INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

You don’t have to be a huge baseball fan to realize that this year’s World Series has two of the Major League Baseball’s prolific Zen leaders at its helm: Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs, and Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians. Both men are “Zen-like” leaders who embrace the moment, thrive under pressure, and allow the game to come to them. What is their secret in influencing effectively, while tapping into the special skills of their team?

These wise words were often shared by my late father. (The greatest mentor I could have ever asked for!) In fact, one of my favorite stories was based on this very premise.

South Korea is much more than Psy’s pop single “Gangnam Style” or the TV series “M*A*S*H,” which lasted three times longer than the actual Korean conflict. It’s one of the most remarkable modern economic success stories. The Eighth United States Army, about 29,000 strong, has long had a front row seat, but most Americans have not. Starting with the ’88 Olympics coming out party, South Korea has arrived. For U.S. OTC brand owners, it’s inevitably an A-list market.

A few rules of the road:

What motivates people as pharmacy customers is a complex topic. Why do some consumers remain loyal for years while others disappear? Why are some diligent at picking up prescriptions while some neglect to at all? While individual consumers have unique motivators for continuing to visit a particular pharmacy and for medication adherence, understanding overarching behavioral patterns can contribute to healthier individuals and increase pharmacy business success.

I’ve heard more than one organization shrug off the prospect of a disaster causing irreparable harm to their operation. Then, an unexpected circumstance causes the business not only to falter, but puts recovery in question altogether.

Contingency planning is essential for that very reason – preparation for the unexpected. And it is these unexpected events that can cause havoc to day-to-day business operations.

SAO PAOLO, Brazil — Drug Store News strategic partner Dan Mack, founder and managing director of Mack Elevation Forum, delivered the keynote address at the Brazilian Association of Pharmacies and Drugstore Networks’ annual Abrafarma Future Trends conference on Sept. 1.

The U.K. OTC market is, as the Brits would say, brilliant. For North American brand owners, it’s always on the list of attractive potential markets. Complex and unique, there are two “B”s that stand out — Boots and Brexit.

It’s not tickety-boo with the “B”s throwing a spanner in the works presenting challenges. Boots moves fast, while Brexit will unfold at a slower pace.
Translated, the United Kingdom is an attractive market.

Earlier this year, Brandperx announced the launch of its latest Bump Bag, a product sample bag targeting soon-to-be moms and hand-delivered to them by their trusted OB/GYN providers. With 4 million women becoming moms, that patient-provider relationship is a rich marketing opportunity.