Two new stores in Victoria
Robert Tieu and the team at HIP Bendigo
HIP has recently opened two new pharmacies in Victoria - one in Bendigo and the other Deer Park.
Bendigo is a dynamic regional centre (population 140,000) 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The city was founded in the heady days of the Victorian gold rush and has many fine old buildings and a thriving arts community. That Aussie icon the Chiko roll was also ‘invented’ by a Bendigo boilermaker, Mr McEnroe.
HIP Bendigo is owned by pharmacist Robert Tieu, who has bought the business after working in a range of pharmacies, both independent and banner group members. Robert explains his decision to go with the HIP model:
“I came across Health Information Pharmacy a few years ago and was attracted to the brand because it is an independent group with a strong focus on service, not a discounting retail model. I had been looking to buy my first pharmacy for two years and I am delighted my first pharmacy is with the HIP group.”
HIP Brimbank is in the Brimbank Central shopping centre, which is in Deer Park, about 20 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. Brimbank is the second largest municipality in Melbourne with more than 170,000 residents and covering an area of 123 square kilometres. It is a growing centre encompassing twenty five new and established suburbs, including Sunshine, St Albans, Keilor and Sydenham.
HIP Brimbank is one of the new ‘management model’ HIP pharmacies and is run by Retail Manager Amanda di Pietro. The pharmacy specialises in diabetes management and is an NDSS (National Diabetes Services Scheme) and Diabetes Australia centre. It also offers a range of CPAP devices for sufferers of Sleep Apnoea and has a manned HBA private health fund kiosk so that customers can process cash claims in the pharmacy.
Amanda explains “Our customers will really appreciate being able to access HIP’s Chemconsult service here at Brimbank now, and those who join our Platinum Care Club will also really like the HIP 24/7 pharmacist hotline service, which will give them access to advice from a pharmacists when the store is closed or when they can’t make it in.”
24.04.09
