When he graduated as a pharmacist, Carlos Ocasio Roldan had two jobs, but it was his part-time job that made him an entrepreneur.
It was a small pharmacy's name was the surname of the abolitionist Segundo Ruiz Belvis.
"I knew that the pharmacy had potential," says Ocasio Roldan.
So when the owner offered to sell the facility, the pharmacist did not think twice, even though his wife was in the eighth month of pregnancy.
Gave $ 5,000 and the car that was to soon for the purchase, the remaining $ 30,000 was paid in installments with sales to the pharmacy. There were no banks or aid of relatives, except the signature of his biological father, pharmacist also to support the transaction.
"That was the only thing my dad gave me," says the employer stating that the day of success is the result of determination, to be well with suppliers and customers and know how to identify the times required to innovate and diversify.
Without hesitation, jumped Roldan Ocasio business with a cash and three employees. He worked day and night, Saturday and Sunday. Occasionally, fatigue Ocasio Roldan killed in a recliner. Then, on good days, the pharmacy Ruiz Belvis Roldan Ocasio left him about $ 600 in sales per day.
Some 30 years later, those hours of dedication have given many fruits, even in times of recession: a hundred employees, about $ 10 million in sales a year and what might be described as a mini pharmacy in the area east of the Island
Apart from Caguas, Ruiz Belvis Pharmacies operates in Las Piedras, Naguabo, and in April Gurabo, Humacao flag planted.
Evolution
About six years ago, Pharmacies Ruiz Belvis evolved into a pharmacy and convenience store, allowing the customer to buy the services or products you need in one stop.
"We have the money transfer service Western Union, gifts, Lotus, gas, ice, ATM, take pictures, sell liquor and to bake bread," the businessman, adding that it is not large establishments but spaces well used.
Asked by this newspaper, Ocasio Roldan recognizes that the supply response to new consumers, but also to the fact that pharmacies can not exist with the income of the prescription. "Whoever does not recognize it is destined to disappear."
"The cookbook is the soul of pharmacy, but the floor is essential," says the pharmacist.
Given the situation, Ocasio Roldan ventured into other business efforts. For example, in the case of the pharmacy operating in Gurabo, the employer decided to buy the building and equip it with additional spaces for rent. He also ventured into the rental housing and to date has about 72 apartments for those purposes.
Working Together
Speaking of success, Ocasio Roldan says that we must keep our feet on the ground. In addition, the laurels are not his only and are not absolute.
On the one hand, companies have grown so much that Ocasio Roldan and his wife, Silvia Mulero, ceased to exercise the professions they studied to manage the business.
The employer remains at the head of the operation and agreements with suppliers, his wife, who graduated from pharmacy technician is in charge of human resource management and certain financial matters.
On the other hand, although the pharmacies are an essential player in the health sector, manages to operate successfully is becoming increasingly difficult.
"Basically, we have become employees of the health plans because the managers of pharmacy benefits than they pay is the cost of medicine and a service charge," said Ocasio Roldan. "We have come to cases where it is interfering with medical therapy," says professional.
The situation calls for specific measures and buy in volume, but it's easier said than done, says the businessman.
On one occasion, several pharmacies were organized to create an information system to access online drugstore prices, helping to identify best prices, but the project failed.
"We lost all," says the employer is awaiting noting that similar initiatives are realized.
Until that happens, Roldan Ocasio reiterates that the company that runs continue staying at the forefront to ensure that patients and customers get the best of fast and convenient.
It was a small pharmacy's name was the surname of the abolitionist Segundo Ruiz Belvis.
"I knew that the pharmacy had potential," says Ocasio Roldan.
So when the owner offered to sell the facility, the pharmacist did not think twice, even though his wife was in the eighth month of pregnancy.
Gave $ 5,000 and the car that was to soon for the purchase, the remaining $ 30,000 was paid in installments with sales to the pharmacy. There were no banks or aid of relatives, except the signature of his biological father, pharmacist also to support the transaction.
"That was the only thing my dad gave me," says the employer stating that the day of success is the result of determination, to be well with suppliers and customers and know how to identify the times required to innovate and diversify.
Without hesitation, jumped Roldan Ocasio business with a cash and three employees. He worked day and night, Saturday and Sunday. Occasionally, fatigue Ocasio Roldan killed in a recliner. Then, on good days, the pharmacy Ruiz Belvis Roldan Ocasio left him about $ 600 in sales per day.
Some 30 years later, those hours of dedication have given many fruits, even in times of recession: a hundred employees, about $ 10 million in sales a year and what might be described as a mini pharmacy in the area east of the Island
Apart from Caguas, Ruiz Belvis Pharmacies operates in Las Piedras, Naguabo, and in April Gurabo, Humacao flag planted.
Evolution
About six years ago, Pharmacies Ruiz Belvis evolved into a pharmacy and convenience store, allowing the customer to buy the services or products you need in one stop.
"We have the money transfer service Western Union, gifts, Lotus, gas, ice, ATM, take pictures, sell liquor and to bake bread," the businessman, adding that it is not large establishments but spaces well used.
Asked by this newspaper, Ocasio Roldan recognizes that the supply response to new consumers, but also to the fact that pharmacies can not exist with the income of the prescription. "Whoever does not recognize it is destined to disappear."
"The cookbook is the soul of pharmacy, but the floor is essential," says the pharmacist.
Given the situation, Ocasio Roldan ventured into other business efforts. For example, in the case of the pharmacy operating in Gurabo, the employer decided to buy the building and equip it with additional spaces for rent. He also ventured into the rental housing and to date has about 72 apartments for those purposes.
Working Together
Speaking of success, Ocasio Roldan says that we must keep our feet on the ground. In addition, the laurels are not his only and are not absolute.
On the one hand, companies have grown so much that Ocasio Roldan and his wife, Silvia Mulero, ceased to exercise the professions they studied to manage the business.
The employer remains at the head of the operation and agreements with suppliers, his wife, who graduated from pharmacy technician is in charge of human resource management and certain financial matters.
On the other hand, although the pharmacies are an essential player in the health sector, manages to operate successfully is becoming increasingly difficult.
"Basically, we have become employees of the health plans because the managers of pharmacy benefits than they pay is the cost of medicine and a service charge," said Ocasio Roldan. "We have come to cases where it is interfering with medical therapy," says professional.
The situation calls for specific measures and buy in volume, but it's easier said than done, says the businessman.
On one occasion, several pharmacies were organized to create an information system to access online drugstore prices, helping to identify best prices, but the project failed.
"We lost all," says the employer is awaiting noting that similar initiatives are realized.
Until that happens, Roldan Ocasio reiterates that the company that runs continue staying at the forefront to ensure that patients and customers get the best of fast and convenient.
