PDS Super Conference Archives

Inspiring Speakers | PDS Super-Conference

September 17, 2021/in All, PDS Super Conference/by pdsmarketing

February 2022 is fast approaching, and next year’s back-in-person Super-Conference is one you won’t want to miss. Join us on February 17-19, 2022, for three inspiring days focused on providing actionable solutions to the actual pressures you face every day running your pharmacy. Our inspiring speakers over the past 17 years is just part of the reason why this event needs to be on your calendar for 2022.

Revitalize and Inspire Your Team
Improve Pharmacy Profitability
Learn About the Newest Patient Programs
Connect with the Most Innovative Minds in Pharmacy

The Annual PDS Super Conference is the most actionable and impactful pharmacy business conference you can attend, so don’t miss your opportunity to realize your pharmacy’s full potential.

Note that the Super-Conference is not for everyone. For the past 17 years, we have built the premier event for independent pharmacy owners committed to growing their business through actionable content, inspiring connections, and pharmacy experts. If you’ve found yourself backed into a corner in your independent pharmacy but you’re determined not only to stay in business but to see your pharmacy thrive, then the PDS Super-Conference is for you.

As a Super-Conference attendee, you’ll be privy to exclusive independent pharmacy success strategies shared by industry and thought leaders from across the country. You’ll also hear from other independent pharmacy owners just like you who have turned their businesses around using a PDS-supported approach and the dedicated PDS coaches who work with owners and their teams to implement targeted strategies.

As we look forward to another year of growth for our community of independent pharmacy owners and their teams, we would like to highlight some of the motivational speakers we’ve had at PDS Super-Conferences in the past.

Inspiring Speakers from Past Conferences

John Maxwell

#1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and world-renowned leadership expert John Maxwell took the stage in 2018 to talk about the Five Levels of Leadership. His thoughtful leadership principles were skillfully translated into valuable insights that helped attendees become stronger leaders in their pharmacies.

Amanda Gore

We were honored to have leadership, communication, and relationships expert Amanda Gore present in 2019. Amanda taught Super-Conference attendees how to develop a modern sales mindset, what it means to listen properly and create non-verbal connections, best practices for operating in your role as a cornerstone in the community, and how to overcome challenges and roadblocks with non-traditional revenue streams.

Tom Wheelwright

Tom Wheelwright, CPA is the CEO of WealthAbility. As a returning speaker at the Super-Conference, he advises pharmacy owners on all things tax. He discussed the new tax law and how it affects independent pharmacy owners. Tom also helps identify important tax deductions most pharmacy owners overlook.

These relevant and inspiring speakers all left an incredible mark on our audience. In fact, attendees were so captivated that 91% said they are extremely likely to attend the 2022 PDS Super-Conference to see what remarkable strategies and outside-the-box thinking the next event will bring.

All of the PDS Super-Conference keynote speakers must have an innovative mindset with the heart of an independent pharmacy owner. We seek out the best of the best with industry knowledge and expertise that translates directly into building cohesion, driving sales, and improving your pharmacy’s community reputation.

2022 PDS Super-Conference

Of course, we know the proof is in the pudding. If you’re on the fence about registering for the 2022 PDS Super-Conference, then we invite you to listen to emotional success stories from some of our members. You can access these PDS member testimonials here. The independent pharmacy owners we’ve acknowledged here have applied PDS strategies to transform their pharmacies from a place of minimal profit or deficit to a thriving community healthcare hub. You’ll hear more stories like these at the Super-Conference.

We’re currently finalizing our list of 2022 keynote speakers and we can’t wait to share them with you very soon. In the meantime, secure your seat at the 2022 PDS Super-Conference here. Tickets are on sale now so don’t wait.

5 Ways to Get the Most Value Out of a Virtual Conference

April 30, 2021/in All, PDS Super Conference/by pdsmarketing

You’ve paid for the ticket. And you’ve cleared your calendar for an upcoming virtual conference, like PDS 2021, that promises to teach you things to make life (or work) easier. Now that the pre-work is over, it’s time for the real work: making sure this virtual conference is well worth your investment. Read more

Top 4 Benefits of Attending a Pharmacy Business Conference

August 20, 2020/in All, Featured, PDS Super Conference/by pdsmarketing

There are multiple benefits to attending a pharmacy business conference. The most significant is spending three laser-focused days working ON your pharmacy, not just IN it. We told you it would be Game On in 2020, but we could have never predicted that you’d be leading your communities through a pandemic. The year has been rife with challenges, and yet we’ve seen first-hand how independent pharmacies have stepped up their game. After everything we’ve faced together, it will be more important than ever to surround yourself with the best and brightest in our industry.

Do you…

Believe independents deserve to thrive?
Want to contribute to the industry positively?
Think that the only way to navigate uncertainty is with a community?

Then you can’t afford to miss the 2021 PDS Super-Conference. Join a growing movement of healthcare providers, pharmacy owners, and their teams who are committed to saving their business and changing the way they play the game against PBMs. This event is the ONLY pharmacy conference of its kind; keep reading as we outline the top four benefits of attending PDS 2021.

Discover the Possibilities of Finding Success

If you’re reading this, you likely already realize that there is a better way to run your pharmacy. The first step though is to decide if you’re ready to get out from behind the bench. Attending PDS 2021 is seeing what is possible. Connecting at the Super-Conference puts you right in front of pharmacy owners that have found success despite industry challenges.

Learn how:

Cynthia Feldman earned an additional $215,000 in OTC sales.
Adam Wheeler, an owner on the verge of closing his doors forever, turned his business around.
Tamer and Elizabeth increased their Gross Profit per Rx by 147%.

Leave with Actionable Takeaways

When you get back to your pharmacy on the Monday after the conference, you’ll have real information to make immediate improvements. By design, the Super-Conference answers your questions will practical, actionable solutions. Our focus on delivering real strategies is a huge benefit to attending a pharmacy conference focused on developing you as a business owner. As we move into 2021, we must re-imagine the physical and digital patient experience. Don’t go it alone. Click below to watch some highly impactful presentations from past conferences.

Leaders aren’t born; they’re made. Read more about how to create a leadership culture in your pharmacy.
Understand the importance of delegation. Watch this video, Effective Delegation – You Can’t Do It All.

Improve your Profitability

You didn’t get into the pharmacy business to barely survive. Helping patients and improving pharmacy profitability doesn’t have to be at odds. The truth is that real growth only comes from excellent patient care. You can’t control third-party reimbursements, so you must find other ways to improve profitability. Your business and patients will benefit from attending a pharmacy conference that will increase your bottom line and improve patient outcomes.

Learn how to increase profit through pharmacy services such as compounding and immunization programs.
Part of improving profitability is learning how to manage overhead and creating a budget. Click here and learn how to get started.

Learn From the All-Stars

attending a pharmacy business conference Every year the top performers in our industry gather to inspire and learn from each other. We feature the best and brightest owners on the main stage in the general session, exhibitors and partners highlight their strategies, and you’ll find their case studies and success stories throughout the event.

Here are a few tips to make the most of your time at the conference with this community.

Speak to as many attendees as possible. You are among a fantastic group of pharmacy owners and staff – the nicest, most successful folks in our industry. Ask how they have succeeded, and please share your insights with them.
Prepare to change your mindset. Please let go of the notion that the traditional dispensing model is the only way to succeed in this industry. There is a world of opportunity if we can learn and adapt.
Involve your team. A great team aligned behind a clear strategy is unstoppable.
Visit our exhibitor partners. Please explore how they can become your solution partners, chances are high that whatever roadblock you’re facing has been solved by someone else. Ask questions, and make connections.

Join Your Peers at PDS 2021

Independent pharmacy owners deserve to thrive. Take the first step to claim your success at the PDS Super-Conference. For 3-days, we deliver groundbreaking innovation, exclusive exhibitor solutions, and keynote speakers that will empower and inspire the best in you and your team. Register below with the promo code SUMMER20 to save over 40%, and you’ll receive a complimentary companion ticket. Remember, we want you to feel comfortable with your registration, so all tickets are 100% refundable before October 1st, 2020.

5 Key Takeaways from PDS 2019

April 13, 2019/in PDS Super Conference/by pdsmarketing

Every February, the most progressive pharmacy owners from across the country arrive in Orlando to spend an intensive three days working on their business. We like to say that the PDS Super-Conference is where passion meets innovation. Attendees bring the passion for providing patients with exceptional health care, and PDS brings the innovative strategies that empower owners to adapt and overcome the challenges they face in today’s marketplace, so they can best serve their communities.

This year was packed with incredible information that attendees and members are already leveraging to change the trajectory of their year. For those that weren’t able to attend this year, we have summarized the 5 Key Takeaways from PDS 2019 in this blog and in our latest on-demand webinar with VP of Business Development, Dr. Lisa Faast. Want to get ahead of the curve? Register today for PDS 2020.

Key Takeaway #1: Brand Identity for Independent Pharmacies

2019 is the year for independents to own our ‘Why.’ Pharmacy owners need to brand ourselves differently.

Consider the following questions posed by PDS founder, Dan Benamoz at the Super-Conference:

Why should people choose us over their other options?
What do we provide that is more valuable than convenience?
How do we stand above what has become the status quo, public acceptance of mediocre health care?

How patients experience your pharmacy, the recommendations they get from you, and their other healthcare providers all play a significant role in their decision to stay loyal and come back. Independents must find a way to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Most patients don’t understand (or care) about the complex ecosystem of insurance and PBMs. They do understand the importance of an informed pharmacist that provides solutions to their specific healthcare needs without breaking the bank. This is the core of PDS’ Pharmacy Brand Promise; you can download your copy HERE, hang it proudly in your store to let your patients know that you’re here to support their needs. Already a PDS Member? Ask your Performance Specialist about access to the print-ready, customizable ads for you to use in your pharmacy today.

Key Takeaway #2: Professional Selling for Independent Pharmacies

Most of us have a vision of a typical salesperson; someone shamelessly pushing you into purchasing products you don’t want or need. In 2019, PDS is challenging pharmacy owners to change this view. The fact is that independents offer critical services and bring valuable knowledge to the community they serve.

We can only impact the health and wellness of our patients if we can communicate what we offer effectively. The ability to communicate and sell your services is critical to the success of your business and the industry. At the PDS, Super-Conference, we brought in three speakers to highlight different ways for attendees to improve their professional sales skills.

Amanda Gore – The Neuroscience of Sales

Your most effective sales tool is connection. Communication and performance expert, Amanda Gore, presented actionable strategies to build relationships and improve communication with your patients, your pharmacy team, and your family. Learn more about leveraging the science of the heart (yes, your feelings) and emotional intelligence to make an impact in your pharmacy and personal life.

Karl Scheible – Minding the Gap, Creating a Great Initial Conversation

We have to sell to do what we love, help people. Success in sales is a direct result of creating alignment between your attitude, behaviors, and technique. Get rid of your self-limiting beliefs, create new actions that empower you and develop a process that you can practice and scale to achieve results.

Dr. Robert Cialdini – Effective, Ethical Influence

Widely regarded as the ‘Godfather of Influence,’ Dr. Cialdini covered the specifics of the Six Universal Principles of Persuasion. Learn more about the principles that help your patients to overcome uncertainty, build relationships, and understand why they work. This knowledge empowers pharmacy owners to read situations and identify the best technique to convey your message.

Members-Only Training

In addition to the conference presentations, PDS has created a 2-day boot camp, led by sales expert, author, and keynote speaker, Karl Scheible. Learn how to more effectively communicate with prescribers and practice managers and change the trajectory of your business and the quality of care for your patients. Professional sales skills are incredibly important as the landscape of our industry continues to evolve. Don’t be left behind; you can learn how to ethically and effectively have more influence in your business.

Key Takeaway #3: CBD – Cannabinoids

CBD has been around for a few years now, but questions still linger around the product and the legality. Dr. Alex Capano, Medical Director of Ananda Hemp, presented the facts about the potential impact of this soon to be multi-billion dollar industry. It was an informative session that covered the emerging therapeutic potential of CBD and the multiple ways pharmacy owners can leverage this product to expand healthcare services and increase profits.

Key Takeaway #4: Pharmacy Financials

With the multiple hats pharmacy owners wear, managing your financials on top of everything else can seem daunting. At PDS, we think that understanding the financial status of your business is critical for an owner to manage your assets effectively, make data-driven business decisions, and grow your business. If you don’t know the terms, you can’t understand the game.

PDS is now offering an expert pharmacy accounting service. Receive customized reports, traditional bookkeeping that provide unique insight on how to improve your pharmacy. Enjoy the confidence and clarity you get with PDSfinancials.

Key Takeaway #5: Go-To Plays of Successful Leaders

Leadership is learned and earned. Our final keynote speaker, Peyton Manning spoke about creating a positive culture in your pharmacy and developing leadership skills. What got you here won’t get you success at the next level; this is true in sports and in running an independent pharmacy business. Manning shared personal insights from both on and off the football field that resonated with anyone looking to grow as a leader.

Learn what 1,600 thriving independent pharmacies already know; get the impactful insights and scalable strategies to win in 2019. Attending the PDS Super-Conference is a critical component to the success of our industry; for 15 years we have unveiled innovative programs and ideas that have changed the way independents run their business. The above 5 Takeaways are a small piece of what attendees get from the conference. Don’t miss out on another year – register today and start seeing the impact PDS can make on your independent pharmacy.

Click HERE to watch our on-demand webinar with Dr. Lisa Faast as she covers more information about the 5 Key Takeaways from PDS 2019.

How to Avoid the Top 10 Pharmacy Injury Risks

February 17, 2019/in PDS Super Conference, Pharmacy Growth Strategies/by Marie Wilda

Here at PDS, we take pride in highlighting some of our incredible solutions partners. We know these companies have the potential to revolutionize pharmacies just like yours through their products and services. We’re excited to introduce Heffernan Insurance Brokers Pharmacy Insurance, read on for their sponsored blog post about avoiding the top 10 pharmacy injury risks. This post was written by Steve Boone of Heffernan Insurance Brokers Pharmacy Insurance Practice.

Ask one hundred people on the street to name the five most dangerous jobs, and “pharmacist” probably won’t be on anyone’s list. But ask any pharmacist and they’ll tell you a pharmacy can be a very dangerous place to work, with injury risks running the gamut from biohazards to back strains. Effectively managing these risks is key to protecting your staff and your bottom line.

Here are the 10 biggest injury risks most pharmacists face and how to avoid them.

Infection. One of your biggest risks is being in contact with sick patients who come into your pharmacy while sick with infectious diseases. Clean and disinfect work areas regularly. Wear protective gear such as masks and rubber gloves.
Slips, trips, and falls. These are some of the leading causes of injury in almost every workplace, and pharmacies are no exception. Keep work areas free of clutter, install and maintain non-slip flooring, ensure you have adequate lighting, and educate your staff on good housekeeping procedures.
Cuts and burns. Cuts can happen all too easily from sharp instruments, equipment, or broken glassware. Burns can happen when working with heat sealers and other equipment, as well as around electrical cords and appliances. Train your staff in safe work practices, require proper storage of tools, use protective clothing, and have a complete and easily accessible First Aid kit.
Repetitive motion. Typing and clicking a computer mouse all day can cause shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries. Reading and writing at a workstation for long periods can cause neck pain. Awkward sitting or standing postures can lead to fatigue, tissue damage, and irritation of tendons and muscles. Poor workstation design can cause overextension injuries. Help fend off these repetitive motion injuries with ergonomically designed workstations, tools that automate tasks, and adequate safety training.
Fatigue. Pharmacists do a lot of standing and walking. Prolonged standing can cause fatigue, back pain, varicose veins, and other issues. Install anti-fatigue mats at fixed workstations, encourage the use of comfortable, closed-toed shoes with good support, and consider using stools to alternate between sitting and standing.
Strains and sprains. Slipped discs, muscle aches, backaches, and even hemorrhoids can result from lifting heavy objects. Practice safe lifting techniques including getting assistance from a coworker, using assistive equipment such as a dolly, or wearing a back brace.
Eye strain. Pharmacists stare at a computer screen for many hours on a typical day. Poor lighting, improper computer screen brightness settings, and poorly designed workstations can lead to eye strain, astigmatism, myopia, and migraine headaches.
Chemical hazards. If you’re compounding drugs, you’re exposed to medication powder, liquid spills, and hazardous vapors. Have safe work procedures in place to handle spills and other mishaps involving harmful substances, and always wear protective gear including eye protection, gowns, and gloves.
Biological hazards. Most pharmacies today offer flu shots and testing procedures that require skin piercings such as a glucose or cholesterol tests. This means exposure to blood and possibly other bodily fluids that can carry deadly bacteria and viruses. Be safe – always wear protective gear.
Psychological hazards. Pharmacists often work long hours and deal with a heavy workload, and they’re also subject to abuse by customers or fellow employees. To help alleviate these stresses, review your management and scheduling policies, consider changes to your work environment, and educate your staff about violence awareness, avoidance, and de-escalation.

Managing these risks can keep your pharmacy safe, while protecting your bottom line from unnecessary medical and legal costs, workers’ compensation claims, and higher workers’ comp premiums.

Did you know you can also save as much as 10 percent on your workers’ comp premiums just by having a safety manual? To learn more, contact Steve Boone with the Heffernan Insurance Pharmacy Insurance division today.

About the Author:

Heffernan’s pharmacy-specific insurance program is perfect for the independent pharmacist looking for an experienced insurance broker who can offer a single source package that is tailored for their unique needs.

We offer comprehensive insurance for pharmacy coverage including:

Broad Professional Pharmacist Liability Insurance
Property Insurance
Pharmacy Errors & Omissions / Malpractice / Druggist Liability Insurance
Pharmacy BOP (Business Owner’s Policy)
Lower Cost Option(s) for Rx Owners
High Limits

The Neuroscience of Sales: Amanda Gore

February 1, 2019/in PDS Super Conference/by pdsmarketing

If you’re an independent pharmacy owner, you might already have an idea of how “sales” is supposed to look. Maybe you picture a man in a suit with slicked-back hair who uses every technique in the book to get someone to buy.

We get it: salespeople and selling have a terrible reputation. But the fact remains that if you are running an independent pharmacy, you are, by default, in sales. Selling is a form of communication, and a necessary skill you need to learn if you want to level up your business.

Read on to learn Amanda Gore’s emotional approach to sales and how she uses neuroscience principles to understand human behavior. Hear from Amanda Gore at the 2019 PDS Super-Conference, as she discusses how to connect, educate, and leverage non-traditional sales skills to influence audiences in a way that builds trust and grows your pharmacy.

The Name of the Pharmacy Game: Adaptability

Before we dive into discussing sales skills, keep in mind that owning a business is difficult and you’ll face obstacles that will discourage you. In the independent pharmacy industry, you’ll have to deal with things that are beyond your control, such as legislation, opaque pricing, and reimbursement structures.

There’s no way around it: it’s the price you pay to be an entrepreneur. The solution?

Staying adaptable and learning new skills that will impact growth in your business. Effectively and ethically ‘selling’ your services, ideas, and products is the next evolution for independent pharmacy.

Developing a Modern Sales Mindset

The first step to mastering sales is getting rid of any preconceived notions. Remember, selling is not about not “manipulating” people to do something. The truth is that you’re always selling. When you’re pitching new ideas to your team or working to increase signups for a pharmacy program, you’re selling.

To be more effective, you must change your perception of your pharmacy patients. Picture everyone that comes into your business as someone that needs your help and the expertise of your pharmacy team. Your pharmacy is not merely a place to get prescriptions filled–it’s a crucial part of the neighborhood where people go to be happy and healthy.

If you have a product that you genuinely believe will help solve your friend’s problem or cure their illness, wouldn’t you do everything you can to convince them to buy it?

Listen Properly (Hardly Anyone Does) & Create Non-Verbal Connections

With the rising popularity of social media, we’re more connected than ever before. However, many of us are still unable to develop real human connections. That’s why as an independent pharmacy owner, you must practice ‘true listening’ with your patients.

Real listening is about…

being present with everyone you interact with: your patients, your team, or your prescribers.
striving to understand what the other person is trying to convey.
paying attention to the other person’s body language, making eye contact, smiling, and giving them your undivided attention.

You’ll realize that just by caring about the subject and addressing your customers’ concerns, your patients will find their way back to your pharmacy time and time again.

A New Way of Thinking

Your independent pharmacy is a cornerstone in the community. Every day, people are placing their health and wellness in your hands. The personalized care you provide for the community IS the competitive advantage against chains and big-box retailers.

Embrace your role and start connecting with your patients. You can ethically affect positive change in the health and wellness of your community without sacrificing profitability. It’s your duty and responsibility as an independent pharmacy owner to learn how to sell, so you can help solve your customers’ problems.

Sales Skills for Pharmacy Owners

Independent pharmacies face challenges and roadblocks at every turn, and the need to implement non-traditional revenue streams is greater now than ever. But how can you and your team overcome the difficulty of approaching doctors, administrators, and even patients with your collaboration ideas? How can you do that comfortably and ethically?

The skill you need: Sales. Professional, non-traditional sales skills.

Learn how to effectively communicate and sell to the audiences that are critical to the success of your business, specifically prescribers, practice managers, patients, and even your own team.

PDS is proud to bring you the Annual Pharmacy Business Super-Conference with three days of actionable content. Independent doesn’t mean alone. Gain the knowledge and strategies shared by 1,600+ thriving pharmacy owners.

11 Tax Deductions Most Pharmacy Business Owners Should Tap Into

December 26, 2018/0 Comments/in PDS Super Conference, Pharmacy Finances/by pdsmarketing

As a pharmacy owner, the tax law is filled with breaks to help you lower your taxable income and put more money into your pocket at the end of the year. After all, it’s not really about how much you make; it’s how much you keep that matters.

The concept is simple, the more you understand the tax rules, the more tax deductions you can legitimately take, the lower your taxable income will be. The tax breaks not only add to your bottom line, but tax codes can also occasionally have a personal benefit. For example, a combination business trip and vacation. It all depends on paying careful attention to IRS rules on just what is — and isn’t — tax deductible.

11 Tax Deductions Most Pharmacy Owners Should Tap Into

Be sure to check out number 10; it’s our favorite. However, it’s important to know we do not claim to be tax experts, please consult with your accountant or tax adviser for complete information.

Your Home Office – Do you often bring work home? If you have a dedicated workspace, you may be eligible. You don’t need a full room to take advantage of this benefit. If your home office is just part of a room; measure your work area and divide by your home’s square footage. The percentage represents how much of the home-related business expenses that you can claim.
Office supplies – Even if you decide not to take the home-office deduction, you can still deduct the business supplies you buy. Don’t forget to keep the receipts for these expenses to offset your taxable business income.
Computer Systems, Robots, and Other Equipment – Items such as computers, copiers, fax machines, and scanners also are tax deductible.
Subscriptions – Do you subscribe to industry-related magazines? You can take the total costs as a full deduction in the year spent.
Mileage – If your pharmacy delivers or you drive often for other work-related reasons, you’re eligible to receive some of your money back. Keep a record of dates, mileage, tolls, parking costs and the purpose of your trip.
Travel, meals, entertainment and gifts – Good news, small-business travelers, the cost of business travel is tax-deductible. The cost of travel be it air, rail, or auto, is 100 percent deductible.
Telephone charges – You can deduct the cost of the business calls that you make for business from home. When your bill comes in, circle the business-related calls, total them up and keep a copy for when you file as a reference.
Expenses to start up or expand your business – The biggest mistake in deducting expenses to start up or expand your business is failing to make an election to amortize or deduct these expenses in the first year. A paper election is required to be attached to the return, stating your intention to amortize them. Otherwise, the expenses become nondeductible until you sell or liquidate the business.
Charitable Donations – Save all your receipts, and don’t forget to keep track of contributions of inventory or property.
OUR FAVORITE: Continuing Education – The tax law is filled with breaks to help small business owners pay for business education events such as the PDS Super-Conference. After all, the smarter and better trained a business owner is, the more likely she will make more money and benefit the entire economic system.
New tax benefits for 2018 – There are new tax rules for 2018. Some old favorites such as the manufacturing credit are gone and instead new benefits such as possibly expensing your inventory are now in play. This benefit alone is worth tens of thousands of saved tax dollars to most owners! It is vitally important you speak with a tax advisor that is schooled in how pharmacy owners can take maximum advantage of the new tax code.

The window of opportunity for reducing your yearly taxable income is about to slam shut on December 31st. While most of your tax deductions are already set in stone, attending the PDS Super-Conference allows you to reduce your taxable income while simultaneously learning the numerous ways the new tax code will benefit pharmacy owners.

Tom Wheelwright, CPA is the visionary and best-selling author behind multiple companies that specialize in wealth and tax strategy. He will be presenting at the PDS Super-Conference showing pharmacy entrepreneurs how to build wealth through practical and strategic ways to permanently reduce taxes.

December 31st is the last day for you to purchase a ticket to the PDS Super-Conference AND write it off as a tax deduction for the year. As stated above, everything is tax-deductible – from the ticket to travel expenses. Join us this February in Orlando, Florida for the most important pharmacy conference of the year.

How to Use Persuasion to Increase Patient Buy-In

December 3, 2018/in PDS Super Conference, Pharmacy Growth Strategies/by pdsmarketing

Are you looking to increase your number of patient transactions? How about getting patients to take advantage of your unique products and services? The most straightforward and practical answer is to use the subtle art of sales.

There is often a negative association with the word ‘sales.’ Hearing the word ‘salesperson’ likely conjures up some particular images and ideas for most people. In the best light, they are of a typical salesperson, aggressive, pushy at one end, and ‘con-artist’ or manipulative at the other.

If you’re thinking that you’re ‘selling’ to your patients, frame it another way. The fact is that you’re doing a very important job in the community by helping them solve their health and wellness problems.

Imagine if your best friend tells you he’s struggling with a problem, and you have a solution, wouldn’t you speak up and say something about it?

If you have a product or service that can help others, it is your moral obligation as a healthcare provider to share it with them.

The rest of this post will cover how you can use Dr. Cialdini’s principles of persuasion to communicate new treatment options to your patients and increase sales.

Scarcity: Patients Love Limited-Time Deals (And Things They Have Less Of)

Leverage the emotional impact of FOMO (or the fear of missing out) to increase sales.

To apply this principle to your pharmacy business, offer limited-time deals for different audiences.
Scarce products and offers feel exclusive and valuable to consumers.

One way to showcase a limited time product is by placing it in a smaller end-cap area with signage that conveys urgency and scarcity.

When you’re discussing the product, highlight what they stand to lose by not taking action and speak to the specific issues the patient might be experiencing.

You can also experiment with offering exclusive perks reserved only for top customers. Once people realize that being a repeat customer comes with rewards, they’ll be more ready to act on purchases. In turn, you’ll increase revenue and often, your average transaction value as well.

Assure Your Patients You’re An Expert

Make sure you establish your credibility to your customers.

Why? Although we’ll never admit it, we want others to tell us exactly what to do. Especially by experts that we trust. You can do this by making recommendations, displaying your certifications where your patients can see them, and answering any questions your patients might have.

If you show that you and your team are trained experts, your patients will also be more willing to try new products or services that you recommend.

Offer events and classes that educate your patients, if you continually provide value around healthcare and wellness, your pharmacy will soon be known as a healthcare destination for the community.

People discuss excellent and awful experiences. If you’re providing great customer service, you can bet that you’ll start seeing the referrals come through the door. High patient satisfaction and experiences will ultimately drive more sales.

Consistency Is Key: Start With Small Commitments for Big Sales

When you’re selling something (especially if it’s a high-ticket item that people don’t buy on impulse), try to get your patient to commit to something small first.

As a pharmacy owner, this could be a free trial or samples of new products.

After they agree or “say yes” to you once, they’ll be more willing to “say yes” again to stay consistent with their previous action.

If you use this principle, you can break down many of the barriers your patients have when shopping, and over time, your patients will agree to bigger and more expensive recommendations.

The important thing to remember is to nurture your relationship with them and get several “yeses” first.

Influence at Work: Building a Better Pharmacy

Remember, using these principles to influence your patients isn’t wrong if you’re applying them ethically. Your mission as a healthcare professional is to help people who come to you with health and wellness challenges.

In fact, if you master ethical persuasion, you’ll be able to improve the lives of patients you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

Employee Engagement: How to Effectively Influence Your Pharmacy Team

December 3, 2018/in PDS Super Conference, Pharmacy Staff Development/by pdsmarketing

To increase employee engagement, it is critical to persuade or “sell” your vision for the company to your team.

A Familiar Scenario:

You’ve completed an intensive, week-long business boot camp. During the boot camp, you’ve learned a new marketing strategy to increase your independent pharmacy’s sales. You’re excited.

You can’t wait to use this new marketing tactic to grow your business.

You say to yourself, “I’m going to tell my team about this right away so we can see results fast.”

You call a meeting and tell everyone about your new idea.

But, you’re met with blank faces and reluctant nods from your team. In other words: you didn’t move them.

“This sounds good, but I’m not sure this will work,” or “This strategy is very different from what we’re currently doing. Should we risk it?”

Does this sound familiar? We’ve all been there.

You have two choices: you can try to do everything on your own, or you can learn how to use influence buy-in from your team to execute on the strategy. This post will explain how you can use the persuasion principles of reciprocity, likeability, and authority by Dr. Cialdini to get your team on-board with your ideas.

Using Reciprocity to Engage Employees in Your Pharmacy

In general, people feel obliged to give or agree to your request, if you gave them something first. You can use this in your business by giving your pharmacy team gifts and other incentives such as paid time off or bonuses.

This doesn’t have to be monetary; the aim is to provide value to the lives of your pharmacy employees. After all, people tend to do more when they feel appreciated.

Here are some ways to give to your employees without denting your wallet:

Give advice or teach them something useful that they can take with them outside of your business.
Take the time to highlight how a new strategy lines up with the mission and values of the business. This will give your team a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Instill a sense of autonomy and ownership of projects, whenever possible. This will give your employees a sense of control and accountability in their own work and in your company.
Print out business cards for your employees. You will be surprised how this simple gesture boosts pride and work fulfillment.

Most of the time, your team wants the same outcomes you do; healthy patients and a thriving business. When your employees realize that you value and reward their work, they’ll be more willing to listen to your ideas.

Leveraging Authority in Your Pharmacy Business

People turn to experts for advice on what to do.

For example, patients listen to doctors’ recommendations and prescriptions because they view them as an expert on the subject.

In your pharmacy business, you’re the expert. You’re the authority figure that your pharmacy team should look to when figuring out what to do next.

Here are a few examples of how you can effectively communicate your authority and build trust without crossing the line into abusing your power.

Present Yourself Well – Simply put, your appearance makes a difference. Small changes such as name tags or a uniform color scheme make a difference in the team dynamic. A great example is a uniformed police officer; a more subtle example is a waiter taking your order. Want your exceptional team to stand-out to your patients? Start with how they look when they come to work.
Lead By Example – Your team is looking to you for cues on everything from how you communicate with a challenging patient, to how you follow up on tasks. Asking your team to do something you won’t do yourself signals a lack of respect in your team dynamic. Want them to enter data in a specific way or manage a critical workflow carefully? Don’t just tell them, show them, and reinforce it by recognizing and rewarding positive behaviors.

Be respectful and polite, but also, don’t let anyone undermine your authority.

Be firm but fair and soon, you’ll earn your staff’s respect and they’ll be more receptive to ideas you might have.

Using the Principle of Likability to Get Others to Follow You

Ruling through fear might get you loyalty, but it’s cheap. When it’s time to make big decisions, it’ll become clear that your team will follow the motions, but you won’t have their complete buy-in. You’ll feel as if you’re swimming against the current whenever you introduce something new.

Sharing basic similarities and views with your team boosts your likeability factor. Applying this principle isn’t difficult, and if you run a business, you leverage it more than you realize.

For example, smiling and maintaining eye contact when you’re talking to your team or patient.

Complimenting someone means they’ll be more likely to respond positively to a request.

A referral from a trusted friend tends to carry a little more weight.

Improve employee engagement and the time you spend together by building connections. Ask your pharmacy employees about their families, their hobbies, and even how their day is going. Then, share something personal about yourself.

Remember, it’s much easier to like someone if you know things about them.

Showing interest in your pharmacy teams’ lives and building relationships with them will give you more influence and benefit your workplace.

Making the Most Out of Time with Your Pharmacy Team

As the owner, you’re responsible for the success of your pharmacy business. Considering we spend a tremendous amount of time in the workplace, learning to make the most of your time and how to motivate your team effectively is critical. Your team is the most sustainable competitive advantage in your organization.

And it’s your job to learn what makes them tick.

If you use these persuasion tactics, you’ll be able to influence your pharmacy employees and try new things faster than before. But, to maximize your business’s growth in 2019, you also need to learn how to use the other 3 persuasion principles of consensus, scarcity, and consistency.

Easy Ways Independent Pharmacy Owners Can Get More Referrals From Prescribers

November 30, 2018/in PDS Super Conference, Pharmacy Growth Strategies/by pdsmarketing

Owning an independent pharmacy is easy, said no one ever. This is why identifying unique strategies to grow your pharmacy and improve your bottom line is vital. So how do pharmacy owners do this? Owners can achieve this in many ways, two of which are by increasing the amount and frequency of pharmacy transactions, in addition to driving new patients to your business. While increasing volume isn’t the only way to grow your pharmacy (so many options!), it is one effective strategy. In this blog, we’ll highlight one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to drive new patients to your pharmacy, by building and maintaining strong relationships with prescribers and increasing patient referrals.

Read on to learn more about how to increase referral traffic from doctors and other health professionals in your area. Building and nurturing strong relationships with local physicians is critical to creating a steady flow of referrals and new patients.

Identify Prescription Sources

Pharmacy owners can easily identify which prescribers make up the bulk of their business. Leveraging this data allows owners to enhance the partnerships with prescribers that regularly send you patients. Pharmacy owners can also reach out to those who may benefit from the specific services offered by your pharmacy, but for some reason or another, aren’t sending referrals.

The role of the community pharmacist is expanding to include enhanced services such as annual wellness reviews, medication therapy management, pharmacogenomics, and other clinical services. The expansion allows for greater collaboration between prescribers and pharmacists. Treating the roles of pharmacist and prescriber as complementary is key to developing good working relationships and achieving the best patient outcomes.

3 Reasons Why Your Pharmacy Should Offer Annual Wellness Review Services

Nurture Relationships with Physician Partners – Working in partnership with a physician for AWV is a great step to streamlining communication between the two offices. This will benefit your pharmacy when it comes to requesting medication switches as well as offering ancillary programs such as diabetic education and flu clinics.
Greater Involvement in Patient Care – This is an opportunity to keep patient files up-t0-date and ensures you are offering the best standard of care. The face-time with patients allows for your team to ensure patients are following protocol and share information on new programs that would benefit patient outcomes.
Grow or Start Your Medication Synchronization Program – Create a goal to educate and register your patients about the benefits of synchronization.

Give New Health Professionals in Your Area a Warm Welcome

Did a new pediatrician or nurse practitioner recently join your local health community? Introduce yourself as the local go-to pharmacy by sending them a personalized note or setting up a one-on-one lunch. Take the opportunity to see what they need and how you can help them meet the goals for their practice and their patients.

Lend your experience as a medical expert to help prescribers maintain medication adherence, and enhance their healthcare plan for the patient. Building trust with local health professionals and developing a relationship is beneficial for both parties as well as the patients you serve.

Build Relationships with the Entire Staff

The key to getting the doctor’s staff to recommend your pharmacy is by staying top of their mind. You can do this by engaging the doctor’s entire team. That includes the medical assistants, nurses, receptionists — everyone!

Send a handwritten note, flowers, or tasty goodies on the appropriate health care appreciation day to show your gratitude. Assisted Living Week begins September 12th and Physician Assistants Week begins October 6. When you give people gifts, they’ll feel obliged to provide you with something in return. Dr. Cialdini calls this the “rule of reciprocity.” In this case, you’re positioning your pharmacy to be top of mind when they want to refer a customer.
Stop by the clinic on a regular basis to chat with the staff. The key is to be likable and bring value to the conversation. Don’t be afraid to offer genuine compliments or share something personal about yourself. Look for similarities and point them out to build connections. Bringing pharmacy news, coupons, or samples of new products and services can go a long way.
Invite the local health professional community to your pharmacy for a quarterly, after-hours networking event. The goal is for them to meet your staff and learn about the services you provide. Make the event fun by wrapping the refreshments around a holiday or theme (February – chocolate; May – margaritas, etc.). You’ll have the health community looking forward to your events and referring patients to your pharmacy in no time!

Position Your Business as an Authority on Health and Wellness

One advantage independent pharmacies have over national chains is superior customer experience. Simply put, people talk about great experiences and bad experiences. If the patient is referred to your pharmacy and walks away having a great experience, they are going to share that with the prescriber, who will, in turn, refer more patients.

Take advantage of this by educating and informing your patients about services, programs, and philosophies on which you’ve built your independent pharmacy. When you give your customers (and prescribers) valuable information for free, your pharmacy is reinforcing its position as an authority in health and wellness.

You can talk about:

Solutions to counteract drug-induced nutrient depletion issues.
Where to get free calcium, kids vitamins (Pediatricians), prenatal vitamins (OB-GYN) and diabetic medications.
Type II Diabetes and how to prevent it. You can even teach your customers how to cook healthy meals at home.
Products that prevent sports injuries (Chiropractor).
And much more…

When you help solve the patient’s problems, they’ll be more likely to accept your recommendations. If you start taking these steps today, you’ll notice doctors are more willing to refer customers to you. To maximize your pharmacy’s growth through referrals, you need to learn how to effectively and ethically persuade others.

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