Don’t go holiday soft; boost your pharmacy profits easily with these December tips.
December is basically the pharmacy owner’s version of running a relay race… while also wrapping presents… in a snow globe… with the phone ringing. The good news? It’s also one of the easiest months to quietly stack pharmacy profits —without feeling salesy or adding chaos, if you point your team’s attention at the right “now” opportunities.
Here are 8 practical ways to boost pharmacy profits in December without losing your sanity.
#1 Create a “Stocking Stuffer Power Aisle” (and label it like you mean it)
Most independent pharmacies already have tons of easy-win, pharmacy profit-generating items… they’re just hiding.
What to do this week:
- Pick ONE high-traffic spot (pickup counter path, register area, or waiting zone).
- Add a sign that’s impossible to miss:
“Stocking Stuffers Under $10 / $15 / $25” - Group by price so customers can grab without thinking.
What to put on it:
- Lip balm, hand cream, tissues, cozy socks
- Mini first-aid kits, travel-size essentials
- Pill organizers, sleep masks, hydration packs/electrolytes
- Cute kid items, small self-care items
Team script (simple + natural):
“Want to peek at our stocking stuffer table? Everything’s grouped by price.”
#2 Use 247dm.com as your “smart gift source” (and curate gifts people actually want)
People want practical, cute, funny, and memory-worthy gifts.
Set up a small “Pharmacy Gift Guide” table with 10–15 giftables you can confidently recommend.
Easy signage ideas:
- “Gifts Your Friends Will Actually Use”
- “Last-Minute Gifts That Don’t Feel Last-Minute”
- “Practical > Predictable”
Bundle ideas (fast + profitable):
- Winter Rescue Kit: hand cream + lip balm + tissues
- Sleep Kit: sleep mask + magnesium + tea
- Travel Kit: sanitizer + travel lotion + hydration packets
- Cold & Flu Comfort Kit: thermometer + tissues + lozenges
#3 Run a December Rx Sprint that pays now and protects January
December is when patients are distracted, and they can forget to order medications. Many also don’t realize that their insurance coverage can change in January, and the med they are taking now may not be covered anymore.
Choose a different angle that helps your patients and your pharmacy profits.
- Refill high-profit prescriptions before the end of the year
- Adherence calls
- 90-day conversions (when appropriate)
One question that saves you in January:
“Any insurance changes coming January 1?” Start pestering asking your patients for their new insurance cards now. Post signs in the pharmacy and on social media.
Do everything you can to make the first week of January a tiny bit less chaotic.
#4 Prep for the New Year wellness rush (December is when you set the traps)
January brings the “new year, new me” wave. If you wait until January, you’ve already missed the momentum.
Do these 3 things now:
- Build a small New Year Wellness Endcap (even if it’s tiny)
- Print a one-page Wellness Menu to hand out (services + consult options + key categories)
- Train your team on 3 easy prompts:
Team prompts:
- “If your goals include energy, sleep, or weight, we can help—want a quick chat with the pharmacist?”
- “We can match a simple supplement plan to your meds.”
- “We do quick BP checks and can help you build a plan.”
#5 Give employees extra love and attention (because December burnout is expensive & lowers pharmacy profits)
This is a profit strategy, not just a warm-and-fuzzy one. Burned-out teams create errors, call-outs, friction, and turnover thoughts.
A simple December employee plan:
- Snacks + hydration in the break area daily
- Weekly mini-recognition (specific + real)
- Remove ONE pain point for the month
- Offer some fun outlets, dress-up days, gift exchanges, and bring your own desserts.
If you give a gift:
Make it practical: a handwritten note + cash/gift card works better than random stuff.
#6 Have Santa in your pharmacy (and use him to create happy foot traffic & pharmacy profits)
Santa works because it gives families a reason to come in that isn’t “someone in the family is sick.”
Keep it operationally sane:
- One date
- One 2-hour block
- One photo spot
- One clear flow (line → photo → exit path passes your stocking stuffer table) ***Always exit through a gift shop!***
Optional win-win add-on:
- Toy drive
- Food pantry donation
- $5 donation bucket for a local cause
Positive community emotion tied to your pharmacy = long-term loyalty.
#7 Decorate your pharmacy on purpose (not chaos-decorate)
Decorations aren’t just cute—they’re directional. Use them to guide shopping behavior.
Do this:
- Decorate customer zones (not workflow zones)
- Frame your high-margin table/endcap with lights/garland
- Create one photo-worthy corner (it helps people remember you)
Goal:
Warm, cheerful, calm. Not cluttered, not stressful. People smile, and their brain gets happy with decorations.
#8 Pick ONE December non-Rx offer that’s easy, ethical, and repeatable
We’re not trying to become a discount store. We’re creating momentum at checkout.
Pick one offer and stick with it:
- “Buy 2, Save $5” on select giftables/stocking stuffers
- Bundled kit specials
- OTC category feature of the week
- Gift card push for teachers/coaches
- A simple “12 Days of Deals” board (one small daily special)
Why it works:
It gives your staff an easy thing to mention, and it makes checkout feel fun instead of transactional.
Quick December Pharmacy Profits Action Checklist (Print This)
- Build a stocking stuffer table with price signs
- Curate 10–15 giftables (247dm.com) + bundle 2–4 kits
- Pick ONE Rx sprint focus for 2–3 weeks
- Start asking: “Any insurance changes Jan 1?”
- Set up a small “New Year Wellness” endcap
- Implement a simple December employee plan
- Schedule Santa
- Choose ONE easy non-Rx offer and run it consistently
If you implement even half of these, December stops being “survive the month” and becomes “stack pharmacy profits while everyone else is distracted month.”
Ready to boost your pharmacy profits continuously? Check out Pharmacy Badass University.
