E-Commerce: Sell Your Products to Your Clients
A custom online pharmacy page on your veterinary hospital website is beneficial and convenient for your clients. When your veterinary clients want to purchase flea and heartworm products, you do not need to send them to another company's website-after all, that's why you have your own website, right? However, many veterinary hospitals do just that when they "partner" with outside veterinary pharmacies. "Partnering" with an outside company carries many risks-risks that can be avoided by setting up a custom online pharmacy page on your own website.
Why Send Clients Somewhere Else to Purchase Products?
You don't have to think of yourself as a web retailer in order to sell a few products on your hospital's website. Did you know that flea products and heartworm prevention medication account for more than 95% of the online veterinary pharmacy business? Why lose this business to online retailers when you can start selling these products from your own website almost immediately?
When VetNetwork creates an online pharmacy page for your website, it makes selling and buying products easy for you and your clients. VetNetwork can design an online pharmacy page that includes only the products you want to sell, unlike veterinary pharmacy "partners" that stock hundreds of products-including items you may not endorse. With a VetNetwork-designed online pharmacy page, you can add as many products as you like and you can change them as often as you want. You control the prices and can even offer specials and promotions.
There is no difference between a privately-owned online veterinary pharmacy and a company that "partners" with veterinary hospitals. Both take money out of your pocket and, sometimes, sell unnecessary products and services to your clients. You may think that your clients are only purchasing flea or heartworm prevention products; however, many end up with ear products, skin ointments, and even antibiotics in their shopping carts.
Your Reputation is in their Hands
Your online veterinary pharmacy partner is just that: your partner! By partnering with them (and including a link to them on your website), you are endorsing the products they sell. I have heard several nightmare stories about "friendly" veterinary pharmacy partners. One hospital owner reported that her clients received regular email advertisements from their online pharmacy partner. This company not only sent product recommendations for their clients' existing pets, they also sent product recommendations for deceased pets.
Another veterinary hospital owner reported that a client purchased a crate from their pharmacy "partner." The crate was damaged, so the client brought it to the hospital for a refund. The hospital receptionist had a difficult time explaining to the client that the online pharmacy partner was a private, independent company, not an extension of the veterinary hospital. The client was irritated that the hospital could not exchange the crate or provide a refund.
Reinforce your Clients' Trust
Sending clients to a third-party website to purchase heartworm and flea products is inconvenient-both for your clients and for you. When online veterinary pharmacy partners send unwanted emails, offer unnecessary products, and provide poor customer service, it reflects on your veterinary hospital's reputation. Since your clients trust you, and since you have your own professionally-designed custom website, you should provide them with a page on your veterinary hospital's website where these products can be purchased safely.
Setting up your custom online pharmacy is easy when you team up with VetNetwork. Call VetNetwork today and start selling your products from your hospital's website to your clients.