Sound ideas for success

摘要

Succeeding in the Natural Products Industry is no easy feat. Retailers need to stay on top of the latest scientific research, coordinating the introduction of new products with manufacturers and distributors, while at the same time teach their employees how to satisfy customer concerns effectively, providing the personalized service that keeps customers coming back. On top of all this, they have to meet the demands of managing profit margins, adjusting employee wages and handling other businessrelated concerns. The current economic climate hasn't helped matters much, but the good news is that health and nutrition are more on the minds of Americans today than ever before. In addition, more mainstream consumers are seeking alternatives to the prescription medications that have previously dominated their lives -- alternatives that natural products retailers are in the perfect position to offer. According to Nutrition Business Journal, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services accounted for 30 billion dollar in sales in the U.S. last year. CAM is also starting to be taken seriously by medical institutions, insurance companies and employers seeking integrative approaches to keeping workers healthy and productive. Even the government has shown greater interest; NBJ also reported that the research budget for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine under the National Institutes of Health is expected to increase from