Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erin and Andrew Drover, the owners of Harrisville Pharmacy /Harrisville Home Health & Wellness, located in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a neighbourhood pharmacy providing high-quality healthcare to the local community. We have a full-service pharmacy, providing the traditional pharmacist role of dispensing prescriptions, along with the fullest possible scope of professional services.

We also offer a full range of home health and wellness products and services, such as compression therapy and mastectomy products. We also have a wide selection of unique, socially-conscious products in our front store.

Tell us about yourself

We have been working in the pharmacy and home health and wellness space for a number of years, employed mainly by large corporations.

After being let go from my previous role, we decided the time was right to begin working for ourselves. Our goal is to bring back the neighbourhood pharmacy, one that is embedded within the community where community members can have their healthcare needs met without having to travel far.

We also wanted to create a professional environment where we could practice independently, without the constraints of corporate micromanagement. We strive to create a uniquely personal experience by blending high-quality healthcare and empathy. We strive every day to support positive health outcomes and offer a level of care that goes far beyond the prescription.

Our space is designed to encourage open and honest conversation and instil confidence.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment has been working within the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike most businesses, pharmacies never ceased operations at any point since this began. In fact, pharmacists and their teams are in more demand now than ever before. We have been fully entrenched in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, administering nearly 4,000 doses since March 2021. With a staff of just two people, this is a substantial achievement.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The unknown. In our previous roles, we felt safe and secure, although this turned out not to be the case. As a first-time business owner, we are learning what works and what doesn't and how to balance these trials and errors with cash flow.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. If an opportunity exists and you are interested, don't ignore it. It costs very little to do some exploratory work to determine if your idea will work.  
  2. Use every connection and resource you have to build your idea and grow your business. Don't be afraid to build upon previous experiences, and don't try to re-invent the wheel if the wheel already works.
  3. Give your clients what they want. What they want may differ from what you expected or were told they wanted. Following the pack doesn't always work.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Starting a new business has been, and continues to be, very challenging. What really motivates us to push through this challenge is the response from our clients. Whether they are visiting us for a prescription or healthcare service or just shopping in our front store, hearing words of appreciation from them and the encouragement they provide really keeps us going back every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.harrisvillepharmacy.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harrisvillepharmacy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrisvillepharmacy/


If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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