Do You Have A Small Business That We Can Help You Start or Grow?

Success Story: Rancho Pharmacy

Rancho Pharmacy, a new independent pharmacy on Avocado Boulevard in La Mesa, started offering COVID-19 vaccination appointments daily in spring 2021. The pharmacy launched during a pandemic, with the SBDC’s help, and became a community staple for COVID-19 immunizations – using the pharmacy website for bookings as well as managing calls and walk-ins. The healthcare professional and entrepreneur took SBDC trainings, worked with her SBDC business advisor, and learned more about every aspect of her small business to start up including financing, marketing, and how to hire employees. “The SBDC has been with me from the beginning,” Fatima says, “before I even opened the doors.”

The pharmacist also shared about the months-long process to get the vaccinations — exploring options focused on lower-income and more vulnerable communities — and making the necessary website adjustments. She kept taking the next step. Rancho Pharmacy has been a client of the San Diego & Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network for two years. And she speaks highly of her advisor Joel Sedeno.

She says one shouldn’t hesitate at all to reach out to their SBDC. “It’s free and it’s great guidance. It’s someone really there to help you, to even help you grow.” She encourages business owners to not wait too long since “the earlier you start, the more of a benefit you’re gonna see the SBDC will be for your business.”

Born and raised in Michigan, Hamade attended pharmacy school there and moved to San Diego in 2015. “I’m happy I’m open,” she says of the tumultuous last year. “I’ve always wanted to have my own pharmacy.”

Check out the video success story here!