Stylish fixtures, such as those made of glass and wood, and heavily slanted or deep shelves, may attract shoppers’ attention initially. “If it doesn’t have functionality, you’re not going to meet your goal of what that shelving is designed to do, which is to put merchandise in front of shoppers,” he said. When selecting front-end shelving for your pharmacy, there are several key factors to consider, and, according to Wendland, these include functionality, flexibility and form.įunctionality is key. “What is shelving saying about your store?” Key fixture features The second big thing is that it forms an impression,” he said. “The primary purpose of a fixture or shelving is that it can house product and allows consumers to select those products themselves. “There are two primary purposes of pharmacy shelving and the investment you make answers to both,” Wendland said. To make sure you get a good return on your investment, Wendland said you should keep the purpose of the investment in mind as you make fixture decisions. Wendland estimates that for a typical pharmacy with about 3,500 square feet, new front-end fixtures can run between $20,000 to $40,000 or more. “Purchasing new store fixtures from the factory is a one-time, long-term investment for your pharmacy,” said Steven DiOrio, marketing manager at Handy Store Fixtures, Inc., a company that specializes in manufacturing and shipping factory direct retail store fixtures. Replacing or updating your pharmacy’s fixtures is a large investment. “Keeping the pharmacy layout and design up-to-date should be analyzed constantly and if it has been over 10 years, a total makeover is inevitable,” Thomas said. One of the most important factors in determining if your pharmacy needs new fixtures is your store’s layout and design. “Updating includes many things, like keeping the pharmacy neat and clean, painting, replacing the floor covering and maintaining proper lighting.” “It should be a constant endeavor,” Thomas said. Proper timing can help offset the costs of this major investment, and conducting regular upkeep will help fixtures last longer. “It takes a very small percentage increase in business to offset the cost,” he said.
Roland Thomas, a pharmacy planning consultant at Pharmacy Planning Solutions, a company that helps pharmacies design layouts to maximize space, suggests conducting major fixture updates every eight to 10 years, so you can take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) depreciation schedule. Strategically planning your pharmacy’s major fixture updates has financial benefits. “The shelves themselves will likely wear and require replacement faster than the base or even the back of the fixture,” Wendland said. “If you care for your belongings and you care for your appearance, then chances are you’re going to take better care of a patient,” he said.Īs you choose fixtures and shelving, it’s important to keep in mind that not all parts of a fixture will wear evenly.
Patients may associate your pharmacy’s appearance with its level of care.
“We’ve all been in stores where the shelving is disheveled,” Wendland said. Old, broken, or warped fixtures reflect poorly on your pharmacy. “Look for signs of bending, rust, sharp edges and worn shelves that are no longer functional to display merchandise,” said Dave Wendland, vice president, strategic relations and member of the owners group at Hamacher Resource Group, a leading partner in category management, business strategy and marketing services focused on consumer health care at retail. If your pharmacy’s front-end fixtures haven’t been updated recently, there are a few signs that it’s time for an upgrade.
PHARMACY SHELVING OMNIWEB UPDATE
Is it time to update, rearrange or completely reimagine your independent community pharmacy’s fixtures? Time to update They don’t like to change their shelving,” said Jim Deller, a health care storage specialist at Southwest Solutions Group, Inc., a distributor and supplier of innovative shelving systems to all types of businesses, including pharmacies. “Most of the independents I see, they never change. Your pharmacy’s fixtures support your front-end sales, organize your back-end workflow and influence how patients perceive the level of service and care you provide at your pharmacy.ĭespite all the work your pharmacy’s shelving and fixtures do to support the success of your business, you likely spend little-to-no time thinking about them. Written by and published in Elements magazine, June 15, 2016
0 kommentar(er)
