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.
Optimize workflow with the right shelving and proper equipment and fixtures
Optimize your workspace so that technicians take as few steps as possible to get the job done and ensure that there are no bottlenecks or "traffic tie ups" that may hurt efficiency.
Additionally, make sure your workspace is dedicated to prescription filling and is private. Counter space, pharmacy shelving, and fixtures should be at the right heights so that you and your technicians are also physically comfortable, which will make you less likely to make mistakes.
Direct customer traffic with the right gondola shelving layout
Gondola shelving can actually provide the means for you to construct your store's floor layout. Set it up so that it accommodates your customers' propensity to first look left and then go right when they enter. Establish a footpath that customers are automatically directed to and will stay on as they shop. The footpath should go counterclockwise around your store and give your customers the ability to see every department and display at a glance. This way, they won't miss anything you have to offer.
Make sure product shelving goes no higher than eye level, or about six feet
Although it may seem counterintuitive to place merchandise shelving at customers' eye level, this actually means better sales for you. You'll be able to store and display less with lower shelving, of course, but your customers will be able to see and reach the merchandise they want to buy much more easily, which means they'll be much more likely to buy. Although some may argue customers can simply "ask for help" if they can't reach something, they may simply not bother; that means a lost sale. Also keep in mind that your patients and customers may not be feeling well and/or may have disabilities that will limit their ability to reach – another reason to make sure they can reach.
Make sure you're in compliance with HIPAA regulations
Make sure the shelving and fixtures you use to store any devices with patients' personal health information are locked in secure cabinets, behind counters, et cetera. This adds value for you and your customers because it doesn't put you at risk of violating patients' privacy or HIPAA regulations, which could harm your customers and your business. It could also force you to deal with The Department of Health and Human Services directly because of these violations – another headache.
Don't forget to include appropriate shelving and displays in and near your checkout lanes
Your checkout lanes are perfect places to display "impulse buy" purchases, or last-minute must haves like aspirin, over-the-counter cold medications, adhesive bandages, and the like. Place endcaps, wire racks, and/or tabletop displays near the checkout counters with best-selling or much needed merchandise, and then fill retail shelving actually "in" the checkout lane with small last-minute items like travel sized bottles of conditioner and shampoo, batteries, magazines, and other high-volume items. This is an "added value" shelving use that you don't want to miss out on.
The pharmacy shelving in your store can do much more than simply display merchandise. It can help you and your technicians establish a more efficient workflow, assist customers with their shopping by placing products within easy reach, direct traffic for shoppers, stay in compliance with HIPAA regulations, and even help you boost last-minute impulse buy sales.
