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A Cup of comfort with Fatema and Marie-Claire Founder/director of Coco’s Wealth of Health
The Chai Room has been proudly stocked in Maroubra store, Coco's Wealth Of Health for five years now, and in that time we felt it was about time you got to know the incredible founder, Marie-Claire, a little better.
So we sat down for a cosy cuppa comfort and found out a little more!
1. What is Coco’s Wealth of Health and what does it specialise in, Do you have a story that you can share as to what inspired you to create Coco’s?
We are an organic health food store in Maroubra and we have just turned 6! We do our best to support as many small brands as we can and we are always looking for products that are new and unique. We have many brands under the one roof that you won’t find anywhere else. We also have built wonderful relationships with our customers and getting to know them on their health journeys – we find that there a quite a few customers that feel unheard or misunderstood by their family and friends so we feel fortunate being able to listen to them.
Those that have known me for a while will know that I have always been health conscious and I would always inspire those around me to make healthier choices also. Over time I have continued to expand my knowledge and evolve deeper into this (still am). One day I woke up and just knew this is what I wanted to do and I also had a name of what I’d call the business and made this vision come into fruition within a few months of that thought.
2. What can people expect to find in your store? Where do you source your products from?
We have many suppliers and I am always looking for the latest and greatest in the health world. Whenever I travel I am always visiting health stores and organic markets to see if I can find something I’ve never seen before or isn’t in this state and add it to our offering. I love supporting other small businesses and watching these brands evolve from being at the markets, getting barcodes, gaining new stockists or a distributor I love seeing them thrive and succeed and being part of the journey inspiring healthy choices.
Our goal has always been for customers to be able to come in to Coco’s knowing they can trust what is on our shelves and that we’ve taken the hard work out for them. We have a healthy alternative for almost everything we reckon!
3. What do your customers appreciate about the products that you have chosen for your store?
• The quality or the product and the ingredients
• Our unique range
• They probably don’t appreciate how many yummy healthy cakes we have, making their choice too hard lol!
4. How did you originally connect with Fatema?
I can’t remember exactly how it happened but it was over 5 years ago that we connected. Fatema was making Super Chai cashew milk drinks. Actually, I have a feeling it was brought to my attention by one of our customers Sasha.
We are selling the long time faves – the Turmeric Chai’s - and we are now also stocking the wattleseed & carob chai blend OMG!
5. Why do you think your customers like drinking chai?
I think it is due to the taste, something nice and warm to sip on during the winter months, and also the ritual of have a time out/moment of peace. This year we have noticed a massive increase in sales of the chai category of teas.
6. Do you have a favourite blend? Which is it and why?
Currently it is the wattleseed, I am obsessed. I don’t think I’ve ever been through a jar of chai so fast. I don’t know what it is about it but it just tastes so delicious, everything marries together so well. I have it straight up with hot water, Fatema was shocked when I told her that, I am sinning in the chai world haha!
7. How do you take a moment to yourself to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of life?
Gardening (especially weeding the yard it is a serious meditation of mine), laying in the sunshine for vitamin d or going for a walk at the beach. If I don’t make the time for myself to get grounded my mood is affected so fast.
I also support myself with a variety of health treatments and intuitive energy work. It reminds me how to come back and be present in my body and how to balance my energy and take back my power.
Thank you, Coco, aka Marie-Claire, for taking the time to chat with us. If you'd like to watch a replay of our live instagram chat you can find it here.