Use seasonal transitions (like summer to fall) to increase sales at your independent community pharmacy.
Fall kicks off a new season that you can use to promote patient loyalty to your business. (And increase your profits.)
People are thinking about the upcoming season and their health needs. Put your pharmacy front and center during this seasonal change with the right fall pharmacy promotions.
Now’s the time to market your pharmacy. Get people talking about your business with these fun fall pharmacy promotions.
1. Host a fall event
When you host events, you raise awareness and drive patients to your pharmacy.
And when you celebrate the events your community cares about, you brand your business as a pillar of the community.
Fall is filled with opportunities to hold a pharmacy event.
Event ideas to promote your pharmacy:
- Partner with other retailers to provide candy stops for trick-or-treaters on Halloween
- Host a community pumpkin decorating contest
- Hold a fall festival at your pharmacy
Make sure to hand out giveaways and promotional materials at the event.
2. Sponsor a fall event
Sponsorship is a hassle-free, low-investment way to promote your pharmacy.
Let other people do the work of hosting and you can reap the benefits. Sponsoring an event will get your pharmacy’s name out there and potentially bring in new patients.
Support an event to get your pharmacy’s name on a banner or on the event materials.
Community events to sponsor:
- Festivals
- Health fairs
- Parades
- Runs, like 5Ks
- Sidewalk sales
3. Participate in a fall event
Go a step further than sponsoring. Engage in popular fall community events as a participant. Encourage your staff to participate too.
Participating in community events can help you:
- Get to know your current and prospective patients
- Network with other health care professionals and prescribers
- Show current and prospective patients your human side
4. Make social media seasonal
Adapt your pharmacy’s social media messages to the season.
Seasonal social media marketing can boost shares, likes and in-store traffic.
Make your content relevant to the season with these ideas:
- Change background images to seasonally-themed ones
- Ask your followers seasonal questions, like what’s their favorite Halloween costume or holiday family tradition
- Use seasonal Twitter hashtags to show up on people’s feeds
- Offer health-related tips for the fall season
- Hold a seasonal photo contest
5. Offer seasonal coupons or hold a fall sale
People have come to expect seasonal discounts. It’s a great way to show your patients you appreciate them, especially around Thanksgiving.
Offer a one-day sale or special coupons to entice people to visit your pharmacy this fall.
Use mailers, social media, emails and advertisements to promote the sale or to deliver the coupon.
6. Partner with neighboring businesses
Create mutually-beneficial promotions with other businesses in your area during the fall season.
Think beyond partnering with health care organizations. Unusual community partnerships could have beneficial results.
Ideas to partner with local businesses:
- Host a fall festival at your pharmacy with local vendors
- Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an event at your pharmacy featuring flowers from a local florist and merchandise from a local shop
- Work with a local hardware store for a fall season kickoff event
Sharing the load of hosting an event reduces your costs without reducing your visibility. It also gives you more resources to put on a better event.
7. Support a seasonal cause for fall
Donate to a seasonal cause and ask patients to join you.
Use social media to promote the cause. When you encourage people to join your cause, they’ll feel good about your business.
And, giving to local causes showcases the “community” aspect of your independent community pharmacy.
8. Send newsletters about the fall season
One of the best ways to promote your pharmacy is indirectly.
When you send patients information they appreciate, you build trust with them.
Sometimes, that promotes your pharmacy more than actual promotions.
So, keep your patients up-to-date this fall with your pharmacy newsletter.
What to include in your pharmacy newsletter this fall:
- Flu shot reminders
- Featured products for fall allergies
- Cold and flu prevention tips
- Upcoming national health observances, like Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mental Health Week
9. Advertise seasonal services for fall
Some services and products sell better in the fall.
Promote the services patients need most, like the flu shot.
Advertise your services to current patients when they come in for their prescriptions.
Use visible signage and ask your staff to talk to visitors about what your pharmacy offers.
10. Use creative fall signage
Use fun and unique signage to draw people’s attention to your pharmacy this fall.
Signage can show patients that you share their excitement for a new season. And, your excitement will engage patients and improve their experience at your pharmacy.
Promote the fall season with signage like window clings and posters.
Use these fall signage ideas:
- Announce a fall sale
- Remind about flu shots
- Announce your participation in Small Business Saturday
- Display store hours for pre and post-Thanksgiving
- Reveal a Halloween candy sale
Make fall a profitable season with these fall pharmacy promotions.
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