# 036 - "Those Moments Keep You Grounded" with Yousef Arman

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2022-06-08
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/036---Those-Moments-Keep-You-Grounded-with-Yousef-Arman-e1jl6ii

## Summary

Yousef Arman, founder of The Vial Store, explains how his family's pharmacy background and the challenges of independent pharmacy economics led to his venture. He details the operational complexities of running pharmacies, including state regulations, insurance reimbursements, and the impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Arman describes The Vial Store's evolution from a failed physical inventory model to a successful online drop-shipping and direct sourcing business, highlighting key decisions on logistics, pricing, and supplier relationships.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=0) Introduction: Yousef Arman and The Vial Store
- [2:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=149) Arman's Background and Family Pharmacy History
- [6:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=380) Pharmacy Licensing, Buildout, and Regulatory Hurdles
- [13:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=812) Pharmacy Economics, PBMs, and Reimbursement Models
- [22:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=1353) Demand Planning, Formularies, and Supply Chain Logistics
- [29:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=1791) The Origin Story of The Vial Store and Initial Failures
- [35:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-06-08-036-those-moments-keep-you-grounded-with-yousef-arman#t=2137) Pivoting to Online Drop-Shipping and Direct Sourcing

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- The Vial Store (company)
- Best RX (tool)
- AmerisourceBergen (company)
- Cardinal Health (company)
- McKesson (company)
- Alibaba (other)
- Costco (company)
- 1800Gotcha (other)

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- [HIBT Lab! Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company: Mark Cuban](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-06-16-hibt-lab-mark-cuban-cost-plus-drug-company-mark-cuban) (How I Built This)
- [#151 - Field Sales Part 2: Namik Soltan, GNGR Labs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-07-10-151-field-sales-part-2-namik-soltan-gngr-labs) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Framebridge: Susan Tynan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-11-27-framebridge-susan-tynan) (How I Built This)
- [Founder Feature: Max Luthy of Plink!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-18-founder-feature-max-luthy-of-plink) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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