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.
Although you will likely be able to change much if your pharmacy's interior structure simply by reconfiguring and replacing outdated pharmacy shelving and fixtures with newer ones, a true remodeling will still cause some temporary upheaval. Although you can't entirely remove the stresses this will cause, there are some things you can do to make your remodeling project as easy as possible, both for you and your customers:
File for the proper permits, etc. ahead of time
Check state requirements to find out what permits you must file for before the work begins. If you do this, it's less likely that there will be delays once things are underway.
Hire the right pharmacy vendor and contractor
Look for a pharmacy vendor and contractor with experience specifically in remodeling pharmacies. Although pharmacies do have many of the same remodeling requirements as retail establishments do, for example, there are also specific HIPAA requirements and other regulations that make pharmacy remodeling unique.
A pharmacy vendor and an experienced contractor that has remodeled pharmacies previously will also be familiar with the specialized pharmacy shelving necessary to your business. Again, although similar to retail shelving, pharmacy shelving has some special characteristics, such as space-saving work stations for small spaces, modular construction with the ability to swap out different components as needed, and compatibility with prescription trays.
Finally, a contractor that has experience specifically with pharmacy remodeling will be able to minimize the disarray as much as possible during construction so that you can still conduct business. A good contractor will be able to foresee problems before they occur and avoid them. This again benefits you and your customers. You can stay open and fully functional so that customers don't have to look elsewhere to get their needs met even as construction is ongoing.
Managing the disarray of construction during business hours
You should not need to entirely shut down business during construction. Instead, you can "segment" the construction so that certain areas of your store will still be available to patients and customers while others are being redone. When construction is complete in one area, the operational store and pharmacy area can move to the finished section, while construction continues on the unfinished areas.
Helping customers navigate during construction
Keep in mind that many of your patients or customers may not feel well when they come in and may not be in a position to handle a lot of stress. They may need extra help navigating your store during construction. To make the disorganization easier to handle:
- Use signage liberally
Place extra signage to clearly mark areas of the store that are in business and mark your various departments very visibly. Establish a counterclockwise footpath through the customer-accessible area of the store by configuring pharmacy shelving and fixtures to act as natural boundaries that will simply guide them through.
- Hire extra staff
Temporarily hire extra staff to guide and assist customers during construction. Many of your customers may need extra assistance simply because the construction is taking place; it may be physically difficult for them to navigate the store. By having extra staff on hand specifically to assist customers during construction, you'll make their lives much easier.
