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MONTREAL — Uniprix is marking its 35th year in business with a series of promotions, including a first-of-its-kind panoramic insert and a special anniversary magazine.
The Quebec drug chain said Tuesday that during the fall it will offer a range of anniversary prices. It’s also launching a major promotion in partnership with TVA and the popular television show "On Connaît la Chanson."
From Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, customers who visit a Uniprix store will find featured products of the week and can enter the "Uniprix 35 ans, ça se fête en chansons!" contest. The names of the winners will be announced during a special Uniprix episode of "On Connaît la Chanson" on Nov. 8.
Uniprix and media partner TC Transcontinental also are achieving a first with a special newspaper insert for the drug chain’s 35th anniversary. TC Transcontinental developed a double gatefold (63.5 x 21 inches), full-color print insert that it said is the biggest promotional insert ever in Canada, and the resulting product, called Panoramax, is making its debut for Uniprix’s anniversary.
"This was a perfect opportunity to increase the scope of all our promotional activities to mark the celebration of our 35th anniversary and make a big splash," Yves Léveillé, marketing vice president for the Uniprix Group, said in a statement. "Everyone at head office and in our network of pharmacies is highly motivated by the new insert. We are certain that it will generate outstanding sales results."
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The Uniprix promotional insert that was produced by TC Transcontinental is the largest ever in Canada. |
The Uniprix double-gatefold insert folds into four panels for a dimension of 16 x 10.5 inches. "This insert is truly exceptional, as much in terms of its presentation as its advertising impact. I am certain that our customers, starting with Uniprix, who is participating in this grand premiere not just once, but three times this fall, will recognize and leverage its possibilities," stated Brian Reid, president of TC Transcontinental Printing.
Meanwhile, Uniprix enlisted JBC Media to produce a special magazine celebrating the pharmacy chain’s 35 years in operation. The 76-page color publication is being distributed as a supplement in the French-language business journal Les Affaires and can also be viewed online via Uniprix’s website. In the magazine, which features actress and Uniprix spokeswoman Anick Lemay on the cover, the company’s management, head office staff, pharmacist-owners and trade partners express their sentiments about Uniprix’s nearly four decades in business.
The company got its start in 1977, when a group of pharmacist-owners united to form a Quebec-based chain of retail pharmacies. The partnership marked the start of the Uniprix banner. Today, Uniprix — led by president and chief executive officer François Castonguay — has more than 1,000 community pharmacists and 387 drug stores in Quebec under the Uniprix (205 units), Unipharm (35) and Clinique Santé/Uniclinique (147) banners.
Earlier this year, Castonguay said Uniprix has been active in its design efforts for new and renovated stores.
"We have made big changes, yet again, in store layout. We are taking advantage of the opening of several new retail pharmacies to make multiple changes to both the pharmacy department and the store as a whole. This means creating an optimal customer experience while ensuring that sales and customer satisfaction numbers exceed targets," he explained.
"We are still working on a new concept," Castonguay added, "because we believe companies that stop pushing the envelope get left behind. And that’s a fate no one in retail pharmacy can afford."
