How do you keep a family pharmacy thriving in today’s fast-paced world? Discover the secrets behind Penny’s Prescription Shop as we chat with Gina Pinney and her son Spencer, the dynamic duo carrying forward a legacy of personalized, community-focused service in Northeast Tennessee. Gina shares her heartfelt journey of following in her father Carl Markham's footsteps, acquiring Moore's Pharmacy, and rebranding it to Pinney's Prescription Shop. Meanwhile, Spencer takes us down memory lane, recounting his early days of working in the pharmacy at just 16 and his evolution into a passionate pharmacist dedicated to upholding the family's high standards. Together, they exemplify the importance of family, tradition, and a deep-rooted commitment to their community.
Ever wondered what goes into compounding effective skincare creams? Gina and Spencer open up about their specialized line of day and night creams, rich in essential vitamins and antioxidants. They also share insights into running a family-owned business and Spencer’s innovative marketing strategies, including creative social media campaigns that have won hearts and minds. From a spirited “vaccinator vs. the flu” campaign to a fun-filled caveman-themed promotion, get a glimpse of the passion and dedication that drives Penny’s Prescription Shop. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on maintaining family traditions, growing a community business, and the art of compounding skincare.
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Benchmark Happenings brought to you by Jonathan and
Steve from Benchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities one of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live Tons of great things todo and awesome local businesses.
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
(00:23):
to Northeast Tennessee and onthe way we'll have discussions
about mortgages and we'llinterview people in the real
estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happeningsbrought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, welcome back everybody to another episode of
Benchmark Happenings, and wehave a very special episode for
you today One of our localbusinesses that we love and
cherish, penny's PrescriptionShop.
So I want to thank both of youfor being on.
We have Spencer, penny Spencer,thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Absolutely.
And his mom, Gina Penny.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Hi, how are you doing ?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
We're good, we're good.
So we go back a long way.
Gina and I, we've known eachother for years, and Spencer,
steve and I have watched yougrow up, you know as their son,
and so, gina, you've been in thepharmaceutical industry, owning
a pharmacy, for many years.
(01:28):
Spencer, you're kind offollowing suit doing that as
well, so share a little bitabout Penny's Prescription Shop
and how each of you sort of gotstarted.
So, gina, I guess we'll juststart with you Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
So my dad, carl Markham, was also a pharmacist.
So I guess I knew from a younggirl that I wanted to be a
pharmacist.
I went to school in Charleston,south Carolina, and worked
there a couple years in ahospital.
But when I came back my dadowned his own business and he
was partners with Bob Moore.
Bob Moore was a bit older thanmy dad so he was ready to retire
(02:09):
and he owned Moore's Pharmacy.
My dad owned Markham's Pharmacy,so dad asked me if I was
interested in buying out BobMoore's Pharmacy.
So after a lot of discussionand talking with my husband for
at that point time actually wewere just dating, but we were
pretty serious and decided thatthat might be a good thing to do
(02:32):
so I bought it in January 1,1990.
Oh my goodness, so how.
It was over 34 years ago and Ikept the name Moore's Pharmacy
forever.
Then, when Spencer, my son,started pharmacy school, I
thought well, you know what, ifwe're going to carry on this
(02:53):
tradition, maybe for another 30years, we might as well change
the name.
So it was been about eightyears ago, I guess.
We changed the name to Penny'sPrescription Shop.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
And that's you know.
That's amazing, gina.
I think about a woman andstarting a business.
You know, as a pharmacist andthat was a.
You plowed a major path foryourself.
Well, thank you, and have beenvery successful.
And I will have to say yourdaddy, you know, the Markham
family has been very significantin the East Tennessee community
(03:22):
.
You all have helped so manypeople and Gina, I know you and
Spencer, you're carrying thattradition as well.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Trying to.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And so tell us a little bit about you.
What made you decide to be apharmacist?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, when I turned 16 years old, my mom told me I
was old enough to drive and Ineeded a job.
Good mama, yeah.
So I was like okay, well, shesaid I could work at the
pharmacy.
So then you know, um, no, butall jokes aside, I'd started
working at the pharmacy when Iwas 16, over the summers, um,
(03:56):
you know, when I was not inschool, uh.
And then I just continuedworking there, uh, through
college, whenever I'd come backand things like that, got to
know the customers, got to knowthe job really well, got to
where it was, just like well, Imean, I feel like this is
definitely something I could dofor the rest of my life.
Like, I mean, why not?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Like this seems like a great opportunity.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
It's interesting to me and I, you know, from pretty
early on I kind of had an ideathat's kind of what one of the
things I wanted to do.
I wasn't really 100% sure.
I don't feel like, you know,anybody's always 100% sure
anyway.
So through college, you know, Ihad a couple different ideas of
what I wanted to do, butpharmacy was always one of the
(04:42):
options that I was, you know,thinking about.
And then, as I went throughschool, that ended up being what
I kind of pursued, and the restis history.
Been working there now for as apharmacist since 2019.
So, has it been that long?
It has been, yeah, gosh 2019.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And you know, in pharmacy school it's hard, I
mean, it's not easy.
And the fact that you choosethat as your profession and
wanting to help people, you knowthis day and time, I just think
that's amazing.
So thank you for carrying onthat tradition with your family.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think one of the things thatdefinitely made me want to
become a farm assistant work atPenny's exclusively pretty much
was just kind of like the I'vealways liked kind of the aspect
of some smaller businesses whereyou know you're a regular.
You walk in a store and theperson behind the counter knows
your name.
(05:40):
I always felt like I loved thatgoing to comic book stores when
I was a kid and like they knewwho I was, or like going
somewhere you know, and they'dbe like, hey Spencer, how are
you doing?
And then the more I worked atyou know my family pharmacy, I
realized we are that store forpeople and I know a lot of these
people.
They know me forever becausemom had pictures of me as a kid
(06:02):
sitting up there.
She talked about me and stuff.
So I already have that rapportwith them.
I just need to get to knowtheir name, which is a little
bit harder than you know.
But no, that really really wasa huge, huge factor as well.
It's just that kind of smalltown, you know, getting to know
(06:23):
your people kind of feel andalmost like I mean, it is a
family environment in there.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
So definitely you know, and it really is, and I
have a testimony to share aboutwith Spencer in particular.
I had had a surgery and Icouldn't get my pain medicine
and I called and Spencer broughtit to me, which is rare.
I mean I know you guys dodeliveries and stuff, but I mean
that's just that personal touch, because you guys care about
(06:52):
your patients and the peoplethat you serve, and so I'll
never forget that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Well, I appreciate that.
Yeah, I mean at the end of theday.
You know you gotta I mean yougotta, you know you gotta treat
people the way they deserve tobe treated Just because the
store hours closed.
If someone needs their medicine, they need their medicine.
We're going to look out for ourcustomers.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Right, and I know you guys offer home delivery too,
right.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Absolutely During the week.
We offer home delivery.
As long as the order gets sentin before 1 o'clock, we'll get
it out to you that day,guaranteed.
Sometimes you know, if thingstrickle in afterwards, you know
we can still try to get it outto you within reason, of course.
But yeah, we try to help asmany people as we can.
(07:38):
That is mostly within theKingsport city limit.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, absolutely yeah , cause I couldn't imagine
trying to fill that need, youknow, in such a large Tri-City
area, so, but I still thinkthat's great.
You know, I was looking at yourwebsite and it's extremely
informative, so why don't youshare, both of you, some of the
things that that that you guysare offering to the public, that
(08:06):
your pharmacy provides?
That, I think, is reallyimportant for people to know.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, so we offer most vaccinations that are
available currently, at leastmost routine ones.
And obviously ones that youknow a pediatrician would do.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
We don't really do that as much so like a flu
vaccine.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Exactly yeah, or the COVID vaccine or any kind of RSV
shingles, things like that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Pneumonia Tdap.
We do offer some routines, butmost certainly the yearly
vaccines that you have to get.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, on top of that we offer, obviously we talked
about the free prescriptiondelivery within Kingsport, which
, as I said, is free.
And then another big thing thatwe offer free of charge is
medication adherence packagingfor people that struggle.
You know, maybe someone takesso many medications and you know
(09:05):
especially the drug shortages.
You know what things look likecan change all the time, so it
can get a little confusing.
So what we do is we'll actuallyhold on to their bottles, we'll
put them into these easy to see.
Ok, this is my Monday morningdose.
They pull it off.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
And, yeah, it makes it very easy for a lot of people
.
So we offer that free of chargefor many, many people, and
that's another big thing that wetry to do.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
You know, and that's so much better than and you guys
have seen those and it wasgreat in its time, but the
little boxes, you know, theMonday, tuesday ones.
But you know what People stilluse those, if you flip that and
you turn that thing over, thenthere goes all those pills.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I think about that.
So those blister packs or thosesee-through packs, I think
that's just fantastic.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, and another really good thing about the ones
that we use is we can actuallyput the specific date on there,
because sometimes if it justsays Monday and you know you
have someone that does have youknow men, you know memory issues
or something and they look atit and they're like, okay, was
that, did I miss this Monday?
Or you know.
They just don't really know howfar off they've gotten.
(10:19):
So this keeps it completely ontrack.
You can see okay, this is forSeptember 26th or something like
that.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
You know what I mean.
Yeah, it also helps people beway more compliant with their
medications as well, which isbetter for their health.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
It is especially.
We have so many older people,you know, that are living alone,
that don't have somebody tocheck on them.
You know of how they're doingwith their medications.
I remember when I worked in theER it would be like, okay, let
me take a look at your medicines, and they would have a Walmart
plastic bag and it would be fullof medications.
(10:57):
You know what I'm thinking.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
There's no way they're compliant with this
stuff, yeah, yeah, and I meanwith the way doctors sometimes,
will you know, change a dose andthen they get another bottle on
top of something they alreadyhad at the previous dose.
Sometimes people don't evenlook at what's on the label,
they're just like, okay,something else boop.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And then now they're taking double.
Exactly, yeah, or like my daddy.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, I don't want to throw that away, it's still
good He'd have three bottles oflow presser.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I was like no let me throw some of these away dad, it
can definitely get confusing,yeah it is hard.
So let's talk about some of thethings that you guys that really
set you apart, and I just youknow, I think it's just so
unique to have a business thatis truly all about knowing
(11:47):
people and family, and I'd sayboth of you now and Gina
especially.
You guys kind of know people'shealth history and their
medicines and you know when theywalk in the door and um yeah,
lots of times now we actuallycan bring up on our computer
when things are due.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
So sometimes you'll come in and we'll already have
your medicines ready for you.
You know so many people lovethat.
It's like gosh, I don't.
I don't even have to callanymore, I, you just already
have things ready right, but youdo get to know their family and
their history and their kidsand their grandparents and their
parents, and so it just becomesmuch more personal service.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, and so you become a multi-generational
business because you're servingso many generations, right?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah, yeah, thankfully, some families do you
know, now we're treating the,you know, the next generation of
their family, and they come inthey say you know, I've been
with your mom for however manyyears and, like you know, we
only come to pennies.
We have so many people that saythings like that and it's, you
know, it makes you feel reallygrateful to have people like
(12:57):
that.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
It's a true blessing.
It really is.
Yes, absolutely, and so youguys do some compounding.
So what are some of those items?
And you brought me a littlespecial gift today, but I'm
going to let you talk about it.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So the biggest thing that we compound is we have our
own line of face creams and I amthe one that developed this.
So the biggest thing that wecompound is we have our own line
of face creams and I am the onethat developed this and it
probably took me two years tobring it to market.
But we have a day cream andthen we have a night cream and
really those two are the same.
It's just in the day cream weadd a little bit of sunscreen
(13:36):
and we also have a pigmentcorrection cream for brown spots
and we have an eye cream.
But, like in our day cream, ithas lots of different vitamins
antioxidants.
It's got B3, which is big inface creams these days Vitamin C
.
It has vitamin E.
(13:56):
It has things for fine linesand wrinkles, for skin
tightening, cell regeneration.
It really is, I think, the mostcomplete face cream and it has
the highest percentage of activeingredients that we can put in
there.
So I would look at you know therange of what percentage you
(14:18):
could put in this cream and I'dalways start with the highest.
Now, sometimes it might cause alittle discoloration or maybe
an odor, so I had to work withthat for several months to try
to get it right, but itdefinitely has the highest
percent that we can put in thesecreams.
And so many times when you buysomething over the counter, like
(14:39):
the Olivolet or the I don'tknow so many different ones, if
you look, the first ingredientlisted is the top thing that's
in that cream, and so many timesit's water, water yes, you're
right, and they will use overthe counter the absolute
smallest percent of activeingredients they can use.
(15:01):
So sometimes you're paying afortune.
Yes, it's very expensive 30 tohundreds of dollars.
I know I went through thatwhole Abagge line and I think,
goodness this is 20 years ago Ispent 400 and some dollars.
Nowadays I can't imagine what itcost.
20 years ago, I spent 400 andsome dollars.
Nowadays I can't imagine whatit cost but this, since we make
it in our compounding lab and wedon't have the stars, of course
(15:23):
, advertising for us ontelevision.
I truly feel that you aregetting a tremendous cream for
such a bargain.
I mean, I thought our day creamand night cream is only like
$18.35, I think, whereas if youbought something like this over
the counter, I think it wouldcost you at least three times as
(15:45):
much.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Oh yeah, definitely For sure, and I'll have to say
that I use this cream.
I love it.
Thank you for bringing it.
It is a great face cream I'venever had any issues with it,
you know and the night cream too, and you have an eye cream as
well.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Yes, we do, and the eye cream has some of the same
ingredients as the day and nightcream.
But it has a few extra thingsspecifically for those fine
lines and wrinkles in the realsensitive areas around your eyes
, okay, and also has a littlebit of coconut oil in there,
which gives it just such a realnice texture because you don't
want to rub around your eyesreal harsh, so just put it on
(16:26):
very lightly and just has a realnice feel.
I think all the creams justhave a really nice feel to it
and I've only I mean we havesold these to hundreds and
hundreds of people and I've onlyI mean we have sold these to
hundreds and hundreds of peopleand I think I only know of one
or two that have had any kind ofallergic reaction to them.
So I'm very proud of it, and myhusband at the time I brought
(16:49):
this to market, worked at CrownLaboratories so we actually sent
it to their research lab ohcool.
And had them test it forstability and all kinds of
different things.
So it's it really is very good,it's stable for quite a while
and um just real proud of ityeah, and you're very passionate
(17:10):
about it.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I can tell so those listening, if they decide, you
know what I'd really like to trythat cream, if they call
Penny's, what do they say?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
So, basically, they'll just call and ask us
about our face creams.
And the good thing too is,since it's a compound, we
actually will get a littleinformation from them because we
put it on a prescription.
The way we're able to do thatis we have a collaborative
practice agreement with adermatologist, dr Joni Sago Nice
, and through that we're able toput it on a prescription.
(17:41):
Therefore, it's a compound.
We have all of the informationwe need to do this legally,
without having to go throughmanufacturing and all things
like that.
And then, thankfully, sinceit's a prescription, it's a tax
exempt, so you're not having topay tax on top of you know what.
(18:01):
Also, you're already paying forour face cream.
So, yeah, all they would haveto do is call.
We'll just get a littleinformation from them, put it on
the prescription and we'll haveit ready to go for them.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
That's awesome and it's great, and I will.
Anybody listening is if youever want to try a face cream, I
definitely recommend it forsure.
Well, thank you, I appreciatethat.
So okay now, spencer, I have toask you this question.
Okay Okay, being the son andyou are going to be the owner of
Penny's Pharmacy.
He is the owner.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You are the owner now .
Excuse me Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
You are the owner now , excuse me.
Yeah, okay, you are the ownernow.
So, um, any kind of sparksbetween you and your mom when
you were working together?
Or um, how did you know amother and son working together?
What kind of challenges did youguys face?
Speaker 3 (18:50):
I think there are more challenges early on than
there are now really.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Um, certainly as I was teenage years.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, I was working there at teenage years, maybe
growing, and we'll, we'll giveyou a break on those.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Maybe some of the college years, too, when I was
not taking it as seriously as uh, you know, I probably should
have, but you know I had plentyof wake-up calls throughout, uh,
my schooling and uh, certainlyonce I got in pharmacy school
and as I started to get to knowfor sure, oh, this is what I
want to do.
You know, mom made sure toteach me that you are being, you
(19:27):
know, set up to be the ownerhere, so I am holding you to a
higher standard than everyoneelse and that higher standard,
you know, caused a littletension sometimes, but
ultimately it's made me thepharmacist.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
I am.
He used to get mad and say youare so much harder on me than
you are any other interns.
And I would say it's becauseI'm just training them to be a
pharmacist.
I'm training you to own thisplace.
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
You know, and there's a great book out in leadership
and it talks about passing thebaton, and that's what we have
to do for those of us who aregoing to take our place.
Whatever it is we do in life,you know, we pass that baton and
we can do it well or we can doit poorly.
And, gina, you've done aphenomenal job with Spencer.
(20:15):
We've watched you grow up.
You're just such a fine youngman.
And how long have you beenmarried?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Um, I've been married since January 22nd, or one, two
, three, january 23rd of 22.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Okay, that's pretty good Cause most men don't even
know.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I just know one, two, three, two, two.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
And it was a great party up at the Chateau Soleil.
We loved it.
It was so much fun.
Your beautiful wife Summer andyou guys do.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
you live here in Kingsport we actually so, summer
and I live in Johnson Cityright now.
Yeah, but she actually justmoved her practice.
She's a mental health therapistinto the building that the
pharmacy's in right above us.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Yeah, so it's great.
It was cute.
The other day they carpooled intogether.
Yeah, it's kind of cute seeingmy little children come in.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yes, yes.
Well, I know you're so close tothem and just have a lot of fun
together.
So, Gina, what are some of thethings that you've just truly
enjoyed watching?
You know, your son Spencer,just really step up to the plate
and just, you know, be theleader that he is and the owner
(21:35):
of the pharmacy.
What are some of those thingsyou'd like to share?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Well, I'm just so very proud of him and, like you
said, we had a little, you know,as all parents and children do
through the growing up years andalso when they're trying to
work for you.
But he's done a great job andhe's matured so much and just
really he bought it January 1,2023.
(22:01):
So it's been almost two yearsnow, I guess, but he's done a
wonderful job and he takes itvery seriously and just his
personality I can tell he'sgotten more confident as he's
been there longer and moreoutgoing with the customers and
he's just doing a great job.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Well, I have a great mentor.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yes, yes, you do, and I'll tell you, spencer, I love
your social media oh thank you.
So Instagram?
So tell us how we can go onInstagram find you so we can see
those amazing videos of FluBuster and the Geico ones we
have, so it's also on ourFacebook.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
You can either go to our Facebook or Instagram.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Our.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Instagram is Penny's Prescription Shop?
I believe it is, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And it's P-I-N-N-E-Y.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Because so many?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
people try to spell it P-E, but it's P-I.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
So that's a little hard for people to find.
Sometimes yeah, p-i-n-n-e-y.
Yes.
Yeah, e-y times.
Yeah, p-i-n-n-e-y yes yeah, e-y.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So so my uh, one of my uh, our techs, jamie uh, she
downloaded this app that allowedus to kind of make these
posters and a couple years ago,you know, she decided we made a
very simple one like get yourflu shot here, and um, you know,
from there she decided, oh well, I kind of want to get a little
bit more fun with it.
(23:28):
So then, she kind of came upwith this one of like me versus
the flu, and it was what wouldshe call it, the vaccinator
versus the flu.
So then from there I startedkind of thinking about, okay,
well, what can we do?
So then I'm starting to thinkof well, how wing costumes do I
(23:49):
have, what could I do, whatcould I bring in to dress up?
And you know, we've tried tocome up with fun little reels,
like animated pictures intoreels and things like that, just
to make fun.
You know, have fun.
We put up posters in the storeand our customers get a kick out
of it.
They sure like laughing at it.
And you know, have fun.
We put up posters in the storeand our customers get a kick out
of it.
They sure like laughing at it.
(24:10):
And you know, whatever makespeople smile makes me happy.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Yeah, it's great.
One is because Spencer has abeard and he actually has just
cut his hair, but he did havelonger hair but was dressed as a
caveman.
Even a caveman can understandour med packs, I thought that
was a really funny one.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I love that one yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Tried not to do it exactly, you know, like Geico,
don't, you know, infringe on anycopyrights or anything.
But yeah, very similar.
And thankfully you know thatwas just me thinking what do I
have?
Oh, I have a caveman costume.
I can do something with that.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
There you go and you know what I love, how you're
bringing in some creativity,just you know, just things that
people are going to rememberright.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Absolutely.
I mean, at first I was a little, you know, I was like kind of
apprehensive, maybe a littleembarrassed, but then, as people
started coming in and tellingme how much they love it, or
seeing people laugh, it was likewell, heck, yes, keep doing
this.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
This is kind of fun.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
And now I get so much it's like maybe one of my
favorite parts of the job nowAbsolutely Coming up with these
little things.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, what's interesting is, last Tuesday I
went to a class.
It was on social media.
And it was how to present yourbusiness in social media and
there's just much to it.
But if you post these shortlittle videos, put yourself out
there, and she was even sayingsometimes you might be a little
embarrassed, but that's whatpeople like, because they want
(25:37):
to see real.
They want transparency andthat's what we remember.
But anyway, Instagram can pickthose up and they will continue
reposting them if you have a bigfollowing with that.
So I thought, yeah, now that andwhat you're doing.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
You keep that up, because that is definitely going
to pay off we're trying, yeah,we keep trying to come up with
one about every, you know, sixweeks or so that's great, that
is great.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
So, uh, were you gonna to say something, gina?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I was just going to say, advertising these days is
so different than the way itused to be.
Yes, just taking an ad out inthe newspaper.
Now, I'd say 90% of advertisingis social media and online.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
It is social media yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
It's crazy how things have changed.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Oh yeah, it's like Steve's you know, here with
Benchmark Home Loans, you know,one of the big things for
Steve's industry is Googlereviews.
And so, spencer, I know,especially your, your age group
and younger, that's what they'relooking at.
You know we look at Googlereviews, and so he's got.
You know him and Jonathan.
Five-star reviews, one afterthe other you know, and those
(26:41):
are real, those are people.
that's actually okay.
You know, steve did my loan.
What a great job, what yadayada.
But anyway, that's so importantthat we have that now.
Yes, it is definitely.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
It's a little scary too.
You know you have one badinteraction, maybe someone
you're like oh please don't goGoogle review based off of that,
you know.
But no, we're very, verythankful and you know many of
our big time customers,long-time customers, have gone
on and Google reviewed us.
I'm very, very proud of whereour Google review total stands
(27:15):
right now with the store onthere.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
But yeah, I mean, I will say, if you know, in my
generation, like you said,google reviews are, you know the
way I kind of show appreciationto a business, or you know the
way I kind of show appreciationto a business or you know, Make
a decision or show mydispleasure in something.
Sometimes you know, buttypically not, you know unless
(27:38):
it's very, you know, of course,within reason.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, you know what I'm thankful for.
I'm so thankful that you choseto stay here, spencer, in our
region, because I know so manyof our younger people.
They want to move on.
They want to.
You know there's somethingbetter over there.
I don't want to.
I've grown up here in EastTennessee, so thank you for
staying here and continuing tocontribute to the community.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
I appreciate that and help people.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Like I said, your family has made such a
tremendous impact in theKingsport community and so many
people know you all and justthank you for what you've done
and how you care about people.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
And that sets you head and shoulders above any box
pharmacy.
There's just no comparison.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Well, I really appreciate you saying that.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You're welcome.
So let me ask you this and,gina, you can chime in too but
I've considered both of youentrepreneurs, because you know
entrepreneurs kind of wechallenge ourselves, we're
motivated internally for we'vegot our own bigger picture and
goals to achieve as anentrepreneur.
So what are some of the thingsthat you would share with a
(28:48):
younger version of yourself?
You know a high schooler orsomething.
What would you, what could youshare with them to encourage
them to?
You know, stay the course, workhard.
You know those things that havemade you successful.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Yeah, I mean I would just share you know, keep your
work ethic up.
Keep you know, keep going.
Don't get too down if you knowsomething doesn't go your way.
You gotta just keep fightingand just keep pushing forward.
Especially once I got topharmacy school, that kind of
(29:26):
was a wake-up call too, is likeat that point, if you're just
cramming information to passyour next test, I mean you're
not learning.
And ultimately, that's thethings that you know point blank
, are going to be asked to youonce you become a pharmacist.
So, yeah, just reminding myselflike, hey, this is what you
(29:47):
need to know, because you knowyou're not going to have
multiple choice when someoneasks you a question, point blank
at the counter.
So just kind of maybe saysomething like that to a younger
version of myself.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
And what do you think created in you such a great
work ethic?
Because I hear so many businessowners and CNOs of hospitals
and the work ethic is just notwhat it used to be.
Why do you think you have sucha great work ethic, Spencer?
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Well, I don't know about great.
I think I have an appropriatework ethic.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
He has a great work ethic, even working out, and
you're structuring your wholelife.
Your food preps every week.
I think you and summer bothhave great work ethics.
Yeah, just don't look at mybedroom.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
You know no, um no, I definitely probably the example
of my parents, for sure I wouldsay absolutely and uh, you know
them getting on me when I wasyounger, you know making sure I
got my everything done.
So I would definitely say goodparenting.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
That's awesome.
That is awesome, gina, anythingyou want to share?
Speaker 4 (30:58):
One thing you were talking about entrepreneurs and
young people.
Sometimes people are so afraidto take that step to start a
business.
People are so afraid to takethat step to start a business,
you know, they're just socomplacent with I'll take this
job and I'll work for someoneelse Sure, and just afraid to
take that step.
And it is a big commitment andI know when I first started I
(31:22):
was working a ton of hours, sure, and a financial commitment as
well.
Financial responsibility that'sa little scary, but for me it
has been so worth it.
You know, through my life.
And so just having pride inyourself and knowing that you
can do something and just takingthat step if you want to own
(31:43):
your own business and, you know,step out of the box a little
bit.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Absolutely.
I love that.
Well, thank you both and we'regoing to have to give Fred, fred
Penny, some kudos here, rightSpencer on the parenting.
So we always my Steve and Ialways call Fred and Gina the
fun couple because they'realways we can never get on their
social calendar.
It's like you got to plan wayout because they are the fun
couple.
I think you guys have a prettyfull social calendar.
(32:07):
It's like you've got to planway out because they are the fun
couple.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
I think you guys have a pretty full social calendar.
No, we love you guys, we loveyou too.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I want to thank both of you for being on today.
Thank you, Spencer.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Thanks for having us.
Yeah, absolutely, thank you somuch for having us All right?
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Well, we'll bring you back again, okay.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
All right, sure, awesome, bring you back again.
Okay.
All right, sure, okay, awesome.
Thank you guys.
Thank you.
This has been benchmarkhappenings brought to you by
jonathan tipton and steve reedfrom benchmark home loans.
Jonathan and steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in northeasttennessee and they're not only
licensed in tennessee but flor,georgia, south Carolina and
(32:48):
Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
If you did, make sure to likerate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwJonathanAndStevecom.
(33:08):
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
Benchmark Happenings.
Benchmark Happenings brought to you by Jonathan and
Steve from Benchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities one of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live Tons of great things todo and awesome local businesses.
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
(00:23):
to Northeast Tennessee and onthe way we'll have discussions
about mortgages and we'llinterview people in the real
estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happeningsbrought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, welcome back everybody to another episode of
Benchmark Happenings, and wehave a very special episode for
you today One of our localbusinesses that we love and
cherish, penny's PrescriptionShop.
So I want to thank both of youfor being on.
We have Spencer, penny Spencer,thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Absolutely.
And his mom, Gina Penny.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Hi, how are you doing ?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
We're good, we're good.
So we go back a long way.
Gina and I, we've known eachother for years, and Spencer,
steve and I have watched yougrow up, you know as their son,
and so, gina, you've been in thepharmaceutical industry, owning
a pharmacy, for many years.
(01:28):
Spencer, you're kind offollowing suit doing that as
well, so share a little bitabout Penny's Prescription Shop
and how each of you sort of gotstarted.
So, gina, I guess we'll juststart with you Okay.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
So my dad, carl Markham, was also a pharmacist.
So I guess I knew from a younggirl that I wanted to be a
pharmacist.
I went to school in Charleston,south Carolina, and worked
there a couple years in ahospital.
But when I came back my dadowned his own business and he
was partners with Bob Moore.
Bob Moore was a bit older thanmy dad so he was ready to retire
(02:09):
and he owned Moore's Pharmacy.
My dad owned Markham's Pharmacy,so dad asked me if I was
interested in buying out BobMoore's Pharmacy.
So after a lot of discussionand talking with my husband for
at that point time actually wewere just dating, but we were
pretty serious and decided thatthat might be a good thing to do
(02:32):
so I bought it in January 1,1990.
Oh my goodness, so how.
It was over 34 years ago and Ikept the name Moore's Pharmacy
forever.
Then, when Spencer, my son,started pharmacy school, I
thought well, you know what, ifwe're going to carry on this
(02:53):
tradition, maybe for another 30years, we might as well change
the name.
So it was been about eightyears ago, I guess.
We changed the name to Penny'sPrescription Shop.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
And that's you know.
That's amazing, gina.
I think about a woman andstarting a business.
You know, as a pharmacist andthat was a.
You plowed a major path foryourself.
Well, thank you, and have beenvery successful.
And I will have to say yourdaddy, you know, the Markham
family has been very significantin the East Tennessee community
(03:22):
.
You all have helped so manypeople and Gina, I know you and
Spencer, you're carrying thattradition as well.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Trying to.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
And so tell us a little bit about you.
What made you decide to be apharmacist?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, when I turned 16 years old, my mom told me I
was old enough to drive and Ineeded a job.
Good mama, yeah.
So I was like okay, well, shesaid I could work at the
pharmacy.
So then you know, um, no, butall jokes aside, I'd started
working at the pharmacy when Iwas 16, over the summers, um,
(03:56):
you know, when I was not inschool, uh.
And then I just continuedworking there, uh, through
college, whenever I'd come backand things like that, got to
know the customers, got to knowthe job really well, got to
where it was, just like well, Imean, I feel like this is
definitely something I could dofor the rest of my life.
Like, I mean, why not?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Like this seems like a great opportunity.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
It's interesting to me and I, you know, from pretty
early on I kind of had an ideathat's kind of what one of the
things I wanted to do.
I wasn't really 100% sure.
I don't feel like, you know,anybody's always 100% sure
anyway.
So through college, you know, Ihad a couple different ideas of
what I wanted to do, butpharmacy was always one of the
(04:42):
options that I was, you know,thinking about.
And then, as I went throughschool, that ended up being what
I kind of pursued, and the restis history.
Been working there now for as apharmacist since 2019.
So, has it been that long?
It has been, yeah, gosh 2019.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And you know, in pharmacy school it's hard, I
mean, it's not easy.
And the fact that you choosethat as your profession and
wanting to help people, you knowthis day and time, I just think
that's amazing.
So thank you for carrying onthat tradition with your family.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think one of the things thatdefinitely made me want to
become a farm assistant work atPenny's exclusively pretty much
was just kind of like the I'vealways liked kind of the aspect
of some smaller businesses whereyou know you're a regular.
You walk in a store and theperson behind the counter knows
your name.
(05:40):
I always felt like I loved thatgoing to comic book stores when
I was a kid and like they knewwho I was, or like going
somewhere you know, and they'dbe like, hey Spencer, how are
you doing?
And then the more I worked atyou know my family pharmacy, I
realized we are that store forpeople and I know a lot of these
people.
They know me forever becausemom had pictures of me as a kid
(06:02):
sitting up there.
She talked about me and stuff.
So I already have that rapportwith them.
I just need to get to knowtheir name, which is a little
bit harder than you know.
But no, that really really wasa huge, huge factor as well.
It's just that kind of smalltown, you know, getting to know
(06:23):
your people kind of feel andalmost like I mean, it is a
family environment in there.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
So definitely you know, and it really is, and I
have a testimony to share aboutwith Spencer in particular.
I had had a surgery and Icouldn't get my pain medicine
and I called and Spencer broughtit to me, which is rare.
I mean I know you guys dodeliveries and stuff, but I mean
that's just that personal touch, because you guys care about
(06:52):
your patients and the peoplethat you serve, and so I'll
never forget that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Well, I appreciate that.
Yeah, I mean at the end of theday.
You know you gotta I mean yougotta, you know you gotta treat
people the way they deserve tobe treated Just because the
store hours closed.
If someone needs their medicine, they need their medicine.
We're going to look out for ourcustomers.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Right, and I know you guys offer home delivery too,
right.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Absolutely During the week.
We offer home delivery.
As long as the order gets sentin before 1 o'clock, we'll get
it out to you that day,guaranteed.
Sometimes you know, if thingstrickle in afterwards, you know
we can still try to get it outto you within reason, of course.
But yeah, we try to help asmany people as we can.
(07:38):
That is mostly within theKingsport city limit.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Sure, absolutely yeah , cause I couldn't imagine
trying to fill that need, youknow, in such a large Tri-City
area, so, but I still thinkthat's great.
You know, I was looking at yourwebsite and it's extremely
informative, so why don't youshare, both of you, some of the
things that that that you guysare offering to the public, that
(08:06):
your pharmacy provides?
That, I think, is reallyimportant for people to know.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, so we offer most vaccinations that are
available currently, at leastmost routine ones.
And obviously ones that youknow a pediatrician would do.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
We don't really do that as much so like a flu
vaccine.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Exactly yeah, or the COVID vaccine or any kind of RSV
shingles, things like that.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Pneumonia Tdap.
We do offer some routines, butmost certainly the yearly
vaccines that you have to get.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah, on top of that we offer, obviously we talked
about the free prescriptiondelivery within Kingsport, which
, as I said, is free.
And then another big thing thatwe offer free of charge is
medication adherence packagingfor people that struggle.
You know, maybe someone takesso many medications and you know
(09:05):
especially the drug shortages.
You know what things look likecan change all the time, so it
can get a little confusing.
So what we do is we'll actuallyhold on to their bottles, we'll
put them into these easy to see.
Ok, this is my Monday morningdose.
They pull it off.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
And, yeah, it makes it very easy for a lot of people
.
So we offer that free of chargefor many, many people, and
that's another big thing that wetry to do.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
You know, and that's so much better than and you guys
have seen those and it wasgreat in its time, but the
little boxes, you know, theMonday, tuesday ones.
But you know what People stilluse those, if you flip that and
you turn that thing over, thenthere goes all those pills.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I think about that.
So those blister packs or thosesee-through packs, I think
that's just fantastic.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, and another really good thing about the ones
that we use is we can actuallyput the specific date on there,
because sometimes if it justsays Monday and you know you
have someone that does have youknow men, you know memory issues
or something and they look atit and they're like, okay, was
that, did I miss this Monday?
Or you know.
They just don't really know howfar off they've gotten.
(10:19):
So this keeps it completely ontrack.
You can see okay, this is forSeptember 26th or something like
that.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
You know what I mean.
Yeah, it also helps people beway more compliant with their
medications as well, which isbetter for their health.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
It is especially.
We have so many older people,you know, that are living alone,
that don't have somebody tocheck on them.
You know of how they're doingwith their medications.
I remember when I worked in theER it would be like, okay, let
me take a look at your medicines, and they would have a Walmart
plastic bag and it would be fullof medications.
(10:57):
You know what I'm thinking.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
There's no way they're compliant with this
stuff, yeah, yeah, and I meanwith the way doctors sometimes,
will you know, change a dose andthen they get another bottle on
top of something they alreadyhad at the previous dose.
Sometimes people don't evenlook at what's on the label,
they're just like, okay,something else boop.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And then now they're taking double.
Exactly, yeah, or like my daddy.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, I don't want to throw that away, it's still
good He'd have three bottles oflow presser.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I was like no let me throw some of these away dad, it
can definitely get confusing,yeah it is hard.
So let's talk about some of thethings that you guys that really
set you apart, and I just youknow, I think it's just so
unique to have a business thatis truly all about knowing
(11:47):
people and family, and I'd sayboth of you now and Gina
especially.
You guys kind of know people'shealth history and their
medicines and you know when theywalk in the door and um yeah,
lots of times now we actuallycan bring up on our computer
when things are due.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
So sometimes you'll come in and we'll already have
your medicines ready for you.
You know so many people lovethat.
It's like gosh, I don't.
I don't even have to callanymore, I, you just already
have things ready right, but youdo get to know their family and
their history and their kidsand their grandparents and their
parents, and so it just becomesmuch more personal service.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah, and so you become a multi-generational
business because you're servingso many generations, right?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Yeah, yeah, thankfully, some families do you
know, now we're treating the,you know, the next generation of
their family, and they come inthey say you know, I've been
with your mom for however manyyears and, like you know, we
only come to pennies.
We have so many people that saythings like that and it's, you
know, it makes you feel reallygrateful to have people like
(12:57):
that.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
It's a true blessing.
It really is.
Yes, absolutely, and so youguys do some compounding.
So what are some of those items?
And you brought me a littlespecial gift today, but I'm
going to let you talk about it.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So the biggest thing that we compound is we have our
own line of face creams and I amthe one that developed this.
So the biggest thing that wecompound is we have our own line
of face creams and I am the onethat developed this and it
probably took me two years tobring it to market.
But we have a day cream andthen we have a night cream and
really those two are the same.
It's just in the day cream weadd a little bit of sunscreen
(13:36):
and we also have a pigmentcorrection cream for brown spots
and we have an eye cream.
But, like in our day cream, ithas lots of different vitamins
antioxidants.
It's got B3, which is big inface creams these days Vitamin C
.
It has vitamin E.
(13:56):
It has things for fine linesand wrinkles, for skin
tightening, cell regeneration.
It really is, I think, the mostcomplete face cream and it has
the highest percentage of activeingredients that we can put in
there.
So I would look at you know therange of what percentage you
(14:18):
could put in this cream and I'dalways start with the highest.
Now, sometimes it might cause alittle discoloration or maybe
an odor, so I had to work withthat for several months to try
to get it right, but itdefinitely has the highest
percent that we can put in thesecreams.
And so many times when you buysomething over the counter, like
(14:39):
the Olivolet or the I don'tknow so many different ones, if
you look, the first ingredientlisted is the top thing that's
in that cream, and so many timesit's water, water yes, you're
right, and they will use overthe counter the absolute
smallest percent of activeingredients they can use.
(15:01):
So sometimes you're paying afortune.
Yes, it's very expensive 30 tohundreds of dollars.
I know I went through thatwhole Abagge line and I think,
goodness this is 20 years ago Ispent 400 and some dollars.
Nowadays I can't imagine what itcost.
20 years ago, I spent 400 andsome dollars.
Nowadays I can't imagine whatit cost but this, since we make
it in our compounding lab and wedon't have the stars, of course
(15:23):
, advertising for us ontelevision.
I truly feel that you aregetting a tremendous cream for
such a bargain.
I mean, I thought our day creamand night cream is only like
$18.35, I think, whereas if youbought something like this over
the counter, I think it wouldcost you at least three times as
(15:45):
much.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Oh yeah, definitely For sure, and I'll have to say
that I use this cream.
I love it.
Thank you for bringing it.
It is a great face cream I'venever had any issues with it,
you know and the night cream too, and you have an eye cream as
well.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Yes, we do, and the eye cream has some of the same
ingredients as the day and nightcream.
But it has a few extra thingsspecifically for those fine
lines and wrinkles in the realsensitive areas around your eyes
, okay, and also has a littlebit of coconut oil in there,
which gives it just such a realnice texture because you don't
want to rub around your eyesreal harsh, so just put it on
(16:26):
very lightly and just has a realnice feel.
I think all the creams justhave a really nice feel to it
and I've only I mean we havesold these to hundreds and
hundreds of people and I've onlyI mean we have sold these to
hundreds and hundreds of peopleand I think I only know of one
or two that have had any kind ofallergic reaction to them.
So I'm very proud of it, and myhusband at the time I brought
(16:49):
this to market, worked at CrownLaboratories so we actually sent
it to their research lab ohcool.
And had them test it forstability and all kinds of
different things.
So it's it really is very good,it's stable for quite a while
and um just real proud of ityeah, and you're very passionate
(17:10):
about it.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I can tell so those listening, if they decide, you
know what I'd really like to trythat cream, if they call
Penny's, what do they say?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
So, basically, they'll just call and ask us
about our face creams.
And the good thing too is,since it's a compound, we
actually will get a littleinformation from them because we
put it on a prescription.
The way we're able to do thatis we have a collaborative
practice agreement with adermatologist, dr Joni Sago Nice
, and through that we're able toput it on a prescription.
(17:41):
Therefore, it's a compound.
We have all of the informationwe need to do this legally,
without having to go throughmanufacturing and all things
like that.
And then, thankfully, sinceit's a prescription, it's a tax
exempt, so you're not having topay tax on top of you know what.
(18:01):
Also, you're already paying forour face cream.
So, yeah, all they would haveto do is call.
We'll just get a littleinformation from them, put it on
the prescription and we'll haveit ready to go for them.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
That's awesome and it's great, and I will.
Anybody listening is if youever want to try a face cream, I
definitely recommend it forsure.
Well, thank you, I appreciatethat.
So okay now, spencer, I have toask you this question.
Okay Okay, being the son andyou are going to be the owner of
Penny's Pharmacy.
He is the owner.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You are the owner now .
Excuse me Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
You are the owner now , excuse me.
Yeah, okay, you are the ownernow.
So, um, any kind of sparksbetween you and your mom when
you were working together?
Or um, how did you know amother and son working together?
What kind of challenges did youguys face?
Speaker 3 (18:50):
I think there are more challenges early on than
there are now really.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Um, certainly as I was teenage years.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Yeah, I was working there at teenage years, maybe
growing, and we'll, we'll giveyou a break on those.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Maybe some of the college years, too, when I was
not taking it as seriously as uh, you know, I probably should
have, but you know I had plentyof wake-up calls throughout, uh,
my schooling and uh, certainlyonce I got in pharmacy school
and as I started to get to knowfor sure, oh, this is what I
want to do.
You know, mom made sure toteach me that you are being, you
(19:27):
know, set up to be the ownerhere, so I am holding you to a
higher standard than everyoneelse and that higher standard,
you know, caused a littletension sometimes, but
ultimately it's made me thepharmacist.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
I am.
He used to get mad and say youare so much harder on me than
you are any other interns.
And I would say it's becauseI'm just training them to be a
pharmacist.
I'm training you to own thisplace.
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
You know, and there's a great book out in leadership
and it talks about passing thebaton, and that's what we have
to do for those of us who aregoing to take our place.
Whatever it is we do in life,you know, we pass that baton and
we can do it well or we can doit poorly.
And, gina, you've done aphenomenal job with Spencer.
(20:15):
We've watched you grow up.
You're just such a fine youngman.
And how long have you beenmarried?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Um, I've been married since January 22nd, or one, two
, three, january 23rd of 22.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Okay, that's pretty good Cause most men don't even
know.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I just know one, two, three, two, two.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
And it was a great party up at the Chateau Soleil.
We loved it.
It was so much fun.
Your beautiful wife Summer andyou guys do.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
you live here in Kingsport we actually so, summer
and I live in Johnson Cityright now.
Yeah, but she actually justmoved her practice.
She's a mental health therapistinto the building that the
pharmacy's in right above us.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Yeah, so it's great.
It was cute.
The other day they carpooled intogether.
Yeah, it's kind of cute seeingmy little children come in.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yes, yes.
Well, I know you're so close tothem and just have a lot of fun
together.
So, Gina, what are some of thethings that you've just truly
enjoyed watching?
You know, your son Spencer,just really step up to the plate
and just, you know, be theleader that he is and the owner
(21:35):
of the pharmacy.
What are some of those thingsyou'd like to share?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Well, I'm just so very proud of him and, like you
said, we had a little, you know,as all parents and children do
through the growing up years andalso when they're trying to
work for you.
But he's done a great job andhe's matured so much and just
really he bought it January 1,2023.
(22:01):
So it's been almost two yearsnow, I guess, but he's done a
wonderful job and he takes itvery seriously and just his
personality I can tell he'sgotten more confident as he's
been there longer and moreoutgoing with the customers and
he's just doing a great job.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Well, I have a great mentor.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yes, yes, you do, and I'll tell you, spencer, I love
your social media oh thank you.
So Instagram?
So tell us how we can go onInstagram find you so we can see
those amazing videos of FluBuster and the Geico ones we
have, so it's also on ourFacebook.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
You can either go to our Facebook or Instagram.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Our.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Instagram is Penny's Prescription Shop?
I believe it is, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And it's P-I-N-N-E-Y.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Because so many?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
people try to spell it P-E, but it's P-I.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
So that's a little hard for people to find.
Sometimes yeah, p-i-n-n-e-y.
Yes.
Yeah, e-y times.
Yeah, p-i-n-n-e-y yes yeah, e-y.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So so my uh, one of my uh, our techs, jamie uh, she
downloaded this app that allowedus to kind of make these
posters and a couple years ago,you know, she decided we made a
very simple one like get yourflu shot here, and um, you know,
from there she decided, oh well, I kind of want to get a little
bit more fun with it.
(23:28):
So then, she kind of came upwith this one of like me versus
the flu, and it was what wouldshe call it, the vaccinator
versus the flu.
So then from there I startedkind of thinking about, okay,
well, what can we do?
So then I'm starting to thinkof well, how wing costumes do I
(23:49):
have, what could I do, whatcould I bring in to dress up?
And you know, we've tried tocome up with fun little reels,
like animated pictures intoreels and things like that, just
to make fun.
You know, have fun.
We put up posters in the storeand our customers get a kick out
of it.
They sure like laughing at it.
And you know, have fun.
We put up posters in the storeand our customers get a kick out
of it.
They sure like laughing at it.
(24:10):
And you know, whatever makespeople smile makes me happy.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Yeah, it's great.
One is because Spencer has abeard and he actually has just
cut his hair, but he did havelonger hair but was dressed as a
caveman.
Even a caveman can understandour med packs, I thought that
was a really funny one.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I love that one yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Tried not to do it exactly, you know, like Geico,
don't, you know, infringe on anycopyrights or anything.
But yeah, very similar.
And thankfully you know thatwas just me thinking what do I
have?
Oh, I have a caveman costume.
I can do something with that.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
There you go and you know what I love, how you're
bringing in some creativity,just you know, just things that
people are going to rememberright.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
Absolutely.
I mean, at first I was a little, you know, I was like kind of
apprehensive, maybe a littleembarrassed, but then, as people
started coming in and tellingme how much they love it, or
seeing people laugh, it was likewell, heck, yes, keep doing
this.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
This is kind of fun.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
And now I get so much it's like maybe one of my
favorite parts of the job nowAbsolutely Coming up with these
little things.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Well, what's interesting is, last Tuesday I
went to a class.
It was on social media.
And it was how to present yourbusiness in social media and
there's just much to it.
But if you post these shortlittle videos, put yourself out
there, and she was even sayingsometimes you might be a little
embarrassed, but that's whatpeople like, because they want
(25:37):
to see real.
They want transparency andthat's what we remember.
But anyway, Instagram can pickthose up and they will continue
reposting them if you have a bigfollowing with that.
So I thought, yeah, now that andwhat you're doing.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
You keep that up, because that is definitely going
to pay off we're trying, yeah,we keep trying to come up with
one about every, you know, sixweeks or so that's great, that
is great.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
So, uh, were you gonna to say something, gina?
Speaker 4 (26:06):
I was just going to say, advertising these days is
so different than the way itused to be.
Yes, just taking an ad out inthe newspaper.
Now, I'd say 90% of advertisingis social media and online.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
It is social media yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
It's crazy how things have changed.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Oh yeah, it's like Steve's you know, here with
Benchmark Home Loans, you know,one of the big things for
Steve's industry is Googlereviews.
And so, spencer, I know,especially your, your age group
and younger, that's what they'relooking at.
You know we look at Googlereviews, and so he's got.
You know him and Jonathan.
Five-star reviews, one afterthe other you know, and those
(26:41):
are real, those are people.
that's actually okay.
You know, steve did my loan.
What a great job, what yadayada.
But anyway, that's so importantthat we have that now.
Yes, it is definitely.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
It's a little scary too.
You know you have one badinteraction, maybe someone
you're like oh please don't goGoogle review based off of that,
you know.
But no, we're very, verythankful and you know many of
our big time customers,long-time customers, have gone
on and Google reviewed us.
I'm very, very proud of whereour Google review total stands
(27:15):
right now with the store onthere.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
But yeah, I mean, I will say, if you know, in my
generation, like you said,google reviews are, you know the
way I kind of show appreciationto a business, or you know the
way I kind of show appreciationto a business or you know, Make
a decision or show mydispleasure in something.
Sometimes you know, buttypically not, you know unless
(27:38):
it's very, you know, of course,within reason.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Well, you know what I'm thankful for.
I'm so thankful that you choseto stay here, spencer, in our
region, because I know so manyof our younger people.
They want to move on.
They want to.
You know there's somethingbetter over there.
I don't want to.
I've grown up here in EastTennessee, so thank you for
staying here and continuing tocontribute to the community.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
I appreciate that and help people.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Like I said, your family has made such a
tremendous impact in theKingsport community and so many
people know you all and justthank you for what you've done
and how you care about people.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
And that sets you head and shoulders above any box
pharmacy.
There's just no comparison.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Well, I really appreciate you saying that.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
You're welcome.
So let me ask you this and,gina, you can chime in too but
I've considered both of youentrepreneurs, because you know
entrepreneurs kind of wechallenge ourselves, we're
motivated internally for we'vegot our own bigger picture and
goals to achieve as anentrepreneur.
So what are some of the thingsthat you would share with a
(28:48):
younger version of yourself?
You know a high schooler orsomething.
What would you, what could youshare with them to encourage
them to?
You know, stay the course, workhard.
You know those things that havemade you successful.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
Yeah, I mean I would just share you know, keep your
work ethic up.
Keep you know, keep going.
Don't get too down if you knowsomething doesn't go your way.
You gotta just keep fightingand just keep pushing forward.
Especially once I got topharmacy school, that kind of
(29:26):
was a wake-up call too, is likeat that point, if you're just
cramming information to passyour next test, I mean you're
not learning.
And ultimately, that's thethings that you know point blank
, are going to be asked to youonce you become a pharmacist.
So, yeah, just reminding myselflike, hey, this is what you
(29:47):
need to know, because you knowyou're not going to have
multiple choice when someoneasks you a question, point blank
at the counter.
So just kind of maybe saysomething like that to a younger
version of myself.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
And what do you think created in you such a great
work ethic?
Because I hear so many businessowners and CNOs of hospitals
and the work ethic is just notwhat it used to be.
Why do you think you have sucha great work ethic, Spencer?
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Well, I don't know about great.
I think I have an appropriatework ethic.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
He has a great work ethic, even working out, and
you're structuring your wholelife.
Your food preps every week.
I think you and summer bothhave great work ethics.
Yeah, just don't look at mybedroom.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
You know no, um no, I definitely probably the example
of my parents, for sure I wouldsay absolutely and uh, you know
them getting on me when I wasyounger, you know making sure I
got my everything done.
So I would definitely say goodparenting.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
That's awesome.
That is awesome, gina, anythingyou want to share?
Speaker 4 (30:58):
One thing you were talking about entrepreneurs and
young people.
Sometimes people are so afraidto take that step to start a
business.
People are so afraid to takethat step to start a business,
you know, they're just socomplacent with I'll take this
job and I'll work for someoneelse Sure, and just afraid to
take that step.
And it is a big commitment andI know when I first started I
(31:22):
was working a ton of hours, sure, and a financial commitment as
well.
Financial responsibility that'sa little scary, but for me it
has been so worth it.
You know, through my life.
And so just having pride inyourself and knowing that you
can do something and just takingthat step if you want to own
(31:43):
your own business and, you know,step out of the box a little
bit.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Absolutely.
I love that.
Well, thank you both and we'regoing to have to give Fred, fred
Penny, some kudos here, rightSpencer on the parenting.
So we always my Steve and Ialways call Fred and Gina the
fun couple because they'realways we can never get on their
social calendar.
It's like you got to plan wayout because they are the fun
couple.
I think you guys have a prettyfull social calendar.
(32:07):
It's like you've got to planway out because they are the fun
couple.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
I think you guys have a pretty full social calendar.
No, we love you guys, we loveyou too.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I want to thank both of you for being on today.
Thank you, Spencer.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Thanks for having us.
Yeah, absolutely, thank you somuch for having us All right?
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Well, we'll bring you back again, okay.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
All right, sure, awesome, bring you back again.
Okay.
All right, sure, okay, awesome.
Thank you guys.
Thank you.
This has been benchmarkhappenings brought to you by
jonathan tipton and steve reedfrom benchmark home loans.
Jonathan and steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in northeasttennessee and they're not only
licensed in tennessee but flor,georgia, south Carolina and
(32:48):
Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
If you did, make sure to likerate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwJonathanAndStevecom.
(33:08):
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
Benchmark Happenings.
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