- Joined
- Apr 17, 2013
- Messages
- 127
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- Pharmacist
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During my break, I decided to walk around the chain pharmacy store, I'm working in. IT'S HUGE! The only glaringly obvious question, is why? Between selling popcorn machines, tennis rackets and patio furniture, it struck me more as some kind of modern day dime store with a drug department.
The chains achieved their goal. The few that exist, control the pharmacy market. They made big, shiny stores. They offered a consistent shopping experience. They have a huge variety of nonsense merchandise. Accepted ridiculously low reimbursement rates and business prohibitive price margins that combined to sound the death knell for independents. They won.
Now, fix the pharmacy market you fought so hard to win. Cut store size in half and double the store count.
The profit margin on those curling irons may be higher initially, but they don't sell. The one that does sell at full price, is a piss poor return on investment. The staffing and management of all that front end filler, brought in to capture the customers from independents, succeeded. Now, like my appendix, is no longer need. The independents will never come back. Anti-monopoly laws will prevent further consolidation. The machinery is in place to provide pharmacy, at the most profitable rate of return. There are enough pharmacists to fill the stores. Grow stores into medical service outlets for customers. Get away from blow up swimming pools and furniture pads. The captured market of employees that work in these stores, don't shop in these stores, even with discounts. That says something.
Long ago lost is the camaraderie I enjoyed, when I started as a pharmacist. The fun and friendship I experienced for the first decade of my career, was priceless. If the number of chain stores doesn't increase very quickly, the surplus of pharmacists will cause salaries to plummet. Was this part of the plan, crafted within the corner offices of chain pharmacy years ago? I certainly don't know. Hopes and arguments over future pharmacy related positions, will do little for the overwhelming majority of pharmacists. Push and pray the chains open more stores. Or prepare to be at bloodsport, more so than it is today, with your fellow pharmacist.
The chains achieved their goal. The few that exist, control the pharmacy market. They made big, shiny stores. They offered a consistent shopping experience. They have a huge variety of nonsense merchandise. Accepted ridiculously low reimbursement rates and business prohibitive price margins that combined to sound the death knell for independents. They won.
Now, fix the pharmacy market you fought so hard to win. Cut store size in half and double the store count.
The profit margin on those curling irons may be higher initially, but they don't sell. The one that does sell at full price, is a piss poor return on investment. The staffing and management of all that front end filler, brought in to capture the customers from independents, succeeded. Now, like my appendix, is no longer need. The independents will never come back. Anti-monopoly laws will prevent further consolidation. The machinery is in place to provide pharmacy, at the most profitable rate of return. There are enough pharmacists to fill the stores. Grow stores into medical service outlets for customers. Get away from blow up swimming pools and furniture pads. The captured market of employees that work in these stores, don't shop in these stores, even with discounts. That says something.
Long ago lost is the camaraderie I enjoyed, when I started as a pharmacist. The fun and friendship I experienced for the first decade of my career, was priceless. If the number of chain stores doesn't increase very quickly, the surplus of pharmacists will cause salaries to plummet. Was this part of the plan, crafted within the corner offices of chain pharmacy years ago? I certainly don't know. Hopes and arguments over future pharmacy related positions, will do little for the overwhelming majority of pharmacists. Push and pray the chains open more stores. Or prepare to be at bloodsport, more so than it is today, with your fellow pharmacist.
