Gobble Gobble Goodbye

Get it off the sales floor! Forget the 50% off sale on Thanksgiving items! The Christmas selling season this year is much too short to be featuring a discounted product. With the exception of Thanksgiving candy, inventory and box up Thanksgiving items. Everything Christmas has to be on the floor, TODAY, nothing in your backroom. As far as Thanksgiving candy goes, if there is a removable seasonal wrapper then get rid of the wrapper. If you cannot alter the packaging, then put the candy on sale as "Buy one get one Free or buy one at 25% off." Give it 7 days, then eat it or donate it. I am assuming that no one still has any Halloween products on the sales floor, because that would be silly if they did. Right?

Then there is this idea. Today, take a good look at how much your Thanksgiving items took up room in your store. Now, look at your Thanksgiving sales data. Was it worth the time, money, and space? Would it be better if you don't carry Thanksgiving items next year? If the answer is yes, save the unsold items for a sidewalk sale. Times are changing, change with them.

Get it off the carpet!

Great merchandisers do not get tricked into thinking some gifts look great on the carpet (floor). Items placed on the floor are instantly devalued. The fact that customers have to bend down to grab something off the carpet drastically cuts the number of interested customers.

C-B-D! Easy as A-B-C!

The NCPA CBD Source, powered by PRS is a digital resource and educational platform designed to give you the information you need to confidently advise patients on all things CBD. You'll also find marketing materials and great lines of products NCPA and PRS have identified as being great options for your pharmacies. Visit the site today.

Small Business Saturday — NOT Big Sales Saturday

All 50 states recognize Small Business Saturday. 41 Governors will issue state proclamations that today (11/30/2019) is Small Business Saturday! Are you ready? Please, please, please do not put everything on sale! Yes, you can have a few things on sale, but put more effort in winning customers over with your customer service. You can win that service contest! Pricing is a fierce battle. Put on your biggest smile and do what you do best.

50 Nifty Stocking Stuffers

Speaking of 50. Have you chosen and signed your 50 stocking stuffers' suggestions yet? Here are some ideas in no particular order: CBD, power bars, meal replacement bars or even full size candy bars, socks for those with diabetes, compression socks, reading glasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, toothbrush, hairbrush, candles, nail clippers, moisturizers, aftershave, markers, pens, crayons, baby teething rings, travel size OTC, multi-vitamins, Immune Boosters, massage oils, handcrafted soap bars, hand creme, smoking cessation products, hand sanitizer, cotton rounds, and greeting cards for gifts of money.

Plan(ogram) for New Year's Resolutions

When it comes to planogram updates, the month of December shows mercy on all merchandisers. December is the month that most stores take a look at the Smoking Deterrents and Incontinence sections. It's good timing for smoking deterrents; 'quit smoking' has always been in the top 10 New Year's resolutions. As far as incontinence goes, noting and marking your four bestsellers, making sure each item is priced (items shipped in cases many times end up on the shelf with no price sticker) and locating the category near feminine hygiene should take little of your precious time.

LAST CHANCE: How NICE is your Pharmacy?

The application(s) for this year's NICE Awards, sponsored by QS/1 are due tomorrow, December 1 at 11:59 pm ET. We want to spotlight the best of community pharmacy branding and marketing—the innovations and redesigns that have made promotions more effective and patients' experiences more rewarding. With seven categories to choose from, tell us what makes your independent pharmacy stand out. Act quickly – time is running out!

Pain Relief is positioned for ongoing growth

Pain Relief is consistently a top five category in the independent pharmacy channel. Keep up with the latest launches and update your product mix to ensure you are meeting all of your customers' needs. Read more.