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About LinkBacksAnyone undertake any business training on how to run a pharmacy business before they entered retail pharmacy?
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Anyone undertake any business training on how to run a pharmacy business before they entered retail pharmacy?
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Business friend of mine did MBA at Cranfield while doing locums after qualifying. Managed to obtain start up pharmacy adjacent to new Drs surgery in Milton Keynes development. Retired as millionaire couple of years ago at 50.
johnep
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Nice one, thanks for that. So you feel the MBA and the associated business training certainly contributed to him becoming a millionaire and retiring at 50? Is there a gap there in pharmacy training...ie a lack of business training? Seems to be the case. Cheers, G.
Newly registered in 1981
Probably a short route to the 5 or so years it takes to learn the lessons as part of your daily work.Originally Posted by gstrong
For most of us we start a family and having your own business start-up as well becomes too much.
Where am I?; In the Pharmacy.
Who are you?; The new Number 2.
Who is number 1?; You are number 6.
What do you want?;..................
King Amongst Members
Butter your customers up nicely, buy the cheapest PI's and generics going, and have your staff well trained.
I fail to see how any extra business qualifications could teach you better than that.
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Nice and succinct, I like it, thank you for that and for taking the time to answer my question, much appreciated. Can I ask how did you get to that conclusion...real experience on the ground? And if so, how long before you figured that out? and how did you know how to do those things? (e.g. learn from the experience of others while working in a Pharmacy). I'm trying to get a feel whether training will make the boat go faster so to speak, as well as getting into the everyday hard graft. Cheers, G.
King Amongst Members
Business training I got in pre-reg that has stood me in good stead ever since:
1) Have what they want in stock, if not offer to get it for them quickly.
2) Dispense their prescription accuarately and quickly.
3) The really important one. ALWAYS ask how they/ their mother/ their child/ their dog is getting on. (This is a bit more than buttering them up Culchie, genuine interest is much more effective)
I agree that it takes about 5 years to pick up the necessary skills "on the job" but it is worth doing some formal courses in book-keeping to learn about things like wages and VAT before attempting to manage or run a business.
Trying to do a course, in just about anything, while working full-time will also teach you another important skill, prioritising and time-management.
King Amongst Members
That's precisely what I was talking about Hibernia, to me the "how's your mother" stuff, is buttering them up! I think the point about it is that you could have all the first class honours degrees under the sun, but if you have the personality and charisma of Enda Kenny, then you'll have no business worth talking about!
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Sounds likes sales training, did any of you take a course in that? Or did you feel that wasn't necessary at all? I was talking to a friend about this and they felt they didn't need any business training because they didn't want to own their own business, but rather work as a locum. Another friend who's been a locum for a while thought that owners could do with a good dose of business training. Any thoughts?
Newly registered in 1981
Obvious when you go in some pharmacies.
The pharmacy with some bright pleasant staff who recognise and greet customers will always win over a grey miserable bunch.
One of our long-serving members was known to everyone. When we got busy she would get a debate going with the customers over something or other (new fence in the park, harvest festival etc etc). They would stay on chatting after their scripts had been handed out!
If someone came in carrying a baby and a script she used to say to everyone 'does anyone mind if we do the baby first'. Who can say no to that!
What counts with a GP is a good 'bedside manner'.
The analogy holds for pharmacy as well.
Where am I?; In the Pharmacy.
Who are you?; The new Number 2.
Who is number 1?; You are number 6.
What do you want?;..................
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