Miller's Mysteries From Forty-two Years of Retailing

Hi,
My name is Richard and I have been working at Miller's Rexall since I was 12 years old!

Miller’s was established in 1965 by Dr.Donald Miller( yes, my uncle). The independent Pharmacy and retail business competed with other national chains in the downtown Atlanta area. First year sales covered all expenses and Donald was very happy. Being an astute businessman "Doc" (as he is lovingly called) realized that he could not compete with the chains for long and started looking for that special niche to make the store a success for the long haul. Over the ensuing years Miller’s has grown and prospered. The niche was simple to find. Just get the customer whatever they wanted, educate yourself about the product, and provide it at a reasonable price. That's it. That's how it worked. And that's how it's working today.

Throughout this blog I will share the many fascinating stories (hopefully one a week) that I have experienced and share the unique perspective I have gained over the last 42 years. I'll share the products we tried, the way they work, and why it has been a success for my family. By sharing my personal thoughts, feelings, and favorite things with you I hope to share the wonders of "being blessed" with a very satisfying "job" and a wonderful life.

Now back to a little history:

I worked at Miller's during the summer and Saturdays throughout my high school years.

After high school I attended the University of Georgia. It was a four year experiment in which I studied many diverse courses. Among them were Pharmacy, Religion, Chinese history, African studies, Accounting. Mastering none but enjoying the classical social studies I believe I "got me" a well rounded education.

Anyway my heart belonged to the store. I just loved retail and all it involves.

I joined the operations full time in 1975, as manager of retail sales. Over the next few years Miller’s was challenged with various market conditions that threatened profitability. Sales grew and peaked in 1983. The Marta rail line was built under Broad Street and changed traffic flow in the area. Completion of the construction caused sales to drop by half. Continued change in the area, Rich’s, H.L. Green’s, and Kessler’s closing has challenged Miller’s to change and adapt to ensure continued success.

By expanding the business with a national mail order division, Miller’s sales and profitability have continued to grow. We added this new fangled thing called a website in 1993. It was created by my son Brian when he was thirteen years old. Go take a look at it!

Locally Miller’s product line and service has kept it’s doors open with recognition as Atlanta’s only independent downtown natural pharmacy and store where the saying is;

" If you can't find it anywhere else go to Miller's they have it all".

A revitalization of downtown is now occurring, with condominiums being built in the Kessler Building across the street and vacant buildings in the area are being leased and developed. Miller’s future is looking very bright.

Enough of that for now. I want to share some of me. I know that old fashion sayings sound corny. But if you really research them they endure because of the simple truth they convey. Here are a few of my favorite:

Selected Quotations from the Thomas Jefferson Papers

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Thomas Jefferson was a prolific writer. His Papers at the Library of Congress are a rich storehouse of his thoughts and ideas expressed both in official correspondence and in private letters. This brief selection suggests something of what awaits users' own online investigations into the writings of the man who was the third president of the United States, the founder of the University of Virginia, and author of the Declaration of Independence.

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"Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights." Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, January 8, 1789

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"bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. education & free discussion are the antidotes of both."
Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, August 1, 1816 Thomas Jefferson Papers Home

"What a stupendous, what an incomprehensible machine is man! Who can endure toil, famine, stripes, imprisonment & death itself in vindication of his own liberty, and the next moment . . . inflict on his fellow men a bondage, one hour of which is fraught with more misery than ages of that which he rose in rebellion to oppose."
Thomas Jefferson to Jean Nicholas Demeunier, January 24, 1786

"our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine; nor is it given to us in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friend's or our foe's, are exactly the right."
Thomas Jefferson to Miles King, September 26, 1814

”My friend and confidant the Honorable Richard Miller is of extreme good houmour”

Thomas Jefferson to his wife in bed June 30, 1846

Did I mention I was born on June 30, 1953? At least this go around.

See ya next time.