by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations, as seen in America’s Pharmacist As the NCPA Digest (sponsored by Cardinal Health) has reported for the past several years, independent pharmacies are increasingly bolstering their web presence and introducing e-commerce. More than nine in 10 use Facebook to establish an interactive web presence with their patients and … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, December 20, 2019 In a crowded field, your pharmacy needs to find a way to stand out. “The sea of sameness that exists across the marketplace is troubling,” said Dave Wendland, vice president of strategic relations at Hamacher Resource Group (HRG), a firm that focuses on improving results across the retail supply … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, September 23, 2019 Everyone knows not to judge a book by its cover. But when it comes to businesses, hardly anyone abides by that rule. “Most people form an impression within the first seven seconds,” said Tom Boyer, director of national accounts and member of the owners group at Hamacher … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, June 17, 2019 In 2018, Hamacher Resource Group (HRG) evaluated a whopping 2,587 new products to determine which were most suitable for independent pharmacies. The result of the company’s rigorous review process is a surefire list of top-performing products independent pharmacies can’t afford to miss out on. “These are items … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, March 15, 2019 As margins behind the counter continue to decline, independent pharmacies are looking to remedy their profit pains. And pharmacy retail experts are prescribing a simple front-end treatment: cross merchandising. “Cross merchandising is a tactic that can increase sales, if pharmacies do it right and are consistent and committed … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, December 13, 2018 What keeps customers coming to your front end? Is your price lower than your online and mail-order competition? Do you have a broader product selection? Do you take orders in the late evening and weekends? Most independent pharmacies don’t have the resources to compete with online retailers … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, September 14, 2018 Now’s the perfect time for independent community pharmacies to go natural. (When it comes to front-end products.) Why? Natural is the new normal. What once was merely a niche is going mainstream. The natural and organic product industry as a whole more than doubled from 2006 to … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, June 15, 2018 Independent pharmacies commonly fail to stock enough product in their front ends, leaving gaps and bare spaces on the shelves. A sparse row here. Some blank spots there. Sometimes an entire section left empty. A few bare spots may seem harmless. But empty shelves make your pharmacy feel … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, March 15, 2018 Is your pharmacy’s front end producing less profit than you hoped? Time to trade in your best-laid plans for proven planograms. Planograms are guides for arranging retail shelves to maximize front-end sales. These visual diagrams show pharmacies exactly where to place their front-end products. They offer a plan … Read More
Written by and published in Elements magazine, December 14, 2017 How do patients view your pharmacy? Do they think of you as innovative and tech-forward? Reliable and friendly? Stodgy and out-of-touch? Your pharmacy evokes general thoughts and feelings in every patient. Often, they don’t know exactly why. The why is your brand. The image you create through your … Read More