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Issue link: http://beautystorebusiness.epubxp.com/i/141850
Please describe Pharmaca's business model for those who aren't familiar with it. Panzer: We are a traditional pharmacy combined with a retail model that is staffed by practitioners who provide superior customer service— including advice and guidance regarding our extensive selection of natural and organic health, wellness and beauty products that help customers achieve their health and wellness goals. Who is the average Pharmaca customer—age range, beauty/health need, etc.? Panzer: Our customers are more than 80% female, with 32% between 36-50 years of age, 29% between 51-65 years of age, and 27% between 26-35 years of age. "We expect to open more stores in the next four years, and are considering a move to new states further east." MEET THE TEAM Mark Panzer, Pharmaca president and CEO, holds more than 30 years of experience in the food and drugstore industry. Panzer came to Pharmaca from Rite Aid Corp. in the fall of 2008. During his time at Rite Aid, he was responsible for merchandising, marketing and logistics for the company's 5,100 stores, with revenue of $26 billion. Prior to Rite Aid, he spent 22 years with Albertsons, American Stores and Jewel Cos., holding senior-level management positions in operations, marketing merchandising and real estate. Dave Janowicz, vice president of merchandising, handled operations, marketing and merchandising for 30 years in drugstore and grocery retailing with American Stores, Albertsons and SUPERVALU before joining the Pharmaca team in June of 2010. Tiana Ukleja, category manager of health and beauty, spent 10 years immediately following college as an education, training and category manager in the wine and spirits industry. Her focus switched to beauty when she moved to Colorado to join the Pharmaca team 2 1/2 years ago. Ukleja says that beauty and wine go hand in hand, with many brands in both categories having a rich history that starts on the farm, and both carrying a strong passion for their craft. 70 August 2013 | beautystorebusiness.com Beauty Store Business: Would you please give us the history on how Pharmaca got its start? PANZER: Pharmaca was founded in How many locations does Pharmaca currently run? JANOWICZ: Pharmaca has 24 brick- Boulder, Colorado, in 2000. The concept was modeled after European and Canadian apothecaries or pharmacies that offered homeopathic and other alternative remedies alongside prescription medications. Those pharmacies also offered a wonderful example of the interaction between pharmacist and patient, providing the patient with a personalized approach to their health care that was absent in mainstream pharmacies in the United States at the time. What is an Integrative Pharmacy? What types of products do you carry? Panzer: We offer full prescription and-mortar stores in California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado. We also continue to grow our online ecommerce business at pharmaca.com. filling and compounding services along with all-natural vitamins and supplements, nontoxic cosmetics and body care, healthy drinks and snacks, and Team photograph by Armando Sanchez; all other images courtesy of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy President and CEO Mark Panzer (left), vice president of merchandising Dave Janowicz and category manager of health and beauty Tiana Ukleja have built Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy into a top beauty retailer.