Adding vaccines to services

From the beginning, Pharmaca’s format has included expert health advocates — professionals licensed in such fields as nutrition, skin care, homeopathy, naturopathy and herbal studies — who work in conjunction with pharmacists to develop health treatments and regimens unique to each customer and patient. And that personal level of care and expertise extends to the chain’s expanding beauty selection, as well.

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“With our staff of estheticians and expanding number of Natural Beauty Bars, customers can shop for spa-quality beauty brands and enjoy the convenience of in-store beauty services like brow waxing, makeup application [and] makeovers,” Mark Panzer, Pharmaca president and CEO, told Drug Store News.



In the past year, Pharmaca has expanded its portfolio of health-and-beauty services to include immunizations for influenza, pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough on a walk-in basis. To help promote that new offering, members of Pharmaca’s Feel Better Rewards loyalty program this fall received a gift coupon for $5 worth of retail shopping when they get their flu shot at Pharmaca.



That loyalty program is another differentiator that helps distinguish the Pacific Northwest pharmacy chain. “We use our Feel Better Rewards loyalty program to maintain direct contact with our customers, which helps us grow both in brick-and-mortar business and e-commerce,” Panzer said. “Our loyalty program has been growing rapidly over the past two years and continues to be a great benefit in driving loyalty, but most importantly, driving basket-size and customer transactions.”



Pharmaca currently operates 29 stores (two were opened recently) and expects to open two additional new stores this year. “Our newest northern California (Los Altos) location will open in April 2015 and will also follow the non-pharmacy format,” Panzer said. “We’re planning additional fill-ins to existing markets, which includes the Pacific Northwest market, the Bay Area and also the San Diego-Los Angeles market.”