How Are Pharmacy Shelves Best Arranged?

customer pharmacy shelves

How Are Pharmacy Shelves Best Arranged?

There is no one set solution to pharmacy layout. The shop floor plan and pharmacist only areas  can differ depending on the running and location of said pharmacies. However, the main purpose of a pharmacy should be to cater to the needs of the community.

Some aspects that can affect how the pharmacy shelves are arranged include;

  • The age range of the community.
  • The general health and wellbeing within the community.
  • If a pharmacy is attached to a wider chain, and therefore has to follow certain SOPs (I.E; Morrisons, Tescos, or other supermarket pharmacies).
  • Pharmacy chains.
  • Independent pharmacies.
  • The size of the pharmacy, both following a shop floor plan and back of house.
  • Storage systems available to the pharmacy (I.E; modular drawer storage systems, pharmacy storage bins, etc).


  • As a result, it can be difficult to explain how pharmacy shelves are arranged – and that’s before considering international differences! If you need to know how pharmacy shelves are arranged then it may be better to consider elements many pharmacies have in common.

    Modular Drawer Storage Systems

    Modular drawer storage systems are generally considered best practice for businesses like pharmacies. In scenarios where accessible shop floor plans are paramount; the customisable nature of module storage systems, drawers included, is a huge benefit.

     

    Pandemics and medical breakthroughs alike mean you may be required to stock new – or more – medication at short notice. Not to mention health guidelines like social distancing for example can affect your shop floor plans. As such, having sets of drawers that can be adapted to suit current needs is always a plus.

    Pharmacy shelves for vets

    Pharmacy Storage Bins

    Pharmacy storage bins are more commonly used back of house. They’re generally deeper and used to hold the same medications for easy access during prescription filling. When using pharmacy storage bins, the standard practice tends to be having many storage bins displayed in rows. This makes scanning the storage bins to find the right medication easier.

    These pharmacy storage bins can either be made from see-through materials, so that medication is visible, or labelled. Some storage bins also come with a lid and can be filled from the top, so that medication is pushed to the front when pharmacists remove some.

    Pharmacy Shelves Arrangement Methods

    We’ve touched on how the best practise for shop floor layouts within a pharmacy should prioritise accessibility. As well as how selecting modular drawer storage systems can help keep your pharmacy customisable, both front and back of house. But to explain how the pharmacy shelves are arranged outside of customer areas depends on how your pharmacy opporates.

    There are several ways to organise medications. The method you select may be make or break for filling prescriptions, especially if you lack space back of house. For the purpose of simplifying solutions, the examples we list will use pharmacy storage bins.

    Alphabetical

    Sorting medications in alphabetical order has the benefit of being a familiar sorting system for most people. This makes it easy to scan the pharmacy storage bins for the right medication. However, most medications are sorted by their generic drug names or the INN (international nonproprietary name).

    This requires pharmacists to be familiar with different names for the same drug so they don’t make mistakes when filling prescriptions. Alphabetising medications with similar sounding names may also prove problematic for people with certain disabilities, like dyslexia.

    Types

    Some pharmacies may choose to separate their medications into types. This means keeping things like bottles, creams, pills, and boosters in their own sections. This means pharmacists have to be familiar with the appearance of medications.

    Generally a system like this has to be combined with something like an alphabetical storage solution. Otherwise, it should only be used for commonly required medications, or very small pharmacies. Scouring the labels may take much longer otherwise.

    Converse!

    No matter how you use your modular drawer storage system, communicating with all pharmacists is essential. If you’re aware that certain storage solutions may stump members of the team then include them in discussions on how to improve pharmacy shelf arrangements.

    Inov8 provides bespoke and ready-to-buy shelving solutions that work around any pharmacy. If this doesn’t explain how the pharmacy shelves are arranged, then please get in contact. We are able to work with you to find a storage solution that helps your pharmacy thrive.

    pharmacy floor plan design

    Where here to help

    • If you are looking for some help designing your pharmacy floor space of shelving systems we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what you need for your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371
    shelving for vets

    How To Put Stock In Pharmacy Shelves?

    customer pharmacy shelves

    How To Put Stock In Pharmacy Shelves?

    Shelving is very important in a pharmacy. Once you’ve installed your modular pharmacy shelves they can be customised any way you like. However, the way that you stock your shelves is just as important as the shelves themselves.

    For both front-of-house (the customer area) and back-of-house (typically inaccessible to customers), shelves need to be organised in an efficient way.

    Stocking Shelves Front-Of-House

    Shelving design and stocking shelves go hand in hand. We’ve already touched on the best practice modular shelving designs in our pharmacy shelves design  blog. But to reiterate, the most important aspect of the front-of-house stock is its accessibility.

    One of the ways we recommend keeping stock front-of-house accessible is to use auto feed drawers. These drawers are angled towards customers, meaning products slide to the front when one is removed. This improves the efficiency of putting stock in shelves front-of-house;

    Pharmacy shelves for vets

    Stock Location

    Another way to improve stocking front-of-house is to place the stock that needs selling at eye level. This means that while customers are waiting for their prescriptions they have time to browse products. Just remember that eye level is not the same for everyone, especially in a pharmacy.

    Overall, a modular storage system helps you change up front-of-house stocking to suit your needs. If you notice wheelchair users tend to need certain products, make sure to place them at a lower height. In turn, expensive and less essential products can be placed on higher shelves.

    The secret of how to put stock in pharmacy shelves front-of-house lies in knowing the needs of your clientele. If you’re still struggling try placing a suggestion box on the counter and see what your customers have to say.

    Stocking Shelves Back-Of-House

    The most important aspect of stocking pharmacy shelves back-of-house is efficiency. In this context ‘efficiency’ means;

    • Making sure medications are easy to find,
    • Making sure medications are quick to find,
    • Making sure your shelving layout is easy to understand and learn.
    •  

    There are different methods to achieve this; from vertical storage to alphabetizing products. Modular pharmacy shelving encourages adapting your back-of-house shelving to best suit the space, and needs of your pharmacists. However, maintaining a shelving visual that’s easy to read is essential.

     

    pharmacy shelves in shop

    Organise Your Storage System

    What this means is you should be able to look at your pharmacy shelving and tell what is where. This is beneficial as if you can see when you’re running low on stock, you’re able to order more before you run out. In turn, this prevents patients being left without important medication.

     

    Reduce Over stocking

    • A visually sound storage system also reduces over-stocking. This saves money but is also important for two crucial reasons:
    • It reduces medical waste, especially for medicines with a shorter shelf-life.
    •  
    • To conserve space. Having spare room is important as a pharmacy because new patients, local outbreaks, or breakthroughs in the medical field; may mean you need to stock new medicines at short notice.

     

    The last element of how to put stock in pharmacy shelves is communication. Modular shelving is only a benefit when your pharmacists know where things are, otherwise you run the risk of increased human error. Make sure your staff are briefed on any changes, and consider having a pharmacy plan. Pharmacy plans can either be digital or printed and on display back-of-house.

    how to stack pharmacy shelves

    Use your Team

    Alternatively, it can be beneficial to involve your whole team in the task of reorganising stock. Staff contribution gives a headstart on remembering a new stock layout. It also gives your pharmacists a chance to troubleshoot any issues they’ve noticed during their shifts.

    The Choice Is Yours!

    Remember these are guidelines only, feel free to pick and choose elements from various shop floors. Or why not do some mystery shopping and learn from your competitors? If it’s within budget to outsource the job, companies like Inov8 Medical also provide store design services as well as shelving.

    You can also learn while you earn by listening to customers’ opinions, and moving elements of your shop accordingly. After all, there’s no harm in updating the feel of your store layout while also keeping up customer relations!

    pharmacy floor plan design

    Where here to help

    • If you are looking for some help designing your pharmacy floor space of shelving systems we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what you need for your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371

    How To Design A Shop Floor Layout?

    customer pharmacy shelves

    How To Design A Shop Floor Layout?

    Starting a business can be both a blessing and a curse. Whilst the payoff for a successful venture can change the lives of both you and your staff it’s a considerable amount of work. As such, there are some simple business techniques you may end up overlooking; such as putting decent consideration into the design of your shop floor.

    Besides the limitations of your building and wallet, the world is your oyster when it comes to shop floor design. However, there are several basic ways to craft a store depending on your business type and desired clientele.

    What you’re selling and who you want to attract also affects whether you choose to use the layout of your shop floor to guide customers or give them the freedom to browse.

    Layouts For Guiding Customers

    As you may have guessed, shop floors designed in this manner are intended to guide customers around the shop in a particular way. This can be subtly, by making certain routes more accessible, or entirely forced through a one-way system or strict path.

    ALWAYS REMEMBER: When reducing the accessibility of a shop to control customer movement don’t throw disabled people under the bus! Your shop must be wheelchair accessible, and guided layouts aren’t recommended for stores providing an integral service; like pharmacies.

    Pharmacy shelves for vets

    Forced-Path Floor Plans:

    A forced-path floor plan leads a customer through your entire shop and exposes them to every product. This has the advantage of exposing your clientele to items they may have missed otherwise and may result in them potentially spending more money.

    However, forced-path floor plans aren’t always ideal. Customers are not sheep, some will want to move quickly through your shop to grab what they need. The time it takes to traverse while shopping may actually turn some clientele away, especially if you’re designing a larger store.

    Loop Floor Plans:

    A loop floor plan focuses on lining the walls with products, combined with a plateau of items in the middle. This creates the “loop” in which customers travel and generally allows them to see everything in the store at once, on the assumption that the centre plateau is suitably low.

    A loop plan is a good middle ground between guided and non-guided. Here customers will still consider other products, but without having to dodge trollies before they can checkout. A loop floor plan doesn’t make efficient use of the space , however, so bear this in mind.

    pharmacy shelves in shop

    Non-Guiding Layouts

    Non-guided layouts are more open to allow customers to browse products at their own pace. These layouts are generally better suited to stores selling specific goods like clothing, technology, or boutiques.

    Grid Floor Plans:

    Grid is perhaps the most common shop floor layout as it is an excellent way of utilizing the space available to you. Whether you’re setting up a small store selling mixed goods, or a warehouse-sized store just for gardening equipment; a grid layout is comfortable to consumers and allows for ample foot traffic.

     

    This comfort does come with drawbacks, however; customers will spend less time in stores where they can access the goods they need freely. Not to mention, if you want to showcase specific products they either need to be where the customer enters or by the tills.

    shop floor design
    shop floor design

    Free-Flow Plans:

    A free-flow floor plan is breezier with mixed displays occupying a more open store area. They’re good at taking advantage of the space available – particularly in oddly shaped buildings. They provide a pleasant sightline and make it easy to remix the products available in store.

    However, free-flow layouts can be less intuitive to customers, and generally, work best when displaying a more selective range of products.

    The Choice Is Yours!

    Remember these are guidelines only, feel free to pick and choose elements from various shop floors. Or why not do some mystery shopping and learn from your competitors? If it’s within budget to outsource the job, companies like Inov8 Medical also provide store design services as well as shelving.

    You can also learn while you earn by listening to customers’ opinions, and moving elements of your shop accordingly. After all, there’s no harm in updating the feel of your store layout while also keeping up customer relations!

    pharmacy floor plan design

    Where here to help

    • If you are looking for some help designing your pharmacy floor space of shelving systems we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what you need for your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371
    customer pharmacy shelves

    Pharmacy Shelves Design

    Pharmacy Shelves Design

    Pharmacies in Communities

    Pharmacies are a vital aspect of most communities. Not only can pharmacists provide advice on minor injuries and illnesses, but for a lot of rural communities that lack larger supermarkets: it’s residents’ nearest stop for medicines. That is why your pharmacy shelves design must cater to those with accessibility issues when possible.

    shelving for vets

    Accessibility

    In this context, when we use the word ‘accessible’ we use it to mean how easy it is for customers to access the parts of the shop that they want to. Of course, accessibility isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of solution.

    People with different disabilities require different assistance, and even people with the same disabilities might have different limits. Pharmacists can provide expert health advice, and folks need to be able to pick up their prescriptions. This means that it’s safe to assume accessibility is important to your pharmacy clientele.

    In terms of pharmacy shelves design, this means refraining from having shelves too high or too low for people to access. It also means refraining from stacking shelves too tightly or making them too deep. Otherwise, customers might have to stretch and twist to access products at the back of the shelves.

    Looking for some custom design advice? 

    Utilising Good Pharmacy Shelves Design

    When considering how to keep your shop accessible whilst also being profitable, space management becomes very important. Shop aisles need to be wide enough for wheelchair users to navigate; which may mean forgoing aisles altogether for some smaller pharmacy practices.

    In the absence of aisles, a good design choice for pharmacy shelves design is to keep shelving against the walls of the customer area. Seating can then be placed in the centre of the floor, front-of-house, for customers.

    pharmacy shelves in shop

    Pharmacy Seating

    Seating is beneficial for the elderly and less-mobile customers, whilst also offering the pharmacy a way to shift products that need selling. When customers are waiting for their prescriptions they can consider items placed at eye level whilst seated.

    The height of items is also important for accessibility. Try to keep the majority of items within arms-reach of waist height so that it’s available for wheelchair users to pick up.

    Remember that not everyone has – or wants – a carer. So if the design of your shop lacks accessibility then that means you’re spending more time on the shop floor, when you might need to be back-of-house.

    Easy way to improve accessibility

    An easy way to improve accessibility through pharmacy shelves design is by using auto feed drawers. Auto feed drawers are angled so that when a customer removes a product from the shelf, the products behind the slide to the front.

    This means that customers are conveniently able to reach the next item without straining and that you can get on with your work; without having to worry about stock rotation.

    Inov8 Medical

    Here at Inov8 Medical, we have over 40 years of experience in pharmacy design. We’ve worked with some of the largest medical chains in the UK, including Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy. This means we’re accomplished when it comes to pharmacy shelves design and the overall design of your pharmacy.

    So if you need expert advice on designing your pharmacy, or if you just need new supplies to optimize your working day then don’t hesitate to get in contact! 

    How to Organise Pharmacy Shelving?

    pharmacy shelving design, Inov8 Medical

    How To Stack Pharmacy Shelves?

    One area to consider is product categories that aren’t moving out of the store. It’s important to ensure there’s ample space between brands, and enough contrast in products sold. This way customers can readily find their desired item among all other similarly-marketed options on display at any given point. Be that during a routine visit or  on shopper walkthroughs.

    Next, consider the customer experience in your store. Do customers feel confident you’re focused on their needs rather than on commercial interests? Is there a variety for them to choose from when browsing through items available, or shopping at your store?

    Third, when customers are looking for something in your store they want it fast. When the shelves look like a mess or it’s lacking organisation then how can anyone find what they’re searching for? It wastes time and may frustrate customers!

    Consider your customers’ experience when designing a safe and effective way for them to view products. An innovative shelving design can do just that, allowing more visibility of what you have in stock. All whilst not impeding their ability to purchase whatever it is they want at any given time.

    Pharmacy shelves for vets
    pharmacy shelves

    Pharmacy Stores Must Attract

    Retail pharmacy stores have a lot to offer in terms of customer appeal, so it’s important that they’re designed with high-quality fixtures. This will make your store stand out from the rest and attract more customers!

    One easy way to improve your store’s appearance is simply updating it. An older design will be noticed by customers and can make you seem outdated. So consider going for something more modern like soft indirect lighting instead.

    Clients will be happier with your products and more likely to buy them if they are not towering over customers. To keep shelves at eye level, update or replace old-fashioned displays with ones that feature shorter showcased items.

    A Great Pharmacy Store Impresses

    As a convenience to customers, you may also want to provide seating in strategic locations around the store. Especially for those who have difficulty walking or are just not as physically active – it can make their shopping experience easier!

    Lastly, setting up your store with the product displays in mind is essential. If customers are encouraged to stroll throughout the store, they can see the products you have on display and potentially find items they forgot they needed.

    Inov8 Medical Pharmacy shelving
    pharmacy floor plan design

    We’re here to help

    • If you are looking for some help designing your pharmacy floor space or shelving systems we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what you need for your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371
     
    how to stack pharmacy shelves

    Are Traditional Pharmacy Floor Plans The Right Way to Go?

    pharmacy floor plan design

    Choosing Your Floor Plan

    Pharmacy floor plans are a crucial part of any pharmacy shop, so determining the best one beforehand will help guide decisions during the pharmacy floor design. There’s more than just pharmacy shelves or fixtures involved in deciding on what goes where; it all starts with choosing your floor plan!

    It’s important to understand that there are many options when it comes to pharmacy floor plans. One such option has become the norm in modern retail and pharmacy stores across the UK and around the world. The floor plan usually includes a traditional grid or straight layout with maximum usage of available space – but this isn’t your only choice!

    Combination layouts allow you to create sections by setting up pharmacy shelves parallel against store walls. All whilst free-flow designs give shoppers ample room for browsing without any limitations on where items can be placed within each section. These two styles provide different strengths depending upon how they’re implemented into an establishment…

    Gondola shelving is a great way for stores of all shapes and sizes to provide an aesthetically pleasing shelving display, while also making it easier than ever before to get around your store. With this type of system customers will be able pick up prescriptions, but are also encouraged to look at the displays on their way out of the door!

    pharmacy floor plan
    Pharmacy shelves for vets

    Do’s and Don'ts in Your Pharmacy!

    When designing a pharmacy it is important to consider the needs and wants of both front-end employees (those who work near customers), as well as back end staff (such as pharmacists). Here are some of the dos and don’ts when considering design options that will ensure success:

     

    For back end design:

    Do

  • You should always have a computer and telephone available for the pharmacy staff.
  • Ensure that required supplies and equipment are within easy reach.
  •  

    Don’t

  • DON’T neglect the proper workspace ergonomics with desks and counters at the proper height, comfortable chairs, and floor mats.
  • DON’T forget, A comfortable waiting area is a must for your patrons.
  • Front end design:

    Do

  • Customers should be directed around the store in a counter-clockwise direction by utilizing shelving.
  • The point of purchase display is a vital way to get your customers hooked on you and buy from all around the store. This is especially true in situations where they’re right next to the check out register!
  • Do aim to make your store an inviting and customer-friendly place.
  • Dont

  • use standard linoleum flooring or fluorescent lighting. You should aim to include natural lighting for a more comfortable environment.
  • Inov8 Medical Pharmacy shelving
    Pharmacy shelves for vets

    We’re Here To Help:

    If you’re looking for help designing your pharmacy floor space, or shelving systems, then we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what is needed by your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371

     
    pharmacy shelves