Rexall
Rexall was the name of a chain of North American drug stores, as well as the name of their store-branded products. Today it is the name of over-the-counter drugs in Canada and health-supplements in the United States.
Founding
In 1902 Louis Liggett persuaded 40 independent drug stores to invest $4,000 in a retailers cooperative called United Drug Stores, which began to sell products under the Rexall name. After World War I, the cooperative established a franchise whereby independently owned retail outlets adopted the Rexall trade name, and sold Rexall products. The company was based in Boston, Massachusetts at what is now on the campus of Northeastern University.
Growth
Justin Whitlock Dart (August 7, 1907 - January 26, 1984) took control of Boston, Massachusetts based United Drug Company in 1943. The chain operated under Ligget, Owl, Sonta, and Rexall brands, and he rebranded the stores under the Rexall name. Dart was an heir to the Walgreen's Drugstore chain, which his father-in-law Charles Walgreen founded. At Walgreen's he innovated by placing the pharmacy counter at the back of the drug store, both providing privacy for customers, and forcing them to walk past many items for possible purchase. Dart had played football for Northwestern University. He sold his stake in Rexall in 1978 though Dart had acquired stakes in Avon, West Bend, Duracell, Hobart, and Ralph Wilson Plastics and Archer Glass, which were collectively Dart Industries (later Premark International). Dart was part of Ronald Reagan's "kitchen cabinet". His son Justin Whitlock Dart, Jr. was an advocate for the disabled and helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 1946, United-Rexall Drug Inc. purchased the Renfro chain in Texas. It also launched a chain of what were called Owl Superstores. As of 1958, the Rexall Drug Company chain was the largest U.S. drug store chain, with 11,158 stores, which Time Magazine noted that 2/3 of its stores were in areas where 1/3 of the population lived. However, this comprised more than 20% of all drug stores in the United States.
Decline
In 1977, the Rexall chain was sold to private investors for $16 million. The investors divested the stores, though existing retailers were able to keep the name. However, these tended to be weaker stores, and very few kept the name as time progressed. The company did continue to distribute vitamins, health foods, and plastic items.
Rexall-Sundown
Rexall-Sundown, which acquired the Rexall trademark in 1985, produces nutritional supplements. Otherwise, Rexall-Sundown has no relationship to the Rexall chain of drugstores or the Canadian maker of medicines and sundries. Sundown, a maker of suntan lotion was founded in 1976 by Carl DeSantis. The company markets via mail-order, on store shelves, and other techniques of multi-level marketing. The comapny now sells herbals products and vitamins, and went public in 1993 on NASDAQ. It was acquired by Royal Numico, a Netherlands-based company that also owns General Nutrition Centers.
Rexall PharmAssist
In Canada, Rexall maintained a better reputation than the United States. The Pharmx Rexall Drug stores were operated by Katz Group Canada, which also operated The Medicine Shoppe, PharmaPlus, Guardian Drug Stores and I.D.A. pharmacies. The company has rebranded its stores as PharmAssist, and is using the Rexall name for private-label health products sold in stores.
Sports Venues
Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta is the home of the Edmonton Oilers. The naming rights were paid for by Katz Group, which sells Rexall products in Canada. The Rexall Centre tennis courts are in Toronto, Canada.
References
- The Rexall Story: A History of Genius and Neglect by Mickey C. Smith ISBN 978-0-7890-2472-9 , ISBN 0-7890-2472-1