GREEN BAY, Wis.—Mari-Mann Herbs, Decatur, IL, won a visit from Chris Kilham, medicine hunter, as its grand prize of EuroPharma Inc.®’s national “Win A Date With Chris Kilham" contest. On Friday, July 30, 2010, Kilham signed books, answered customer questions and visited Mari-Mann Herbs’ herb gardens.
The contest, featured at Natural Products Expo West in March, awarded the winner, Mike King, president of Mari-Mann Herbs, an all-expenses paid event with Kilham. Kilham is the author of 14 books on botanical medicine, and a frequent guest on such TV shows as The Dr. Oz Show and Fox News Channel’s Headline Health with Dr. Manny Alvarez.
The “date" included an all-day visit by the Kilham to the store for both staff and consumer educational events, media events and dinner at a restaurant of the winner’s choice for all the store’s employees.
“It was an enlightening experience to spend the day with Chris Kilham," King said. “He is a brilliant person and really knows herbs. For someone like me who’s devoted my life to herbs, it was amazing to learn from such a world-class mentor. We all really enjoyed the day and it was very beneficial to have Chris promote the cause of natural herbs."
Mari-Mann Herbs is one of the largest herb gardens in the Midwest, with a large retail gift shop, green house, and warehouse facilities. They carry a full line of dietary supplements and natural health products. Mari-Mann also has a fragrance division called King Dry Fragrance Co. producing unique, natural, earth-friendly, high-quality products sold worldwide.
"The event at Mari-Mann Herbs the other day reminded me just how much a small local retailer can positively impact the lives of people in a community," Kilham said. “With its inspired herb garden, a tremendous selection of natural health care products, and friendly staff who know a lot and are willing to spend real time, Mari-Mann deeply impressed me. I enjoyed the day immensely, speaking with Mike King and others, sharing insights into some of the plants I've researched, and learning a lot about their herbal garden. I hope the experience was as satisfying for Mari-Mann as it was for me. Thanks to EuroPharma for dreaming up this idea, and to Cheryl Myers, their head of education, who joined me out in Decatur, IL."
“We are glad we could sponsor Chris Kilham for this event," said Terry Lemerond, president of EuroPharma, “and that our company is associated with some of the leading minds in the natural products industry. We’re pleased to provide this opportunity for Mari-Mann Herbs' customers to meet and engage with Chris."