Sell What People Want!! Or Go Out of Business!!

“Years ago, I purchased a retail pharmacy & hardware store. I know, rather an odd combination. The pharmacy was doing well. But I realized that, other than the items related to the pharmacy (such as vitamins and cough syrup) the front end wasn’t making money—it was just… there. So, I took a hard look at what worked and what needed to go.

First, I had to face some hard truths. Some things needed to be on the chopping block. So I ditched the dead weight.

🍸 🍷 Liquor—bad idea. Turns out, people don’t go to a pharmacy for fine whiskey. 

👞 Shoes? We didn’t sell orthopedic loafers. They were just collecting dust. 

💧🔧Plumbing and ⚡🔌electrical? Way too often, we would spend 40 minutes trying to help a customer with $4 of parts and they still wouldn’t have everything they needed.

Then, I went all-in on what was actually making money. 

🎨🌈I expanded the paint department—bought out another store’s inventory and purchased a color-match computer. People suddenly started coming in to paint their houses, not just to pick up prescriptions!

🎂🎈 Next, I took a little 16-foot card section and blew it up into a full-fledged Hallmark card and gift shop. Because, let’s be real—when you need to apologize, celebrate, or explain why you forgot your anniversary, a pharmacy that also sells great cards and gifts is a lifesaver!

The result? I increased front-end profits by over 250%! All because I stopped selling the stuff nobody wanted and doubled down on what people were actually willing to pay for.

And that’s the lesson here—whether it’s a pharmacy, a restaurant, or any business, if something isn’t making you money, cut it loose! Focus on what actually works and watch your profits grow. Understand what the numbers are trying to tell you.  

Oh, and if you ever need to fix a leaky faucet, don’t go to your local pharmacy first.”