Natural Food Barn

Investing in Your Health

With all the processed foods, takeway and fast food options today, it is little wonder that good health has become an important issue in today’s society. Natural and organic products are commanding greater demand than ever before in the quest for pure health in today’s overindustrialised world.

South Australian Cashflow Manager CARE member Helen Clarke is in the health food and vitamin business.

Along with her husband, Helen owns 2 health food and vitamin shops called ‘The Natural Food Barn’, selling all major brands of vitamins and protein powders, a great range of body care products and fabulous food (for example, a large range of gluten free food for people with coeliac disease).

However, Helen hasn’t always been in the health and nutrition game. Originally, Helen was in the fashion business – quite a different industry!! Helen first started her business as a fashion agent in 1990 and then progressively opened fashion retial shops. However, in 2004 she decided to hang up her fashion hat and join her husband in the health food and vitamin industry. Helen recalls that is was “an exciting change after spending 32 years in the fashion industry”.

Helen and her husband are very proud of their staff. At present, they have 6 staff but are always looking for more, especially those with experience in the health industry. Helen aims to provide her customers with accurate information and advice, in order to further reach this goal she has a naturopath on duty for general advice every day.

Customers are paramount to success, according to Helen. “Our motto is that our customers must enjoy the experience of visiting our store whether they want advice, a loaf of bread or vitamins”, she says.

‘The Natural Food Barn’ caters for the health conscious of all age groups. However, Helen does admit they do concentrate on the older market moreso. ‘The Natural Food Barn’ is more than a business, Helen takes great satisfaction in helping improve the health and lives of others. “The fantastic results people get from fish oils and glucosamine to help arthritic aches and pain is wonderful as these supplements are safe and easy to use with no side affects”, Helen says.

It was an unfriendly bill from the Taxation Office that made Helen realise she needed help to manage her administration. As recommended by her Accountant, Humble Goode, Cashflow Manager has been with her ever since.

“It is so easy to adapt to any business and apart from saving me money and my accountant it freed me up to spend more time managing my business, so I was spending time ON my business, not IN my business,” says Helen.

Cashflow Manager has enabled Helen to spend time on the more ‘fun’ aspects of her business, such as marketing. “I must confess I love planning and writing our advertisements and promotions and with Cashflow Manager I have more time for this,” says Helen.

“I love being able, at the touch of a button, to inform my husband the exact state of the business at any time, and now with 3 shops, I love giving him the exact state of our spending on stock,” Helen comments.

Wages Manager has also simplified the weekly pay routine for Helen as well by ‘speeding up the tasks associated with paying staff, such as WorkCover and superannuation contributions’.

Attention South Australians! If you are looking at investing into your health and seeking a natural way to do so, we have your answer. As an exclusive deal, Cashflow Manager CARE members can receive a special deal and get an extra 5% discount on ‘The Natural Food Barn’s’ already discounted prices.

Come into ‘The Natural Food Barn’ – Welland, Gilles Plains or Morphettvale – to check their huge range and great prices.