I’ve got a new suit, kind of Italian style. It’s got a low-cut collar, kind of carved behind. Stitched in the waist and it’s real tight in the butt, that’s right. You better watch out, baby, see me strut my stuff. Like Walgreens. Yeah, come on…
More on that later as I’ve got to explain this first. This is the Black Collar Club. And in it I’ll address relevant marketing, advertising, social and cultural “news” in a condensed format sourced from hours of early morning time spent scouring the internet in hopes of finding out what’s REALLY going on in our industry.
Yeah, like Walgreens, baby. And Walgreens, like the Stones, is keeping up with the times. That’s right, “Walgreens is introducing a more robust loyalty program called myWalgreens… [it’s] part of a thorough overhaul including a fully redesigned mobile app.” (Adweek) It comes “just days after Amazon announced its own pharmacy initiative.” (Adweek) I guess you’ve got to keep up, baby…
Yeah my shirt’s made in England and my shoes in Rome
You know I’m coming, smell my cologne
Walgreens’ announcement not only comes as Amazon steps on its toes but as CVS (its biggest competitor) “began offering contactless payment via third-party service providers PayPal and Venmo this week.” (Adweek) CVS is the “largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. when it comes to prescription revenue and locations. Walgreens is the second…” (Adweek)
You’ve got to keep up, baby, keep up with the times, yeah, you better
Well, better watch out, you’ll be left lagging far behind
Walgreens’ CMO, Pat McLean, believes the overhaul “will reposition the Walgreens brand by utilizing myWalgreens and Walgreens pickup as the ultimate convenience and the ultimate personalization when it comes to health and well-being.” (Adweek) And reposition it must. “It’s a fitting — and necessary — time for Walgreens to bulk up it’s digital and ecommerce capabilities.” (Adweek) The pandemic’s pushed everything digital…
I’ve got a new apartment, the view’s sublime
Sit on my sofa and let’s pass some time
And with digitization, Walgreens actually gains a physical advantage. It has “9,000 physical stores, which become more user friendly via the app by providing tools to schedule immunizations, scan prescription refills and purchase items in-store with a digital wallet.” (Adweek) The app includes “a 24/7 pharmacy chat and the ability to book appointments, personalized health and wellness advice, and real-time flu alerts.” (Adweek) It does it all.
The roof is leaking, oh the rent is high, yes it is
I’ve got to keep up, baby, keep up with the times
Most importantly, though, “the myWalgreens app… simplifies the retailer’s digital touch points while expanding the number of services, making it an important platform to fend off [competitors].” (Adweek) McLean said, “there is now one single place for customers to go to access all things Walgreens.” (Adweek)
I’ve got a new actress, she ain’t been in much
Except for filling a cocktail bar
Well, there you have it. In McLean’s words, it’s “a new beginning for Walgreens in a lot of ways… It’s a redesigned mobile app experience that is a gateway to all things Walgreens.” (Adweek) It’s simplification for success. And it couldn’t have come at a better time… What if there’s a vaccine to be distributed en masse?
But she said she got a break, she got a starring part, in a movie
If I don’t watch out, I’ll be pushing a shopping cart, that’ll be me
You’ve got to keep up, baby, keep up with the times, yeah
That’s right, keep up with the times
Well if you don’t watch out, you’ll be left lagging far behind
All right
Have a great weekend, Black Collar Club.
Your Huckleberry,
Jimmy Boy
SOURCE: Adweek