Check Out Lee Ng’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Ng.

Hi Lee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey has always been centered on serving the community. In 2013, I was entrusted with managing It’s All Natural Store, which first opened in Gahanna, Ohio. At the time, it operated as a small business with the goal of making unique vegetarian and vegan products more accessible and introducing more people to the benefits of plant-based living. Over the next five years, we built relationships with customers who were looking for specialty vegetarian and vegan products that were often difficult to find locally.

In 2018, the store relocated to Ching Ter Maitreya Temple and became part of the temple’s mission to create a more compassionate community. Since then, It’s All Natural Store has operated as a fundraising store, with proceeds supporting the temple’s educational and community programs. As my role evolved, I saw an opportunity to do more than provide groceries. I wanted to create a welcoming space where people could connect, learn, and experience compassion through food and community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When the store first opened, it was called Nature Path Market, but we later received a trademark challenge from a company with a similar name. Rather than spending our energy on a legal battle, we decided to move forward with a new identity and renamed the store It’s All Natural Store. Around the same time, we made the decision to become a 100% vegan market. While it was a bold step, it reflected our values and allowed us to better serve the growing plant-based community.

Like many small businesses, financial challenges have been one of our biggest obstacles. During our years in Gahanna, the high cost of rent and utilities created constant pressure, especially for a specialty grocery store. Every decision had to be made carefully, from choosing which products to stock to finding creative ways to keep the business going while staying true to our mission.

Looking back, those challenges shaped who we are today. Moving the store to Ching Ter Maitreya Temple in 2018 allowed us to focus less on simply surviving and more on serving the community. It reinforced the idea that our purpose is bigger than retail. Every obstacle has reminded me to stay adaptable, keep learning, and continue finding meaningful ways to connect people through compassion, plant-based living, and community.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At It’s All Natural Store, I wear many hats. I manage the daily operations, source unique vegan products, organize community events, and build relationships with local vendors. My background is in graphic design and interactive media, which allows me to create our branding, marketing materials, social media content, and event promotions in-house. We specialize in carefully selected vegan groceries, specialty foods, and eco-friendly products that are often difficult to find in traditional supermarkets. As a fundraising store for Ching Ter Maitreya Temple, every purchase also helps support the temple’s educational and community programs.

One of the things I’m most proud of is creating opportunities for our community to connect. In 2015, I started organizing a small vegan pop-up market to support local vegan businesses and introduce more people to plant-based living. Over the years, it has grown into Nature Loving Fest, a free family-friendly festival that brings together local businesses, nonprofits, artists, and community organizations. Seeing vendors succeed, families enjoy the event, and visitors leave inspired to make more compassionate choices is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

What sets us apart is that our mission goes beyond selling products. We are guided by the temple’s mission of creating a compassionate community. Rather than competing with large retailers, we focus on supporting small vegan businesses, introducing products people may not find elsewhere, and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together. My goal is to use both my creative background and my passion for community building to make a positive impact, one person and one event at a time.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe adaptability has been the most important quality in my journey. Managing a small business and organizing community events means every day brings new challenges, from changing customer needs to limited resources and unexpected obstacles. Being willing to learn, adjust, and find creative solutions has helped me continue moving forward while staying true to our mission. I also believe in leading with purpose. Every decision I make is guided by the goal of creating a more compassionate community, whether it’s introducing a unique vegan product, supporting a local small business, or bringing people together through community events.

I’m also a lifelong learner. My background in graphic design and interactive media has helped me build and promote our initiatives, and I recently completed some online courses to strengthen my digital marketing skills. I believe there’s always something new to learn, and that mindset has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. Every new skill becomes another way to better serve our community and make a positive impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.itsallnaturalstore.com
• Instagram: itsallnaturalstore
• Facebook: itsallnaturalstore