Cold and flu season is well underway, and your patients might already be experiencing symptoms. Are they giving themselves the care they need to get healthy? Studies show, they’re probably not.
A survey by WorkPlace Impact, a company that helps businesses market to consumers in their workplace, found that 36 percent of women go to work with cold and flu symptoms. And it’s not just women: Staples’ annual Flu Season Survey found that this year, 60 percent of all office employees admitted to going to work with the flu.
The WorkPlace Impact survey found that 91 percent of women rely on treatment products to fight their symptoms instead of staying home to rest, and 43 percent keep these products at their desks. Forty-five percent of these women are coming to you, preferring to purchase these products at drugstores.
The products that can help your patients are likely already in your pharmacy. Make sure your patients don’t miss what they need to get healthy. Use these strategies to show off your merchandise, boost your front-end sales and help your patients power through the workday and get well quickly.
Keep your front end well supplied
Of course, you should carry a variety of pain relievers, multi-symptom remedies and cough syrup. But when preparing your front end for cold and flu season, you might consider stocking products other than medications, such as heating pads and hydration products. Also, help your patients stock their desks with products they need to feel better, like tissues, cough drops and hand sanitizer. Consider putting together an “emergency work survival kit” to make purchasing these products even more convenient. They’ll be back to refill it as products run out!
Show off your products
Customers looking for quick relief from their colds don’t want to spend time browsing the aisles. Use end caps and displays to make it even more convenient for your customers to shop for cold and flu products. It might not hurt to have those products close to the door or checkout counter, either.
Educate
Be a resource for your customers when it comes to fighting colds and flu. Help them pick out the best products, give them tips to avoid spreading germs and let them know what they should eat and drink in order to make a speedy recovery. Pass out flyers with helpful tips and be present in your front end for those who need advice.
And don’t forget to make sure your customers are using their products correctly. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers a variety of materials to help educate the public on proper usage, such as this flyer, which warns consumers about the dangers of using more than one product with acetaminophen.
Don’t forget about preventative measures
For those who aren’t yet sick, offer products that will help keep them that way, such as vitamin E, vitamin C or zinc supplements. You could even do a special on these products to call attention to them.
Promote flu shot services
It’s not too late for your patients to get flu vaccines, either. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will promote National Influenza Vaccination Week from December 7-13, 2014, to remind Americans that it’s still possible, and important, to get vaccinated. So keep promoting your vaccination services to your patients!
Make your front end a one-stop shop for cold and flu products this winter. In sickness and in health, your customers will appreciate the convenience!
