also complain of stuffy heads (another symptom of allergies), according to Griffen. “Changes in the environment around us force the body to adapt. For some, this is easier than others. As winter fades and spring blooms, so do many factors that can wreak havoc on our immune system and cause general discomfort, such as sinus congestion,” he said.
According to Sugarek MacDonald, seasonal allergic rhinitis is one of the more common allergic conditions. This is more commonly known as hay fever. Presently, adults and children are equally afflicted, with 7.7 percent and 7.2 percent being diagnosed with this condition. Symptoms include the typical sneezing, stuffy/runny nose and red, watery, itchy eyes, along with swelling of the eyes. Further, symptoms can occur almost all year-round, depending on location, but mostly in the spring, summer, and, yes, fall, and this is due to the airborne pollens from trees, grasses and weeds local to the area.
She recommends optimized multivitamins such as Bluebonnet’s Immune ONE, a wellness-support formula, as a foundation. “That said, sometimes consumers already have a multiple they trust and want to double down on the ingredients that work with their natural chemistry,” she commented.
Bluebonnet offers Super Quercetin Formula, which is specially designed to stimulate the body’s natural response to seasonal health challenges posed by the environment. Each serving contains a potent combination of antioxidants and allergy-supporting natural ingredients, incorporating vitamin C from pure ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, high-dose quercetin and pineapple-derived bromelain to help manage the production and release of histamine and other immune-related factors.
Bluebonnet’s Targeted Choice Just Breathe Vegetable Capsules include vitamin C, zinc, and quercetin and also NAC, turmeric root extract, schisandra, cordyceps and stinging nettle leaf extract “that complement one another to guard the body against foreign invaders and work in tandem with the body’s natural defense system to optimize respiratory, sinus and immune support,” she described.
Arthur Andrew Medical provides products that Curtin asserted “successfully addresses” springtime discomforts through supporting normal immune function. “We do this with systemic enzymes, also known as proteolytic enzymes, which can help to modulate the immune system. This means that these enzymes work to maintain a normal immune response. This can be beneficial for people with an overactive immune system, as well as those with a weakened immune system,” he explained.
“Systemic enzymes, like those found in our flagship product Neprinol have also been shown to support a normal inflammatory process in the body, which is a key factor in many immune-related conditions.” Inflammation can be caused by a variety of reasons, and in the case of springtime allergies, hayfever is a significant contributing factor. By supporting normal inflammation, systemic enzymes can help to improve the overall health of the immune system, according to Curtin. “And finally, systemic enzymes can also help to detoxify the body by breaking down and eliminating unwanted debris in the bloodstream. This reduces the burden on the immune system, which can help to improve its overall function.”
The microbiome status also plays a role in relation to allergies. According to a 2022 published review published in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, “Recent studies have demonstrated the role of the microbiome in the shaping of immune responses that confer protection against allergic diseases.”
Arthur Andrew Medical also addresses allergies by supporting a healthy microbiome with supplements like Floraphage and Syntol AMD, said Curtin.
Dunleavy noted, “With many immune supplement choices such as herbs and homeopathy, a fast absorbing and effective option is colloidal silver. Colloidal silver could be helpful in supporting the reduction of the effects imposed by allergens.”
In tandem with oral support, Natural Immunogenics’ Sovereign Silver Natural Nasal Spray/ Nasal Wash helps relieve congestion by thinning the mucus in the nose, which in turn allows for clearer breathing, according to Griffen. “Because when your customers breathe better, they feel better.”
Guillaume Lois (CEO), Olloïs/Sevene USA, California, said, “Because occurring seasonal allergies affect a lot of people’s wellness during the spring months, Olloïs Allergy Kit offers relief with common symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing. Our single remedies are organic certified, lactose-free, kosher and offer natural relief throughout the allergy season.”
Selling Spring Wellness
Customers are seeking everything from foods/beverages to supplements to fortify their physical, mental and emotional health as many are prepping to be active outdoors—this includes fitness activities, camping and working in the yard and garden. Besides your sports/active nutrition department being shored up and ready to help them work out, gambol and garden, our sources have ideas to help attract and educate the pollen prone.
Sugarek MacDonald first suggests renovating the allergy health department to make it attractive and interactive, as well as informative. Cross-merchandise “seasonal wellness” products on an end cap combining dietary supplements and packaged foods for seasonal health. Showcase synergistic supplements that promote allergy resilience, such as microbiome support, silver products, single supplements like quercetin, homeopathics and nasal washes. Create colorful signage relating to seasonal health that provides information about the different types of pollen and grasses in your area that affect the immune response.
As an example, she offered, “you can incorporate signage on quercetin’s health benefits; this will allow cross-over sales in the whole body and the produce (i.e., apples, broccoli and onions, which are natural sources of quercetin) departments.”
Curtin suggested building a springtime wellness department and campaign by creating discounted product bundles that focus on the specific health concerns that are common during the spring season. “Product bundles should include systemic enzymes, probiotics, vitamin D, as well as herbal and homeopathic remedies for respiratory health,” he said. Promote these products through in-store displays and marketing materials that highlight their natural and non-toxic ingredients. Retailers can also give away effective niche products like systemic enzymes to every customer that purchases over a certain threshold.
Likewise, Dunleavy recommended merchandising combo sets as promos: 1) immune supplements (colloidal silver, herbals, etc) and 2) symptom-relief products (cough syrup, anti-congestion). Mix and match with a percentage off when the customer purchases both. And, she added, “Create eye-catching endcap displays with spring theme décor incorporating pastel flowers, turf grass, gardening gloves, etc.”
Or, you can go bigger and beyond pollen allergies in your spring seasonal product offering, advised Sugarek MacDonald. Select wide-ranging and targeted supplements for seasonal wellness by separating the allergy health/ seasonal relief product section into subcategories. For example, formulas for: head comfort (i.e., feverfew and butterbur); natural anti-histamines (i.e., quercetin, nettle leaf); respiratory (i.e., bromelain, turmeric and cordyceps); healthy gut flora (i.e., probiotics); and congestion (i.e., neti pots with sea salt saline solution kits).
On the flip side, she added, “Avoid too much product redundancy. Focus on one particular allergy health/spring wellness subcategory or pick three popular items across the seasonal wellness categories for an overall allergy health approach and then rotate monthly. For example, provide an endcap with NAC, quercetin, nettle leaf, neti pots and provide literature stating the seasonal wellness benefits of each and merchandise accordingly on endcaps or special ‘seasonal wellness stand or table.’”
E-blasts with educational information and citations followed by recommended products you carry are a great way to bring customers in—and they will come already educated and ready to explore and buy. Add a fun fact in there, too. For example, “Pollen is a plant’s male DNA,” or “Weed pollens are the most prolific allergens of all.”
Digital marketing tactics include sending out email blasts or creating thumbnails that can be posted on your social media, Sugarek MacDonald advised. “Maybe have a fun raffle inspiring others to share what works for them in managing allergies with supplements and other natural products, and whoever gets the most ‘likes’ gets your giveaway. And have some fun by creating short TikToks to engage your store audience and promote sales,” she said.
In store, recommended Dunleavy, “capture a short animation on YouTube that illustrates how allergies trigger the immune system. Have this loop on a flatscreen with a display of immune supplements merchandised together.”
Take full advantage of what your brand manufacturing partners have to help educate and attract customers to spring wellness.
Natural Path/Silver Wings provides retailers with free product pamphlets, posters, endcap signs, sample bottles and die-cut shelf talkers. Sovereign Silver provides educational content in the form of print collateral, podcasts, training modules and healthy lifestyle hacks to help customers understand and take control of their own health journey.
Bluebonnet Nutrition has created an established presence across various marketing channels including social media and blogs, which, stated Sugarek MacDonald, benefits retailers by pulling consumers into the stores. “By building our brand identity, we have a solid following on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube,” she commented, adding that the company launched a new more user-friendly website. “And with a national sales team to assist, we work with our stores on a one-on-one basis to help support sales, demos and marketing plans, creating visuals, videos and various marketing materials.” Bluebonnet can also assist retailers in building their e-commerce platforms, emphasizing spring wellness and other common concerns.
Griffen summarized, “Understand that the allergy customers are coming. And they will be coming in numbers. Looking for natural alternatives to their recurring seasonal symptoms. So, stock up and be ready!” VR
For More Information:
Arthur Andrews Medical, www.arthurandrew.com
Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation, www.bluebonnetnutrition.com
Natural Immunogenics, www.soveriegnsilver.com
Natural Path Silver Wings, www.npswsilver.com
Olloïs/Sevene USA, www.ollois.com
Extra! Extra!
Sneezing and itching tend to keep people indoors—encourage them to come out and enjoy the blooming season.
Winter hibernation is pretty much over and your customers are just itching to get outside and explore the warming world. Others know that by doing so, they will indeed be itching and sneezing and coughing—and feeling miserable because of it.
Spring fever often brings these problems to millions in the form of allergies, which are triggered by numerous pollens (trees, flowers and grasses), and molds that grow in the spring. Some of your customers, especially those who will be dealing with allergies for the first time, may not know the difference between predatory pollen and a simple cold. “Is it allergies or a cold” you may be asked.
“That’s often the big question retailers face in spring,” said Edward Griffen, ND, senior education manager, Florida-based Natural Immunogenics. “Over the past three years, the importance of distinguishing between seasonal allergies or something else has become increasingly difficult. In many cases the symptoms are almost identical.”
However, a key question that will help point your customer in the right direction is “Do your eyes itch?” A cold ignores aggravating the eyes.
Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, BS, MS, senior director of research and development and national educator for Texas-based Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation, said, “allergies, in their most basic form, are just the body doing its job. Well, perhaps overdoing it. Unfortunately, there is no cure available in the marketplace for allergies.”
However, she added, allergies can be managed with proper prevention and natural remedies. Seasonal allergies or “hay fever” irritate millions of people every spring, as well as in the summer and autumn. Fact: allergies are the sixth leading chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages. Further, with repeated exposure to allergens, many individuals can develop allergic asthma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that today, approximately 50 million Americans (one in five Americans) suffer from allergies and allergic asthma, and the prevalence has been increasing steadily since the early 1980s across all ages, sex and racial groups, except for during COVID.
Factors that have caused a rise in the number of affected individuals include genetics and environmental factors (e.g., air pollution, climate change, and bacterial/viral infection), Sugarek MacDonald elaborated. For example, she provided, concerning genetics, if one parent has allergies of any type, chances are 30 percent to 50 percent that each child will have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely (60 percent to 80 percent) that their children will have allergies.
Exposure to environmental allergens can cause allergies to develop later in life because of the excessive amount of environmental toxins the body must filter daily, especially by the liver. Over time, she said, this buildup can cause the immune system to become over-reactive to toxins, triggering inflammatory reactions that initiate a cascade of events, causing the immune system to overreact.
Audra Dunleavy, partner, Tennessee-based Natural Path Silver Wings, related that cases of allergies have continued to rise also because of common environmental factors such as air pollution, genetically modified and processed food exposure which have impacted the autoimmune systems of a much higher percentage of our population versus years past.
“Further adding to increased allergy cases are the daily exposures to chemicals, additives, empty food fillers and genetically modified ingredient substitutes, which our bodies are not designed to digest, and over time these take a toll on our entire digestion system which directly affects our immune system,” she added.
A study released in November 2022 by researchers at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found that those who are allergic to pollen would find that early morning hours are “friendlier” to their allergies than later in the afternoon. In a typical 24-hour cycle, pollen counts tend to be lowest in the early morning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an interesting effect on allergies. In 2021, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reported that fewer people experienced seasonal allergies from pollen. This trend occurred because fewer people, mostly children, did not go outside as per quarantine, thus limiting their exposure to pollen. “However, as communities emerged from the shutdowns, the statistics for those afflicted by seasonal allergies quickly rose to pre-COVID levels,” noted Sugarek MacDonald. “This resurgence of seasonal allergies has kick-started sales once again for seasonal wellness solutions and favorites like NAC, quercetin, elderberry and many others.”
Dan Curtin, executive vice president, Arthur Andrew Medical, Arizona, observed that consumer perceptions about seasonal wellness have changed considerably over the past three years. “Seasonal wellness particularly has morphed into a necessary part of maintaining overall health and well-being. More people have access to a broader range of information than they did only three years ago. This has made it much more likely for consumers to research and understand different seasonal health issues and has allowed them to take an active role in managing their own health as opposed to simply talking to their primary doctor or taking an allergy medication.”
Retailer Tim O’Brien, founder of the four-store chain Your Healthy Place, Wisconsin, related that “Each year we have a river of people coming in around this time for relief from their allergies. We find that many are trying to get away from the OTC (over-the-counter) and pharmaceutical drugs.
The Your Healthy Place team “is equipped with a variety of natural alternatives that help our community breathe again,” said O’Brien. Through consultations with customers, O’Brien and his staff have found allergy products with quercetin, nettle, bromelain and vitamin C tend to provide the most relief from most forms of allergies. The product Inhale Exhale by Lively Vitamin Co is the top seller in the stores.
O’Brien noted that a second recommendation he and his team always give in this case is probiotics, explaining their relevance in supporting against allergies. “Your good and bad bacteria is always in a race and whichever one is winning decides the state and health of your body. In fact, the higher your good bacteria is the lower your sensitivities, reactions, and allergies will be! Our top-selling probiotic is Great Guts by Lively Vitamin Co.”
As the temps warm and the environment greens up, you will encounter customers who also complain of stuffy heads (another symptom of allergies), according to Griffen. “Changes in the environment around us force the body to adapt. For some, this is easier than others. As winter fades and spring blooms, so do many factors that can wreak havoc on our immune system and cause general discomfort, such as sinus congestion,” he said.
According to Sugarek MacDonald, seasonal allergic rhinitis is one of the more common allergic conditions. This is more commonly known as hay fever. Presently, adults and children are equally afflicted, with 7.7 percent and 7.2 percent being diagnosed with this condition. Symptoms include the typical sneezing, stuffy/runny nose and red, watery, itchy eyes, along with swelling of the eyes. Further, symptoms can occur almost all year-round, depending on location, but mostly in the spring, summer, and, yes, fall, and this is due to the airborne pollens from trees, grasses and weeds local to the area.
She recommends optimized multivitamins such as Bluebonnet’s Immune ONE, a wellness-support formula, as a foundation. “That said, sometimes consumers already have a multiple they trust and want to double down on the ingredients that work with their natural chemistry,” she commented.
Bluebonnet offers Super Quercetin Formula, which is specially designed to stimulate the body’s natural response to seasonal health challenges posed by the environment. Each serving contains a potent combination of antioxidants and allergy-supporting natural ingredients, incorporating vitamin C from pure ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, high-dose quercetin and pineapple-derived bromelain to help manage the production and release of histamine and other immune-related factors.
Bluebonnet’s Targeted Choice Just Breathe Vegetable Capsules include vitamin C, zinc, and quercetin and also NAC, turmeric root extract, schisandra, cordyceps and stinging nettle leaf extract “that complement one another to guard the body against foreign invaders and work in tandem with the body’s natural defense system to optimize respiratory, sinus and immune support,” she described.
Arthur Andrew Medical provides products that Curtin asserted “successfully addresses” springtime discomforts through supporting normal immune function. “We do this with systemic enzymes, also known as proteolytic enzymes, which can help to modulate the immune system. This means that these enzymes work to maintain a normal immune response. This can be beneficial for people with an overactive immune system, as well as those with a weakened immune system,” he explained.
“Systemic enzymes, like those found in our flagship product Neprinol have also been shown to support a normal inflammatory process in the body, which is a key factor in many immune-related conditions.” Inflammation can be caused by a variety of reasons, and in the case of springtime allergies, hayfever is a significant contributing factor. By supporting normal inflammation, systemic enzymes can help to improve the overall health of the immune system, according to Curtin. “And finally, systemic enzymes can also help to detoxify the body by breaking down and eliminating unwanted debris in the bloodstream. This reduces the burden on the immune system, which can help to improve its overall function.”
The microbiome status also plays a role in relation to allergies. According to a 2022 published review published in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, “Recent studies have demonstrated the role of the microbiome in the shaping of immune responses that confer protection against allergic diseases.”
Arthur Andrew Medical also addresses allergies by supporting a healthy microbiome with supplements like Floraphage and Syntol AMD, said Curtin.
Dunleavy noted, “With many immune supplement choices such as herbs and homeopathy, a fast absorbing and effective option is colloidal silver. Colloidal silver could be helpful in supporting the reduction of the effects imposed by allergens.”
In tandem with oral support, Natural Immunogenics’ Sovereign Silver Natural Nasal Spray/ Nasal Wash helps relieve congestion by thinning the mucus in the nose, which in turn allows for clearer breathing, according to Griffen. “Because when your customers breathe better, they feel better.”
Guillaume Lois (CEO), Olloïs/Sevene USA, California, said, “Because occurring seasonal allergies affect a lot of people’s wellness during the spring months, Olloïs Allergy Kit offers relief with common symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing. Our single remedies are organic certified, lactose-free, kosher and offer natural relief throughout the allergy season.”
Selling Spring Wellness
Customers are seeking everything from foods/beverages to supplements to fortify their physical, mental and emotional health as many are prepping to be active outdoors—this includes fitness activities, camping and working in the yard and garden. Besides your sports/active nutrition department being shored up and ready to help them work out, gambol and garden, our sources have ideas to help attract and educate the pollen prone.
Sugarek MacDonald first suggests renovating the allergy health department to make it attractive and interactive, as well as informative. Cross-merchandise “seasonal wellness” products on an end cap combining dietary supplements and packaged foods for seasonal health. Showcase synergistic supplements that promote allergy resilience, such as microbiome support, silver products, single supplements like quercetin, homeopathics and nasal washes. Create colorful signage relating to seasonal health that provides information about the different types of pollen and grasses in your area that affect the immune response.
As an example, she offered, “you can incorporate signage on quercetin’s health benefits; this will allow cross-over sales in the whole body and the produce (i.e., apples, broccoli and onions, which are natural sources of quercetin) departments.”
Curtin suggested building a springtime wellness department and campaign by creating discounted product bundles that focus on the specific health concerns that are common during the spring season. “Product bundles should include systemic enzymes, probiotics, vitamin D, as well as herbal and homeopathic remedies for respiratory health,” he said. Promote these products through in-store displays and marketing materials that highlight their natural and non-toxic ingredients. Retailers can also give away effective niche products like systemic enzymes to every customer that purchases over a certain threshold.
Likewise, Dunleavy recommended merchandising combo sets as promos: 1) immune supplements (colloidal silver, herbals, etc) and 2) symptom-relief products (cough syrup, anti-congestion). Mix and match with a percentage off when the customer purchases both. And, she added, “Create eye-catching endcap displays with spring theme décor incorporating pastel flowers, turf grass, gardening gloves, etc.”
Or, you can go bigger and beyond pollen allergies in your spring seasonal product offering, advised Sugarek MacDonald. Select wide-ranging and targeted supplements for seasonal wellness by separating the allergy health/ seasonal relief product section into subcategories. For example, formulas for: head comfort (i.e., feverfew and butterbur); natural anti-histamines (i.e., quercetin, nettle leaf); respiratory (i.e., bromelain, turmeric and cordyceps); healthy gut flora (i.e., probiotics); and congestion (i.e., neti pots with sea salt saline solution kits).
On the flip side, she added, “Avoid too much product redundancy. Focus on one particular allergy health/spring wellness subcategory or pick three popular items across the seasonal wellness categories for an overall allergy health approach and then rotate monthly. For example, provide an endcap with NAC, quercetin, nettle leaf, neti pots and provide literature stating the seasonal wellness benefits of each and merchandise accordingly on endcaps or special ‘seasonal wellness stand or table.’”
E-blasts with educational information and citations followed by recommended products you carry are a great way to bring customers in—and they will come already educated and ready to explore and buy. Add a fun fact in there, too. For example, “Pollen is a plant’s male DNA,” or “Weed pollens are the most prolific allergens of all.”
Digital marketing tactics include sending out email blasts or creating thumbnails that can be posted on your social media, Sugarek MacDonald advised. “Maybe have a fun raffle inspiring others to share what works for them in managing allergies with supplements and other natural products, and whoever gets the most ‘likes’ gets your giveaway. And have some fun by creating short TikToks to engage your store audience and promote sales,” she said.
In store, recommended Dunleavy, “capture a short animation on YouTube that illustrates how allergies trigger the immune system. Have this loop on a flatscreen with a display of immune supplements merchandised together.”
Take full advantage of what your brand manufacturing partners have to help educate and attract customers to spring wellness.
Natural Path/Silver Wings provides retailers with free product pamphlets, posters, endcap signs, sample bottles and die-cut shelf talkers. Sovereign Silver provides educational content in the form of print collateral, podcasts, training modules and healthy lifestyle hacks to help customers understand and take control of their own health journey.
Bluebonnet Nutrition has created an established presence across various marketing channels including social media and blogs, which, stated Sugarek MacDonald, benefits retailers by pulling consumers into the stores. “By building our brand identity, we have a solid following on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube,” she commented, adding that the company launched a new more user-friendly website. “And with a national sales team to assist, we work with our stores on a one-on-one basis to help support sales, demos and marketing plans, creating visuals, videos and various marketing materials.” Bluebonnet can also assist retailers in building their e-commerce platforms, emphasizing spring wellness and other common concerns.
Griffen summarized, “Understand that the allergy customers are coming. And they will be coming in numbers. Looking for natural alternatives to their recurring seasonal symptoms. So, stock up and be ready!” VR
For More Information:
Extra! Extra!
