Small businesses hang on in an Economic Downturn
John Yeung has worked as a pharmacist for a big-name drug store chain.
Which is why he decided — despite the tough economic times — to open his own small business, Main Street Pharmacy in Danbury.
“I like the independence,” he said.
In part, Yeung said this is due to his upbringing in New York City, where the intimacy of Mom and Pop stores is still a part of the mix.
But it’s also because, after working for a chain, he decided he could offer his customers more — and better — service on his own. The corporate stores, he said, have policies that don’t vary from store to store.
“But here, if someone comes in and tells me, `I left my wallet on the bus,’ and they need blood-pressure medication, I can give them a few days of pills,” he said.
Which is why, despite the hard times, people still find their way to small, locally owned stores. Some have been in place for decades. Some are recent start-ups. But they all can offer an individualized approach to what they can offer their customers that makes them stand out.
