In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.
And a cold and flu season in fall and winter.
Offering immune support supplements in your pharmacy in advance of the next cold and flu season is a win-win for you and your customers. They’ll give your customers the boost they’re looking for while also doing the same for your bottom line.
This is especially true with COVID-19, which is likely to surge again this fall and winter. While research is mixed on how effective supplements are in offering protection against COVID-19, there’s no doubt consumer demand for immunity-boosting supplements is much higher than before the pandemic.
Getting Started
If you’re new to offering OTC supplements and don’t know where to start, target products with these ingredients:
3 out 4 consumers in the United States take at least one supplement per day.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
- Elderberry
- Echinacea
- Pelargonium Sidoides
Probiotics continue to be profitable as well. Offering OTC supplements is another opportunity to further establish yourself as a trusted healthcare advisor in the community.
“Patients are willing to pay for high-quality supplements if you’re able to give them the education they need. Get your employees involved by training them so they feel confident talking about these products with consumers.” – drugtopics.com
While you’re educating your patients, you can make an even bigger impression by suggesting things beyond your shelves. For example, when a customer pays for a bottle of zinc lozenges at checkout, you could also suggest incorporating zinc-rich foods into their diet like red meat, shellfish and legumes. Showing you care more about the customer’s wellbeing than the sale will strengthen their loyalty.
Make Good Choices
In terms of choosing a supplier, you also might not know where to start. IPC’s Pharmacy Services division has a team dedicated to researching and vetting vendors that can help independent pharmacy thrive. In order to make our IPC’s preferred vendor list, the company must meet three criteria: competitive prices, exceptional products or services, and a commitment to community pharmacy.
Mason Vitamins is one of those companies.
Mason Vitamins doesn’t require a contract and allows for private labeling.
Pure Encapsulations is another IPC preferred vendor you can trust. They only carry products backed by verifiable science and FREE FROM unnecessary additives and many common allergens. Most products carry a minimum of 50% margins and you can buy directly from the IPC warehouse.
“When we opened our pharmacy in 2018, we made the decision to use Pure Encapsulations as our primary supplement line. That decision has been an absolute game-changer for the profitability of our front-end, has differentiated us from our competition, and has made us a destination for customers seeking quality professional grade supplements.”
Windmill Natural Vitamins is another established brand that would be a great option for your store. They offer new monthly specials to independent retailers including BOGO offers.
Any of these three preferred vendors will set you up for success while giving your community an immunity boost heading into cold and flu season.
Vetting suppliers is one of many things our Pharmacy Services team does to help independents. See what else they do.
