SHELF OBSESSED

Need to do a remodel of your pharmacy, but worried about how this will affect business? Don't be. Most pharmacy shelving design projects can be structured so that even major renovations can be done without much if any business interruption.

The work is done; bland, beige or gray institutional and out of date pharmacy shelving and fixtures have been swapped out for new pharmacy shelving and fixtures that showcase your merchandise in a more aesthetically pleasing way. The redesign improves the layout so that it's easier for customers to shop. Perhaps you've also refreshed your store's interior in general with new carpeting or other floor coverings, fresh new paint or wallpaper, and replaced glaring fluorescent overhead lights with more diffuse lighting that is easier on customers' eyes.

Whether you're starting from scratch or completely redesigning your existing pharmacy, these potential pitfalls can be avoided with some careful planning:

Looking forward to designing your new retail store? It's certainly an exciting time, but there are also some potential pitfalls to be aware of. There's more to designing a retail store than some new retail shelving and fixtures, but a little preparation ahead of time can prevent a lot of headaches during design and construction.

If it's been a while since you've changed the look and layout of your retail store, you might want to consider giving everything a facelift and fresh new look. Why? Because doing so has benefits both for you and your customers – and it may just keep you "legal," too.

Has it been a few years since you've changed your pharmacy's layout? If so, it's probably time to do so. When you change the layout, you can give your store a whole new look very inexpensively; changing the layout and implementing new displays can improve profits, too, because it can make your merchandise more visible and customers more likely to buy.

A pharmacy remodel is always stressful, both for you and your customers. In addition to the extra responsibility, expense, and headaches that come with any remodeling project for you, it's also no picnic for your customers. Some may have difficulty navigating the changes because of physical impairment or poor health, and they may be confused at the inevitable disorganization remodeling can bring, however short term it is.

Is it time to remodel your retail business? More than just a simple paint job or repositioning of retail shelving, there may come a time when you need to do a true remodeling not only to update your interior, but improve efficiency and make your customers' shopping experiences more enjoyable, too.

If your pharmacy layout hasn't been changed for years, it's time to redesign and update it; doing so will improve customers' shopping experience by focusing on convenience and aesthetic appeal. More importantly, you'll need to make sure your pharmacy design complies with the new, stronger HIPAA patient information privacy and access requirements that went into effect on September 23, 2013.

If your store has started to look old and dated, or if it's become inefficient so that your customers are finding it difficult to shop, it may be time to update your retail store's layout and design. Doing so will give your customers a more enjoyable shopping experience, and enhance your bottom line.