What's Happening this month:
November 26th - Thanksgiving Day
(Hopkins Center Drug will be closed for the Holiday)
November 28th - Small Business Saturday,
and our annual TRIPLE Loyalty Day
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As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, everyone at Hopkins Center Drug would like to say 'Thank you' to our wonderful, loyal customers, who have stood by us and supported us during this unusual year.
We all wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving!
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New Phone System
We have installed a new phone system, and have had a few glitches along the way with it, so thank you for being understanding if we lost your call.
The options have changed, so please listen carefully when calling the store so that you choose the correct option to meet your needs.
If you want to speak with someone in the pharmacy, the option to now press is zero (in the past it had been 3). If you can, we would appreciate it if you would use the IVR system to request your refills. The fills requested show up immediately in our system, and we can get them processed much more efficiently than when you talk to a person. We understand that some people like to talk to a real person, so please feel free to choose that option if you would like; however, anyone who answers the phones can take your refill requests, it does not need to be a pharmacist.
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New Pharmacy System
Last week we went live with our new pharmacy and point of sale software. There is a learning curve to this new system, so please be patient with us as we learn to navigate the new system. For the past 15 years we have had the same pharmacy and register system, so we were pretty quick at navigating to where we needed to be to find answers to your questions, but it may take us just a bit longer to find where everything is in this new system.
The biggest change that you will notice is that we now have chip readers for credit card transactions! We also need to link customers to their accounts the first time you check out, and we need to manually add in your loyalty points from the old system. No one has lost any points, we printed out a record of those before we switched systems, but with a couple thousand loyalty customers it is going to take us a while to get everyone connected again. Some items aren't ringing up in the new system, so we are working to get everything updated as quickly as we can.
There are many great new functions to this new system that you will benefit from in the coming months. We need to first get ourselves familiar with the basics of the system before we start rolling out all the fancy functionality. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months. Thank you for being patient with us during this transition! (It's hard to teach old dogs new tricks!!!)
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New Pharmacy App:
We have currently shut off our pharmacy app as it does not integrate with our current pharmacy software. We will be converting over to our new App which is much more friendly to use and will provide you with more information. We will sending out an email blast with directions on how to download and access the new App soon. We will also have directions available in the store for you to pick up.
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Loyalty Certificates:
As of Sunday, November 1st, we printed out the loyalty certificates for those who had accumulated 250 points in our loyalty program, and those certificates have been mailed out. As mentioned above, we need to get everyone's loyalty points updated in the new system, so please be patient with us as we get this done. We are currently a bit short staffed, so that project is going to take longer than expected.
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Holiday Gifts:
Kelsey and Suzy have loaded the gift department shelves with unique and fun gift options for everyone on your list. Stop by soon for the best selection--many items are selling quickly already! If you are looking for a less crowded shopping experience this year, try shopping first thing in the morning between 8:30am and 10am, or in the evening between 6pm and 8pm. Remember to Shop Local this holiday season, and support all of the small businesses that make downtown Hopkins such a great place to live, work and shop!
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Flu Shots
We are all sold out of High Dose Flu Vaccine for this year. We still have regular Flu Vaccine in stock. If you haven't gotten a flu shot yet this year, please stop by the pharmacy, or call to make an appointment so that you can get your vaccination.
This year, more than ever, it is important to make sure you receive your flu vaccination. Remember, it takes about 2 weeks for your immunity to build up after getting your flu shot, so make it a priority to get your shot soon as flu season typically starts between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even though the High Dose Vaccine is hard to find this year, make sure you get a regular shot--it is still going to provide you with protection from the flu.
Getting a flu shot is the most important gift that you can give yourself and your loved ones this holiday season!
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Cough and Cold Season
Cough and cold season has begun, and we want to share some tips for selecting cough & cold medications. Cough drops can provide relief from irritation, and many types of cough drops also contain a numbing agent to soothe a sore throat. Cough suppressants, which often contain dextromethorphan, decrease the frequency of coughing. Cough suppressants are useful if your cough keeps you awake at night. Expectorants, such as Mucinex, can be used to thin mucous. Expectorants are useful if you have a “wet” cough or chest congestion, but you have not been able to cough much mucous up.
Nasal congestion is often associated with colds. The most effective medications to treat nasal congestion are topical decongestants, such as Afrin. These medications are typically nasal sprays that can be used for up to 3 days. Oral decongestants, such as Sudafed, can also provide some relief. Oral decongestants can be used for up to 7 days.
Let the Center Drug staff know if you have any questions about our cough and cold medications!
Remember that wearing a mask will also help to slow the spread of cough and colds this season. We have a nice selection of masks at the front of our store, and our staff can make recommendations on which ones we like since we have tried most of them.
(Contributed by our Pharmacist Intern, Sarah K.)
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Upcoming Double Point Days:
(Be sure to mark your calendars)
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Saturday, November 28th
(Triple points)
Thursday, December 17th
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Gift Gab
November is here, and it is time to give thanks!
Thank you to all of you loyal and valuable customers, new and old! in this trying time it is so nice to know that we still have wonderful customers like you, and we are very grateful for you all!
Thanksgiving dinner may look different this year, but we still have charming Thanksgiving decor and gifts to brighten your heart and home.
Stop in and check out our fun selection. If you can't be with your friends or family, why not send them a Thanksgiving card to let them know you are thinking of them.
Please take care.
--Kelsey
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Hopkins Center Drug | 913 Hopkins Center Hopkins MN 55343
952-938-2719
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