Long gone are the days of pharmacies that specialize in cough syrup, prescription medication and candy bars. Over the past five years the definition of health has been entirely reshaped by the nutritional supplement and health product industry and the demand is strong in Whistler. To accommodate the push for better access to these products, the owners of Nesters Market recently completed a 1,800 square foot expansion, 1,200 of which has been designated retail space for a broad range of vitamins, minerals, protein powders and herbal supplements.
"We want to be the place so people don't have to go down to Vancouver to get all of it," said Jill Wilson, pharmacy manager at Nesters. "It's a really big market right now and we have had tons of interest and requests to carry new product lines so we're going to try to meet everyone's needs."
To provide information on how to use the various new products, Nesters management has hired nutritional consultants and homeopathic advisors to be on site during regular hours throughout the week. Store manager Bruce Stewart said a number of customer surveys helped shape the direction of the expansion and he hopes the input will continue.
"We find our customers quite educated and they help push us to find better products out there, it's great for us," he said. "We are very open minded to products they feel we should be carrying or would like us to carry."
The pharmacy renovation expanded into the former Wild Willies ski shop located next door. A new wheelchair access ramp has been included, as well as a private consultation space for pharmacists and their customers. The new addition will be up and running by the end of January. www.nestersmarket.com.
Yew Restaurant + Bar taps the digital market
Management at Yew Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel recently ramped up its Facebook presence and launched a new website that will feature staff wine suggestions, cocktail tips from their mixologists, recipes and contests. To drive traffic to the new website, the restaurant is giving away dinner for two every month for a year to anyone who signs up for the e-newsletter before January 10. Fans of Yew's new Facebook page will also be entered in the draw. www.yewrestaurant.com.
