Regardless of the time or the circumstance, people are going to have a need for their local pharmacist.聽
Henders Drugs, located on Fourth Street in Estevan, can vouch for that reality. They鈥檝e been open throughout the year, making sure that they鈥檙e meeting customers鈥� pharmaceutical needs.聽
But they鈥檝e also been busy with their other offerings inside the store.聽
Larry Preddy, a pharmacist who owns the business alongside Allen Miller, said they haven鈥檛 been filling as many prescriptions for colds and other ailments, but they have still been active with their regular business. 聽
鈥淧harmacists are quite accessible in the healthcare field, in that you can come in and talk to us or phone and talk to us, pretty much any time you want. A lot of other medical professionals, you can鈥檛 do that,鈥� said Preddy.聽
But Henders isn鈥檛 just a pharmacy. They have a myriad of health and beauty products, giftware and other items to satisfy their visitors. 聽
鈥淪urprisingly, we鈥檙e selling a whole pile of sandals for this year, for some reason,鈥� said Preddy. 鈥淥ur PPE (personal protective equipment), I鈥檝e noticed that we鈥檙e selling a lot of masks. Getting supplies of disposal gloves has been a real challenge. We just got some in today, but they鈥檝e been really stuff to get a hold of.鈥澛�
He鈥檚 not sure why sandals are selling so well, other than they鈥檙e a really good product made by Oofos.聽
At first hand sanitizer was hard to come by, but now they have an abundance of it. 聽
鈥淚 do notice that there鈥檚 probably not as much browsing traffic as we used to have pre-COVID. I think people are respecting the fact that you go out when necessary, and be careful,鈥� said Preddy.
Peggy Rohatyn, who manages the storefront area, said they continue to have a lot of local shoppers. She has also seen an increase in the demand for sandals, but she noted they have had sales for the efforts of local artists.
Pickles from Auntie M鈥檚 Garden Market, birdhouses by Doug McLeod, art from local artists and other local items have sold well.
Preddy praised Rohatyn for her work in getting a lot of local artwork in the store. 聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to promote the work of local people and sell a lot of that stuff through our store,鈥� said Preddy. 聽
Allergy medicines are also popular at this time of year, and even though the Saskatchewan Roughriders won鈥檛 be playing this year, Rohatyn said their merchandise continues to sell.
Walkers and knee braces are among other items that can be found at Henders.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been doing lots of deliveries to people,鈥� said Rohatyn. 聽
At this time, they believe it鈥檚 important to support local businesses and people as much as possible.聽
鈥淚 think one thing COVID has done is increase people鈥檚 awareness of the importance of local,鈥� said Preddy. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 support local, you don鈥檛 have it. And at times like this, when travelling is hard, if you don鈥檛 have it, what are you going to do?鈥澛�
The employees have done a good job of handling the challenges of the past few months. Plexiglas guards have been installed, and social distancing is a priority in the store. They ask people to use hand sanitizer when entering the business.聽
Henders tries to limit contact within the six-foot radius of people, while respecting customers鈥� needs. 聽
And people have continued to support Henders Drugs, which they really appreciate. They have a lot of new customers, but they also have a lot of long-term clients who know they can trust Henders Drugs.
