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SmallFlower.com

In 1875, Peter Merz, a Chicago pharmacist, opened Merz Apothecary on the city's North Side. In a way, it was not much different than the other corner drugstores which existed in every American neighborhood and town t the time. It was a place to fill prescriptions and, more importantly, it was a source of information and remedies for common ailments. The pharmacists were consulted like family doctors and they would hand mix formulas for each customer's specific conditions and problems.

These days, Merz Apothecary is a Chicago landmark (tour buses from around the Midwest make regular stops at the Apothecary) and a mecca for people who want unique and natural products for their bodies. The store sends packages to customers around the world and has been featured often in local, national, and international media. Over the years the careful product selection has continued, and now the shop boasts, among its impressive product assortment, the largest collection of natural and luxury soaps from around the world under one roof.

Despite the growth and attention, the store has not lost its focus on the original Apothecary concept. The staff hails from around the world and collectively speaks seven languages. Although international customers no longer make up the majority of the Apothecary clientele, their numbers continue to grow and now draw from all around the world. Customers seek out the well-trained staff for the 134 years of health and product knowledge it has inherited. The location and people have changed over the years, but the Apothecary's goal has remained the same: providing superior and personal service for each customer's total well-being.

It was out of this sense of history and mission that the current owners founded Smallflower.com in 1998.The challenge is to meld the Old World approach and knowledge of Merz Apothecary with the New World technology of the Web, without losing the vision and character that make Merz Apothecary special. When you shop at Smallflower you can be confident that you're dealing with a staff that has intimate knowledge of the products and deals with in-the-flesh customers every day.

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