Happy Holidays ... Achoo!

The merriness of the holidays seems to go hand-and-cough with hugs, kisses, and sneezes. The most prepared pharmacies will have fully stocked shelves of the most popular cough & cold products; will not have relied on next-day delivery; will have ordered long before the product hits its peak demand; and offer remedies and relief in the form of lozenges, day and night relief options, liquids, capsules, and tablets. These stores will have also created end-caps and signage featuring ways to boost the immune system and counter displays offering natural alternatives and homeopathic choices. It will be easy to find facial tissue of all shapes and forms in these stores (sizes for the car, purse, home, and travel). Hand sanitizers will be at every pick-up, drop-off, and register counter (pocket-sized and larger bottles for the home). The most prepared stores are already ready for the holiday sick season or preparing now. Is yours?

Four 5-Minute Tasks You Can Accomplish Right Now

• Create a "Wash Away Germs" end-cap for Hand Washing Awareness Week (Dec. 3-9) featuring hand soaps, antibacterial lotions, air sanitizers like Lysol, and wipes.
• Take a photo of one of your lift chairs with a big red bow on it. Post it to your social media accounts promoting lift chairs as holiday gifts.
• Check your inventory of facial tissues, both on the shelf and in the backroom. How much do you think you'll need for the next two months?
• Clear your register area of candy and clutter. Use your counter to promote impulse sales on holiday items.

What Is Your Store's Return Policy?

Do your employees know and understand what your store's return policy is? Take time now to prepare for after Christmas returns. Post your return policies in clear view and review your policy with all employees, especially new ones. Make sure everyone on your staff has a clear understanding of how to handle returned products. You should also make new signs for each register stating your store's return policies.

Hot Item at Front-End Marketplace

Warmies® was one of the hottest items at this year's NCPA Annual Convention. These cozy, plush animals are scented with lavender that is released when microwaved. A combo of soft, cuddly plush, relaxing lavender, and warmth, Warmies are perfect for children's bedtime, especially as the temperatures drop in winter. You can also find slippers, boots, wraps, and eye masks — they would make a great end-cap. Order through www.frontendmarketplace.com.

Give Your Pharmacy the Gift of Profits This Holiday Season

NCPA's Your Daily Pharmacy Planning Guide features 365+ tips and reminders, just waiting to be put into action and waiting to make your life a little less stressful and lot more profitable in 2018. Order your copy of the 2018 Daily Pharmacy Planning Guide for only $29.95 for NCPA members (includes shipping) via NCPA's website or by calling 1-800-544-7447 (Guide runs December 2017 through January 2019). Your 2018 profits will thank you!

Great Online Resources for Your Front-End

We encourage you to click thru all the great resources available from NCPA on our website. Our front-end guru Gabe Trahan and the NCPA team add to these pages regularly. You'll find useful tips, ideas, photos from other pharmacies, videos and much more!

	Photo Galleries Access full-color galleries of photos to help inspire you to create new end-caps, signs, delivery vehicles, and seasonal and DME sections.
	One-Pager Tips Download Gabe's one-page tips that include takeaway information you can apply in your own store on topics such as holiday and seasonal merchandising, tips for merchandising excellence, and others.
	Staff Training Videos Watch Gabe's video series, designed to help you and your front-end staff learn more about creating additional revenue and attracting new customers.
	Quick Tips Read Gabe's running tip sheets of quick, practical ideas you can implement today to increase traffic and profits.
	Store & Virtual Visits Arrange an in-store or virtual visit with Gabe and discover realistic and low-cost ways to improve your retail pricing strategies, floor plans, category sizes, departments, end-caps, and more.
	Members Forums Listen to and watch webinar recordings from Gabe answering member questions about merchandising, signing, end-cap design, and more.
	Testimonials See what your peers are saying about Front-End Overhaul.