SHELF OBSESSED

Pharmacy may be a calling, and a noble one at that, but retail pharmacists overlook the “retail” side of that equation at their peril. While it’s true that traditional retailers could stand to learn a thing or two from the level of caring service delivered in pharmacies, we also shouldn’t neglect the key lessons we can learn from retail businesses that — on the surface, at least — are dissimilar to ours. After all, at the end of the day we’re all here to stay in business, and to do right by those we serve.

If you've followed our blog or subscribed to the Shelving Design Systems mailing list for any length of time, you know that we’re firm believers in pharmacy automation. That belief is not, however, built on faith or intuition; it comes from years’ worth of time spent on pharmacy design and observing the results. And we’re not the only ones paying attention. Although a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health on the effects of pharmacy automation wasn't exactly a page-turning thriller, it underscored the effectiveness of automation. Having answered our question a bit early, let’s take a closer look at how and why automation works — and whether it’s effective for small pharmacies as well as larger concerns.

Running a pharmacy can feel like being on a small boat in a storm. You’re buffeted on all sides by competition, high overheads, inventory challenges, regulatory pressures, and fickle consumer tastes. It’s easy to look for a silver bullet or quick fix — a big, bold solution to your problems — but all of us at Shelving Design Systems have found over the years that taking care of the fundamentals is what really ensures long-term viability and profitability. One of those fundamentals that’s capable of forming a solid foundation for many of the others? Efficiency.

Four simple characters can evoke a sense of dread. In this case, they are H1N1, the same strain of the flu that is estimated to have killed as much as five percent of the world’s population between 1918 and 1920. With that strain resurgent in 2019, many are warily eyeing their pharmacy supply chains and hoping they hold up if the worst should happen. In the interest of resiliency, which supply chain issues are most urgent today? At Shelving Design Systems, we’re applying lessons learned in the past to pharmacy design for a better future.

As we look ahead to a new year, individuals and businesses alike are taking stock of the recent past and looking to the future with hope and resolve. If you’re in the retail industry, what trends will be shaping the year ahead? Here at Shelving Design Systems, we’ve identified a few surprising trends that could shape your retail shelving, your business, and your sales for 2019.

Shelving Design Systems is synonymous with pharmacy shelving in the Southeast. However, we’re much more than that, including design and consulting services. That’s why this week, we’re leaving shelving to one side and taking a closer look at some of the other things you should consider if you’re building a new pharmacy, or taking on the renovation or refit of an older one.

Whether you’re a retail pharmacy embarking on a full remodel or a compounding pharmacy seeking to improve workflow, you’re likely looking for the simplest and most cost-effective way to get the job done. It’s not uncommon for businesses to reach out to multiple contractors for a single job, but this can have its drawbacks. Why should you consider a full-service pharmacy shelving company like Shelving Design Systems instead?

If you’ve ever wondered how important customer psychology is, the fact that it is its own discipline should clue you in. Understanding customer buying behaviors — the thought and emotional processes behind buying decisions, and the purchases that do or don’t result from them — is big business. But there’s also a wrong way to approach customer buying habits: to assume that they’re the same across the board, and in all surroundings. A retail pharmacy has some unique considerations you won’t find in other retail operations, and a shelving design consultation from Shelving Design Systems helps businesses make sense of them.

There’s a difference between buying off-the-rack and having something custom-tailored. Whether it’s a business suit or a dress, you might luck out and get the right fit from the store, but a bespoke suit will fit you in a way that something store-bought won’t always. Believe it or not, the same applies to shelving. You may do just fine buying shelves and racks from a major shelving manufacturer, but in irregular spaces or custom use cases, a custom retail display from Shelving Design Systems is the perfect thing to pull your layout together.

What’s your favorite color? Maybe you gravitate toward that paisley tie because it communicates something quirky about your personality. Maybe that little black dress is your favorite simply because you know you look elegant in it. But your wardrobe is only one use of color; it also has a story to tell in your pharmacy decor. Color psychology is a powerful, yet often-misunderstood, tool in your visual merchandising arsenal. Color theory is a key part of your shelving design consultation with Shelving Design Systems.