The defending NSW Cup Premiers the Cronulla Sharks have secured a front of jersey sponsor with Parkside Pharmacy at Miranda getting on board for the 2014 season.
The first discount pharmacy of its kind in the Sutherland Shire, having been established in Kiora Mall in 1983 before moving to the nearby Parkside Plaza complex in 2001, Parkside Pharmacy is a welcome addition to the Sharks ‘family’ of corporate supporters.
As proprietor John Assarapin explains, he saw the partnership as an opportunity to contribute to the club his family and Pharmacy staff supports, while at the same time exposing his business to a wider audience.
“We are all locals. The owners and staff are Shark fans and we have always wanted to do a little bit to help the club,” Assarapin said. “We hope that it will deliver benefits not only to the Sharks but that the joint exposure will benefit us as well by hopefully bringing us new people.
“I wish more local businesses, small and large, would get involved,” he added
In announcing the sponsorship arrangement with Parkside, Sharks Corporate Sales Manager Sam Ayache went on to explain.
“John loves the Sharks, is a local resident and wants to build a longer term partnership with the club,” Ayache said. “We are thrilled to have him on board this season with the 2013 premiership winning NSW Cup team.”
Parkside Pharmacy, established as Kiora Mall Pharmacy in 1983, before being purchased by Assarapin and his wife Kathy in 1996, was then relocated to the Parkside complex in 2001. Recognised as a being at the forefront of the industry in the local area, Parkside Pharmacy has been a finalist in the Leader Pharmacy of the Year category of the Small Business Awards every year since 2005, winning the top prize on four occasions during that time.
“We aim to give the best service and advice and always at the right price. We see ourselves as part of our local community and strive to pass that feeling onto our customers,” Assarapin said.
The NSW Cup Sharks will this week take to the field against the Wests Tigers with the Parkside Pharmacy logo proudly emblazoned on the front of their jerseys.
For the purposes of the sponsorship announcement and launch, fittingly, with Parkside a Sutherland Shire business, the Sharks chose local juniors Scott Sorenson and Reece Davidson, along with Fijian international Junior Roqica, to model the new playing strip.
Parkside Pharmacy now joins other valued Sharks NSW Cup partners in The Tradies, Green Options and Chill Tech as team sponsors.
Saturday’s NSW Cup match between the Sharks and Tigers is scheduled to kick off at 3.15pm at Remondis Stadium as the main curtain-raiser to the NRL clash at 5.30pm.
Photo - From left, Sharks NSW Cup players Reece Davidson, Junior Roqica and Scott Sorenson sporting the newly sponsored jersey, alongside Kathy and John Assarapin from Parkside Pharmacy
