Cloverdale Pharmasave
Interviewed by Melanie Huggett
Cloverdale Pharmasave in Surrey, BC is not your standard drugstore. In addition to typical pharmacy products, they offer a unique collection of natural medicine, veterinary medicine, as well as pet and horse supplies. The first drugstore to eliminate tobacco products, they integrate alternative medicine with orthodox medicine and are also the only compounding pharmacy in the area.
Owner Henry Cheng, MB, BS(UK), DMRD(Eng), CNPA (CCNM) has won numerous awards for his work at Cloverdale Pharmasave, including the BC Pharmacists’ Association Friend of Pharmacy award, the Pharmacy Post’s Drugstore Outstanding Services Award, Pharmasave’s Pharmasave Services Award, and a Community Services Award from the Mayor of Surrey. Horse Council BC named Cloverdale Pharmasave its Horse Business of the Year in 2002.
I talked with Cheng to find out more about Cloverdale Pharmasave and why it is so successful.
Horse Journals: How did you come to start Cloverdale Pharmasave?
Henry Cheng: I was a “retired” medical doctor trained in the UK. When I applied for immigration in 1980, they did not accept foreign doctors. So to cut a long story short, I came here as an entrepreneur immigrant and invested in buying out a little corner pharmacy in Cloverdale. Across 30 years, I converted that little pharmacy into an integrative pharmacy serving humans and animals alike.
What made you interested in selling equine health products?
Because Cloverdale was a Western town, and 30 years ago it was still very rural, there was a big demand from rangers and farmers for veterinary supplies. Experienced owners were familiar with the problems their animals were having, and liked to do something while they were waiting for their vet to arrive. So there was a demand.
What kind of products do you sell for horses?
We specialize in medications and supplements. We carry both traditional products as well as herbal and homeopathic products. In fact, we dare say we are the most experienced homeopathic store for horse owners in the West. We also compound special medicines for veterinarians and fill simple prescriptions like Bute. Basically, if you know the problem, chances are high that we have the remedy. One thing we don’t do is to see the animal and make a diagnosis.
What is involved with compounding medicines for horses and other animals?
There are medications that are not available as a proprietary drug, e.g. pergolide, cyproheptadine, etc. We can do them up in any dosage the vet prescribes, either in capsules or in liquid forms. Some of these items are by prescription, some are not.
What sets your business apart from others like it?
Our knowledge, experience, variety of services, and product mix are the things that set our business apart.
Where do the majority of your customers come from?
Our core trading areas are the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, but we have customers all over the world. We ship products to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. We receive orders by email or phone.
Who is your average customer?
Our “average” customer has some experience with the animal’s problems, has probably been to the vet, and knows how to use the products. Our customer base ranges from the experienced horse trainer to the adolescent girl who just got a horse as a birthday present.
Can you tell me about the employees on your team?
I have four pharmacists and four assistants who are knowledgeable with natural medicine and horse products. If they have questions, they’ll ask me.
What do you like most about your job?
To be able to help people who are desperate is one of the greatest satisfactions for us. Many a time, people buy herbal and homeopathic medicines that turn the condition around when orthodox treatment has failed. We are also glad we can help those who know the problem and want to save money by doing their own thing.
Where do you see the business going in the future? What are your short or long term goals?
The traffic, product mix, and the nature of our business have changed across 30 years. These days general vitamins, equipment, implements, and beauty aids have become a minor part of our business. Homeopathic medications and product consultations are now the bulk of our business.
Having served the medical, natural health, and veterinary industry for 45 years, I am now semi-retired. My business will be inherited by my children. My son, Fred, and my youngest daughter, Christine, are licensed pharmacists. My older daughter and her husband are operation managers. All my children have been working in the store since their adolescent days and they all know complementary and veterinary products. My long time pharmacists, Lyle Sunada and Christine Andrews, are still around. So we have a strong team serving people in need.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
Your vet is the person to go to when your animals have problems. Only when you know what the problem is and want alternatives to complement your vet’s treatment should you do anything on your own.
For more information about Cloverdale Pharmasave, call 604-576-2888 or visit www.cloverdalepharmasave.com.
Photo courtesy of Henry Cheng.