This Easter, we’re multiplying in a big way

We’re amazed by the number of new consultants who have joined our Watkins Power Team in the last year.

It was a wonderful Easter as we gathered around the table with family and friends to celebrate the holiday. In counting our blessing, we had to pause and remember how our Watkins home business has really grown in the last 12 months. From a small enterprise five years ago, the former Big Bear Country Store has grown into the All Natural Country Store. In the beginning, it was just a handful of local consultants, who we convinced to open up their own Watkins part-time business.

While we had an amazing first year, advancing to managers after just a few months in our Watkins business, we seemed to reach a plateau in our second year. That’s when we realized that just selling Watkins products at our local farmers markets and other public events would not sustain our growth. That’s when we decided we needed to harness the Internet to expand to other cities.”

The decision brought phenomenal expansion. Before we knew it, we had other consultants from coast-to-coast and throughout Canada. They started their Watkins businesses small -- just as we did -- but in time they too began to grow as well. Just recently, we added another facet of marketing, branching out through Facebook to establish the All Natural Country store business page. 

Next was the formation of our own private group called the Watkins Power Team. Composed of our Watkins consultants, the group serves as a forum where team members can exchange ideas, discuss how they are expanding their reach, and ask questions when they are stumped by a certain business challenge.

It’s just another of the benefits we have created for our consultants, which also includes a private “Consultant’s Corner” on our www.AllNaturalCountryStore.net website. To find out more about the special training we offer our consultants, give us a call at 888-881-7372, and we will tell you all about it.

It’s Farmers Market Time

Every Tuesday, April through September, you can find us at the Big Bear Farmers Market

You can almost set your calendars to the dates of the Big Bear Farmers Market. This year, the first Tuesday of April happens to fall on the first day of the month. That’s right – April Fool’s Day! No joking. Well, the joke may be on us since the weather forecast is predicting snow! This follows a winter in Big Bear when we may have had two or three light dustings, not even enough to have to shovel the driveways. All of Southern California has had such a drought this winter, it has already caused the price of produce to jump to records levels. That will certainly impact the farmers, whose booths are a big part of our local market. Crops have been sparse, and the prices farmers may have to charge will probably be higher than in years past.

The price of Watkins products remains constant, so that’s something we don’t have to worry about. It’s more the threat of snow or rain. Since the hours of the market are from 8:30 am to 1 pm, that means we have to start setting up our booth around 7:30 am, not a task to look forward to even when the weather is good. Even though our tent provides some protection, we are still concerned that wind might be a factor, which could damage our Watkins products and displays. Somehow, we will manage.

Why do we do it, when the last year has seen a boom in our online sales of products, as well as the recruitment of new Watkins consultants to the All Natural Country Store Power Team? It’s to meet face-to-face with Watkins customers. It gives us a pulse on what local citizens are buying, and what they think of the Watkins brand. It’s such a joy when customers come up to our booth and say,”We use to have a Watkins man come door-to-door in our neighborhood when I was just a child. I’m so glad I found you here, and know that I can buy Watkins products at the Big Bear Farmers Market.”

And that makes it all worthwhile.

An All New Website for the All Natural Country Store

Our company expands its presence on the Internet with a detailed way to tell its story

First it was a feeble attempt to let North America learn about the Big Bear Country Store. Then we launched a blog to provide more information about us and the best things about J.R. Watkins products. Finally, we have created an expanded picture that shows our growing All Natural Country Store.

“It was about time to come into the 21^st Century,” according to Alan Lukes, the store’s technical guru that knows his way around a computer. It was the creative side of the of the partnership, David Gurzenski, who used his background in writing and marketing, to present the story about the store’s humble beginning, how we have expanded in the five years we have been of associated with Watkins Naturals, what we offer our customers, and how to become members of our Whole Shopping Club or our growing sales force scattered across North America – a group we call Our Power Team.

“This website (http://www.allnaturalcountrystore.net) will continue to grow as we enter new phases of our operation,” says David. We will always provide customers the level of service based on the philosophy held by the J.R. Watkins, founder of the company. He never wavered from that philosophy. Customers always come first. And neither will we. 

Partner Up With Three Gold Medalists

They remain the top products produced by Watkins. And for good reason.

What makes a winner? Just look at some of the top Olympic athletes in Sochi. It takes dedication, perseverance, courage and motivation to be a medal winner, as well as a great coach.

Some of those same attributes are evident in the leading Watkins sales people. Their success didn’t come overnight. Neither did success come early for the company itself. Founded in 1868, Watkins grew because of its great products. By constantly working toward improvement, the company’s researchers and chemists developed three amazing products – vanilla, black pepper and cinnamon. Sure, they are staples found in every North American kitchen.  But how many of them are gold medalists?  That's an honor only given to Watkins vanilla, black pepper and cinnamon. 

It was back at the World Fair of 1928 that international taste experts awarded the highest honor to the three products created by Watkins. They were judged the best in the world. Other products followed. Today there are some 250 items in four distinct product lines.

That takes us back to those Watkins salespeople. They have been able to succeed because of the great products and company they represent.  Direct sales isn't for everyone.  It takes a special person to be successful at it.  It also takes a great coach.  We feel we have one in Alan Lukes, co-founder of the growing All Natural Country Store.  He has helped countless individuals overcome obstacles and succeed.  You could be one of them.  If you have ever thought of building your own part-time, home-based business, call Alan at 888-881-7372. Unlike some of those Sochi coaches, he’s very approachable! Alan could just be the man to help you soar!

The All Natural Country Store’s Top Sellers

As a distributor of all things Watkins, we keep tabs on what’s flying off our shelves.

We love our association with the J.R. Watkins company. It continues to re-formulate many of its products to be the best that they can be. Company founder J.R. Watkins began his enterprise nearly a century and a half ago. His first product was a pain liniment he sold to customers from a horse and buggy. Today, the pain liniment is still in the production line, and produced in Winona, Minn., the same city where Watkins built the company’s headquarters. Today, products are delivered by UPS in the United States. The journey takes up to seven days to reach customers.

Recently, east coast customers used the liniment after shoveling all that snow. West coast customers used it after strenuous, outdoor activities. While its versatility still makes the pain liniment popular, the company’s best-selling product today is its Double Strength Vanilla. The award-winning vanilla is made from the world's finest Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans. Our secret formula is low in alcohol, and delivers double strength vanilla flavor. Customers keep it as a staple in their kitchens for baked goods. They use it in milk shakes, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, coffee, frostings, custards, butter for shrimp and lobster, green beans and more.

To purchase either of these products, go to www.AllNaturalCountryStore.com. To find out more about our store, go to www.AllNaturalCountryStore.net. You can read about our online store as it continues to grow. The store’s founders, Alan Lukes and David Gurzenski, offer their customers the same personal service that J.R. Watkins delivered to his customers many years ago.

Great Leaders We Remember

Great countries and great companies are led by people ahead of their time.

On this Presidents Day, we reflect on the great men who led our country. George Washington – being the first – is a man we all remember as the founder of the United States. He initiated some of the concepts American Presidents still follow today.

Those of us involved with Watkins also stop today to remember the founder of the company. He truly was a leader far ahead of his time. J.R. Watkins, who founded the company in 1868, established a number of firsts for American business. He introduced the concept of the 30-day, money-back guarantee on all products sold if the customer wanted to return it for any reason. Watkins was that confident that his products were effective and the best on the market. The company founder also developed the first direct-sales workforce – before Fuller Brush, before Amway, and before Avon. Today, Watkins has been ranked as one of the top home-business opportunities in America by Entrepreneur magazine.

Watkins is also a leader in the Green Company movement. All of its packing materials are biodegradable, but that’s just the start. Watkins continues to reformulate its traditional products so that they can be defined as All Natural by the Natural Products Association. And that’s why our Watkins business is known as the All Natural Country Store. We remember our roots, and we welcome the years ahead as Watkins Naturals continues to be a company other American businesses follow.