Holiday promotions are already hitting your clients’ inboxes. And while you can’t out-discount the competition, here’s the good news: you don’t have to.
You already have what matters most: trust, medical insight, and a direct connection to each pet’s care plan. Your goal this holiday isn’t to compete on flash. It’s to remind clients they already have a better choice. These five pharmacy plays are high-impact, easy to activate, and designed to boost both compliance and client loyalty.
1. The awareness play: Make sure clients know they have a choice
Why it matters:
According to a recent Brakke study (2024), nearly 3 in 4 pet owners don’t realize their veterinarian has an online pharmacy — yet 90% say they’d prefer to buy from their vet if price and convenience are similar.
How to do it:
- Repetition matters: clients need to see a message 3-7 times before it sticks.
- Post once this week using posts available in your Practice Toolkit, or a message like, “Get the same medications and diets we recommend in the exam room, shipped straight to your home.”
- Add store mentions to your appointment reminders, email signatures, and exam room signage.
- Use PetMail+ to automate these client communications — practices that sent even one email series saw a 32% increase in first-time online orders.
- Emphasize value: if you’ve opted to offer more competitive pricing, clients no longer have to choose between trust and cost.
2. The AutoShip play: Make it part of the care conversation
Why it matters:
When AutoShip is offered as the default, clients are far more likely to accept it — especially when it’s framed around health outcomes. Think of it like forward booking: when it’s part of the plan, it gets done. Clients on AutoShip are up to 3x more compliant with their pet’s treatment plan.
How to do it:
- Train staff to present AutoShip as part of the medical plan — not a retail option.
- In the exam room or at checkout, say: “We’ll set this up for delivery each month so Max doesn’t miss a dose.”
- When using digital scripting, include a note encouraging AutoShip for continuity of care.
- PetMail+ communications will reinforce this post-visit — encouraging clients to switch one-time orders to AutoShip automatically.
Behavioral insight: Once a client enrolls in AutoShip, they’re significantly less likely to shop elsewhere. This switching cost bias helps retain long-term pharmacy revenue.
3. The delivery play: Make it the natural next step
Why it matters:
Clients already trust your treatment plan — and they often leave with the first dose or bag of food. That’s the ideal moment to close the loop and offer delivery for the remainder of the product.
How to do it:
- Dispense the first dose or bag in-house for immediate needs.
- Place the follow-up order during the visit using your digital scripting tool in Practice Home.
- Or send a recommendation email with an order link before the end of the day.
- What to say: “We’ll send the rest of Bella’s doses right to your house — no extra steps needed.”
Why it works:
This bridges in-practice care with at-home follow-through, creating a seamless, thoughtful experience that reinforces trust — and keeps future refills connected to your pharmacy.
4. The refill play: Set up smart, stress-free reminders
Why it matters:
Refill reminders help prevent lapses in care, reduce last-minute calls, and make ordering easier for both clients and your team. When clients place orders through your online store, they’ll automatically receive these reminders — but there are easy ways to extend that experience, even when the original purchase happened in person.
How to do it:
- Want to remind clients who purchased in-house? If your practice information management software (PIMS) is integrated with Vetsource, you may be eligible for additional reminder communications that target clients who’ve filled preventives or long-term medications in-house. These prompt them to refill through your practice — either in clinic or online. Ask your Vetsource account manager if you qualify.
- Add a link to your online store in the refill communications you are already sending so clients know exactly where to reorder.
- If you don’t yet have a client app, check out the Vet2Pet app, included at no extra cost with Prescription Management. Push notifications sent through Vet2Pet are almost guaranteed to reach your client — making them more effective than email alone.
Why it helps:
Refill reminders work because they reduce forgetfulness — one of the top reasons for missed doses. Timely alerts prompt clients before a lapse happens, increasing the chance they refill on time and through you.
💡 Bonus: Vet2Pet also helps clients choose how they want to refill — delivery or pickup — while keeping their care tied to your practice.
5. The human advantage play: Show the people behind the care
Why it matters:
Retailers can offer flash but they can’t compete with the trusted team of people who know and care for your patients. Your team is your biggest differentiator — so show them.
How to do it:
- Share a team photo on social media: “Santa’s helpers aren’t the only ones busy this season. We’re stocked up and ready to help you and your pets — in person and online!”
- Mention your online store in follow-up calls or discharge instructions.
- Frame shopping with your practice as an extension of your care, not just a transaction.
Why it works:
Loyalty is emotional. When clients feel connected to your team, they’re more likely to stick with your pharmacy — even when a retailer’s promotion hits their inbox.
Your next step: Just start with one play
You don’t need a full campaign to make an impact. Work with your team to pick one play to tackle this week to see a difference.
As a Prescription Management customer, tools like PetMail+, Vet2Pet, and digital scripting are already available to you — making these plays easy to activate without adding more to your day.
The value isn’t just in what you offer — it’s in how you deliver it. This season, show clients that shopping with your practice is the most convenient, consistent, and care-connected choice they can make.
