by Megan Moyer I enjoy shopping at drug stores, especially independents. I have fond memories of going to the drug store as a kid to get a candy bar and a comic book for the 5-hour drive to our grandparents’ house. My first job, in my teens, was at an independent pharmacy where I guess … Read More
Position your store as a wellness destination
by Megan Moyer What does wellness mean to you? I like this definition from the McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois: Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential. I think we can all identify with that. Some within our industry have already moved from describing over-the-counter (OTC) … Read More
Retail staff: In-store search engines
by Jenny Kosek How did it come to this? 91% of consumers who shop online do so because they can research their buying decisions, and these shoppers trust online ratings and reviews by a 4:1 margin over the opinions of store employees. Why don’t shoppers trust store employees any more? Consumers who are turning to … Read More
Your product assortment can be your differentiator
by Megan Moyer We often talk to independent pharmacies about finding their niche in the community. The trouble is many indie pharmacists aren’t sure where to begin to figure this out. One place to start is to review your product assortment. A good approach is to look at your competitors, customers, and community. You can … Read More
Beautiful opportunities
by Jenny Kosek Drug Store News’ “Patient Views” data is revealing some intriguing insights into the beauty and personal care category. According to their recent polls from Accent Health, 70% of consumers surveyed indicate that they are likely to purchase beauty and hygiene products when filling prescriptions. Furthermore, 3 in 5 consumers said that looking … Read More
Music to your ears
by Dave Wendland Employees dancing in the aisles will most likely not increase sales. But I’m amazed at the number of retail executives I speak to who have given the reins of their musical selections to their employees who then insist on playing what they enjoy listening to. Now, I don’t want to appear an … Read More
Is your store layout helping or hurting your HBW sales?
by Megan Moyer Your front-end may be a small percentage of your overall sales, but higher margins in the front-of-store are worth paying attention to. Much has been said and written about how to increase sales in the front-of-store. When we went out and conducted research at independent pharmacies across the country last year, we … Read More