Renee Carpenter Southard, proprietor of Natural Market in Gastonia, NC, and former president of SENPA, died on Jan. 17, at age 68.
“It’s with damaged hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of the center of Natural Market Renee Carpenter Southard. We’re understandably reeling as a household at our sudden loss and ask in your understanding over the following days and weeks as we plan to honor Renee in a means befitting the life she blessed us with,” Natural Market wrote on Fb.
Southard was passionately concerned as a enterprise proprietor, opening her pure retail retailer, Natural Market in 1992. Her retailer was initially 800 sq. ft, and he or she shortly understood “dietary supplements didn’t totally deal with the wants of her clients.” She determined to usher in natural meals and HBA to extra adequately deal with wholesome residing wants. In consequence, Natural Market relocated to a 5,000 square-feet location in 2003.
Southard was additionally properly generally known as an trade educator. She all the time “thought of herself a trainer” and her love for schooling guided her profession path. She spent a lot of her time instructing about well being and wellness. Working for SENPA impressed her to assist advance impartial pure product retailers in an ever-changing market.
“Renee will without end be remembered for the enjoyment, ardour, and vitality she dropped at our trade and her time on the board of SENPA,” stated Retailer Brian Mosser, enterprise growth director of Get Wholesome in Brooksville/Spring Hill, FL. “Personally, I’m so glad to have the ability to name Renee not solely a colleague in our trade but in addition a mentor and better of all a pal. She will probably be deeply missed, however I additionally need us to be impressed by Renee to unfold her similar stage of vitality, love, and keenness for our trade every day in our shops, to our clients, and to one another. Renee could also be gone however I can promise you she’s going to by no means be forgotten.”
Southard served on SENPA’s Board of Administrators from 2013-2024 together with her position as president from 2020-2024. Her imaginative and prescient led to outstanding achievements together with pioneering the SOHO Highway Reveals, which introduced schooling to retailers throughout 11 states whereas increasing SENPA’s membership. The Highway Reveals supplied impartial retailers with up-to-date product consciousness, legislative consciousness and advertising and marketing instruments for an ever-competitive market.
“Renee was an inspiration to so many and her ardour for the impartial retailers’ success was all the time on the highest of her listing. She was elected by her friends to SENPA Board of Administrators as president for a consecutive 4 years taking the place very significantly and her contributions could have a long-lasting affect on the pure merchandise trade. We’ll miss her vitality, her imaginative and prescient and her infectious persona,” stated Debra Brief, govt director of SENPA.
She additionally enriched alliances with different commerce associations, comparable to INFRA, to foster collaboration and progress all through the pure merchandise trade. In accordance with SENPA, her “dedication and keenness had been evident in each side of her work” and her contributions could have a long-lasting affect on the pure merchandise trade.
“We’re deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Renee Southard, former SENPA President, mentor and pal to so many inside our trade,” stated SENPA President Jeff Shackelford. “We’re without end grateful for all that Renee gave of herself and her legacy of unwavering steering, kindness and generosity will proceed to encourage us day by day. Please hold your ideas and prayers together with her household, retailer staff members and mates as they work by way of this tough time.”
Palko Companies, a retail distributor based mostly in Michigan Metropolis, IN, added, “Renee Southard will probably be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of realizing her. She was not solely a valued buyer but in addition a cherished pal. Over the previous six years, Steve Palko had the consideration of serving alongside Renee on the SENPA board, the place he witnessed firsthand her unwavering dedication to the pure merchandise trade and, specifically, to impartial retailers. Her kindness, generosity, and heat left an indelible mark on everybody she encountered.
“Renee’s considerate recognition of Jim and Debbie Palko with the SENPA President’s Award in 2024 was only one instance of her unbelievable spirit and dedication to honoring those that made a distinction within the trade. We’re grateful for her contributions, and her legacy will reside on in our hearts and reminiscences. She’s going to all the time be remembered as each an expensive pal and an trade icon.”
