{"id":25987,"date":"2025-05-08T08:12:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T15:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/?p=25987"},"modified":"2026-04-16T17:41:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:41:53","slug":"customer-spotlight-websters-pharmacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.avery.com\/blog\/customer-spotlight-websters-pharmacy\/","title":{"rendered":"From Crisis to Connection: A Small Business Story Rooted in Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Customer Spotlight: Webster\u2019s Pharmacy<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Nearly a century of community trust<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Meredith<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Webster\u2019s Pharmacy<\/a> was forced to relocate and then recover from a devastating fire, it wasn\u2019t just about reopening the doors\u2014it was about rebuilding trust, reconnecting with the community, and holding on to the legacy they\u2019d nurtured since 1926. Avery is proud to feature Webster\u2019s as our small business spotlight\u2014an inspiring example of small business resilience, heart, and branding done right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014but as caretakers of a local institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the day we purchased Webster\u2019s Pharmacy from the patriarch of the family, Bill Webster, we\u2019ve had a responsibility to carry the legacy of this beloved institution into the future,\u201d says Meredith. \u201cWe\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generations of customers still walk through their doors, many with childhood memories of visiting the store with parents or grandparents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reinventing in a brand-new space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After nearly 100 years in its original building, Webster\u2019s 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\u2014moving 99 years of business history in under three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transition wasn\u2019t easy. \u201cThe space limitation was our biggest challenge as we went from 5,000 square feet to less than half of that,\u201d Meredith says. \u201cWe also inherited an old Jiu-Jitsu studio that needed a complete makeover.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Staff<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They turned that outdated space into a clean, modern pharmacy with new fixtures, equipment, and lighting. \u201cWe created a state-of-the-art pharmacy,\u201d Meredith adds. \u201cAnd we\u2019re extremely proud of how our team worked together day and night to make it all a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serving customers through crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s long-time customers. Though the new store survived, the interior was contaminated and everything had to be discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t allowed back into the building for several weeks,\u201d says Meredith. \u201cWe immediately coordinated with a neighboring pharmacy in Pasadena to ensure our patients continued to receive their life-saving medications without interruption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For seven weeks, Webster\u2019s operated entirely from that temporary location. When they returned, they had to start again\u2014rebuilding inventory, systems, and morale. \u201cAlthough most of the community is not living there now, our customers have been loyal and supportive as best they can,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fresh start for a treasured brand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Front<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Their new space reflects both the heritage and future of Webster\u2019s Pharmacy. \u201cWe took the heritage of the old building and incorporated it into nuanced features of the new design,\u201d says Meredith. \u201cThe response to the new space has been positive both from our customers and our business colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The store also reflects their unique culture\u2014professional, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe use Avery name badge products to design custom name tags with logo elements and holiday themes,\u201d Meredith says. \u201cWe\u2019ve had fun coming up with different name tag designs for each season\u2014it\u2019s something small, but it really makes a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful Altadena, proudly packaged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Beautiful<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond medications, Webster\u2019s Pharmacy also ships products from its Beautiful Altadena 91001\u2122 collection\u2014originally inspired by a license plate holder sold in the store in the 1970s. It\u2019s grown into a full merchandise line of mugs, apparel, and collectibles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAltadena residents and supporters have really resonated with the words \u2018Beautiful Altadena\u2019 and \u2018Altadena Strong,\u2019\u201d Meredith says. \u201cWe\u2019ve turned that into a fundraiser, donating a large portion of net proceeds to recovery programs for local businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning for a second century<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the business nears its 100th year, the team is preparing for a centennial celebration that highlights Webster\u2019s Pharmacy as the oldest retail business in Altadena\u2014and one that\u2019s still evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are very few businesses that can claim a century in operation,\u201d Meredith says. \u201cWe want to play that up to the whole Los Angeles market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That includes continued investments in customer care, branding, and the small details\u2014like evolving their employee name tags to better reflect their brand identity. \u201cEvery detail matters,\u201d she adds. \u201cFrom the way we greet customers to the way we label a package\u2014it all speaks to who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Avery helps behind the scenes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Webster\u2019s Pharmacy prints most of its materials in-house using Avery products<\/a>. They use Avery templates <\/a>to create shipping labels<\/a> 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 <\/a>featuring the Webster\u2019s logo, and shipped using Avery shipping labels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAvery products are simple to use and work well with our proprietary pharmacy software,\u201d Meredith says. \u201cWe\u2019re using Avery shipping labels every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team also appreciates the flexibility of Avery name tags<\/a> for creating seasonal name tags for work<\/a>. Their circular branding stickers\u2014featuring the Webster\u2019s Pharmacy logo\u2014fit seamlessly on all outgoing orders and promotional items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Avery products are mostly behind the scenes, they help maintain a polished, professional image that\u2019s consistent with the Webster\u2019s Pharmacy experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Webster\u2019s Pharmacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From rebuilding after disaster to celebrating nearly 100 years in business, Webster\u2019s 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\u2122 collection at websterspharm.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore more customer stories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re proud to spotlight businesses that inspire us. Read more about how our customers use Avery products to grow, adapt, and thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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