PARSIPPANY — When Atta Rehman, owner of Hiawatha Pharmacy decided to open his own business, there was no doubt in his mind that it would be in Parsippany.
Atta celebrated Hiawatha Pharmacy’s Fourth Anniversary in its current location, this past weekend.
Frank Cahill, Chairman Parsippany-Troy Hill Economic Development Advisory Committee congratulated Atta and presented him with a plaque honoring his milestone.
Atta opened his pharmacy in a store front on North Beverwyck Road in March 2010. He realized the business was struggling due to poor visibility and limited street parking on the busy section of North Beverwyck Road making potential customers not realize a local run pharmacy existed.
In November of 2011 Hiawatha Pharmacy shifted less than a mile, over to the Foodtown. Since the location change the business has shown steady improvement because of improved visibility, more foot traffic, better parking, a friendly atmosphere and an overall higher level of convenience for customers.
“Parsippany is home, there is no other place I would rather be.” Atta explained how much opportunity the township has given to him. “Parsippany has given me a great place to live, a great education and a place where my children can already call home”
Atta attended Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY where he achieved Doctor of Pharmacy while working part-time as a delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza in Parsippany.
Atta was very excited when he was hired for his first pharmacy job at Rite Aid in 1999, later becoming a pharmacy intern at Drug Fair. Several years later, he became a pharmacist with Drug Fair.
Recently customers voted Hiawatha Pharmacy the best Pharmacy in Morris County in a survey conducted by the Daily Record.
Atta emphasized that it is all about his customers and taking care of the residents of a town that gave him so much. Atta is tailored toward the people, their needs, medical and emotional and willing to do anything to bring a smile to his customers’ face. Atta takes the time to speak and more importantly listen to each and every customer and get to know them because “You never know what people are going through, whether it’s depression, financial strains, chemo treatment, or a sick child at home. An integral part of a pharmacist’s job is getting to know the customer story,” Atta explained.
When asked Atta who is your competition he said that Rite Aid, Walgreens, Shop Rite are the biggest competitors in the area because they have the ability to market and promote on a bigger scale. They have a big advantage in prescription insurance negotiation which takes away the opportunity from independent pharmacies. But even bigger, is the challenge to stay motivated as an entrepreneur, to continue staying focused when things aren’t going well. Atta says, “My customers help me with that!”
Atta’s biggest goal is to build his own brand and he set up a Customer Appreciation event to kick it off.
Hiawatha Pharmacy is inviting everybody to their Customer Appreciation Weekend, Friday November 13 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. He will serving food and refreshments, blood pressure checks, giveaways and the opportunity to get to know Hiawatha Pharmacy.
Hiawatha Pharmacy offers a very competitive discount plan called RXCARE, and will be rolling out our new $4.00 Generic drug program to coincide with the 4 year anniversary at Foodtown.
Hiawatha Pharmacy is located inside the Foodtown, 435 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha. Business Hours are Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (break between 1:00 p.m to 2:30 p.m.) and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“I have an opportunity to grow my business, in a tough economy with stern competition, by taking charge. I have always been, still am and will always be ready for that challenge. Customers are number one. It’s not the product or price or the convenient location, it’s all about the customer’s total experience.”
Visit Hiawatha Pharmacy on Facebook, where you can find more information on Hiawatha Pharmacy and contact information. You can reach Atta by calling (973) 794-4909.
Hiawatha Pharmacy is ready to serve Pathmark Pharmacy customers, to ease their transition and to reduce any anxiety and concerns when it comes to changing pharmacies. Transferring your prescriptions is easy, just bring in your pharmacy bottles and they will do the rest.
