Jenny Clegg, director of Ecomall, Pty Ltd., grew up in Lane Cove, Sydney, engulfed in a world of vitamins and natural medicine, because her Uncle, Colin Barclay-Smith was considered something of a health guru. He had written numerous books on creating and maintaining good health and also started a company called Vitamin Supplies. The entire extended family were influenced by his advice and taking vitamins became second nature to them all Until he built his new distributing centre, Uncle ‘Col’ ran his business from a house in Willoughby. Jenny’s mother, Jean worked for her brother-in-law and Jenny had the convenient walk next door from Willoughby High School to wait for her mother to finish work. Without trying, she absorbed some of the vitamin-laden culture.

Vitamin Supplies’ new distributing centre, by the way, had six ladies loos, all a different pastel colour, which was of great interest to visitors during its building.

After Jenny returned to Australia from her rite-of-passage world globe-trotting, she married a South African land surveyor, Derek Clegg who was on a contract with the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority. During her life in South Africa, she haunted health food shops in Johannesburg. But it was only on her return to Australia that she heard about a health food store for sale and asked Derek to help. ‘Not on your Nellie’, he said, or words to that effect, ‘I’m a land surveyor. But I’ll do the books and the ordering, anything where I can stay in the background.’

From day one, when the store opened, Jenny, swallowing gallons of Nervatona, called on Derek’s help in the shop repeatedly. There were many hundreds of products and she couldn’t remember where they were! Derek’s kindly disposition and ability to learn fast made him invaluable, especially to men who wanted to speak to another man about male problems; they often found Derek was managing similar problems. The naturopaths they employed over the years were invariably lovely girls and dedicated professionals. Jenny and Derek had the store for seven years and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of their existence. (Apart from their children and grandchildren of course.)

Derek, as always, is helping Jenny in her new endeavour, selling health products on line. We wish you happy browsing and good health.