Longs Drugs (CVS Hawaii)

309 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 Longs Drugs started on the mainland in 1938 and the first Longs in Hawaii opened on March 29, 1954, in Honolulu. The franchise was acquired by CVS in 2008 and although the mainland stores didn’t retain the Longs brand, the stores were so ingrained in Hawaiian minds and hearts as a local chain, CVS left Longs Hawaii intact and even focused on growing the business. There are now 68 locations across Hawaii’s four islands. Longs Drugs is more than a pharmacy and ensures stores carry what individual communities need regarding beauty, health, groceries, and more, while also ensuring tourists from all countries can count on Longs to provide them with local favorites, but also creature comforts while they are away from home. Sutton knows it’s important to cater to both as much as possible because local community members have supported them for decades, while also servicing tourists because it is Hawaii’s largest economic driver. “We are seen as a value retailer in Hawaii and I think people treat us a little bit differently than they do on the mainland, as a go- to for all their grocery needs, for all their healthcare needs because on the mainland you’d see it more as a convenience and more of a typical pharmacy,” Sutton explains. “People treat us, and they come to us because of the value we provide to them, and you can see that through our marketing and our advertising departments, so we really, truly try to provide local favorites but at a very reasonable price.” Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii suffered when tourism abruptly ended. Some of Long’s stores suffered, but many in rural communities flourished as community members flocked to Long’s for their groceries, their medications, and of course their COVID-19 immunizations. Sutton noted throughout the pandemic they’ve continued to support those needs. LONGS DRUGS (CVS HAWAI I ) hiring locally, and through its many charitable campaigns that focus on local non-profits. Scott Sutton, Regional Director at Longs Drugs CVS says that history has made them the premiere pharmacy in the island state. “We have a long history dating back decades ago as really, the go-to pharmacy of choice here on the islands,” he reflects. “We have consistently upheld the brand as far as being a healthcare organization and a healthcare pharmacy in and around our communities, where we feel we have the biggest impact. We continue to evolve and grow and fill those gaps as needed to promote patient adherence, health outcomes, and partnerships across healthcare organizations like our medical groups as well as our physicians and the families that surround and live in the communities that we thrive in,” Sutton continues. Jon Jared Higa Asst General Manager - Lead Director Merch - Marketing