In Stock:

Both shops stock around 4500 product lines (approximately 50% foods and 50% supplements and body care). Local produce such as honey, mustards, jams and preserves is stocked in Hertford and there is a take away range of sandwiches and snacks for local office workers at lunchtime. A wide range of pre-packs of dried fruit, nuts, seeds and grains is approximately 50% organic. There is a large demand for gluten-free and dairy-free products and stock of Japanese/oriental/macrobiotic foods is being increased. We stock a wide range of sports supplements including Maximuscle, Met-Rx, EAS, Sports Sense and Science in Sport. Key supplement suppliers are Solgar, Bioforce, Viridian, Nature's Answer, Quest, Health Sense. Tisserand aromatherapy products, Green People and Jason body care are very popular and since introducing Dr Hauschka, body care sales have become very popular as we have Dr Hauschka estheticians working from both Hertford and Welwyn Garden City.

Interior of Natural Health, Welwyn Garden City

Therapy Centres:

We aim to provide excellence in complementary health care to ensure that every individual receives the best possible confidential advice with treatment for their condition and opening times to suit even the busiest lifestyles.

To book treatments go to our Treatments page, for more information or either pop into Natural Health and speak to a member of staff, telephone the Centre on 01992 589439/01707 392020 or e-mail us on hertford@naturalhealth.co.uk or welwyn@naturalhealth.co.uk . The telephone has an answer phone but is manned between 7:30am to 5:30pm. Treatments are available Monday to Saturday between 8am and 8pm, but in certain circumstances, bookings may be made outside these times.

Payment for treatments is by cash or cheque following each treatment, made payable directly to the therapist, or as otherwise arranged. Please note that cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full appointment fee.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, we advise you to telephone the Centre for any possible alterations to prices. We reserve the right to make changes as described without notice.

The Therapy Centre gift vouchers make a perfect gift, ideal for any occasion. They are available in any denomination and can be purchased from Natural Health. You may purchase a gift certificate for a friend or loved one to exchange for any of the therapies offered at our premises. The recipient can then contact us to arrange a convenient appointment time for treatment.

Gift certificates can be obtained from our shop, or ordered by telephone on 01992 550101/01707 392020 or by e-mail on hertford@naturalhealth.co.uk or Welwyn@naturalhealth.co.uk.

Staffing
Good Food Shop: Debbie Patterson (manager), Debbie Morgans, Maggi Pemberton, Stacey Patterson (Saturdays).

Natural Health: Sue Penn, Clare Bishop, Steve Banks, Tina Watts, Rachel Goodwin (Saturdays).

Staff Training
All staff are enrolled with the Health Food Institute Training School and the Bioforce Training Scheme. Two of the original staff have completed the Quest training course and both regularly attend the Natural Trade Shows. All staff have been on the Dr Hauschka training days and several have attended the Solgar lecture tours. New staff are educated to at least A-level standard and all had an interest in natural health care before joining. One member is currently training in Shiatsu and Back Rub, another conducts Food Sensitivity testing in store, another is a qualified reflexologist and Dr Hauschka Esthetician and another is an aromatherapist, Hopi Ear Candle therapist and Daoyin Tao practioner. Solgar, Viridian, Bioforce, Health Sense and many other companies conduct in-store training. Julie Goodwin is a science graduate with an honours degree in biology, food science and nutrition, a reflexologist and a Tisserand trained aromatherapist. She was recently awarded Fellow of the Health Food Institute. Julie Goodwin is an active committee member of the Health Store, Health Food Institute and NAHS (National Association of Health Stores).

Customer Care

Steve Banks offers pancakes to passers by, February 2005

'We put our customers first.' Says Julie. 'All staff are encouraged to know regular customers by name. We spend a lot of time dealing with customer queries about their various ailments and whenever possible we back up the advice with Health notes (an instore computer help line) or with articles from the various technical departments of the VMS companies. We also have a customer ordering service for items that are not regularly stocked on the shelves.' Regular tastings go down well as do in-store days with visits from nutritional advisors from several companies. Often the therapists offer sample treatments or give talks. Every alternate month we have themed days in both shops eg hayfever, arthritis, women's well being.

Awards
In 2005, Julie Goodwin collected the award for 'Best Independent Retail Business' and was a finalist for 'Best Independent Retail Team' at The Natural Trade Show in Brighton. At the Natural Products show in London, Natural Health was awarded 'Best New Store'. In 2006, Natural Health won ‘Best Independent Retail Team’, the award for ‘Team Excellence for Consumer Education’ and was runner up for ‘Best Independent Retail Business’ at The Natural Trade Show in Brighton. At the Natural Products show, Natural Health, Welwyn Garden City was a finalist for ‘Best New Store’.

'It is a great achievement to be recognised by the health food trade,' says Julie