Independent Pharmacy Butt Drugs Is One of a Kind

I was having one of those weekends where everything went wrong, and then I stumbled upon this amazing viral video.

With almost 2 million views, it has been shared on Ellen and Howard Stern and will put a smile on your face from cheek to cheek. I watched it over and over and had to find out more about this commercial, this pharmacy, and everything Butt Drugs-related!

Butt Drugs is an independent pharmacy located in the small town of Corydon, Indiana (population 3163). Even though there are CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart stores within 2 miles of it, Butt Drugs fills about 1,900 prescriptions each week, quite an impressive number. Butt Drugs is the only independent pharmacy in the county and has a very loyal customer base.

Not only does Butt Drugs boast the amazing service that only an independent can offer, it also sells 35-cent coffee, which brings in regular customers daily to chat with each other and employees. Customers also love the old-fashioned soda fountain, which serves gourmet candy, ice cream sundaes, and milkshakes.

Butt Drugs was opened in 1952 by the late William Butt, RPh. Thomas Butt, RPh, began working alongside his father in 1971. In 2001, Katie Butt Beckort, a third-generation family member who grew up working in the store, bought the pharmacy and is the manager and owner.

I spoke with her about all the commercials and the pharmacy itself.

In 2010, Rhett and Link, a comedic duo with a YouTube channel, sponsored a contest where a “bad local commercial” would be made for local businesses with interesting names. Sure enough, a customer nominated Butt Drugs, and the comedians contacted Butt Beckort. After she made sure that they would not mock the pharmacy or its customers, they proceeded to make the commercial. The people in the commercial are customers, including an attorney, a judge, and a minister, to name a few, who stop in frequently for a morning cup of coffee. And they do not disappoint, offering up such lines as “When I think drugs, I think Butt Drugs,” and, while opening a door, saying “Free parking in the rear.” (check out this behind-the-scenes look at making of the Butt Drugs commercial.

Butt Beckort has a degree in management from Indiana University, as well as many innovative ideas to help the pharmacy continue to succeed. No drive thru? No problem. Butt Drugs has curbside pickup service. Customers pull up, honk the horn, and an employee brings out their prescriptions. As the manager, Butt Beckort handles the administrative and business functions, freeing up the pharmacists to focus on patients.

Butt Drugs also has an online store that sells Butt Drug products, such as fanny packs (they call their fans “fannies”),

“Honk if you love Butt Drugs” bumper stickers,

magnets, sunglasses, T-shirts, and even pop sockets.

Butt Drugs offers many services to customers, including automatic refills;

delivery and shipping, which are especially helpful to patients in rural areas; a friendly affordable service today (F.A.S.T.) program, in which patients can receive a 4-month supply of certain generic drugs for just $20;

FlavoRx; Medicare D consultations;

medication sync plans; pet medications; and vaccinations.

Although Butt Drugs is a national phenomenon, Butt Beckort said that its regular customers do not mock the name, as they think of it as an ordinary business that has been around for 70 years. Surprisingly, the pharmacy also only occasionally receives prank phone calls.

Butt Beckort thinks that customer service is what sets Butt Drugs apart, and from everything I have learned about it, I am definitely a "fanny" of this amazing pharmacy.

Do you own or work at an independent pharmacy that stands out from the crowd? I would love to hear from you (karenmichelleberger@gmail.com).