Merchandising Advice from Retail Pharmacy Management
Position lice treatments on the top shelf to enable customers to find products easily. Capitalize on the hair care subcategories that drugstores dominate (in this case, LICE) by making lice treatment a destination section.
Progressive Grocer Reports Right-Entry Stores Promote Shopping
Right-entry stores may promote longer shopping trips, according to a study conducted by Sorensen Associates and reported in Progressive Grocer. The study, done in six major markets, found that shoppers prefer to travel counter-clockwise. This is the natural pattern of movement, since we walk and drive on the right. Shoppers abandoned their trips sooner in stores with left or center entries.
Shoppers cover only 25 percent of a store on average, so anything that can lenthen their stay is good business practice. If you're planning on remodeling, keep a right-entry location in mind. Another option is to funnel entry traffic to the right, if that can be done easily. The counter-clockwise traffic pattern provides some merchandising ideas, as well. Locate impulse items on the right side of the store where the customer is more likely to travel. they'll walk the extra distance to middle and left aisles for the destination items that they came for in the first place.
Independent Pharmacist's Tip:
Reverse the store left to right. Particularly if you have a center door, customers tend to look right. By reversing the stock, "Customers were buying product before it was even put on the display. (This is the same product that was hanging around the other side of the store for ages.)"
Tip provided by Frank H., Pharmacist/Owner, NJ
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Congratulations, APhA, on 150 Years!
This year the American Pharmaceutial Association, the first national organization of pharmacists in the United States, celebrates 150 years of service. The APhA helps health care professionals "make medications work for patients". Visit their website for more information. www.aphanet.org
APhA Launches Pharmacist.com
The APhA recently announced the launch of a new website for pharmacists, pharmacists.com, from APhA and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The site will highlight pharmacy news and drug information reports, as well as provide continuing education courses (CE) and on-line job postings.
Health Enterprise's Plans for This Section
In the future, you'll find educational material on such issues as head lice prevention and the importance of medication compliance. If you are a pharmacist who would like to receive information on our consumer educational material and programs when they become available, please fill out our PROFESSIONALS CONTACT FORM.
Remember to check back with us periodically!