Nothing Small about Small Business
Ken Klatt, over 25 years ago had a vision- a vision of convenience, accessibility and a health food store that was approachable. “I desired to have a business that ran well, delivered on the basics, had an inviting environment, interesting products and that would modernize the everyday health food store”. Leaving the suit and tie- but taking his accountant strength and relentless tenacity, Amaranth was born in 1994 and has been serving families ever since.
I sat down with Ken and asked him a few questions about this journey:
What is one thing you consider your greatest win as a business?
That growth in the industry is happening. I wanted to help grow the organic market and spark individuals to make positive decisions for their health. I want people to be progressive about their health and to stand in the relationship with them between their current health reality and the ultimate vision that they have. I have seen such growth and expansion in the industry and amongst individuals in the past number of years and I couldn’t be more excited!
What would you describe as one of the greatest challenges?
I, and my staff, are committed to growth, development, training and accountability as a way of combatting the challenges of the market growing and changing ever so rapidly. We want to stay in the know and always be able to meet our customers with where they are at- ready to provide suggestions or knowledge on where to find valuable resources.
With the expansion of the market and more like-minded stores opening up- what would you describe as Amaranth’s unique value?
Our size. We are comfortable, family-driven, approachable, a place to call home or “your local health food store”.
What do you love about being local?
I love that I get to walk health journeys with our customers. That they can know and be known. Seeing a customer looking healthy and moving in positive directions gives me an adrenaline rush and gets me out of bed in the morning. It is also powerful to get to link with other small businesses to help them share their products with the market in service to customers health goals.
As we enter 2020, celebrating 25 years, what are you excited about in the future?
That we will be committed to staying ahead of the market by being a smart and fun company, committed to culture, training and taking risks on new things in the marketplace. We will be early adopters; standing in the value that we vote with our dollars and that we are committed to our health and the health of our communities. I am also so honored to see my son, Brendan, step into positions of leadership within the company. He has embraced the company with the strengths he possesses, and I am confident he will continue to evolve it beyond what it has been.
What message do you have for our valued customers or new ones?
You are family. There is no judgment. We want your ideas and it’s not a one-time survey, it is a two-way conversation. We want to know what you are excited about!
Would you consider yourself and the success of Amaranth to be credited to luck or hard work? It was a group of individuals that were willing to come together to invest in changing the health food store landscape. I consider myself a pioneer that aligned my tenacity with strong business metrics and values.
Ken and son Brendan