GNC on Chestnut Street

Among the top of just about everyone’s New Year’s resolution list is something pertaining to health or wellness. According to About.com guide, “Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies.

Next near the top of the resolution list are goals like “to quit smoking or drinking alcohol,” and so forth. About.com gathered these stats from sources like Quicken and others. Among those poll sources was General Nutrition Centers. GNC is one of the largest specialty retailer of nutritional and health products in the nation. It also provides franchise opportunities for people who want to own their own business. Jotti Bajwa is among the 23 million small business owners in the United States. Also, according to current statistics from the U.S. Small Business Association 54 percent of all sales in the country stem from small businesses and up to 55 percent of all jobs are provided by small businesses. Much of the appeal of owning one’s own business is being able to schedule time towards the things that matter most, such as family. “I have a four year old at home right now and she requires lots of attention,” said Bajwa. As owner he can set his own hours or hire others to work with him to take charge when he is away. Currently, he has his older son Shaan performing some of his responsibilities along with the store manager Elliot De alba.They all work as a team and this helps Bajwa spend more time with family. When he purchased the GNC franchise in 2007, in San Francisco’s Marina District, it was fledgling. The shop located along the upscale side of Chestnut Street was not well stocked and a less-than-enthusiastic clerk-staff paid little attention to customers. Bajwa changed all that, first by taking the time to show that he cared about nutrition and many products that GNC carries. “When a customer walks in the store I want them to know and understand what they are buying.” “Because, he said, it is about their health.” And, even with discounts offered by GNC through its Gold Card membership, supplements and other health items can get expensive. Yet Bajwa believes very strongly in the benefits of good nutrition and healthy living as does son Shaan (pronounced like the name Sean) and De alba. “I expect all of my employees to be engaged with the customers and to do their utmost to help a customer purchase what is good for them at the best price,” said Bajwa. Another very important thing Bajwa did was to restock and reorganize products making it easier for customers to find the items. While the shop carries mostly GNC products, Bajwa also includes other brands that compliment GNC, such as Dr. Bonner’s Magic all natural soap. Or, they are specialty items that GNC does not currently produce or carry. Bajwa just wants to ensure that when a customer stops by, that person will be given full attention and offered the best deals. At first his eagerness and friendly demeanor was criticized by some on Yelp. Yet as he explained to this reporter, “many people don’t realize that I don’t just sell products, I am here to help them understand nutrition and what they are buying,” he said. GNC prides itself on quality and aims for excellence, so there for, it expects franchise owners to aim for the same goals. Like all businesses, especially those who must rely on sales, outreach to a community is not easy, even in a popular and upscale place like Chestnut Street. In San Francisco’s Marina District, Chestnut along with Union Street is considered a tourist destination, not just another neighborhood. For all its tony attributes, the Marina and the adjacent Cow Hollow and Pacific Heights are trendy. The turn-over rate is high as each decade or less a new crop of 20 to 30 age people move in to make their fortune in the City. Once they do that, they leave or make a new life elsewhere. Most of the time owning one’s own business is about being a shop-keeper. “Sometimes business is busy and other times it is slow, that is the way it is,” said local realtor Kathy Socal. She has been doing business in San Francisco, in the Marina District for more than 30 years. She knows Chestnut Street. “You know, she said to this reporter,I know exactly where the GNC store is but haven’t been in there for ages.” “It seems everyone is running on coffee, smoothies and bagels in the neighborhood.” On the same block just a few doors away from Bajwa’s GNC shop is Peet’s and just beyond that is Starbuck’s. Competition for the foot traffic is constant but the loyalty of returning customers can be fickle. Mostly, this is due to the fact that San Francisco is ranked as one of “the most expensive cities” to live in, according to the National Low-income Housing Coalition. The coalition notes that the average rent for San Francisco is over $1,905.00 per month. When adding up other expenses and the fact that most 20 to 30-somethings in the area more likely to spend money partying, buying nutritional supplements on a regular basis might not be on their list of priorities. Also, according to Pew Research analysts the current generation of 20 to 30-year-olds are referred to as “Millenials.” They are more diverse in background than older adults, less religious and as the most educated generation in US history they hold lots of financial debt. Yet on the upside, they are eager for self-expression and open to change. Pew also notes that the current recession economy has set many ‘Millenials’ back in terms of job. Almost 40 percent are unemployed or between jobs. But researchers at Pew also noted that most of them will eventually reach their long-term financial goals. Of course, the statistics, like all conditions are subject to change and anyone who has ever been in business for themselves knows, a good business must make good choices. And, stay the course to persevere. Founded in 1935 by David Shakarian in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania at a time when health food and suppliements were almost unknown, GNC grew from just one storefront on Wood Street in the downtown area to over 4,000 franchises nationwide. Shakarian began as a shopkeeper with a vision, wanting to bring health products and nutrition to his community. That is also what Bajwa wants too. For more information about General Nutrition Centers see the web site and to learn more about the GNC shop in the Marina District visit 2172 Chestnut Street or call 415-921-1400.

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This article also appears on Digital Journal News.