A SHOP manager is calling it a day after almost three decades in the health food industry.
Caroline Purdy, the manager at Revital on High Street in Solihull, is set to retire after 21 years with the company and is looking forward to catching up with her upholstery hobby, learning a new language, going travelling and spending time with her grandchildren.
Over the years the Wellesbourne resident has seen a number of changes within the industry.
She said: “Supplements have improved tremendously in the last 27 years. There were a lot more herbs about when I started, but a good range of companies offer sustainability and clean products.
“We have so many options, a lot more knowledge, a lot more research – it’s amazing.
“The biggest change I’ve seen, particularly since 2020, is people coming in looking to take charge of their own health from a dietary perspective and to help with any specific health issues in a more natural way.
“With the age of social media people have access to a wider range of information about health and wellbeing. The downside is the information isn’t always correct and of course what works for one person may not work for another.”
Before taking over the reigns in Solihull, Caroline held a number of roles within the company.
The 66-year-old started at the Stratford store which was formerly Stratford Health Foods, working three days a week and ending up as the manager before it was taken over by Revital.
She then became the area manager for Revital and opened up Cambridge Revital, where the company was approached by the owner of the health food shop in Solihull who wanted to retire, and Revital took over in 2008.
Caroline said: “The greatest feeling is when customers that have been into the shop that we have helped come back and give us feedback saying it worked and that they feel so much better, also being stopped in the street and being told the product I recommended has worked.
“Another memorable moment was opening a refurbished Cambridge store in a building belonging to one of the universities.
“The floors above the shop were let to university students. A wet patch had appeared on the ceiling, and when we tried to lift the tile, water poured all over me followed by a lot of disintegrated polystyrene.”
She added she would miss people the most – the customers, the staff and all the friends she has made along the way.
Julie Morgan is set to take over as manager at Revital in Solihull.
