Valentine's Day Reminders

Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away—prepare your pharmacy today to maximize sales this season.

• Walk through your entire store and identify non-Valentine's themed items and remerchandise them as Valentine's gifts. Use signage, repositioning, and basic decorations to emphasize these items. Suggestions: therapeutic shoes, fashion canes, premium skin care, photo frames, vitamins, and lift chairs. Anything can look like a Valentine's Day gift with red ribbon and a good sign.

• You should have at least one Valentine's Day-themed end-cap up (find ideas in my photo gallery).

• Assign someone on staff to straighten the greeting card department every day and at least twice a day the few days leading up to Feb. 14. When Valentine's Day cards sell down, rearrange the racks to fit boxed chocolates and candy.

• Do not discount Valentine's Day candy until Feb. 15—you are only teaching customers to wait for a sale to buy.

Clever Sign Ideas for Valentine's Day

Since Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday and not a traditional payday this year, you need to work harder for sales. Post signs throughout the store reminding customers that Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Here are some ideas:

• "Valentine's Day is February 14. Give them something from the heart and for the heart!"

• "Make Mom's day by sending her a Valentine's Day card"

• Place a plush stuffed dog resting on a doghouse (or find an image online): "Don't let this happen to YOU! Valentine's Day is Tuesday, February 14"

Prepare for Spring Break

Spring break season is almost here. Create a display of self-tanning products for those who want a sun-kissed look, as well as a display of sun protection products. Spruce up your sandal selection; Spenco, Aetrex and Dr. Comfort offer great selections. Don't wait to order inventory—travelers will be hitting the road soon.

Invest in the 1-Day Program That Will Make a Big Difference in Your Front-End Profits

Join NCPA for an intense, full-day course on how to attract new customers, keep them, and sell them more at the Front-End Profit Building Seminar, sponsored by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Feb. 18 in Orange, Calif. or March 25 in Dallas. Discover how to build better end-caps, create your own floor plan with minimal expense, explore new trends and niches, improve your curbside appeal, sell more private label, and become a better buyer and a superior seller. Find inspiration from more than 500 photos showing how stores like yours have made more money. You will leave feeling motivated! Spots are limited—register now. The program is designed for store owners, managers, and anyone who works in the front end. Special rates available for team members.

**FLASH SALE**—Find Your Front-End Profits With the 2017 Daily Pharmacy Planning Guide

Make it a goal to do something profitable for your front end every day in 2017. Get tips and ideas in the 2017 Daily Pharmacy Planning Guide, now on sale for ONLY $19.95 for NCPA members (price includes shipping)! The guide includes 365+ tips on timely front-end department advice, merchandising, and much more. Plus, Guide owners can participate in FREE quarterly webinars on how to use the Guide effectively, as well as seasonal merchandising and marketing ideas. Order now before copies sell out at www.ncpanet.org/bookstore or 1-800-544-7447.

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Beauty Category Review: Oral Care—February 2017

DSN examines what's trending now overall in oral care, as well as in-depth sales activity in the toothbrush and dental floss categories, highlighting new products hitting the beauty aisles. Read more...

Cough-Cold Report—February 2017

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