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BUSINESS NEWS - Knysna Village Pharmacy, which forms part of the Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group, recently celebrated its third anniversary under the new ownership and management.
Despite opening its doors during the difficult times of the initial hard lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pharmacy has grown from strength to strength in the three years since, under the stewardship of head pharmacist Clinton Daniell and his dynamic team.
The Knysna Village Pharmacy had long been operating in the Knysna Mall when, in 2020, it was purchased along with the Knysna Kem Pharmacy, which was located in Woodmill Lane, by the Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group and Clifford Daniell. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the decision was made to amalgamate the two pharmacies into one store in the Village Pharmacy premises.
Navigating the early stages
With lockdown commencing on 27 March 2020, the move was made official and stock and staff were brought over to the Village Pharmacy that weekend. By Monday 30 March 2020 they were up and running with more stock and staff than they knew what to do with. But, they had a secret weapon in their ranks – veteran pharmacist Clifford 'Cliffie' Daniell, who had for more than two decades run the Sedgefield Pharmacy.
Cliffie sold his pharmacy in Sedgefield to the Arrie Nel group in 2017 in partnership with his son Stuart, and with it relinquished his involvement by handing over the reins to Stuart. It was through Cliffie's recommendation that in 2020 Arrie Nel expanded to George as well, acquiring the Protea Pharmacy in York Street, which Stuart's twin brother Keith owns and manages. This meant that the Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group now has a pharmacy in Knysna, Sedgefield and George, with all three pharmacies managed and headed up by the three Daniell brothers.
A welcome expansion
Eight months after opening, the Village Pharmacy took the opportunity and decision to expand its store into the neighbouring premises. This provided the pharmacy with much more floor space and meant they could carry a wider range of stock and thereby further enhance their offerings to the community of Knysna.
The move to expand the store has been hugely successful, with business continuing to grow steadily.
Now with a diverse range of pharma-ceutical and retail offerings, Village Pharmacy operates with a staff of 16 personnel who thrive on assisting and interacting with their clientele. Considering that it is very much a family-run and family-led business, this ethos naturally pours over into the way staff interact with their customers, recognising the Knysna community as an extension of the family ethos already existing at the core of the pharmacy.
In January 2023, a clinic sister was also employed to expand the clinic services.
Getting in touch with Village Pharmacy
The Village Pharmacy is open seven days a week, even on public holidays, showcasing their dedication to providing Knysna with nothing but the very best pharmaceutical services. From Mondays to Fridays the pharmacy is open between 08:00 and 18:00, on Saturdays between 08:00 and 14:00, and on Sundays and public holidays between 09:00 and 13:00.
The pharmacy is also affiliated with all major medical aid services, and offers a delivery service in case customers are not able to make it to the store.
The Village Pharmacy thanks every loyal customer who has given their support over the past three years, and can't wait to welcome any new customers who walk through its doors in the future.
The pharmacy is located in the Knysna Mall, next to Capitec Bank, and can be contact via telephone on 044 382 2245; via WhatsApp on 071 794 7427; or via email on village@arrienel.co.za.
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