How do you know the time has come for a pharmacy refit? And how can you make sure it is worth your time and money?
If you are running a pharmacy these are questions you might be asking yourself from time to time. And if you are not sure of the answer, you have come to the right place. In our new series on our blog we discuss everything there is to know about the pharmacy refit process. We will walk you through the entire process from start till the end.
There could be several reasons why you might consider investing in a pharmacy refit. But how can you know for sure it is what your pharmacy needs? And what are the signs indicating the time has come for refitting your pharmacy? These are some of the questions we will explore in this first post of our series. Keep on reading to find out more.
Telling signs. How do you know it is time for a pharmacy refit?
Several signs might be present that point towards the need for a pharmacy refit. You might notice, for example, that your sales have dropped recently. Or that you do not have as many customers as you used to. While these changes can have several underlying causes, one of them could be design. The design and layout of your pharmacy influence your business more than you might think.
What are these signs and how do they relate to the success of your pharmacy business you ask? Let us explain.
A drop in your sales
Have you noticed a drop in your sales numbers recently? There could be several things behind such a change. Nonetheless, the design and layout of your pharmacy might be a contributing factor. An inefficient design and layout can negatively impact your business in several ways. Such a design makes it hard for customers to find what they are looking for. Overcrowded shelves, an inefficient shelving strategy combined with poorly chosen pharmacy shelves can drive your customers away. And they will for sure harm the overall ambience of your pharmacy. So if your sales numbers are low, it might well be time for you to consider investing in a pharmacy refit.
Efficiency problems
Is your pharmacy less efficient than it used to be? Does it take more time for pharmacists to serve customers? Once again, the overall design and layout of the pharmacy might have something to do with it. Pharmacy dispensary design, for one, can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your pharmacy. If the dispensary is not well-designed and optimised, it can slow down the dispensing process significantly. At the same time, a disorganised dispensary increases the risk of dispensing errors. This is not only detrimental to your business, but also to the health and safety of your clients.
Lack of services and missing out on business potential
The pharmacy business has changed a lot in recent years. Modern pharmacies tend to be much more client-oriented than they used to be. Many pharmacies today have started offering additional healthcare services. This includes patient counselling, healthcare and lifestyle advice and treatment for minor injuries. If your pharmacy still does not have areas dedicated to these services, it might be worth doing a refit. Consultation rooms along with treatment rooms and supervised consumption areas can add huge value to your business.
Accessibility problems
Adapting to the needs and wants of your customers is vital to the success of any business. It is important to ensure that your customers feel comfortable in your pharmacy. And that they can move comfortably through it. Does your pharmacy have enough space for wheelchair users to move around? Are the doors wide enough? Can your products be easily reached by disabled people as well? If your pharmacy is not yet fully DDA compliant, that could be a sign that it is time to refit it. After all, your customers should always be your number one priority.
Is your pharmacy showing these signs? Maybe it is time to do a pharmacy refit
Have you noticed any of these signs recently? Some of these signs might be present from time to time. If one or two are present, it might not mean that you should instantly think about refitting your pharmacy. But if several signs are present for longer, it might be worth considering doing a refit. While a pharmacy refit is an investment, it nonetheless can bring enormous benefits to your business. If you want to find out what a well-done pharmacy fitting design can do for your business, stay tuned for our next post in this series.
Have you already made up your mind? If you want a pharmacy refit done by professional pharmacy shopfitters, get in touch with us.
