|
 Garrett
held a soft opening on July 17th and wanted her ribbon cut to
coincide with her two-month anniversary in Lincoln.
LoCo Nutrition is a nutrition beverage bar, located at 622 North
Chicago Street. Shop hours are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5
p.m. and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
In her made to order drinks, Garrett utilizes
Herbalife products. She can incorporate healthy teas with flavors,
protein, antioxidants, and much more.
Garrett explained how she got started with the beverage bars when
she met with Lincoln Daily News a week prior to the ribbon cut. She
explained that she is a single mom with a daughter. She was looking
for a source of income that would allow her to have time for her
daughter while still making enough money to support the household.
She had been living in the Moline area but moved to
Bloomington in 2017. She got started with Herbalife and was really
enthused with the products that were offered. As she thought about
what she was doing to earn money, she also thought about how people
don’t have genuinely nutritious choices in the fast-food industry.
She said that marketing makes those unhealthy options so desirable
that even before her little daughter could read, she recognized the
popular fast-food chains that market to kids.
She decided that she would do something about it with the nutrition
bar concept. Her first effort was to open a shop in Bloomington,
where she was not successful. She said while that did not work out,
in the process she learned a great deal about building her brand and
managing her business.
So, she attacked her plan for a second time, this time opening a
shop in Clinton that she called Jump Start Nutrition. That one is
alive a doing well. She also was involved in opening a shop in
Monticello, which is also going strong, and has been turned over to
a fellow “team member.”
Garrett said that there are a number of people involved in the
businesses that she has been involved with. Because all of the ones
involved are Herbalife sales representatives, they are considered
team members. In each store the team members work to sell the drinks
and other products in their own name as dealers. She explained that
in Lincoln it is Melissa Welker that works in the shop on certain
days, and on those days the sales from the shop belong to Welker. On
the days Garrett is in the building the sales belong to her.
The same concept is used in the other stores as well,
including two who work in Clinton and were at the ribbon cut on
Tuesday. Both Melissa Duncan and Khloe Morlock are team members at
the Clinton store.
Garrett also diversified her business staying to the theme of good
health. She said that she has implemented challenges to her
customers that include getting healthy through diet, exercise and
weight loss if needed. Customers can take on the challenges using an
app on their phone and can also attend in-person workshops at the
LoCo store.
In addition to selling the prepared drinks, customers
can also purchase the Herbalife products and do their own mixology
at home.
At the ribbon cutting on Tuesday one question was answered early on.
When LDN interviewed Garrett the question was why “loco” nutrition.
Garrett explained that it was for Logan County. She said the idea
was that even though the shop is in Lincoln, she wanted to embrace
the entire county and the name seemed like a good place to start.
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Tuesday, Garrett was led to explain that idea by
ribbon cut emcee Nila Smith. Smith said when she first heard the
name LOCO she instantly thought, “does this mean you have to be nuts
to drink it?” She then asked Garrett to tell what LoCo really means.
Garrett and Welker answered in unison “Logan County!”
In addition to Garrett, Melissa Welker, Duncan and Morlock, there is
one more member of the team, Dan Welker. Garrett explained that the
shop is adding delivery service and Dan is the one who is taking
care of that portion of the business.
Mayor Tracy Welch could not be in attendance, but did send a message
via Smith that he was happy to see another new business in Lincoln
and he wanted to thank Garrett for her investment in the community
and wish her the best of luck.
Alderwoman McClallen was asked to speak at the cut
and thanked Garrett for her investment in Lincoln. She said city
government is excited to see growth in the town and willing to be of
assistance within its realm if Garrett should ever have questions or
concerns.
Before snipping the ribbon Garrett spoke, saying she
was excited about being in Lincoln and has been very pleased with
the reception her product has gotten. She said that she appreciated
the community feeling of Lincoln and Logan County and the welcoming
attitude of everyone she has met.
When speeches were concluded Garrett and her guests
posed for the traditional photo before the countdown and snipping
the ribbon.
Garrett says that her future goals include opening a total of five
stores in the next year. With Lincoln and Clinton being two of those
stores, she is also looking at Moroa and yes, she says now that she
is a little more seasoned, her plan includes opening a new shop in
Bloomington.
After the cut, guests were invited inside the shop to enjoy some
samples including nutritious fruit flavored drinks and a new
offering in the shop, protein donuts.
The shop offers about a dozen flavored healthy teas
plus protein shakes in exotic flavors such as turtle cheesecake, and
coffee flavored drinks. Guests can order off the menu board, or
drinks can be customized to suit the needs of the buyer.
[Nila Smith] |
