When Sree Gari and his wife welcomed their second child in 2010, the long hours of her job at a chain pharmacy – often from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM – no longer felt sustainable. “She didn't want to miss the baby,” he recalls. That realization sparked a life-changing decision: rather than return to the grind of her previous job, they would open a pharmacy of their own. What began as an attempt to balance family life with meaningful work in Waterbury, Connecticut became Brass City Pharmacy, named for the town’s historic metalwork industry. Today, it’s a thriving small business serving nearly 10,000 customers.
After immigrating from India and spending a decade in IT, Gari eventually pivoted to support his wife’s pharmacy career and their shared vision for a more people-first model of care. “I worked hard, came here, and developed myself,” he says. Founded in 2014, Brass City Pharmacy was never just a business – it was built to be a neighborhood anchor, offering personalized service and free medication delivery to customers who couldn’t make it to the store. “Our core is supporting the community,” Gari says. “That's what we do.”
As the business expanded from one storefront to five locations across Connecticut and New Jersey, so did the demands of running it. To help manage the complexity, a suite of American Express business products have become essential to Gari’s operations, with a Business Line of Credit1, Business Checking account2, his Business Platinum Card® and Corporate Cards all helping him stay on top of his financial landscape.3 “I can tell what's happening in the pharmacy with ease,” he reports. “Those products have really come in handy.” Outside of his business, he uses The Platinum Card® which has been a useful tool in his personal life.
Cash flow management
One of the most impactful tools in Gari’s financial wheelhouse has been the American Express® Business Line of Credit. Post-COVID, reimbursement delays from insurance companies created cash flow gaps that jeopardized his ability to pay vendors on time. “I had to use money from my personal accounts,” he recalls. “It was tight.” The Business Line of Credit gave him more breathing room. “Now I have available funds that I can draw from my line of credit and have deposited into my account, so we never have an issue.” He says this added flexibility has allowed him to maintain inventory, avoid some late fees, and plan for growth with more confidence.
Streamlining everyday banking
To simplify his day-to-day banking, Gari also opened an American Express® Business Checking account. With no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, the online account offered a low-friction solution as he scaled his venture. “With Amex, I could move money easily, it comes in and goes out.” He even earned Membership Rewards® points as part of his welcome bonus.
Managing expenses and maximizing rewards
With five locations to manage, Gari relies on the Business Platinum Card® to keep spending organized and strategic. He assigns an Employee Card4 to each pharmacy, enabling easy categorization of expenses and efficient tax prep. “They break everything down – how much on travel, how much on merchandise,” he says.
All of the Membership Rewards® points5 are put to good use. Gari frequently redeems points earned from his Platinum Card® to travel to visit family in India, and he once redeemed points for a vacation to Rome with his sons. “I enjoy the airport lounge access, too,” he adds with a laugh. “It's relaxing. A place to fatten up.”
Empowering the team
Beyond his own Business Card, Gari helps streamline operations across his different locations by offering employees with American Express® Corporate Cards, which they typically use for gas and delivery expenses. “Each employee applied and now has their own Card and I know exactly how much they're spending,” he says. “I don't need to dig through receipts.”
A business built to last
From its origins as a family solution to its current state as a multi-location health care provider and pillar of the community, Gari’s pharmacy has always been rooted in service. And with the right financial tools behind him, he's been able to expand the business without sacrificing control. “Amex has given me the flexibility to grow,” he says. “That support means I can focus on what matters most, taking care of my customers.”
Story Footnotes
¹American Express® Business Line of Credit offers access to a commercial line of credit ranging from $2,000 to $250,000, although some customers may have access to a larger line of credit. Decisions regarding the line of credit amount, loan fees and available installment term options are based on a review of your and your business’s overall financial profile, which may include your credit history, your relationship with American Express and other financial institutions, and other factors. The line of credit amount, loan fees, and installment term options are each subject to review and may change for future loan activity. A review of the line of credit may result in a suspension at any time, accompanied with or without a closure of the line of credit. Not all customers will be eligible for the lowest loan fees or all installment options, and not all industries are eligible. All loans are subject to credit approval, are secured by assets of the borrower, require a personal guarantee, and may be subject to late fees. Loans are issued by American Express National Bank.
Each draw on the line of credit results in a separate installment loan with monthly installments which may include 6, 12, 18, or 24 months, subject to eligibility. When you request a loan, you will be presented with the available installment option(s) and the monthly loan fee for that loan amount. The monthly loan fee is calculated as a percentage of the original principal amount of the loan and is charged monthly during the term of the loan along with a portion of the principal. Currently, the monthly loan fees may range from 0.55% to 1.55% of the original principal amount, but the loan fee offered to you for future loans may change at any time. You will be charged monthly loan fees only for months in which the loan has an outstanding balance.
If you repay the total principal of a loan early, you will not be required to pay the loan fees that have not posted for subsequent months. American Express may offer promotions and may reduce or waive loan fees from time to time.
2Deposit Accounts offered by American Express Bank. Member FDIC.
3Application and approval required.
4The annual fee for the Business Platinum Card is $695.
The annual fee for each Employee Business Platinum Card is $350. Employee Business Expense Cards that have no annual fee are also available. You may add up to 99 total Employee Cards on your account.
5Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
