Expanding the in-store experience

At more than twice the size of a typical drug store, London Drugs outlets offer shoppers in Canada’s four westernmost provinces one of the trade class’ most extensive selection of products.

(Click here to view the full report.)



While executives stress that pharmacy is still at the heart of the chain’s business, London Drugs also has established itself as the retailer consumers turn to for such big-ticket items as computers, home entertainment systems and cameras.



Offering such a broad range of merchandise while never losing sight of its roots as a full-service drug store also has helped the company become one of the most highly regarded retailers in all of Canada. Last year, a consumer poll found that the company — which marks its 70th anniversary this year — was the most-trusted brand in British Columbia. Other consumer surveys over the years have put London Drugs at or near the top of Canadians’ favorite places to shop.



Committed to slow and steady growth, the company has been diligent about keeping its store base fresh, periodically remodeling older stores and opening one or two new units a year.



Earlier this year, for example, London Drugs debuted a new outlet in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Expanded from 28,500 sq. ft. to the company’s current prototype of 37,000 sq. ft., the remodeled store includes skylights for increased daylight and the addition of a 244 sq. ft. classroom-style Learning Lab that offers training sessions, clinics, workshops and education seminars on such topics as computers, cameras, nutrition and wellness.



A pharmacy consultation room in the new store allows patients to have one-on-one consultations and medication reviews.



The efforts to enhance its in-store shopping experience also have extended to London Drugs’ online offering. One of the first Canadian drug chains to provide an e-commerce site, London Drugs bolstered its online services last winter when it began offering same-day delivery for customers living in the Greater Vancouver area.