Stew Turley passed away last month, a victim of deteriorating health and advancing age. To those who knew and worked with Turley, no explanation of the man’s impact and influence on chain drug retailing in America during the last half of the 20th century would suffice to explain the impact the news of his passing
On the eve of the annual NACDS regional chain conference, about to convene in South Florida as this piece is written, now is perhaps the perfect time to reflect on the stunning success regional drug chains are experiencing in the U.S. chain drug community. For openers, it is simpler to evaluate the small chain segment
Once upon a time in America, the nation’s three most important drug chains — CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens — succeeded as much for the zeal, creativity and accomplishments of their chief merchants as for the directions provided by their senior management. Indeed, it was a time when people like Vern Brunner, Chris Bodine and
If indeed we’ve embarked on a new chapter in the history of the regional drug chain — as we obviously have — then it’s equally true that this is a new era for the regional chain executive. Explore the National Association of Chain Drug Stores board of directors and you’ll find that it’s well represented,
Viewed from almost any perspective, December 13, 2023, was a significant day in the history of mass retailing in America. On that day, to informally recognize the 90th anniversary of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, America’s mass retailing community gathered together a not-so-random sampling of the individuals who created, advanced and immortalized health
This is an especially special holiday season for participants in and advocates of chain drug retailing in America. Reason? The season celebrates and pauses to recall the 90th anniversary of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Much has been written over the years, in this publication and others, lauding the indispensable impact NACDS has
Those among us who yearn for the good old days — and there remain many who fondly recall a simpler time in chain drug retailing — must surely have a second thought or two about Rite Aid, in the wake of that venerable retailer’s fight for survival. Once upon a not-so-distant time, Rite Aid, along
As almost everybody knows by now, Packy Nespeca passed away, at age 100, in early October. To once again restate (and paraphrase) the age-old cliché: To those who knew Packy, no explanation is necessary; to those who did not, no explanation is possible. Rather than once again recall Packy’s adventuresome and highly accomplished life, we
All too soon, 2023 is winding down. In mass retailing terms, it’s been a largely uneventful year, uncharacterized by the usual machinations and scramblings, as drug chains and other mass retailers have worked to consolidate emerging positions or dig out of situations that have placed them in untenable positions. Still, the year that ends in
The stunning announcement out of Chicago earlier this month to the effect that Walgreens and its chief executive, Roz Brewer, would be parting ways shocked the chain drug community as few personnel changes have done in many a day. Among the questions and observations randomly tossed around, one hung relentlessly above the rest: Why? Why,
Those of you who are even marginally committed to mass retailing in America (and elsewhere) would be wise to circle the date of December 13, 2023, on your calendar. On that date, a Thursday in mid-December, several industry icons (including the editors of Chain Drug Review) will gather at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York
To further recognize the 90th anniversary of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, it occurs to at least one industry observer that this would be the perfect time to create a Chain Drug Store Hall of Fame. Many obstacles to this undertaking exist, of course, the most daunting of which is locating the industry’s
Perhaps the most underrated and underappreciated retail trade event in America today is the exposition about to unfold in San Diego. For those of you who have been living in a fairy tale world in which all good things come eventually to those who sit and wait, the event in question is called Total Store
Make no mistake: In mass retailing, as in other fields of endeavor, this is truly the Age of the Woman. Forget the stories that name the 10, 20 or even 50 most important women in mass retailing. Women have gone far beyond that. Indeed, they have come to exert an impact on the mass retailing
