INDUSTRY NEWS
Survey: Pharmacies Think COVID-19 Changes Here to Stay Pharmacists are getting ready for pharmacies to operate differently long-term. In fact, 61% of community pharmacists said they expect increased point-of-care testing for various illnesses, including COVID-19, while 61% anticipate higher demand for online products, according to a survey released by the National Community Pharmacists Association. According to the survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they did not offer point-of-care testing before the pandemic struck. Sixty-one percent said they believe that consumer demand for online products will remain high even after the crisis abates. “Pharmacies have adapted to the crisis in ways that may outlast the disease,” said Brian Caswell, NCPA president and owner of Wolkar Drug in Baxter Springs, Kan. The survey also found that 56% of pharmacists anticipate the pandemic will lead to the increased scope of practice. This means they’ll be performing more healthcare services in addition to dispensing medicine. Fifty-two percent said they believe more neighborhood pharmacies will be doing immunizations. And more than half said they believe consumers will prioritize local businesses over corporate brands. Many of the operational changes that pharmacies have adopted in response to COVID-19 also will be lasting, the survey found. More than 82% said they expect to continue expanded home delivery and curbside service. “Our pharmacy, like most local pharmacies, offered same-day delivery before the pandemic. We doubled our delivery service and started curbside service to keep our patients and employees safe,” Caswell said. “Most local pharmacists think those are services that consumers will value after the national emergency fades.” Nearly 60% of respondents said they believe they’ll keep the plexiglass barriers that they installed to protect patients and employees. Roughly 40% said they expect that their own pharmacies will expand their online marketing and communications. More than 60% said pharmacy staff will continue wearing masks, gloves and other protective equipment. Almost 40% said they believe telehealth will expand. “Pharmacists are rethinking their businesses just like other companies are doing,” Caswell said. “Some of these changes will be profound. Pharmacists are front-line healthcare providers, essential to the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Patient care has always been the top priority. Now, we’re finding new ways to deliver the same services, and we’re seeing opportunities to deliver new services. The commitment to our patients won’t change, but some of the ways we do business will.”
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King C. Gillette Beard Care Builds on Shave Brand’s Legacy King C. Gillette, a new product line from Gillette, is looking to change the way men perfect their facial hair styles and at-home grooming regimens. Named after the brand’s founder, King Camp Gillette, the line of products was inspired by more than 115 years of innovation and grooming experience, the Boston-based company said. “We’re excited to announce the launch of the King C. Gillette range, the first complete lineup of products and tools designed for men with facial hair. Our founder, King C. Gillette, revolutionized the male grooming experience more than a century ago, and so it is fitting that this new brand bears his name,” said Gary Coombe, CEO of Gillette. “All men have their own grooming styles and rituals, which is personal to them, and so we’ve put all our years of shaving experience together with the very best razor, hair and skin care technologies to create this full range of tools, accessories and care products to meet all the grooming needs of all men. It’s the one-stop shop for grooming that men have been looking for.” The line includes such facial hair care essentials as beard wash and oil, as well as a double-edged safety razor. At launch, the range will be categorized into three sections — Shave and Edge, Trim, and Care. Shave and Edge products will feature a double-edged safety razor and blade refills, shave and edging razor and blade refills, and transparent shave gel. The Trim selection includes the King C. Gillette beard trimmer. The Care line will have a daily beard and face wash, as well as a soft beard balm and beard oil, which have been formulated with such plant-based ingredients as argan oil, avocado oil, coconut water, aloe vera, white tea extract and cocoa butter. King C. Gillette also features the brand’s signature scent, which contains notes of cardamom, ginger, lavender and bourbon oil, as well as base notes of patchouli and sandalwood. King C. Gillette can be found at Walgreens locations nationwide in prices that range from $5.99 to $29.99.
June 2020 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM
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