Benchmark Happenings

Community Care and Legacy: Colton and Catherine Marcum's Journey with Marcum’s Pharmacy in Kingsport

• Jonathan Tipton, Steve Reed & Christine Reed • Episode 34

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Ever wondered what sets a local, family-owned pharmacy apart from the big chains? Join us as we sit down with Colton Marcum, the passionate owner and pharmacist of Marcum's Pharmacy in Kingsport, Tennessee. From heartwarming stories about his grandfather, Carl, who founded the pharmacy in 1962, to the challenges faced by small business owners today, Colton, alongside his wife Catherine, offers a rich tapestry of insights. You’ll learn about the unique personalized services they provide, from customized packaging solutions to knowing their customers by name and going the extra mile even after hours.

Explore the importance of a strong team culture and community support in running a successful independent pharmacy. Colton shares how he and Catherine have cultivated a dedicated team and created a work environment that feels more like family. Discover the charm of the Tri-Cities area, which boasts a thriving community spirit and a surprising number of independent pharmacies. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone captivated by stories of perseverance, community involvement, and the enduring legacy of family businesses. Tune in for an intimate look at what it takes to navigate the world of independent pharmacies and the timeless value of community relationships.

To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.

Speaker 1:

One. This is Benchmark Happenings Brought to you by Jonathan and Steve from Benchmark Home.

Speaker 2:

Loans.

Speaker 1:

Northeast Tennessee Johnson City, kingsport, bristol, the Tri-Cities One of the most beautiful places in the country to live Tons of great things to do and awesome local businesses. And on this show you'll find out why people are dying to move to Northeast Tennessee. And on the way we'll have discussions about mortgages and we'll interview people in the real estate industry. It's what we do. This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Benchmark Home Loans, and now your host, christine Reed. And now your host, christine Reed.

Speaker 2:

Well, welcome back everybody to another episode of Benchmark Happenings, and so we're so excited. Today, the star of our show is Colton Markham. Welcome, Colton.

Speaker 3:

Hey, thanks for having me.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and Colton is. Not only is he a business owner, he's a pharmacist, has a long, rich family history in the Kingsport community, but he's also an entrepreneur. And so, Colton, we are just ecstatic to have you here today to talk about Markham's Pharmacy, located on 902 Broad Street in Kingsport, Tennessee. So look up the website, give them a shout, go see them. So, Colton, let's just kind of dive into this today and the Markham family. I worked with your daddy in the ER for many, many years. I love your dad, Greg, and we hang out with your Aunt Gina, his sister, so we've known each other for a long time, even knew your granddaddy Carl. So share a little bit about kind of the rich history that the Markham family has and how you guys have. Just you've been in Kingsport and you've really been a part of the community of Kingsport for a long time and you've really been a part of the community of Kingsport for a long time.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so my grandfather started the pharmacy in 1962, and he was in his very early 20s I don't remember what age. I think everything just kind of fell into place. I met my wife in pharmacy school and she's originally from the Bristol-Bluff City area, so not too far away. And then my aunt has Penny, or I guess my cousin owns Penny's Prescription Shop in Kingsport now, so we've always been very involved in the pharmacy community. And then Catherine and I got out of, we started working in 2008 as pharmacists and we bought the store in 2011 and got to work a handful of years with my granddad, which were great memories to have and taught me a lot.

Speaker 2:

And so, yeah, I bet there are some stories to tell about Carl Markham.

Speaker 3:

Oh, that could be a whole podcast series.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I don't want to burst the bubble, but probably one of the most memorable stories I have is when someone tried to rob him. And he had a knife. He was a druggie, had a knife. Came in there and called and said well, you brought a knife to a gunfight.

Speaker 3:

That's right. He shot the guy. It was even lucky he hit him. But he hit the guy in the hand. So then he got to tell everybody he shot the weapons out of his hand. There you go, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that's awesome. Well, we love your family and everything that you guys are. Every one of you are people who give. You are people who give back and so share a little bit. And your beautiful wife, Catherine, who's also a pharmacist. Now, how many children do you have now?

Speaker 3:

We've got two children. We've got our daughter is she'll be in eighth grade this year, charlesy and and then we have our sons. He'll be 10 next week, so we're in two weeks I think. So, yeah, and they're. They're keeping us busy between sports and dance and all those things, but we love it, and then you know if we have them at the drugstore. Sometimes Charles will help us stock shelves and things like that. That's great yeah.

Speaker 2:

Do you think she'll be a future pharmacist Colton?

Speaker 3:

You know, pharmacy's had its ups and downs over the last few years and she's kind of heard a lot about that. So I don't know, I would like to see her maybe do that, but you know, sometimes you hear your parents gripe too much.

Speaker 2:

Well, I mean, I know it's challenging and we'll talk about some of that too, but so one thing I wanted to sort of for us to share with the audience too is something about that. You know your passion for pharmacy and how that, how you got into that. What made you decide I mean, being around that for so long, and your dad's a physician, your grandfather's a pharmacist what made you decide to go into the pharmacy profession?

Speaker 3:

You know, people ask me that a lot and I really don't know what the big change was.

Speaker 3:

It was just kind of something I always thought I would do and my granddad was my hero and I looked up to him and I don't really remember when I decided I was going to go to pharmacy school, but from high school on, I just you know that was always my path and I just don't remember thinking about anything else. So I think it was just natural. Course, I don't know, I don't have a good answer, but I've always thought that's what I would do and that's what I ended up. And you enjoy it. Yeah, I do, and you've been doing this for a long time 16 years, now 16 years.

Speaker 2:

And I think just the fact that you kind of knew this is what I'm going to do and you started young, being able to build the business and actually grow. I mean Markins Pharmacy the website is great and all the things that you guys offer in a pharmacy.

Speaker 3:

It's changed a lot. We've had to not to complain, but insurance reimbursements have gone down. Even Walgreens just announced they're going to close 25% of their stores, really. And the Community Pharmacists association, uh, they, you know, they've predicted about a third of pharmacists for independent pharmacies to go out this year. So we've had to diversify, uh, but diversification is not bad because we're helping more people that way. Uh, you know, during during covid, we, we did, you know, flu and strep testing prior to covid.

Speaker 3:

But it wasn't real well known and uh, and then COVID kind of brought that to light, that when we did all the COVID testing and all that, and sometimes it's just easier to run by a pharmacy If you've got a car full of kids and we can run out there and do a flu test. And so yeah, new services have been vital for the business, but they're helping the community as well.

Speaker 2:

I think that's great. And strep testing for the business, but they're helping the community as well. I think that's great. And strep testing, I mean like how many times and every time Steve has a sore throat I'm like honey, you need to go get a strep test.

Speaker 3:

Well, tennessee is a neat state with pharmacy law too. They offer something called collaborative practice. So, in conjunction with a physician, if you come to the store and you test positive for strep, we can treat you. So there's no need to call your doctor to get a prescription or anything like that. That collaborative practice at the state of Tennessee is growing. We've even got protocol for UTIs and all sorts of different things.

Speaker 2:

My gosh. How convenient yeah it's pretty neat. And UTIs, especially for an older person, because they can be so dangerous so you guys can treat like give an antibiotic for all those things.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and flu, we can, you know Tamiflu. And then we've even got a protocol for like poison, ivy things and, you know, like inhalers. We have an agreement where if you have asthma and you need an inhaler and it's the weekend, you can't get a hold of your doctor, we can do something like that as well.

Speaker 2:

So it's pretty neat, so a lot of this is very new and just now happening. That is amazing and I love the fact that you're talking about that, because those that are listening, we need to know that, because not only is it a time saver, it's convenience, but also think about the money that you're saving too, and you're helping more people because it takes a long time to get into your doctor now. Sure, yeah. So what are some of the other services that you are getting into offering through at Markham's pharmacy besides the testing Colton?

Speaker 3:

So we do compounding, and our compounding has really grown over the years. And that that encompasses a lot of different things, Catherine's. Well, actually I've just got we, we both have a hormone replacement, you know, specialty certificate or whatever you call it. So she does, she, she does a lot of hormone consulting and. I've. I do it as well. Most people prefer to go to Catherine, but compounding we do veterinary compounding, we do different scar creams and dermatology things and hair loss, weight loss.

Speaker 3:

There's all sorts of things you wouldn't find traditionally traditional products like low-dose naltrexone we were talking about earlier, which is good for all sorts of autoimmune diseases, things like that. So compounding has been big. We're really expanding our supplement line with pharmaceutical-grade supplements, not stuff you would find at the Not the stuff from China, not the stuff at the big box stores that Do not take it that may not have what says on the label in it.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 3:

And that's kind of become a passion of mine. Like the first hormone conference we went to years ago, I was kind of dreaded. I was like, well, this is going to be boring, but it was exciting and we talked about supplements and nutrition and things like that and I think there's a lot in that realm where it can really help people too. So that's something else we're doing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, how did you make that? There's so many supplements out there, Colton? I mean, it's overwhelming. And I was looking at your website with all the ones that you're offering LifeAid, Biola. I mean, how did you decide like, okay, these are the lines that we are going to?

Speaker 3:

invest in. It's funny. The website's getting ready. We're going to have a whole new one here in about two weeks.

Speaker 1:

It's been in the works. Oh, that's great.

Speaker 3:

The supplements. I kind of just a lot of research and then I've had some friends in the pharmacy field that well across the country actually, that were kind of maybe a step or two ahead of me on that and I went with my research, their recommendations and we want, you know, professional-grade products that you know, that they do their own testing and quality assurance and all those measures.

Speaker 3:

So you know that if you buy, you know magnesium-3 and 8, you're getting magnesium-3 and 8. And you know at the doses magnesium 3 and 8, you're getting magnesium 3 and 8.

Speaker 3:

And at the doses. It just says on the bottle. And then you mentioned BioLite. We've had that for years. It's just a hydration product. I actually did a BioLite podcast. It was the very first podcast I ever did. Oh cool, and it's like Pedialyte on steroids and it's a great hydration for anybody that's been sick or just not working the side and things like that Salty but it's neat.

Speaker 2:

I was reading where you don't have to do the IV hydration because there's clinics. I don't know if they're clinics, but they tout come and get an IV hangover IV or vitamin C infusion. But this is awesome that you can use the bottle.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, they call it IV in the bottle and it was developed by a physician that's wife was going through I think it was breast cancer treatment and she was having all the side effects and I think his daughter now runs the company. But yeah, it's physician-formulated and just something she could have at home and not have to go to the office.

Speaker 2:

Right, so I have the testing multiple products that you offer counseling hormone therapy replacement. So let's talk about the compounding and the pharmacy side.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

So some of the things that you're doing there at Markham's.

Speaker 3:

Well, another thing, something we're doing a lot of packaging all of a sudden here lately. So we can. We've got a machine and it puts your medicine in blister packs. Okay, so which is you know? People immediately think, well, it's good for an elderly person which?

Speaker 1:

it is, but like I love it.

Speaker 3:

I do mine in it because if I'm going on a trip for five days instead of taking four or five bottles and we put supplements in it as well. So if you're taking supplements, we can put them in there Instead of taking a bunch of bottles with you, pull off five days' worth of strips and roll them up and it takes up a whole lot less space. But it's also good for anybody that takes multiple medications or has trouble remembering things. The packaging we don't offer. There's no additional charge for it To do that.

Speaker 2:

Wow, that's a great service.

Speaker 3:

I love that.

Speaker 2:

So what differentiates local-owned pharmacy that?

Speaker 1:

So so what differentiates.

Speaker 2:

You know, local owned pharmacy, cause we we love supporting people local and we love our local small businesses. We support a lot of veterans here at benchmark home loans and you know we're we're a local you know, mortgage lender and we have to compete with. You know the rocket mortgages online and things like that, so tell us, um, I think we've already touched on a lot of this, but how do you differentiate yourselves from the Walmarts of the world and these big box chain pharmacies?

Speaker 3:

If you walk in not just Markham's but any independence in the area, we're going to know your name. You're not a number. And there's great pharmacists at those chain stores but they're not. But they they work under restraints. That you know. Maybe we don't have your corporate policies and and and you don't. It's our customers, are our livelihood and and and the people that come to Markham's are the reason Catherine and I make a living. Yes, and so you have to just take care of your people.

Speaker 3:

And my grandfather. That was the main thing. He beat my head. He didn't show me a whole lot about how to do payroll or things like that. I had to kind of figure that out on my own. But take care of your people and I think most independent pharmacies really kind of go by that and it's like family, I mean the customer moves away or passes away. It's sad, I mean you get to build a relationship with these people.

Speaker 3:

Or they walk in. How was Colt's soccer game this weekend? Or I saw Charles on the dance field or something like that.

Speaker 2:

Sure.

Speaker 3:

So, it's just a big family environment and I think it makes it special.

Speaker 2:

And more personalized service. And the fact that you actually know your clients and know their needs. You're willing to help them out. Like you even mentioned earlier about if you need an inhaler on the weekend, I mean you can't do that anywhere else.

Speaker 3:

Well, that's through a certain collaborative practice, but I've driven to the store at midnight if somebody's needed something, I don't like driving down there at midnight, but I will do it if you need it. Yeah, I hate to speak for everybody, but most of your independents will do that for people. It's just and the others can, the big chains can.

Speaker 2:

Right, right. So what are some of the things that you had to learn? I mean, you learned the pharmacy business. You were with your grandfather and he, he instilled in you people. First, take care of your customers. Um, what are some of the other things you've had to learn as really a business owner, but slash entrepreneur, because you're developing a lot more. You're expanding the pharmacy business. What are some challenges that you faced along the way?

Speaker 3:

Oh goodness, probably a lot. I think I've learned a lot, the hard way sometimes. You know, we remodeled the store. We've been there, I guess, three years now.

Speaker 2:

Well, let's talk about that building because, that building has a rich history. It was built in 1927?.

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

So what's the history of that? The building is absolutely beautiful and you've done a beautiful job, Thank you. It's really iconic there on Broad Street in Kingsport.

Speaker 3:

So if you come in the store, we've got some old newspaper articles from when it was built in 1927. It was touted as Kingsport's first freestanding apartment building.

Speaker 2:

Oh, wow.

Speaker 3:

Okay, it was really advanced for the time, like it had it had a switchboard. It wasn't there when we bought it but there was old switchboard in the basement with, uh, you know, they had their own phone system for back in the day and then, like trash incinerators in the basement, everybody had a trash chute down. It's a really cool old building and I think, uh, the newspaper article said I think it cost them $50,000 to build it back then, which is just amazing, and we still have apartments above it. We weren't sure what to do with it. And you were talking about learning things the hard way. I had to move, kind of as a result of I signed a bad lease when I was young and my rent was going through the roof, oh my goodness.

Speaker 3:

And so we're like, and this was we were out growing our space as well, but you know, that was a lesson learned the hard way, but it worked out because we love our space. We we need the room. We were able to expand our compounding lab and you know there's a med spa in there as well.

Speaker 2:

I was going to ask you about the med spa there.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so a med spa in there as well? I was gonna ask you about the med spa there, yeah, so, uh, it was formerly the science of beauty and kingsport. It's now she's changed the name to r may. It's run by amanda jackson. I mean, she's rent space from us. But, uh, it's really it's cool. Go check it out. It's very uh, bougie I would say like it's and uh, but you they do.

Speaker 3:

You can check out their website. They do all sorts of you know the beauty type stuff, but then she's also doing you know weight loss and hormones and things like that. Okay, and some you know minor, almost urgent care type things.

Speaker 2:

Something like that. And you also have the body scan machine. Yes, the InBody.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we bought a. It's a InBody and it's golly.

Speaker 2:

That's okay.

Speaker 3:

It's a body composition machine and so you can get on it and it measures your muscle mass and fat mass. It shows you where you're carrying fat and it's really cool. And for instance, like I got on the first of the year and I'd been exercising a lot and I thought I had lost a ton of weight, I hopped on the scale and I was furious because I'd lost like maybe a pound, but as it did my readout, I'd lost like 4% of belly fat and I'd gained muscle after a couple months, that's huge.

Speaker 3:

Otherwise it had just been discouraging at typical scale. So something like the in body, if anybody's you know trying, you know exercising and changing their, their lifestyle and whatever they're doing to get in shape, it's, it's a good tool for people to use and yes, and I was there.

Speaker 2:

It's been several months ago and I did the in-body scan. I need to come back because I've lost some more weight since then and I still lift heavy weights. So, I need to see, am I?

Speaker 3:

building some muscle, You've probably gained some muscle too.

Speaker 2:

So, Colton, I know that you've really struggled with allergies ever since you were just a small child. Of course, my husband, Steve, has struggles with allergies as well. What are some of the things that's really helped you to overcome some of the allergy issues?

Speaker 3:

Food allergies are kind of what they are. I just have to deal with that. But the seasonal things, um, you know I've quite a few things like never miss a nightly shower. But then, uh, years ago, a couple of years ago, I started a, uh, a compounded medication low-dose naltrexone for more specifically, for the eczema and skin rashes and things like that and that's been a life changer for me and um, but you know, just as far as allergies, they could be a hurdle and things, but just determination and just having a good attitude about things, it just could be worse as well, look at it.

Speaker 2:

So I just keep going. That's awesome. Well, I know, and you do vitamin lines? Supplements and things like that. What are some recommendations that you would share with the audience about healthy lifestyle? Where do you even begin? Well, that's a lot.

Speaker 3:

It is a lot. Go talk to your pharmacist first of all. But the, for instance, like the weight loss drugs right now. They're huge and they work, but they're not a replacement for healthy lifestyle habits. I mean, say you're taking Ozempic and then you go out and eat whatever you want. It's really not going to do what it. And if you don't exercise while doing that, then you're going to lose muscle mass as well. You're not going to eat as much.

Speaker 3:

So if you really don't do resistance training and change lifestyles. It's just a. I think it's great to kickstart somebody, it's really good and get you, but as soon as you know if you don't change the way you're living, then it's so you stop and everything's gonna come right back.

Speaker 2:

So um I think people want a magic bullet they do, and there's no such thing there is no such thing as a magic bullet and sometimes you can.

Speaker 3:

You know there's and, like with supplements, sometimes there's. They're not a magic bullet either, but sometimes they may. You know, maybe you're you're dragging and you feel, you feel bad and whatever, and maybe your vitamin d is just low and you're not taking the correct vitamin d and and I don't. There's all sorts of different things, there are ways to go about it, but whatever, and maybe your vitamin D is just low and you're not taking the correct vitamin D, there's all sorts of different ways to go about it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's a lot, and I think people just either they're looking for the magic bullet and they're looking for a way to cheat the system, and there's just no way to do that.

Speaker 3:

No, there's not.

Speaker 2:

Nothing replaces healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise.

Speaker 3:

Nutrition, exercise and sleep. I mean you've got to Sleep's very important.

Speaker 2:

It is, it is.

Speaker 3:

And you know, I think resistance exercise, like weights, often has been overlooked for a long time. That's really good for you.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely yeah. And keep you going, and strong too, and mobile so we've kind of talked about some of the differences that you know as a family-owned pharmacy, how you differentiate from the big chain. Uh, I you know. Um, definitely, we're all about the family pharmacy and that's what we use um but what are?

Speaker 2:

how do you overcome and how have you been able to overcome some of the struggles with being a small business owner and in the independent pharmacy business? What's helped you? Just, I mean you've been, you've been here for a long time in the industry, and I mean from your, your granddad, from 1962, you've been doing this for over 16 years. So what are? What have you been doing? How do you overcome these struggles?

Speaker 3:

First of all, I think I've got a great team at the drugstore and that has been. I've always had great people, but I really have like a bunch of superstars right now and have for quite a few years and having a solid team, and then, of course, catherine and I, we have each other to lean on. But it starts kind of inside the store there and then I don't know. Just the Tri-Cities is great because it really does support. I think you'll find more independent pharmacies in the Tri-Cities than maybe anywhere else around.

Speaker 2:

Really.

Speaker 3:

It's amazing when I go to pharmacy conferences and things like that, somebody's in the same size city as Kingsport and there's a handful of pharmacies, maybe 10, 12 in Kingsport alone. So it's great that our community supports the independence and um, I don't know, just staying true to ourselves and and trying to do the best we can. I think that that gets us the support we need.

Speaker 2:

so yes, and you didn't have to have a consultant to tell you those things. But but we talk about here at Benchmark culture.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And you just defined your culture. I mean you surround yourself with good people that you trust, who are motivated. You love your team. I think that's just so important to have that.

Speaker 3:

Oh, it's super important and I remember years ago, when I didn't have client, that I'd go home and I'd be stressed. Now it's like when you're surrounded with great people and you work with them every day and there's no drama and everybody's doing the best they can. It kind of makes everything else fall into place.

Speaker 2:

It really does. And I think about relieving yourself of and I know Steve goes through this too if, if, because one person can't do it all, and we bring in people who enhance the strengths that we don't have. Sure, yeah, if. And I think it comes to recognizing your weaknesses but also, more importantly, knowing your strengths, or those lies.

Speaker 3:

Oh yeah, like you know, there's always a technician in the pharmacy inputting prescriptions. And if I was the one doing that all the time, nobody would come to Markham's because it'd take hours. So I mean we have other people that do that yes. I mean, there's places you don't want me in the business. I love that.

Speaker 2:

So, yes, I mean, there's places you don't want me in the business. I love that you're. You're a people person and don't put you in front of, don't put Colton in front of a computer.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I mean especially not inputting prescriptions. Uh, that'll, in fact I'll go start to do one and one of the other people walk over like here. I'll just have to fix it anyway, they they'll push me away from it oh, that's awesome.

Speaker 2:

So I think you've kind of touched on it a little bit. But why did you choose to stay in Kingsport? I mean, so many younger people, oh gosh, I live in Kingsport. I was, you know, born and raised here, went to Dobbins Bennett. I can't wait to leave. So what caused you to keep your roots here?

Speaker 3:

Well, it's just always suited me. I like doing outdoors type things when I'm not. We live in a great area for that, with all the rivers and lakes, and I never wanted to go that far. Plus, I knew I was walking into the business, but it's perfect for me. I wouldn't be comfortable in a big city. It's to each their own. A lot of people love that, sure, but I mean, I like it here and I think it's a great place to raise a family as well.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and that's really what birthed this podcast Benchmark Happenings, all the great things in East Tennessee and the great people who live here, because it's a beautiful place and really people are just. They really are like, at the beginning, dying to move to East Tennessee because we get people from California, new York, from Florida and they just can't believe how amazing it is to live here.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's a beautiful place. I was talking to a guy the other night. He just moved here from Yuma Arizona and he said he was just in awe just at the mountains and all that and people here and we're truly, genuinely nice people. Yes.

Speaker 2:

We really are, and I think that's something that people just are amazed when they come here, Like we say hello because you know what. That's just what we do. You know we like to eat, so what are some pearls of wisdom that you would like to share with those listening today? Just about you know really about running your business, being an entrepreneur or what. What encouragement would you have for younger people today?

Speaker 3:

Well, we've already touched on it, but I think it starts with the culture and the team well, we've already touched on it, but I think it starts with the culture and the team and um, and I can carry on about that forever because I I truly believe that. But then you know, I've had my ups and downs over the years and with a big renovation there was some, there was some tight times and, uh, keep your chin up and don't get down and and and just keep going.

Speaker 3:

I mean it's. It's if you let yourself get overwhelmed, you will become overwhelmed, but if you focus on the if you, you know, break things down, focus on the positives and count your wins. You know, the losses don't seem so heavy that as much then so, but start it with a good team.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and you know what I've? Just the wisdom. For someone your age, you have so much wisdom and it's so refreshing because you are, you're a winner. I mean your attitude of you know, just counting your blessings and looking at the positive and not being overwhelmed with whatever life throws at you.

Speaker 3:

Sometimes I am overwhelmed. My advice is to try not to, but thank you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. What's your proudest accomplishment or accomplishments? I mean, I can probably say a lot of things, but what would you say today?

Speaker 3:

Oh, that'd be Charles C Colt, my two little kids yes, and they're growing up quick, but they're I mean. I'm sure every parent says this, but I'm awful proud of my children and they're great kids and it's yeah they're just fun to be. You know, I don't know, they just make me smile, that's wonderful. And they don't have any trouble with them, and they get along. And just I'm really proud of those two yeah that's great.

Speaker 2:

Well, you know what. That's why we work hard, that's why we have a business is so we can raise our families and you have a beautiful family and just all of your family, steve and I just love your mom and dad and you know your Aunt Gina and Uncle Fred, and you guys are just like you come from great stock.

Speaker 2:

And we appreciate what you've, what you've done really for our community, and just the fact that that you all truly give back. You're not selfish people at all. You're always helping others, thinking about other people more than yourself. So Markham's Pharmacy and Kingsport 902 Broad Street, colton what's the website where people can go? I know you're redoing it, but it's active now.

Speaker 3:

Sure, it's wwwmarkhamspharmacycom, and then we're doing a lot on social media now.

Speaker 2:

So Facebook and Instagram are both Markham's pharmacy as well, so okay, well, we'll have to definitely follow you on social media and learn about your posts and stuff.

Speaker 3:

And any last words, colton, before we wrap up I think that's about it, but thank you so much. Thank you for the opportunity well, you're certainly welcome.

Speaker 2:

I hope you'll come back. I will. I will give us an update bring katherine next time too. You get a couple's perspective. Oh, I would love that you know a husband-wife team in the business. You know what? That's a great idea we need to do that. Let's do it Okay. Colton Markham, thank you with Markham's Pharmacy for being with us today. And God bless you and your family for being with us today.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 1:

And God bless you and your family you as well. Thank you. This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Jonathan Tipton and Steve Reed from Benchmark Home Loans. Jonathan and Steve are residential mortgage lenders. They do home loans in Northeast Tennessee and they're not only licensed in Tennessee but Florida, georgia, south Carolina and Virginia. We hope you've enjoyed the show. If you did, make sure to like, rate and review. Our passion is Northeast Tennessee, so if you have questions about mortgages, call us at 423-491-5405. And the website is wwwJonathanAndStevecom. Thanks for being with us and we'll see you next time on Benchmark Happenings.

People on this episode

Contributor

Christine Reed

Host
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Jonathan Tipton

Co-host
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Steve Reed

Co-host