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Customer Spotlight: Webster’s Pharmacy

Nearly a century of community trust

When Webster’s Pharmacy was forced to relocate and then recover from a devastating fire, it wasn’t just about reopening the doors—it was about rebuilding trust, reconnecting with the community, and holding on to the legacy they’d nurtured since 1926. Avery is proud to feature Webster’s as our small business spotlight—an inspiring example of small business resilience, heart, and branding done right.

The pharmacy has been serving the Altadena community since 1926. When Meredith and Michael Miller purchased the business from Bill Webster, they saw themselves not just as new owners—but as caretakers of a local institution.

“From the day we purchased Webster’s Pharmacy from the patriarch of the family, Bill Webster, we’ve had a responsibility to carry the legacy of this beloved institution into the future,” says Meredith. “We’ve always been mindful of the unique history of the Webster brand and have tried to incorporate the hard work and decades of history that it conveys today.”

Generations of customers still walk through their doors, many with childhood memories of visiting the store with parents or grandparents.

Reinventing in a brand-new space

After nearly 100 years in its original building, Webster’s faced a major challenge: an unexpected lease termination. Negotiations with their previous landlord fell through, and the team had to find a new location fast. They landed in Chase Plaza—moving 99 years of business history in under three months.

The transition wasn’t easy. “The space limitation was our biggest challenge as we went from 5,000 square feet to less than half of that,” Meredith says. “We also inherited an old Jiu-Jitsu studio that needed a complete makeover.”

They turned that outdated space into a clean, modern pharmacy with new fixtures, equipment, and lighting. “We created a state-of-the-art pharmacy,” Meredith adds. “And we’re extremely proud of how our team worked together day and night to make it all a reality.”

Serving customers through crisis

The move was still fresh when tragedy struck. On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, destroying much of the town and displacing many of Webster’s long-time customers. Though the new store survived, the interior was contaminated and everything had to be discarded.

“We weren’t allowed back into the building for several weeks,” says Meredith. “We immediately coordinated with a neighboring pharmacy in Pasadena to ensure our patients continued to receive their life-saving medications without interruption.”

For seven weeks, Webster’s operated entirely from that temporary location. When they returned, they had to start again—rebuilding inventory, systems, and morale. “Although most of the community is not living there now, our customers have been loyal and supportive as best they can,” she says.

A fresh start for a treasured brand

Their new space reflects both the heritage and future of Webster’s Pharmacy. “We took the heritage of the old building and incorporated it into nuanced features of the new design,” says Meredith. “The response to the new space has been positive both from our customers and our business colleagues.”

The store also reflects their unique culture—professional, yet personal. During most of the year, staff wear standard employee name tags to meet Pharmacy Board regulations. But during the holidays, the team swaps them out for festive name tags for work, adding a little cheer to the customer experience.

“We use Avery name badge products to design custom name tags with logo elements and holiday themes,” Meredith says. “We’ve had fun coming up with different name tag designs for each season—it’s something small, but it really makes a difference.”

Beautiful Altadena, proudly packaged

Beyond medications, Webster’s Pharmacy also ships products from its Beautiful Altadena 91001™ collection—originally inspired by a license plate holder sold in the store in the 1970s. It’s grown into a full merchandise line of mugs, apparel, and collectibles.

“Altadena residents and supporters have really resonated with the words ‘Beautiful Altadena’ and ‘Altadena Strong,’” Meredith says. “We’ve turned that into a fundraiser, donating a large portion of net proceeds to recovery programs for local businesses.”

Planning for a second century

As the business nears its 100th year, the team is preparing for a centennial celebration that highlights Webster’s Pharmacy as the oldest retail business in Altadena—and one that’s still evolving.

“There are very few businesses that can claim a century in operation,” Meredith says. “We want to play that up to the whole Los Angeles market.”

That includes continued investments in customer care, branding, and the small details—like evolving their employee name tags to better reflect their brand identity. “Every detail matters,” she adds. “From the way we greet customers to the way we label a package—it all speaks to who we are.”

How Avery helps behind the scenes

Webster’s Pharmacy prints most of its materials in-house using Avery products. They use Avery templates to create shipping labels for online orders and inventory tracking, as well as for designing personalized logo stickers for gift wrap and packaging. Each item is packed by hand, sealed with an Avery round label featuring the Webster’s logo, and shipped using Avery shipping labels.

“Avery products are simple to use and work well with our proprietary pharmacy software,” Meredith says. “We’re using Avery shipping labels every day.”

The team also appreciates the flexibility of Avery name tags for creating seasonal name tags for work. Their circular branding stickers—featuring the Webster’s Pharmacy logo—fit seamlessly on all outgoing orders and promotional items.

Though Avery products are mostly behind the scenes, they help maintain a polished, professional image that’s consistent with the Webster’s Pharmacy experience.

Visit Webster’s Pharmacy

From rebuilding after disaster to celebrating nearly 100 years in business, Webster’s Pharmacy is a powerful example of resilience, heart, and hometown pride. Whether you’re a local in Altadena or just want to support a small business with a big story, you can learn more and shop the Beautiful Altadena 91001™ collection at websterspharm.com.

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