In the heart of Orange County, Beach Terrace Pharmacy has become a remarkable example of entrepreneurship and perseverance since its founding three years ago. What began as a humble startup with no prescriptions has evolved into a thriving business.
Hrag Bakarian and Sarkis Tatarian are trained pharmacists who bring diverse backgrounds to their partnership. One practiced pharmacy domestically, while the other was born abroad and studied pharmacy outside the U.S. The pair chose to enhance their education further by enrolling in business school prior to opening their own pharmacy. This journey, marked by dedication, creativity, and a strong commitment to the local community, exemplifies the American Dream.
The story of Beach Terrace Pharmacy is unique and inspiring. The owner’s partnership deepened when one married the other’s sister, blending business and family in a way that reflects their core values. This close bond drives their commitment to creating a pharmacy that prioritizes exceptional care and community service.
Starting a pharmacy from scratch is no small feat, but Hrag and Sarkis embraced the challenge with energy and vision. With no prescriptions to their name initially, they built their business from the ground up, continually innovating to improve operations. The introduction of the Parata filling system marked a turning point, enabling faster and more accurate prescription filling while reducing reliance on manual labor. This system streamlines the prescription filling process while ensuring precision, capturing images for insurance purposes, and demonstrating their commitment to patient safety and operational excellence.
The Parata machine is precisely calibrated for the size of the vials the pharmacy uses. However, if they decide to switch vial sizes in the future, recalibration will cost around $10,000, a significant expense for a small business. As the Parata system is scheduled for installation in February 2025, WSPC account manager Jim Oh wanted to ensure it was calibrated to vials that aligned with their future business needs.
Jim has worked closely with a representative from Centor, sharing information about Beach Terrace Pharmacy and mentioning that Hrag had previously been disappointed with Centor’s product quality. Centor is a U.S.-based manufacturer known for high-quality vials and consistently reliable inventory. Initially, the owners were hesitant to transition from their current supplier, which provided vials they liked for their cap and bottle shape.
Jim encouraged Hrag to meet with the Centor representative for lunch to examine the vial designs firsthand, hoping they would also see the value and potential savings in switching suppliers before calibrating their Parata system. Just before the end of the previous year, Jim, the Centor representative, and Hrag met to discuss samples, pricing details, and product reliability. Once Hrag recognized the benefits of Centor vials, including familiarity for patients, consistent quality, and significant cost savings. The decision to switch became straightforward. Centor’s vials, already used by major pharmacies, provided both quality and affordability, saving Beach Terrace Pharmacy over 50% in vial costs, approximately $20,000 in annual savings that could be reinvested into their growing business.
The trust in WSPC’s recommendations was crucial.
“If WSPC supports them, we know they’ve done their research and vetted the best options,” Hrag said.
This confidence made the decision straightforward and further strengthened their partnership with WSPC.
“WSPC is the buying group we want to be with long term,” Hrag added.
The journey of Beach Terrace Pharmacy stands as a testament to determination, family, and business acumen. From starting with no prescriptions to building a thriving enterprise, the owners have navigated the complexities of the industry with grit and innovation. Their partnership, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has propelled them to success.
Now, with reliable products and WSPC’s support, they are expected to reach new heights as they look toward a prosperous future in 2025. Beach Terrace Pharmacy is more than just a business. It is a remarkable example of how ambition, strong partnerships, and dedication to the community can turn a vision into reality.
As Jim put it, “The stars aligned, and we got in there at the right time, saving $20,000 a year with Centor pricing.”
