Kelly’s Health Shop finds new, bigger retail space directly across the street
By Bruce W. Cole
Nicole Rumley had wanted to move her health food store for a long time, but she could not find the right spot.
Until the day she found the right spot.
Nicole has been the owner of Kelly’s Health Shop in Powell River, BC, since 2017. Now in its 50th year, the store had reached a point where it had outgrown its 1,500 sq. ft. space, and she had been looking for another location for quite a while with no luck.
“It’s nearly impossible to buy and build in Powell River,” she explains. “We’ve always wanted to move it but couldn’t find the right spot. We need parking, but I also wanted to be on Marine Avenue, which is our main street.”
Suddenly, Nicole’s prayers were answered when an ideal location became available, directly across the street from her store.
Perfect new location
“It couldn’t have been more perfect,” says Nicole. “Because it’s right across the street, I haven’t lost the flow of customers. From a business aspect, I couldn’t ask for better. It’s a newer building, and a bigger space.”
The new 2,800 sq. ft. space is actually two units: an old Edward Jones branch and an empty coffee shop that had been vacant for about 10 years.
The move from start to finish was a long process. The new location opened on April 1 this past spring. Leading up to this, Nicole spent two months preparing the space and applying her own touches. “We painted, and put in new flooring, lighting and shelving.”
Nicole turned to local artist Autumn Skye Morrison to really help put a strong visual aspect to the space. “Autumn Skye is a phenomenal local artist. She’s known worldwide for her art. I purchased three pieces of her artwork for the store. They each have meaning to things in the store. One is called Healing—a beautiful picture of the Earth—and the connection is basically that we are all about healing in the store. Forgotten Elders is showcasing the trees and the old growth, which is what the countertops are from—salvaged wood from the old growth forest. Wisdom of the Ages represents the three generations we typically serve: the children, middle age, and the seniors.”
Intertwining old with new
Autumn Skye also created the store’s new logo. “Since I could not change the name of the store, I needed a logo that was me!” says Nicole. “Skye was the only one that brought my vision to life. I wanted to incorporate the ancient geometry of the seed of life due to the fact that herbs are the basic foundation of the store. The lotus symbolizes re-birthing and new energy that I bring into the store. My two favourite colours were used: blue’s calming and healing energy combined with vibrant orange, which radiates happiness and vitality to fully enjoy life.”
The store’s countertops at the checkout stand are made from old growth fir. “It was salvaged by a local person and then made by a local cabinetmaker. The old growth fir came from an old logging setting from back in the early 1920s. My new shelving is all local wood, locally milled, locally made.”
Incorporating old growth fir into the store was partly a nod to the region’s history. “Powell River has a long logging history, but it is famous for the fact that it had the first pulp and paper mill in Western Canada, dating back to 1908. The mill was at one time the largest pulp and paper mill in the world. It did, however, close in 2021. Adding all the wood really brings in the local flavour and history, and it’s definitely a conversation piece.”
The new location has been a hit with shoppers. “Our customers are in love with the new space. It was a year in the making. The fact we managed to pull off the actual physical move in just three days blew people away. People feel it is a magical place!”
“When I saw Kelly’s Health Shop in its new location, I was blown away,” said Harmony Farina, Natural Factors’ sales representative for the store. In fact, it was Harmony who brought Kelly’s Health Shop to the attention of the CNHR editorial team.
“The store looks so good with lots of attention to detail, from the bright, inviting entrance to the beautiful front counter. Every area of the store feels thoughtfully put together, creating a wonderful shopping experience. Kelly’s Health Shop is a gem in the growing community of scenic Powell River.”
When Kelly’s Health Shop added an additional 1,300 sq. ft. with the move to the new location, it gave the store’s products more room to shine. “We are offering the same products that we always did, but they are showcased better, so it feels to the public that we have new products. We have organic food, homeopathic remedies, herbs, gifts, essential oils, vitamins, and supplements.”
Strong staff
Nicole is very proud to sing the praises of her excellent staff. “I strongly feel that it is the edge up that we have over online purchasing, and since I never worked retail in my life before purchasing the store, I really needed to surround myself with knowledgeable staff. I have an herbalist and integrative sleep coach, Mara Jones, who has a master’s degree in herbal medicine. She also owns Urban Earth Teas, and we carry her amazing blends in our store.”
Alongside Nicole Rumley, the store has four other holistic nutritionists: Suzanne Berry, Amy Price, Simone Clifton, and Kelly Doyle, as well as an additional staff member, Eleni Karasakalidou, who has nutrition training from Greece.
“I also have Kevin Mostad, a long-standing employee who has been with the store since 2008 and is a wealth of knowledge about all the products in the store. Another staff member, Linda Grise, makes her own soap products. Her stuff is amazing, and we sell it at the store. Pat Karis is also a part-time employee and is our biggest cheerleader in the community.
“It is important to me to have well-trained staff and, though retail wages are not fantastic, I also give them a platform for their personal businesses, so it is a win-win situation for both of us.”
Nicole did want to acknowledge one recent staff change. “Up until recently, my assistant has been Maria Kondra, who was with me every step during the move, including helping me paint, organize shelving, and organize the move. She is a true jack of all trades! She has very impressive skills for a 22-year-old. Unfortunately for me, she has moved to Victoria. And Christina Erl is an exciting new addition to the team. I am looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Nicole is the store’s third owner. It has been operating in the community since 1975, and this is its fifth location. Nicole says over the eight years of ownership, she has seen how important the store is to community members. “The COVID-19 crisis definitely brought to light how important Kelly’s space was to the community. And I’ve learned that Kelly’s is its own community within a community.”
Prior career
Nicole came in to this venture with no retail experience. “I am a chartered national-level professional figure-skating coach, with 28 years of experience teaching in various communities before I returned back home in 2006. I was also a financial advisor for some time. I was looking for a change in career, and owning my own business was the direction I wanted. This opportunity came along and seemed to be a perfect fit with my background. Since purchasing, I have also become a registered holistic nutritionist and continue to broaden my education in the natural health world.”
Bringing value to her community has special meaning for Nicole, as she was born and raised in the community and is a proud second-generation Powell Riverite. “We are the pearl of the Sunshine Coast.” Nicole stays connected to her community by sponsoring many local events, as well as sports teams. “I also offer free seminars to the public as my give back.”
As much as she and her team share their wisdom with the community, Nicole says its is reciprocal. “I learned more about finance after buying a health food store than I did when I was in the financial planning field. And I’m finding you learn so much from your customers. I feel strongly that the educational piece is crucial. And in the natural health world, it is a lifetime of learning!”