KENT, Conn. — A coalition of local health and wellness businesses are embracing a united vision: It is one of collaboration.
More than 20 businesses have signed up to be part of the Kent Wellness Community, a subgroup of the Kent Chamber of Commerce that is forging a path forward to shine a spotlight on and celebrate the knowledge, talent andresources that exist in the wellness industry in Kent, a town of just over 3,000 according to the 2020 census.
“The chamber focuses on community with how strong and vibrant it is,” said Ellen Corsell, vice president of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, who is spearheading the effort, along with Hope Stein, owner of Kent Fitness.
Part of that strength comes from the number of businesses that are part of the health and wellness industry. Given that nearly two dozen businesses — with their owners having a combined hundreds of years of experience — it made sense to bring the businesses together to collaborate.
Among the businesses are massage therapists, fitness centers, herbalists, holistic healing practitioners, acupuncturist, dentists, recovery centers, pharmacies and others.
“We hope to have a dialogue and to start thinking about how to grow together, and how to grow our businesses individually,” Corsell said.
In recent weeks, a group of more than a dozen business owners met to introduce themselves to one another and share information about their businesses. Since, word has spread and others have expressed interest in being part of the effort.
The chamber’s effort caught the attention of non-health and wellness businesses that donated skills in graphic design for and funding for printing preliminary Kent Wellness Community brochures.
The brochures feature a small photograph and bio of participating businesses. Over time, the brochure will be refined and expanded. The goal is, according to Corsell, to be inclusive.
The brochure’s distribution has already prompted new clients for several of the businesses, Corsell said.
One of the ideas raised at a KWC meeting a few weeks ago has also been successful. A quarterly newsletter with information about wellness contributed by a variety of businesses will be created by one of the participants and then distributed individually through each business.
The newsletter is just one of the ways through which businesses can support one another.
In brainstorming about the benefits of Kent’s strong health and wellness community, Stein noted Kent’s prime location at the foot of the Berkshire hills in Massachusetts, an area known for holistic healing through the natural environment, retreat and therapeutic centers, as well as possessing an active wellness community.
The town’s location is an asset to the plethora of Kent businesses that cater to the needs of those seeking healing through massage, physical fitness, acupuncture, psychology, herbs, and other modalities, she explained.
In addition, Stein said that many individuals and families have a second home in Kent and/or are now retiring to Kent and are seeking many of the kinds of services with which they were familiar in the health and wellness industry.
“I’ve always been interested in wellness and fitness,” said Audrey King of Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, who Stein described as an idea person. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this can evolve out into the public.”
In addition to the quarterly newsletter, other ideas were shared, among them launching a Facebook group for business owners to share ideas and tips amongst themselves; offering office space to fellow business owners who may need extra room for a class; and giving fellow practitioners a free session at their neighbors’ businesses.
Stephanie H. Southard of Fair Skies Acupuncture suggested tying in multiple modalities at, for example, a flu clinic at Nutmeg Primary Care, formerly Mobile Care Partners. She suggested that while individuals are waiting for a vaccine, a local practitioner could offer a short neck massage.
“This shows it takes a village,” Lindsay Maloney, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, and chief medical officer at Nutmeg Primary Care, said of the ideas raised.
The group brainstormed about possible events in the future, too, some of which were tailored specifically to the health and wellness businesses, while others extended to include other businesses in town to make events more inclusive.
Event ideas included a wellness weekend that incorporates classes, outdoor hikes and special programs at health and wellness businesses.
KWC participants added that an event like that could also be extended to include other local businesses, such as restaurants and bed and breakfasts, which could offer special meals and help promote local health and wellness activities during a particular time frame.
“I’ve traveled places just to be able to do [these sort of things],” King said. “It’s common, and we have all the assets right here. … We need to tie it together.”
For more information about the Kent Wellness Community, visit https://www.kentct.com/wellness.
