What's the best way to increase business?

[bobbin]

Good stock control (so you've got less than 1% owings preferably) and reasonably speedy service will see people coming back.

I agree. Running out of the basics is bad news.

I divide owings into two types....

1. Items which are appropriate to owe.
2. Items which we should not be owing.

I try to keep type 2 to an absolute minimum and I have been quite successful.

There are certain items which I do not consider appropriate to stock eg. rarely prescribed fridge lines and CDs, extremely expensive specialist medicines, expensive packs of single-use catheters, food items, 'specials', rare dressings, ostomy appliances, NHS hosiery, infrequently prescribed brands of sip feeds and baby milk etc. I will always attempt to sign up patients on this type of item onto the PCS - plus or minus delivery. I have learnt the hard way that patients who claim that "I'll be getting it from you for the rest of my life" should not be believed.............they will move out of the area, get switched onto something else, get better, go to a different pharmacy, die (!) etc etc.

Think very hard before agreeing to keep 5 boxes of Lofric Catheters worth £350 for Mr. Giles because he is getting them from you every month. You will end up throwing them in the bin!

[Pharmanaut]

Think very hard before agreeing to keep 5 boxes of Lofric Catheters worth £350 for Mr. Giles because he is getting them from you every month. You will end up throwing them in the bin!

Reminds me to remind the forum.
(If you already know this look away now)
You cannot claim broken bulk on Part IX items, ie appliances dressings etc.
If the script is not for a multiple of what you can order - get it changed so that it is.

...know the drug tariff should be added to the list as well!

[Fleegle]

Look for a USP. View the shop as if you were a tourist to the area. What is needed? I wouldn't be looking at NHS services at all, that's not where the money is at the moment, but lifestyle products, like slimming, health foods, herbal products, vitamins, a cafe.

I worked at a shop once where they sold turf from the back room. They were busy!

Exactly Dave.. As it stands, if you want to increase overall profit, you must look far beyond NHS reimbursement.

Here are a few ideas...

1) Shopping baskets. Essential for genuine browsers.
2) Link sales. A key area...toothbrush/toothpaste, razor/shaving foam etc. etc.
3) Impulse sales. Keep a good selection of all impulse items at till point...eg condoms.
4) Stock an extensive range of inexpensive items, like deodorants. People like choice.
5) Nappies...they take up massive space but don't make any money..avoid.
6) Keep razor blades behind the counter, otherwise they will be stolen.
7) do not have more than one cheap make-up stand (eg Rimmell)..the stock will be stolen.
8) Stock candles, shoelaces and clothes dyes in small quantities. People appear to think pharmacies sell them.
9) Create a small-animal veterinary section...worming tablets, anti-flea shampoos, dog chews etc. A few leads and brushes as well. Big profit, small display....nation of animal-lovers?

Fleeg.

[SolomonQ]

I'm averaging four MURS a week but due to workload can't really increase this yet (my store target is 1 lol).

if the workload is too much, how is one going to cope with the increase in business, which ultimately comes from people bringing the Rx to your pharmacy e.g. while they are waiting they might see a few things to buy. I dont think such a patient exists who takes their Rx to one pharmacy but decided to shop in another exceptions being pharmacy chains with large non-pharmacy related business e.g. boots, Tesco etc...

[gaily]

Hi,

I'm trying to work pout ways how to increase business in my shop.

I've phones around the local care homes but they are all happy with their MDS suppliers.

I've phoned the local practice managers to pass on that we are willing to take on MDS patients.

I'm on good terms with the local drugs team and have told them that i'm taking every client on.

I've phoned the PCT and now offer chlamydia testing (no uptake yet), I'm on a waiting list for the EHC PGD and the MRSA PGD. They don't offer much else.

I'm on the LPC mailing list so am just waiting to be informed of upcoming opportunities.

I'm averaging four MURS a week but due to workload can't really increase this yet (my store target is 1 lol).

I'm signing patients up to the RPCS and have asked for more hours to recruit a driver. (it was the are managers idea).

We're the quietest of the 4 local pharmacies (TWO surgery pharmacies and the other one has a few nursing homes and definitely the quickest with the best customer service). One of the local surgery pharmacies entire staff have resigned and moved to do another new pharmacy opening 20 miles a way and I've noticed we're poaching a few of their disgruntled customers. It's too early to tell (and its xmas) if the figures are increasing because of this.

I try go the extra mile for patients and order in the various obscure OTC meds they want that are off planogram.

Does anyone else have any ideas? or is it a case of just waiting til thigns improve.

BTW the pharmacy has run off locums for the last two years (reputation has probably taken a battering) and i've been manager for 4 months (been given an 8% pay rise recently so must being doing something right - now paying 40% tax).

get your shop staff to help out, also do you have a delivery driver or someone who picks up scripts from the doctors, get some leaflets printed prommoting your shop and get the driver to ask the practice manager if it would be ok to put the leaflets up in the reception area, [ send him or her with a nice box of biscuits] it allway's works for me,xx

[johnep]

One pharmacy prospered with the slogan 'One call does it all'. They arranged the repeat to the surgery (with prior written patient authorisation, collected the script and delivered if necessary.
One in the USA became famous by simply offering free ice water. Their town had been bypassed when route 66 replaced.
Or how about the Avis slogan ' We try harder'.
johnep