A few months ago, we celebrated our 45th anniversary! A truly special milestone, and a truly yummy cake! A few weeks beforehand we decided to put pen to paper and interview the original founders of our beloved store. We took a handful of moments to reflect on the memories of our founders and the grassroots community that started it all. It was incredibly interesting, funny and a little serendipitous, it also prompted us to consider who we are today and what Down to Earth Organics has become….
A beautiful, wood decorated store, concrete polished floors, with shelves and shelves of products all with the primary purpose of being good for our people. Those same people who sit around our tree adorned table laughing and sipping on anything from their Mushroom Lattes to Matcha . A gathering space, dispatch space and a large counter which sees happy customers fill their reusable bags (and boxes) with good wholesome food. We also have three exceptional ladies at the helm not as new as the interiors above, but equally if not more important to who Down to Earth Organics is today.
On that note of so many wonderful new happenings and of our recent look back, we thought we would take a minute to look, not forward but to the present by interviewing the current owners of Down to Earth Organics so that you may get a sense of who we are being championed by in the present.
The following is an interview with Lee, Lisa (co-owners) and Hallie (manager and partner) of Down To Earth Organics.
Tell us the story of how you came to be part of the community at Down to Earth Organics?
Hallie: I first started working at DTE when my youngest started kindy, about 12 years ago. I would race down for a few afternoons a week. Fast forward to today, I’m working full time. Still racing, but I love it.
Lee: I’ll answer for Lisa and I as our stories are intertwined: It all came about through a combination of passion for holistic health, good timing and seeing an opportunity to grow and develop a well known and loved corner store. The timing was aligned when the business went up for sale as I was looking to relocate back to New Plymouth from France and Lisa was looking for a new challenge. With our two different skill sets we decided it could work well, mine in holistic health and Lisa’s background in marketing and sales.
Describe yourself in a couple of sentences.
Hallie: I’m a hardworking mum of three who is very passionate about food! I’m in my happy place when I’m at home baking or sharing a meal with friends and family.
Lisa: I am a bubbly gal who loves connecting with people. I thrive in a team environment, collaborating on projects and being creative. I don’t take life too seriously and enjoy the small moments and having a laugh along the way. My happy place is my garden on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Lee: Gosh, a tricky question.. I would say I'm outgoing and always up for a new challenge. I thrive when playing sport or being outdoors. I love connecting with people, especially family and because I come from a large family (6 kids), I think I have a good emotional intelligence that allows me to get along with people from all walks of life. I'm a little lazy in the kitchen but am a lover of food and sharing a nutritious meal with family and friends.
What excited you about working at Down to Earth Organics when you first started?
Hallie: I was excited to work with family—my sister Peta owned the shop at the time, and my mum Deb was (and still is) one of the naturopaths there. Having grown up on wholefoods and natural remedies, I was already familiar with a lot of the products, and I loved when new things would come. I also loved meeting all the wonderful customers and people in our community.
Lisa: The opportunity and challenge to help shape the rebrand of Down to Earth Organics, building on what past founders and owners established and taking it to the next level.
Lee: From my own experience of cleaning up my diet, removing unnecessary toxins out of my life and how that made me feel, I wanted everyone to have access to the same. I also love the idea of having a holistic hub, where the community could have access to what they needed to live a clean and healthy life.
What excites you about it today?
Hallie: A lot of the same things, I love that I still get to work with family; my mum and my two daughters have also started part-time. I love seeing all the new organic products we’re getting in and the new seasonal produce. The whole team knows how excited I get when it’s plum season. You can’t beat the first bite of an organic Omega plum!
Lisa: The new store offers us greater scope for events, collaboration, more brands, increased stock, and the ability to develop our online offering. We’re working on exciting projects—watch this space!
Lee: I love coming into work. As with any job, there are challenging and tedious parts but when I walk into the store and see our staff and customers, it all becomes meaningful and worthwhile. I am always seeing a familiar face, having a great chat or talking to customers about products, which is a passion of mine. Our team is more like a family and I feel so lucky to be working alongside a bunch of super woman, who are all so warm, wholesome and nurturing.
Tell us about the Down to Earth community today. How has it changed over the years?
Hallie: I think there is more awareness in the community today around sustainable, organic, and ethically sourced products. It’s been really lovely in the new store to see first-time mums especially wanting to choose organic. It’s equally wonderful to see many of the same customers from when I first started, still choosing organic.
Lisa: The first thing that pops into my mind is our growing community! My heart swells when I see a new generation of first-time mums starting their organic low-tox journeys. We’ve seen an increase in this customer base since moving and it’s really encouraging.
Lee: We have a diverse customer base, including young parents with kids enjoying our play area, local students, teachers, eco warriors, and first-timers. Some come for specific items, while others seek advice from our practitioners. Our staff, together for four years, have built some incredible relationships with the community and we have some amazingly loyal customers who have been supporting DTE for a long time.
In a couple of sentences, describe what the new store looks and feels like.
Lisa: Fresh, light, bright, and filled with good vibes! It’s a better reflection of what wellness looks and feels like compared to our old space.
Lee: I’d like to think we’ve taken that warm, welcome feeling from the original store and transported it all into a bright, light and vibrant store befitting of this energy! It is obviously bigger, with much more on offer and more space to relax and enjoy the produce and atmosphere we pride ourselves on.
What brings you the greatest joy in your day-to-day job?
Hallie: So many things! I genuinely feel so grateful that I get to work with such an amazing team every day. The customers! We have the best customers, and I love talking to them and helping where I can. Topped off by a perfect coffee that’s been made with love by the café girls!
Lisa: When we source a new product and it brings our customers joy, I love being part of that magic, especially if it’s a game changer for their wellbeing.
Lee: Connecting with the community and our incredible team. I also get pretty excited about new products arriving, it feels a little like Christmas sometimes.
