Vitamins Plus has been an ECRS customer since 2014, but the health food store has been serving their community long before then.
Founded in the late 1980s, Vitamins Plus was born out of a personal mission to emphasize the importance of high-quality nutrition. Helen Rayburn, owner and manager of Vitamins Plus, recounts the store’s origin story: “My husband and my in-laws started our store back in the late 1980s as a result of my father-in-law’s illness. They found that alternative medicine and proper nutrition were key to his recovery and that sent them down a trail to start a health food store.” What started out as a seed of an idea germinated and grew into what has now become a hub for nutrition, education, and community in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Though Vitamins Plus is a small business—one of the 1,200 independent single-store retailers that ECRS serves—the company still values being on the cutting edge of retail technology, as it is their top priority to attend to their customers’ wants and needs in an ever-evolving market.
Adapting to Change During COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the retail landscape changed drastically. Many small businesses struggled to keep their doors open, but Vitamins Plus adjusted and adapted quickly by adding CATAPULT‘s native e-Commerce module, WebCart™. The e-commerce solution allowed customers to order online and choose their preferred purchase method: pickup or delivery.
Rayburn shares her appreciation of ECRS’ ability to shift gears in order to help small retailers, like herself, during a stressful and unprecedented time: “[Our customers] could order online, and they could come in and pick it up. We could deliver it to them, or they could pick it up curbside. That made a world of a difference for some, who were immunocompromised. [That group] is an essential part of our client base.”
Vitamins Plus Store Owner
The Transformative Power of Integrative Technology
At the heart of Vitamins Plus’ success story is its partnership with ECRS and the CATAPULT Retail POS system. Through ECRS’ integrative software, Vitamins Plus is able to manage a large number of SKUs effectively. “One of the things that I also love about your software is that it’s fully integrated,” Rayburn expresses. “Both inventory and your register and your database—I love that.” The combining and unifying of various systems into one allows Vitamins Plus to seamlessly run business operations.
Rayburn recounts how the data from CATAPULT’s native back-office solution, Web Office™, has transformed their operations: “What has sold me on your product over and over is—we can’t tell if something is starting to pick up traction unless we look at [Web Office] reports. And we didn’t have those reports before, and now [we have them].” With the ability to track sales closely, Vitamins Plus can respond quickly to shifting customer preferences. “If you see a product moving, you can quickly adjust that number, so that the next order fills that hole,” she explains.
Building Customer Loyalty through Expertise and Guidance
At the core of Vitamins Plus’ work philosophy is an unwavering commitment to educating their customers. Rayburn believes that their expertise and guidance are what foster long-lasting relationships with their clientele. She states, “When [a customer] finds a product online and they come in and ask us about it…It gives us the opportunity to educate them and be a resource for them.” In other words, Rayburn and her team help customers make informed decisions about their purchases, and, correspondingly, the health food store earns their shoppers’ loyalty.
The Benefit of Continuous Networking
In the world of retail, collaboration is key. Rayburn actively engages with other retailers in her region, fostering a spirit of knowledge sharing. “Of course, we look for information in our ECRS portal, from INFRA’s discussion boards, and SENPA. I’m friendly with a lot of other retailers in our region. I’m always trying to get ideas from whoever I can touch base with to see what’s working for them and what’s not,” she notes. Her proactive approach to networking ensures that Vitamins Plus stays informed about industry trends and best practices.
In addition, Rayburn expresses her gratitude to their POS technology partner, ECRS, because “they have been so helpful for our e-Commerce system.” She continues, “It has helped us so much on the inventory side to get data in easily. I’m so grateful…for the images because [they are used for] our WebCart™ and… also in [our physical store] aisles.” ECRS’ Universal Product Database® saves small business owners time and energy by providing a built-in database of product images, health attributes, and nutritional information to pull directly into their CATAPULT database to support both online and in-store product information signage—a valuable feature of just one of the modules within CATAPULT’s product suite.
The Importance of Community Engagement
Vitamins Plus is more than just a retail store; it’s a community center. Rayburn expresses her love for the local culture: “I love a lot of things about our community. I love that it’s in the South because I’m from the South, and so the culture is very warm and rich and loving and communicative and helpful. And that really fits in with our [company’s] culture because knowledge and assistance are our points of distinction.” By providing their community with a sense of belonging, the small retailer is able to carry out their mission to educate and support their health-minded shoppers.
Looking Ahead: The Plan for the Future
As Vitamins Plus continues to grow, Rayburn is excited about the future. She envisions expanding their online presence and enhancing their educational initiatives. “I would love to see more classes and workshops that focus on health topics,” she says. “If we can empower our customers with knowledge, we’re not just selling products—we’re making a difference in their lives.”
With a desire to continue to give back to their community, the store is exploring new avenues to engage with their community members. “We’re looking into hosting health fairs or partnering with local health practitioners for seminars,” Rayburn shares. These initiatives will not only strengthen communal ties but also position Vitamins Plus to be a local leader in the health and wellness realm.
“We’re All In This Together”
The success story of Vitamins Plus is a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and technology. Rayburn’s passion for her business and devotion to her customers shines through in every aspect of her store’s operations.
With the support of ECRS’ CATAPULT Retail POS system, Vitamins Plus has not only navigated challenges but has thrived in a competitive climate. Rayburn stresses, “I’m so grateful that ECRS listens to people like me. And, I’m grateful that they [make it] happen—one way or another. So, thank you.”
Want to Learn More About ECRS’ POS Solutions?
If you’re a small business owner, like Rayburn, and would like to learn more about how CATAPULT Retail POS can support your business and your customers, give us a call and request a demo today.
