99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy Archives

64. Give name tags to your employees

April 4, 2024December 30, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Althea R. for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series

Can a name tag really make a difference? Most definitely, and in a number of ways. When I was a store manager for an independent craft retailer, I made sure that everyone on staff had a name tag. They were visible from eight feet away, had a simple font that was easy to read and represented our store’s branding.

I wanted my staff to build solid and meaningful relationships with our customers. Oftentimes I would hear from people commenting on the great service they received and others who would ask if a particular employee was working that day. I never heard, “I was in the other day and someone was really helpful and showed great customer service, but I don’t know her name,” because our employees were easily identified by their name tags.

33. Compare your performance to a model

April 4, 2024December 22, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Sean Grudzinski for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy blog series

How do your sales compare to other retailers with similar footprints? What categories are under-performing and which are outselling national averages? How does your customer service compare to competitors? If your answers are, “I have no idea” then your response is consistent with many retailers. To determine whether you are achieving success or optimal performance, a baseline or measure needs to be established.

55. Price Cash Prescriptions Wisely

April 4, 2024December 15, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Donna Boulieu for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy blog series

I was recently reminiscing with another CPhT about our pharmacy days back in the late 70’s…typewriters, refill requests on a notepad, hand-written receipts/universal claim forms and the big sign that hung behind the register listing the cash prices of our fast-movers. Besides being the place to hide behind while trying to eat our lunches, it let our cash customers know that we were competitive on what was, at that time, a significant part of our business. Flash forward 35+ years to pharmacy computer/POS/automated dispensing systems, and if that sign is still hanging there it most likely posts a $4 generic list. While cash business isn’t what it used to be, those sales, along with the market basket of your cash customers, can still impact your bottom line.

97. Design a professional waiting area

April 4, 2024December 9, 2015 by Megan Moyer

26. Be accessible to your customers

April 4, 2024December 3, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Julie Massey for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series

It’s important to know your customers and interact with them. As a pharmacist, you are often their best and first choice when it comes to managing their medications and health. They look to you to help them understand possible drug interactions, and while they can get that information from the dispensing system leaflet, there are also interactions with OTCs and supplements that need to be considered. Be accessible to your customers by coming out from behind the counter to consult with patients right in the aisles.

6. Set an example of how to treat your customers

April 4, 2024November 25, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Angela Pinkstaff for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series

Have you ever had a bad day? Have you ever locked your keys in the car, forgot to turn in a document with a deadline that can’t be extended, or gotten bad news about your health or the health of someone you love?

You have, have you? Me too.

The reality is, each of us and each of our customers are facing challenges just like this every single day. And much as we’d like to take all the time as we need to sort out these issues, we still need to leave the house and pick up our much-needed personal care products, prescription medications, or home health aids. That’s where the service we provide to our patients, customers, and clients can make such a difference in their daily lives.

45. Watch your traffic patterns

April 4, 2024November 19, 2015 by Megan Moyer

23. Stock new items – the right ones

April 4, 2024November 12, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Colleen Volheim for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series New items are critical to growing your business. Regularly adding new-to-market products to your assortment keeps your inventory and selection fresh, and gives customers the impression that you are a progressive store that keeps up with trends. When you’re … Read more

27. Price wisely against competition

April 4, 2024November 5, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Donna Boulieu for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series

Pricing wisely doesn’t mean pricing the lowest (which could equate to pricing yourself right out of business). A balance of lower margin competitively priced items, and higher margin less sensitive items is a strategy that can satisfy your customers and your bottom line. Even if you’re using a pricing program, an occasional review of what’s going on in your market area can help ensure you’re still on track. Before you venture out on your market review, prepare by thinking about and/or defining the following:

19. Develop a customer loyalty program

April 4, 2024October 26, 2015 by Megan Moyer

by Colleen Volheim for our 99 Ways to Make a Positive Difference in Your Pharmacy series

You have a variety of shoppers. You definitely want to keep them all coming back, and a loyalty program will help you do just that. To begin, you need to know who is shopping your store. Information you capture about your customers will help you develop a more meaningful loyalty program. Knowing customer shopping habits and preferences will help you develop rewards that they will value. You don’t want to provide a coupon or special promotion on something they would have no interest in. Sure, you may have school supplies left over, but you don’t want to necessarily use them as a customer reward just to get rid of them when you have a large percentage of customers that have no need for such items.