Did you know July is dedicated to celebrating independent retailers across the country, like your independent community pharmacy? The month is meant to highlight the positive ways independent retailers influence their communities.
One dollar spent at an independent retailer is usually spent 6 to 15 times before it leaves the community. Use Independent Retailer Month to remind your customers (and potential customers) about the benefits of frequenting independently owned businesses.
Here are a few ideas (tweeked for pharmacy) that you can incorporate into your store during July to promote Independent Retailer Month. Ideas courtesy of independentretailmonth.com.
Give bonus bucks
Hand out $1 coupon for every $10 customers spend in your store in July. Make the coupon redeemable in August.
Have a happy hour
Offer red, white and blue snacks with refreshments. You could also contact an independent restaurant to partner and provide some light bites.
Make badges
Create campaign buttons for your pharmacy staff to wear with the message: “Proud to be independent.”
Host a meet and greet
Invite your patients to informally meet all of your pharmacists and techs. Provide refreshments.
Pass out goodie bags
Hand out bags filled with small gifts when patients hit a certain dollar amount in purchases or give the goodie bags away to new customers.
Get together with other businesses
Support other local businesses by hosting a joint in-store activity.
Run a contest
Offer the chance for one lucky winner to win a significant prize, like a $100 gas gift card or a barbeque grill.
Organize a shopping crawl
Team up with neighboring independent retailers to host a shopping crawl. Provide a map and prizes for participants.
Give to charity
Offer to make a donation of 10 percent of the purchase price for each customer to a local community charity.
Promote “check-in” deals
Offer every shopper who “checks in” to your store on social media an exclusive promotion in your pharmacy, like a free bottle of vitamins.
Find more great ideas to celebrate Independent Retailer Month at independentretailermonth.com and on the Facebook and Twitter pages for Independent Retailer Month USA.
