Monthly Retailer Category Tips — First Aid

by Kelly Zygowski, category analyst, part of Monthly Retailer Category Tips

Utilize various merchandising techniques to draw attention to your first aid department.

There are many opportunities to cross-merchandise products from other categories into your first aid department. From foot care to pain relief to health support items, you’ll find several basket-building ideas in HRG’s Increasing the Market Basket cross-merchandising infographic series. If you have room, add the suggested items, and if you don’t, think about building an endcap to feature this unique assortment.
Private label sales are a key component to the success of your First Aid department. Make sure your private label stock levels are adequate — especially within miscellaneous antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol — since they provide a higher profit margin for your store and are a staple that every home should have on hand. Follow your IN.store planogram to make sure you incorporate these significant — and profitable — products, and if you are missing any, order them right away so you aren’t missing out on additional sales, and your customers don’t go elsewhere to purchase them.
The US surgical procedures market is projected to reach more than 122 million procedures by 2027 from 106 million procedures in 2022, at a CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period¹. Scars can occur as a result of surgery, but there are also a number of occasions that may result in scarring, including burns, bites, falls, scrapes, childbirth, and more. There are various forms of scar treatments, such as gels, ointments, creams, and patches. HRG has even chosen Mederma Advanced Scar Gel 20G, as a Never Outs^®, meaning it should always be on the shelf. Think of scar treatments as a medicine cabinet staple and promote it as such in any appropriately themed endcaps. Also, be aware of your wholesaler’s full selection of scar treatments so you can assure customers that if you don’t carry the form they are looking for, you can get it next day.

Surgical Procedures Market, Markets and Markets, May 2022