40under40 Winner - Josephine Jennings

In her 29 years Josephine Jennings has demonstrated how much can be achieved when running a small, suburban retail business.

She is the owner and manager of Sands Chemmart Pharmacy in Mandurah, a thriving business with 21 staff and a focus on quality customer service, staff empowerment, community service and education.

Ms Jennings, who completed an MBA two years ago, has introduced a range of initiatives to boost the business, including a customer loyalty program that offers Christmas parties, educational workshops and bus trips.

This has become a real point of difference for the pharmacy, and word of mouth has ensured that many people in Mandurah have heard about it.

Ms Jennings’ achievements to date culminated in her being named the national Telstra Young Business Woman for 2004.

Before implementing new business initiatives, Ms Jennings conducts a thorough review of their likely impact.

This includes SWOT analysis to evaluate the pharmacy’s methadone program, which has been running successfully for five years, and a new product that helps clients, particularly the elderly, receive the correct medication.

In both cases, Ms Jennings has implemented programs that meet a clear community need while continuing to build her business.

She is also working for the growth of business in Mandurah as a committee member of the Peel Marketing Alliance.

Despite a growing business and two young children, Ms Jennings  is looking forward to starting a PhD this year.