SHELF OBSESSED

Do you think your pharmacy shelving is just "there," only to serve simple storage and display purposes? Not true. You can actually add value both for yourself and your customers by using pharmacy shelving in specific ways.

The retail shelving in your store is ubiquitous, always there. It's also your first and best line of defense against poor sales, as long as you know what you're doing.

As an independent pharmacist, you know that you need to stay competitive. One of the biggest hurdles to your success could be the inefficiency of your pharmacy workflow.

Are you building a new pharmacy or remodeling an existing one? If so, you'll need help with the planning and construction stages.

If you're undertaking new pharmacy construction – or just remodeling your old one – the prospect can be daunting. Construction isn't for the faint of heart, and there are a lot of factors to keep in mind as you go through the process.

Pharmacy shelving is ubiquitous to your business – a necessary component that displays merchandise attractively for your customers and keeps it neatly organized in your stockroom and pharmacy area.

With more restrictive HIPAA regulations in effect since September 2013, independent pharmacy owners have a greater responsibility than ever to protect their patients' personal information, also known as PHI. Any new pharmacy construction or remodeling you do must take these new regulations into account.

Your customers are the lifeblood of your business, and you strive the best you can for them every day. As an independent pharmacist you know that if you don't keep your customers safe and happy, you won't be in business for very long. Likely one of the things that helps your business stay afloat is word-of-mouth from customers and patients who trust you with their lives. You know them and their medical histories as well as anyone else who treats them medically.

Shoplifting, administrative error, and supplier and employee fraud cost U.S. retailers nearly $44 billion in 2014. That's about 1.4% of all retail sales for the year. There are many ways to prevent this type of shrinkage, but among the easiest is simply changing the way you set your store up. In other words, your retail shelving layout can help you prevent both theft and misplaced merchandise.

You wear many hats as an independent pharmacist. However, no matter how busy you get, you cannot afford to ignore your customers' needs or make mistakes, especially when you fill prescriptions. For you it's not just a matter of "good business practices" or profitability, but of safety.