Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim.
Hi Kim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My parents started the business in 1989. My mother was nurse growing disenchanted with standard medicine and my dad was getting burned out of his professor job at university. They were looking to start a health food store and ending up buying one for sale. The business wasn’t doing well and they were unable to obtain a loan to revitalize it. They put their heart and soul into it and it became a thriving business although not without ups and downs. In 2000, my parents moved 150 miles away so my father could pastor a church and as a result the business lost some steam. I took over in 2005 (I’m the oldest) and things went well for the next 10 years. We moved into bigger locations. We still experience ups and down but just celebrated 37 years in business in April 2026.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We are always affected by economic swings. Dietary supplements are often a luxury so as unemployment increases and wages are down, we are affected as well. Our biggest challenge came from a Sprouts opening up in our city. All of the other health food stores in our area didn’t survive and some days I am not sure we will either. We got a bounce from the COVID-19 pandemic and that helped sustain us for a few years. We are trying to reach new customers through social media which a new frontier for us.
Staffing has also been a challenge at times. We thrive on a knowledge staff that provides good customer service so we have to be selective about our hires. We have gone several months at times being shorthanded until we could find the right person.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sunshine Nutrition Center?
We are a family owned health food store in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. We sell mostly dietary supplements with some foods and personal care products. We specialize in education and personalizing our recommendations to the individual customer. Kim has six minute segment on local radio weekly (and has for over 20 years and her mother before) and offers advice on different topics to help educate the public. We offer 25% off supplements on Tuesdays to help customers save on supplements.
What sets us apart is our knowledgeable and passionate staff. Supplements can be very hard to navigate and there is a lot of misinformation available. We really pride ourselves on being informed and carrying quality brands.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Running a small business is hard and you have to really love what you do. We will never be rich from this business but our wealth comes from our customers and the lives we’ve been able to change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunshinehealthy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sunshinenutritioncenter
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sunshinenutrition
