New Wellness Store To Open In Moncton
MONCTON – Danielle Gauvin, who owns the Sequoia Natural & Organic stores in downtown Moncton and Dieppe, is stepping away from the franchise and will operate a new business in the same locations called The Wellness Exchange.
The downtown store has moved from Highfield St. and will re-open on the first floor of the Tannery Place on Ivan Rand drive on January 2.
The Tannery Place is part of the Junction Urban Village at the western end of downtown Moncton, off of Vaughan Harvey Blvd. It includes two towers, Tannery Place South and North, with a total of 138 residential units.
Gauvin bought the store on 114 Highfield St. more than five years ago, and the Dieppe store about two-and-a-half years ago. She said she’s since wanted to have something of her own making.
“I’ve never truly felt connected to my stores because it’s something that I bought into, it wasn’t something that I created,” she said. “So although over the years I really tried to change the business and tried to work within the franchise, there was just always that missing piece.”
With the physical move, she decided it was the perfect time to create something that represents her, her team and her customers more.
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She says it’s thanks to the support for local businesses and customers interested in wellness products that she’s been able to grow and rebrand.
The Wellness Exchange, as her business is now called, will operate differently.
In addition to being a retailer of health and wellness products, Gauvin aims to increase the community building done through the business. That includes wellness education seminars and events at the store or at schools, as well as donations to community groups.
“So it’s really a community hub, and the products, although important, really are secondary to what we’re doing,” she said. “I think that right now it’s just so important to have that kind of community store where people can come to talk about their health and educate themselves. Especially now throughout this pandemic, people are just learning more and more about their health and how important it is.”
The more than 2,000-square-foot store has movable shelves to allow for events. Gauvin plans to invite experts in the community, like doctors and physiotherapists, to speak about various health topics at her store.
Employees from the old store will transition to the new store, and Gauvin expects to hire a few more because the new store is bigger.
“With the new store, we’re able to offer a much, much larger selection of products which ultimately allows us to be the largest wellness store in New Brunswick,” she said.
A grand opening week will take place at the new downtown store from January 2-9, during which $1 from each person coming in will be donated to PRO Kids.
“It’s just encouraging people, like when they shop local, we’re then able to give back,” she said.
The Dieppe location will also be renovated in the spring to match the downtown store.
Customers with Sequoia Downtown or Sequoia Dieppe gift cards can use them at the Wellness Exchange, Gauvin said.
Inda Intiar is a reporter for Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected]