ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604120004
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA P. SMITH STAFF WRITER
Edgar Crockett, co-owner, attributes Williamson Road Pharmacy's success to its longtime employees.
"Longtime employees know customers by name and also know what each customer expects," Crockett said.
But the advantage of having longtime employees didn't stop Crockett from feeling concerned when the chain pharmacies, such as Revco, Kmart and Phar-Mor, moved nearby. He saw a decrease in his customer base as the chains opened, but the decrease didn't last long.
Crockett credits this to Williamson Road Pharmacy's delivery service and to the personal service that the longtime employees give to customers.
Crockett also said customer loyalty is a factor.
"Some of our customers have been coming here for 50 years," Crockett said.
The pharmacy has always been located on Williamson Road, although it has been moved once to a more modern building. It also acquired a new computer to make filling prescriptions easier.
Crockett and his partner, Jim Roberts, don't have any major plans in the near future for Williamson Road Pharmacy, but this does not mean that they are satisfied.
"If you're satisfied, you regress. We're not satisfied. We will continue to compete."
Crockett will do this not by advertising in the media, but mainly through word of mouth advertising from loyal customers.
"Having watched children grow up and now their children are our customers, it's nice that they would come back generation after generation."
Williamson Road Pharmacy
3416 Williamson Road
Roanoke
366-4481
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