“To grow older doesn’t mean to grow old,” Renee Southard once told me with a knowing smile. That philosophy, rooted in her boundless energy and passion for life, guided everything she did—as a mother, a friend, a SENPA leader, and the owner of Organic Marketplace in Gastonia, NC.
Renee was a force of nature, blending Southern hospitality with unstoppable determination. She touched lives and transformed our industry, leaving behind a legacy that inspires us to do the same. Put simply, she was unstoppable.
For those who had the distinct pleasure of meeting her, you were in for a treat. Renee would greet you with a warm smile and a twirl of her flowing dress, instantly disarming you with her charm.
She embodied an ageless gravitas that could find itself equally at home at a formal Charleston ball or more casually, dancing around a bonfire with a glass of wine. Her wisdom and curiosity were ever refined through decades of life’s experiences.
Within her, though, was also something even more potent—a sense of playfulness, a zest for life, and a passion for living. She was often more than a little mischievous. Still, she would listen intently before she spoke.
When I was just starting out in the industry, she took me under her wing and guided me, sharing stories and insights across her 30-plus years as a retailer. It wasn’t just about the work. Above all, she wanted to make a difference—to leave a legacy.
Over the years, I came to realize that I was far from alone in that respect. In many ways, she was our industry’s “den mother”—a guiding light who nurtured, supported, and inspired everyone fortunate enough to know her. In those rare times when our businesses would do something she disagreed with—well, she let us know that too.
One of Renee’s greatest passions was retail education. At SENPA, as an education chair, executive secretary, and ultimately president, she spearheaded initiatives that expanded the organization’s reach, including a series of roadshows that brought invaluable resources to countless independent retailers. Today, thanks in no small part to her efforts, SENPA stands out as one of the most promising organizations in our industry.
I’ll never forget going on the road with Renee. Before each SENPA roadshow event, we’d take a day to drive around visiting local retailers. Once, we drove with the founder of a new supplement brand. Renee told him, “I love your formula, but you must clean it up. Get these fillers and excipients out of here!”
The owner listened. When it came to Renee Southard, you didn’t have a choice but to listen. She made her opinions known, and she was usually right.
At Enzymedica, I was once in a meeting with our sales leaders developing a strategy for our promotions. We were talking in circles. I paused the conversation and suggested, “We need the voice of our customer.”
I called Renee and put her on speakerphone. She answered immediately. For the next 20 minutes, she stayed on the line and gave us sage advice. That year, in large part due to her feedback, our promotional sales nearly doubled. Renee knew what worked when it came to selling supplements.
None of her advice came from ego. Her friend and SENPA Executive Director, Debra Short, noted, “Her laughter was contagious, and her love for her friends ran so deep. Her favorite saying was borrowed, I think, from Leslie Patterson: ‘It takes a tribe to make progress.’”
She loved her store and her staff. For several years, she implored me to visit. “You’ll love it! It has a fire pole! You can dance on it!” she’d tell me.
When I finally made the trip, I learned an important lesson. As a marketer, I’ve traveled throughout North America giving lectures on “best practices” in marketing and retail management. But at the end of the day, an independent health food store must first and foremost reflect the personality—and dare I say, the soul—of the owner. Organic Marketplace is Renee Southard. Vibrant. Full of energy. Just a little bit eclectic. Beautiful and tasteful. Through this store and amongst her staff, Renee lives on.
About a week before her passing, Renee called me. We talked a lot about her store, and she told me something very important: “I’ve realized that my staff run the store better without me than when I’m there. I trust them completely. I need to find my next journey.” As we talked, she shared her vision of getting back into the marketplace to educate and help more stores. She was eager to get started.
While Renee’s next journey is perhaps more vast than she imagined, her legacy continues through the countless lives she touched and the lessons she imparted.
Renee and I would often drink wine together, and while she had many favorites, we most often shared The Prisoner, a Napa Valley red blend. Today, I raise a glass to her—in thanks for her friendship and the difference she made in my life. I hope you’ll join me in doing the same.
Let’s honor her legacy by striving to make the difference she believed in—and by remembering to live fully, as she did.
To Renee, my friend—may her spark be everlasting.
