In 2018, Hamacher Resource Group (HRG) evaluated a whopping 2,587 new products to determine which were most suitable for independent pharmacies. The result of the company’s rigorous review process is a surefire list of top-performing products independent pharmacies can’t afford to miss out on.
“These are items that we believe are going to do well in the near future across all the different categories,” said Tara Kaifesh, a category analyst at HRG.
Front-end items that made the list survived a fierce evaluation: Of 2,587 items reviewed, a mere 208 health, beauty, and wellness items were awarded a Star Rating. This coveted designation means an item has a high potential for success when placed on the shelves of an independent pharmacy, according to HRG’s New Item Review team. Products expected to perform well can earn up to three Stars. A product that’s been awarded three Stars is, in the eyes of HRG’s review team, one you need to get on your shelves, pronto.
The review process takes into account factors like innovation, promotional support from the manufacturer, potential for growth, and more. A product needs to be well-rounded in all areas to earn at least one Star. “We’re usually pretty spot on with our assessments of new items,” said Colleen Volheim, HRG’s category research and analysis manager.
Last year, new products from names like Robitussin and Band-Aid topped their rankings, but more niche products, like specialty toothpastes and refrigerated probiotics, also made appearances.
This year, the analysts said the market is trending toward products that are completely or partially natural. “People want to know what they’re putting into their bodies,” Kaifesh said.
Face masks and bath salts have proven popular, along with lidocaine pain relief treatments. Charcoal products have begun to pop up everywhere, from oral care to skin care to hair care. Cough and cold products containing elderberry are also sought after.
One craze that was hot in 2018 and is only getting hotter? CBD. “We’re really going from zero to ‘everybody wants to get a piece of the CBD pie,’” Kaifesh said, noting that products containing CBD were going to be “huge” in the coming year.
Competitive advantage
Independent pharmacies can use HRG’s ratings and rankings to guide their inventory choices for improved turnover and increased front-end sales. Start with the top-ten and top-five lists provided in this article. If you need to remove items from your shelves to make room for top performers, Kaifesh advises first getting rid of any discontinued items that aren’t available to reorder as well as any particularly slow-moving products. If there are multiple sizes of one product on the shelf—for example, a 30 count, 90 count, and 120 count—consider trimming that selection down for a potential hot seller.
Make sure to promote new items and have signage that calls attention to them. People need to know you’re stocking particular items so, as Kaifesh pointed out, “they’re not thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t get that here, so I’ll go somewhere else.’”
Product performance is always changing, so make sure to keep your finger on the pulse of new trends to give your pharmacy an edge. Follow HRG on their company website and join HRG’s Independent Pharmacy Facebook group, where they post monthly merchandising tips including new product information.
Hamacher Resource Group focuses on improving results across the retail supply chain by addressing dynamic needs such as assortment planning and placement, retail execution strategy, fixture coordination, item database management, brand marketing, and analytics.
Top 10 Products Introduced in 2018 for Independent Pharmacy
Based on analysis by Hamacher Resource Group, Inc.
Aleve Back & Muscle Pain Tablets 50 Count
Bausch + Lomb Lumify Redness Reliever Eye Drops 2.5ml
Robitussin Adult Honey Cough + Chest Congestion DM Liquid 4oz
Biofreeze Soothing Pain Relief Cream 3oz
Sensodyne Rapid Relief Toothpaste Extra Fresh 3.4oz
Band-Aid Hydro Seal Blister Heels Hydrocolloid Gel Bandages 6 Count
ASPERCREME Lidocaine Patches XL 3 Count
Systane Complete Optimal Dry Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops 10ml
TUMS with Gas Relief Antacid/Antigas Chewy Bites Lemon & Strawberry 28 Count
Vicks VapoCool Severe Medicated Drops Winterfrost 18 Count
Top Products in 2018 for Independent Pharmacy by Category
Based on analysis by Hamacher Resource Group, Inc.
Cold & Allergy
Robitussin Adult Honey Cough + Chest Congestion DM Liquid 4oz
Vicks VapoCool Severe Medicated Drops Winterfrost 18 Count
DayQuil/NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu LiquiCaps 16+8 Count
Halls Real Honey Cough Drops Honey Vanilla 30 Count
Mucinex Sinus-Max Pressure Pain and Cough Caplets 20 Count
Digestive Health
TUMS with Gas Relief Antacid/Antigas Chewy Bites Lemon & Strawberry 28 Count
Alka-Seltzer PM Heartburn Relief + Sleep Support Gummies Mixed Berry 46 Count
TUMS Extra Strength 750 Antacid Chewable Tablets Sugar-Free Melon Berry 80 Count
Dramamine-N Long Lasting Formula Tablets 10 Count
Pepto-Bismol Ultra Caplets 12 Count
Pain Relief
Aleve Back & Muscle Pain Tablets 50 Count
Biofreeze Soothing Pain Relief Cream 3oz
ASPERCREME Lidocaine Patches XL 3 Count
ICY HOT Pain Relieving Cream Lidocaine plus Menthol 2.5oz
ThermaCare Ultra Pain Relieving Cream 2.5oz
Vitamins
Emergen-C Energy Plus Gummies Orange Zest 30 Count
Natrol Melatonin 10 mg Gummies Strawberry 90 Count
Bausch + Lomb PreserVision AREDS 2 Chewables Mixed Berry Flavor 60 Count
One A Day Women’s With Nature’s Medley Complete Multivitamin Gummies 60 Count
Schiff Move Free Ultra 2 in 1 Joint Health Coated Tablets 30 Count
Skin Care
Dr. Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution Activated Charcoal 3lb
Gold Bond Ultimate Cracked Skin Relief Fill & Protect Cream .75oz
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hand Gel Cream 3oz
Vanicream Gentle Body Wash 12oz
Burt’s Bees Hydrating Sheet Mask with Clary Sage1 Count
From the Magazine
This article was published in our quarterly print magazine, which covers relevant topics in greater depth featuring leading experts in the industry. Subscribe to receive the quarterly print issue in your mailbox. All registered independent pharmacies in the U.S. are eligible to receive a free subscription.
Read more articles from the March issue:
- How to maximize rebates and profitability on pharmacy inventory
- The essential guide to retail pharmacy layouts
- How to get five-star reviews online and why you can’t afford anything less
- This independent pharmacy owner is standing up to PBMs
- How to reap more revenue with your point-of-sale system
- How safe is your pharmacy from a robbery?
- Is technology the solution to non-adherence?
A Member-Owned Company Serving Independent Pharmacies
PBA Health is dedicated to helping independent pharmacies reach their full potential on the buy-side of their business. Founded and owned by pharmacists, PBA Health serves independent pharmacies with group purchasing services, wholesaler contract negotiations, proprietary purchasing tools, and more.
An HDA member, PBA Health operates its own NABP-accredited secondary wholesaler with more than 6,000 SKUs, including brands, generics, narcotics CII-CV, cold-storage products, and over-the-counter (OTC) products — offering the lowest prices in the secondary market.
