My name is Chris Furness and I've been thinking!
I've been thinking about people and families and how they struggle to "make ends meet". Financially it's tough out there...real hard for lots of people; the elderly on a pension but also the parents with a young family.
If we think local, the word is that Marlborough employers pay their workers the lowest average wages in New Zealand!
This got me thinking! I've been sitting on a secret...maybe Blenheim's best kept secret?
Let me explain, because it could help a lot of local people, at least a little bit! I am a pharmacist who manages the UFS Pharmacy in Blenheim. I've been there as manager for a long time! Some of you will know me...part of the furniture! I have a wonderful team of staff around me who "make things happen". Here's the deal...the pharmacy has a different purpose to most other New Zealand pharmacies who operate to make a handsome profit. The Marlborough UFS Pharmacy operates differently...not for profit;rather for local people by offering them significant discount!
That's the secret...my pharmacy's mission statement is "people over profit". Our difference is that we are hugely 'community focussed", existing to help people. How do we help people?...
The most significant way possible, by helping people save money! How? The pharmacy fronts up with a genuine 20 percent discount offered to local people on pretty much every thing; whether it be prescription charges, medicines, vitamins, cosmetics or sunglasses!
20 percent discount is a big deal! How do you get it? Well there's a story about that...let me explain. You join up at the pharmacy and pay a very small annual fee; that way we know who our discount members are. There are various groups or friendly societies whose members already enjoy the pharmacy discount.
When we take your details in store, you decide which group you want to affiliate with, if for no other reason than to start getting your discount! To be honest that's why most people join! Sounds crazy? It's not! Trust me, there are no strings attached if that's your choice.
The main reason for you joining us is so the pharmacy can help you as a member of our local community by giving you 20 percent discount on just about all of your purchases, including your prescription costs.
I invite you to pop into the pharmacy and we can explain a bit more. It almost seems too good to be true. But it is true. I've been manager at the UFS Pharmacy for 23 years now and I'm sticking around for a few more yet!This is not meant to be an advertising gimmick, I want to unhide the secret about the pharmacies purpose and how it is intended to be a service to the local community.
Remember "people before profit". We dare to be different!
