Every industry has to create its unique packaging styles to match its products, and different users’ needs. The beauty of packaging is that it can be made to adapt to different contexts and still be functional.
Direct-to-consumer pharmacies are an example of an industry that uses innovative packaging to scale up its services and give itself an advantage over its retail pharmacy counterparts. Keep reading to see the trends in the industry and how packaging has influenced the success of these innovative pharmacies.
What are DTC Pharmacies?
If you’ve been paying attention to the pharmaceutical sales space, you’d have noticed the rise of these online pharmacies selling drugs directly to buyers. These are the Direct-to-consumer pharmacies, and they are named based on the way they operate. T
By nature, the DTC businesses take away the discreet nature of pharmacies and drugs by placing drugs available and their prices online for anyone to see and buy. Consumers looking for generic prescription drugs, usually at lower prices than community retail pharmacies, go for these online options.
The Role of Packaging in DTC Pharmacy Success
The Direct-to-consumer pharmacy idea brought an interesting solution for people who wanted to search through different pharmaceutical options online and have them delivered to their location. However, it also came with its unique challenges, and here is how packaging helped solve a few of them.
- Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Pharmaceuticals are delicate materials because if tampered with or exposed to the wrong substances, they could become poisonous. To prevent this, all countries have agencies responsible for ensuring that drugs are packaged perfectly and with features like tamper evidence and child-resistant builds. In the US, the FDA is responsible for this, and they have clear specifications for what packages holding drugs are meant to look like.
- Product Preservation and Safety: The right packaging materials help businesses guarantee that the drugs reach the users in their original quality without any tampering or damage. Durable packaging is especially important for DTC pharmacies because, unlike retail pharmacies, where drugs are placed on shelves and picked up by buyers, DTC stores deliver their packages to the buyer.
- Improving Customer Experience: DTC pharmacies use product packaging to improve the user’s experience with the product. This can be in terms of adding extra information about the drug and its dosage to the package. Or sharing more information about the brand or even a personal note. The packaging gives the business some extra room to reach out to its buyers.
Innovative DTC Pharmacy Trends
With more DTC businesses coming up, these pharmacies are working to get more buyers loyal to their brands over the competition. Every business uses its unique techniques, but these are some common practices we found in the industry.
Personalized Packaging
Unlike community retail pharmacies, DTC stores do not give buyers any human interactions since everything is done online. To bridge this gap and make the purchase feel more human and less mechanical, businesses customize their packages to include personalized messages for the buyer.
Adding an extra touch to the package with a personalized message or gift helps to create an emotional connection between the buyer and the brand. This connection is necessary for developing customer loyalty in the long run.
Sustainable Pharmaceutical Packaging
Eco-friendly packaging is a trend that is cutting into every industry, and DTC pharmacies are no different. Businesses that are interested in preserving the environment go for recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials for making their packages. Beyond just saving the environment, research has shown that eco-conscious buyers are more likely to patronize brands that adopt eco-friendly practices.
Smart Packaging for Medicine
Packages carrying drugs need to pass important information to the buyer about dosage, details about the drugs, refill orders or possibly even brand information for marketing. Instead of passing all these details on the back of the package, DTC businesses now use QR codes.
In addition, technology is also used to guarantee product safety. For instance, businesses can use smart sensors to monitor freshness, temperature, and similar quality indicators.
Reinforced Packaging for Improved Product Integrity
Since delivery to consumers is a part of every DTC pharmacy’s operations, their products need extra protection to ensure their safety till they reach the buyer. To get this done, businesses typically add features like advanced insulation, vacuum-sealed packaging, or blister packs where each applies.
Conclusion on Packaging and Direct-To-Consumer Pharmacies
Packaging is a very important feature for Direct-to-consumer pharmacies. Businesses in this industry spend a lot of time creating perfect packages for improved marketing and guaranteeing product safety at all times.