NICK GOSNELL and RICK KRAUS
Hutch Post
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The May Market South Hutch Business of the Month is Ashcraft Pharmacy. Tami Friday is the owner.
"I've actually been the owner for six years," Friday said. "However, I've worked here for almost 19 years and I worked here in high school, too."
In fact, Friday had no idea she'd own the place when she started.
"It started out as a summer job," Friday said. "Steve Ashcraft that used to own the pharmacy is a good friend of my dad and mom. I started working for them in high school and came back. He's almost like my second dad, I guess you'd say. It just went from there, he's the one that got me to go to pharmacy school, even."
Friday said when Ashcraft retired in 2016, it was a natural progression for her to move into ownership. The pharmacy has about eight employees and right now is fully staffed and it is a family affair.
"My daughter is actually helping me out this summer," Friday said. "She's getting her pharmacy tech certification and then my husband is the handyman, jack of all trades, helps me with delivery and that kind of stuff."
Ashcraft Pharmacy prides itself on taking care of the families in South Hutch and beyond. They know their people.
"It's nice to hear and we find out how everybody in the family is doing," Friday said. "It's a family oriented business."
The supply chain really does have an effect, but Ashcraft Pharmacy has been able to keep things going well.
"We've had some issues with that, definitely, especially with all of our over the counter products," Friday said. "There have been a few prescription things, but we've managed to get by. Either, we find a different wholesaler or we have to just do something different completely."
Getting paid by customer's insurers is a constant challenge, but they take it one day at a time.
"It is a struggle out there, especially for independent pharmacies," Friday said. "We don't have the buying power that maybe they do at the larger chain stores. It is a challenge. The competition in pharmacy is fierce. When you throw in mail order and Amazon and big chain stores and the little mom and pop stores like mine, it's a struggle."
With free delivery and the personal touch for everyone from Grandma to the littlest, Ashcraft Pharmacy is a place where you can know your health matters to them. Ashcraft Pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 9:30 to noon on Saturday at 503 North Main in South Hutchinson.