1

The newsletter of Smith Drug Company A Division of J M Smith Corporation

Spartanburg, SC - Paragould, AR - Valdosta, GA

December 2011

Happy Holidaysand

Happy New Year!

2

World AIDS Day, Observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007,and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007,making it one of the most destruc-tive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive

people and those living with AIDS.

Holiday ScheduleWe will be closed:

December 26th for the Christmas HolidayJanuary 2nd for New Years Holiday.

There will be no deliveries on these days.Please order accordingly.

3

NovoTwist from Novo Nordisk

Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency

Third Party Station Network Notices

Potential Brands Losing Patents

70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack

The Importance of Documentation

Now. Hear. This.

Products of the Month

Why You Need a Website for Your Business

2012 Continuing Education and Gift & Trade Show

The newsletter of Smith Drug Company A Division of J M Smith Corporation

Spartanburg, SC - Paragould, AR - Valdosta, GA

9098 Fairforest RoadSpartanburg, SC 29301

(800) 572-1216

1104 Jones Road Paragould, AR 72450

(866) 346-9147

1500 Commerce DriveValdosta, GA 31601

(800) 572-1216

HealthWise™ Circular Program

DollarWise™ Program

Good Sense® Controlled Label Program

Greeting Cards Program

Continuing Education

Gift and Trade Show

Rx QuikShip™

GeneRx QuikShip™

Third Party Station

Pharmacy First

DrugSmith™ Monthly Newsletter

Smith Weekly e-Blast

Diabeticare™ Program(Medicare Vendor Contracts)

Perfect for Profit Catalog

Hamacher Retail Zone Pricing

Home Health Care Catalog

HealthWise Signage Program

Smith Gift Box Gift Category

Vials and Vitamin Program

Direct Mail Advertising

Well Staffed Customer Service

Excellent Service Levels

Store Fixture Program

Merchandising Services

“Program of the Month”HealthWise Circular Program

Ask you Smith Drug Territory Account Manager about the benefits and savings of the

monthly ad program.

In This Issue4

56-7

®

8

910

1114-15

16

19

March 2011ALL SALE ITEMSNOT AVAILABLE AT ALL STORESSALE DATES VARY PER STORE

Check out these March savings at your local HealthWise™Pharmacy

$325

$4699

$1749

$669

$589

$1179

$629

$3749

Pure Citrus® • Citrus Blend• Orange

Nicorette® Gum 110’s

Zyrtec® • Allergy 30’s

• Liquid Gels 25’s• D 24’s

Mucinex®

for Kids! • Mini-Melts™

100mg 12’s • Cough or Cold

Liquids 4oz

Eucerin®

• Calming Crème 8 oz• Calming Itch-Relief 6.8 oz• Original Jar 4 oz• Daily Replenishing Lotion 13.5 oz

• Lotion Unscented 8.4 oz• Red Relief Cleanser 6.8 oz• Aquaphor Healing Ointment Jar 3.5 oz

Aquaphor®

• Baby Healing Ointment 14 oz• Dry Skin Ointment 14 oz• Healing Ointment Jar 14 oz

Mucinex®

for Kids! • Mini-Melts™

50mg 12’s • Expectorant 4 oz

Nicorette® Lozenges 72’s

NicoDerm® CQ®

Patches 14’s

Bounty® Towels 8-Pack

Your ChoiceCharmin®

Ultra 12-Pack

$649

Your Choice

4

The benefits of NovoTwist® are:

• Less time consuming for patients to attach

• Features an audible and tactile confirmatory click for correct attachment

• Available in 30G (8mm) and 32G Tip (5mm) needles

Available for use with FlexPen® and other compatible Novo Nordisk devices.*

For more information, visit myflexpen.com or call 1-800-727-6500

* Designed to be used with Levemir® FlexPen®, NovoLog® FlexPen®, NovoLog® Mix 70/30 FlexPen®, and other compatible Novo Nordisk delivery devices. Please refer to the delivery device user manual to see if NovoTwist® can be used with your device. Also refer to the user manual for information on assembly and injection.

Needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states.

Reference: 1. http://www.chi-athenaeum.org/gdesign/2010/medical/index.html

FlexPen®, Levemir®, NovoLog®, and NovoTwist® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.

© 2011 Novo Nordisk Printed in the U.S.A. 0311-00002127-1 April 2011

Tell your patients about NovoTwist®, the first and only single-twist needle attachment on the market.

GOODDESIGN

Winner of the US Good Design™ award1

5

Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency is a growing coalition of independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners dedicated to exposing widespread abuse and manipulation by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). We are a not for profit organization funded by individual members, not corporations or other special interest groups.

PBMs are remarkably effective at increasing their profits and market shares. The pending $29.1 billion merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions would create the largest PBM in the nation. If approved by the federal government, potential for widespread PBM abuse would grow to an alarming new height.

We created Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency to expose the PBM myth by illustrating the ways they inflate prescription drug costs. Their greed hurts all Americans by draining the economy and obstructing access to medicine.

Our coalition is comprised of more than 500 pharmacists and pharmacy owners from coast to coast. As major players in the prescription drug market, we have extensive inside knowledge of the PBM industry to share. Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency is a resource for employers, policy makers and members of the media. We are here to explain the intricate PBM business model designed to camouflage their scam.

Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency is a growing group of more than 500 pharmacists from over 40 states.

Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency Deadline Near for OTC Metered-Dose Inhalers Containing CFCs

Over-the-counter asthma inhalers containing chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs) will no longer be made or sold after Dec. 31, 2011, as part of environmental compliance efforts to stop using substances that deplete the ozone layer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that patients using Primatene® Mist will need prescription-only products to relieve their asthma symptoms. Community pharmacists can educate patients early and provide proper asthma counseling. More information on the phase-out process is available on FDA's website.

Holiday Crime Prevention Plan

You should have received your “Seal it Safety” envelope with your invoices.

Please take time to look over and watch the dvd to prepare yourself for the

upcoming holiday season.

6

P.O. Box 26546, Shawnee Mission, KS 66225 I www.pharmacyfirst.com I Email: info@thirdpartystation.com or info@librarx.com Phone: 800-460-1575 Third Party Assistance: Option 2; Reconciliation: Option 3 I Fax: 913-661-0297

October 27, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mailing to Pharmacies- Automatic (Electronic) Debit Authorization Form

Third Party Station has mailed your pharmacy a new Automatic (Electronic) Debit Authorization Form for your pharmacy to complete. Historically, Third Party Station has deducted the monthly reconciliation fee from the first deposit made to your pharmacy’s account each month. Effective January 1, 2012, this fee will be collected through a separate monthly automatic debit transaction from your pharmacy’s bank account. Monthly fees will no longer be comingled with deposits received from payers. Beginning January 1, 2012 transactions marked as Third Party Station CP will reflect balances owed by your pharmacy for reversals or audits received from payers.

Please be sure to complete Section I, II, and III of the following Automatic (Electronic) Debit Authorization form and return it to Third Party Station along with a copy of a voided check no later than November 25, 2011. These documents can be faxed to Third Party Station at (913) 661-0297 Attn: Contracting Department. If your pharmacy has any questions, you may contact us at 800-460-1575 option 2.

Powered by:

Network Notices

7

8

Stay in the Loop...

9098 Fairforest Road Spartanburg, SC 29301 (800) 572-12161104 Jones Road Paragould, AR 72450 (866) 346-9147

1500 Commerce Drive, Valdosta, GA 31601 (800) 572-1216www.smithdrug.com

GENERIC NAME COMPARE TO ANTICIPATED LAUNCHEstradiol/Norethindrone Acetate Activella Lo Dose Quarter 3 - 2012

Fluticasone/Salmeterol Advair Diskus Quarter 4 - 2011

Testosterone Gel Androgel Quarter 2 - 2012

Diclofenac Sod./Misoprostol DR Arthrotec February 2012

Irbesartan/Hctz Avalide March 2012

Rosiglitazone/Metformin Avandament March 2012

Rosiglitazone/Glimepiride Avandaryl March 2012

Irbesartan Avapro March 2012

Amlodipine Atorvastatin Caduet November 30, 2011

Clobetasol Lotion .05% Clobex Lotion Quarter 1 - 2012

Clobetasol Shampoo .05% Clobex Shampoo Quarter 1 -2012

Lamivudine/Zidovudine Combivir Quarter 4 -2011

Carvedilol HCL Caps Coreg CR Caps Quarter 4 -2011

Rosuvastatin Calcium Crestor Quarter 4 - 2011

Benzoyl Peroxide/Clindamycin Gel Duac Quarter 1 - 2012

Lamivudine Tabs Epivir Quarter 4 -2011

Lanthanum Carbonate Chew. Tab Fosrenol April 2012

Tiagabine Gabitril Quarter 4 - 2011

Ziprasidone Caps Geodon March 2012

Vardenafil Levitra November 2011

Atorvastatin Lipitor November 30, 2011

Olopatadine HCL Ophth. Sol. Pataday Ophth. Sol. Quarter 4 - 2011

Mesalamine Controlled Release Caps. Pentasa Quarter 4 - 2011

Formoterol Fumarate Plavix May 2012

Repaglinide Tab Prandin March 2012

Conjugated Estrogens Vaginal Premarin Quarter 4 - 2012

Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole ER Prevpac December 2011

Ropinorole HCL XL Requip XL December 2011

Trospium Chloride ER Sanctura XR December 2011

Ethinyl Estradiol/Levonrgestrel Seasonique LO Quarter 4 - 2011

Quetiapine Fumarate Seroquel March 2012

Buprenorphone/Naloxone ODT Suboxone Quarter 1 -2012

Sumatriptan Succinate/Naproxen NA Treximet Quarter 1 - 2012

Potential Brands Losing Patents

R

9

The attack on Pearl Harbor (called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (Operation Z in planning) and the Battle of Pearl Harbor) was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and the four others present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8) the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for isolationism, which had been strong, disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.Despite numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”.source - wikipedia

The National Park Service and Navy Region Hawaii will host the 70th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration on December 7, 2011 from 7:40 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the back lawn of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. The venue looks directly out on the USS Arizona Memorial situated in Pearl Harbor, approximately half a mile away. Pearl Harbor Survivors and World War II Veterans, along with their families and friends from around the nation, will join more than 3,000 distinguished guests and the general public for the annual observance of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Highlights of the ceremony will include military band music, morning colors, a traditional Hawaiian blessing, a rifle salute by members of the armed services, wreath presentations, echo taps, and recognition of the men and women who survived that December 7, 1941 and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. At 7:55 a.m., the exact moment the Japanese attack began 70 years ago, a moment of silence will be observed. A U.S. Navy ship will render honors to the USS Arizona followed by a “missing man” formation flight over the Memorial.source: www.pearlharborevents.com

10

When he received the telephone call, Jeff had been a pharmacist for more than 20 years. It was a call he will never forget.

The call was from a pharmacy patient well known to Jeff, an elderly lady being treated for heart problems. Among the other prescription medications she took was digoxin 0.1 mg. Jeff had filled this prescription for her about a week earlier. As Jeff answered the phone, it was obvious to him that his patient was crying.She asked, “Jeff, why did you put my digoxin prescription in that easy-open bottle?” Jeff presumed that the patient had requested an easy-open cap, but he did not remember the incident. He had filled a lot of prescriptions in the previous week.

Jeff pulled the prescription from the file and noted the statement rubber-stamped on the back: “I request that my prescription be filled in a non-child-resistant container.” It was signed by the woman he was speaking with on the phone.When he told her about the notation on the back of the prescription, she began crying harder and said, “I was hoping it was your idea, Jeff. I am at the hospital. My little grandson got into my purse. He died a few minutes ago.”

Consequences of negligence

With only a few exceptions, if a pharmacist dispenses a prescription in a non-child-safe container without a request from a patient or physician, it is a violation of federal law. That may amount to negligence per se — negligence without further proof. It could result in additional. punitive damages.

In this case, there was no lawsuit, because Jeff had proof of what happened the day that the prescription was filled. Without that proof, Jeff ’s attorney could have argued “custom and habit” evidence, even though Jeff did not remember filling the prescription. Lawyers will tell you, however, that “custom and habit” is a weak defense when the jury is confronted with a dead child and a grieving grandmother.

How

Documentation need not be long or in complete sentences. It must be sufficient to provide clear proof of what was done or said. Discoverable documentation should be factual and without opinions or speculation. Some CQI records may be protected from discovery and, if so, opinions in that case may be appropriate.

When

Any time an event is out of the ordinary or when an ordinary event is required by rule or law, it should be documented. Note that Jeff documented the occasion when a person requested no safety cap, rather than every time he used one.

Where

To be effective, documentation must be found when this proof is needed. A note on the back of a new prescription will be found in the event of litigation, but will not be seen with each refill of the prescription. A conversation with a physician about a potential interaction may best be documented in the computer, where the pharmacist refilling the prescription can review the note. Where to document will depend on how and when the documentation is to be used.

Why

There are many good reasons for documentation. It is a reminder of what we did and sometimes why we did it. Documentation made at or near the time of an event can be introduced into evidence at court or at a pharmacy board hearing. It can be used to refresh a witness' recollection of past events or in many cases can be submitted directly to the jury. Many times an out-of-court writing will be considered hearsay and not admissible, but regularly kept business records are exceptions to the hearsay rule.Pharmacists, physicians, and nurses all need to learn to be better documenters. Nurses have a saying: "If it wasn't documented, it did not happen." It is more accurate to say, "If it wasn't documented, it can't be proved."

These articles are not intended as legal advice and should not be used as such. When a legal question arises, the pharmacist should consult with an attorney familiar with pharmacy law in his or her state.source: drugtopics.com

The Importance of Documentation

11

I wonder what it says about the state of retail pharmacy that I can say something like "the usual problems" and everyone reading this will know exactly what I mean. Visions of different levels of insurance hell will dance through your heads. Memories of angry customers, corporate short-staffing, long hours, and no respect will rise up out of nowhere and leer at you like Halloween ghouls. Almost everyone reading this knows exactly what I'm talking about. I won't even mention gift cards.

As I sit down to type this on a Sunday night, though, I am coming off a weekend that was even worse than usual.

It started with an incident involving a screaming man, some narcotics, and a question of how many of the latter the former was going to get. It went downhill from there. Over the next 2 days I was absolutely pulled through the pharmacy wringer, and I'll admit that by the time I was done I was starting to wonder whether maybe it really was me. Maybe I wasn't up to the profession. Maybe something was dreadfully wrong.Then I saw the video.

Video rescue

Posted on one of my favorite pharmacy blogs, the video was a montage of a variety of things that can go wrong with pharmacy customer service, coupled with a happy, feel-good commercial from one of the major pharmacy chains. It was funny, but it wasn't the humor that made me feel better.

Oddly enough, it was watching the screaming customers that lifted my spirits.

This video would be pretty disturbing stuff to a member of the general public, but watching a man shout "THIS MEDICATION DOESN'T DO #@*%!&#*! FOR ME!!!" at the top of his lungs would probably be only mildly surprising to those of us who work behind the counter.

I watched it again and was reminded of the number of e-mails that have rolled in since I've started writing about pharmacy — the ones saying something to the effect of "I thought I was the only one."

Bottom line

You're not the only one. It's not just your store. It's not just your district. It's not just your chain.

We work in a tough, demanding profession that demands education and skill, yet all too often we are treated as if we're uneducated and unskilled.

The work is hard, and the problems we deal with can often be fully understood only by another person in the profession. I know how that can make you feel pretty lonely, but you are not alone.

The 4-letter word of the day

So the funny little video with all the shouting saved my weekend, and who knows, maybe even saved my career. I'll leave it to others to decide whether that is a good thing or not, but I will encourage you to do one thing.

Talk. Talk to your colleagues about what you deal with day in and day out. E-mail, fax, text message, Gchat, hop onto the blogosphere, use a carrier pigeon if that's your thing, but share your experiences with the pharmacy world.

We live in an age in which there are almost no limits on the flow of information. This means that what we hear from APhA or the corporate mother ship shouldn't be your sole source of news about our profession anymore. So let's talk.

Realizing that we are all in this together is the first step to a solution. I don't think the problem is me, and I'm pretty sure it's not you.

I'm still not convinced though, that there isn't something dreadfully wrong.

You all know exactly what I mean.

Now. Hear. This.

By: David Stanley, RPhDrug TopicsVolume 2011, Issue 11

12

13

14

Item # Description Pack Code513887 PGM WOMEN CABLE KNIT HAT 12PK 70107559419 PGM LADIES KN HI STRIPED SOCKS 12 PR 70681 559393 PGM GEOMETRIC FUZZY SOCKS 12 PR 70405 133546 PGM SKI HAT LADIES DIVA/BGIRL 12 EA 70101 132779 PGM SKI HAT DIVA/BABY GIRL 12X1 EA 70251 559401 PGM LADIES ARGYLE KN HI SOCKS 1 2 PR 70680 274373 PGM KIDS SOCKS ASSTD 3PK D 4X3 PK 26048 560151 PGM FLEECE SCARF SOLID ASSTD 12 EA 70353 559385 PGM FURRY EAR MUFFS ASSTD 12 EA 70356 250910 PGM BOY’S STRIPE HAT ASST 12X1 EA 70200 560144 PGM WINTER SCARF PLAID ASSTD 12 EA 70352 062182 PGM HEADBAND LADIES FLEECE 12 EA 70106 513911 PGM TOE SOCKS FURRY 12PK 12X1 PR 70414 533653 PGM MEN USA ANKLE SOCKS 12X2 PK 70831 559377 PGM HELMET HAT WINTER HAT 12 EA 70112 242347 PGM GLOVES GIRLS ASST 12X1 PR 70270 249151 PGM BOY’S GLOVE ASST 12X1 PR 70220 531020 PGM GLOVES NEON MAJIC 12PK 26128 562173 PGM BLANKET BABY FLEECE N 12X1 PK 26014 064162 PGM GLOVES WOMENS FLEECE AST 12X1 PR 70150 235127 PGM GLOVES MENS FLEECE ASST 12X1 PR 70050 458661 PGM GLOVES MENS MAJIC AST 12X1 PR 70052 126771 PGM GLOVES LADIES FURRY 12X1 PR 70152 237644 PGM SKI HAT ASST 12X1 EA 70010 458471 PGM BEANIE HAT ASST 12X1 EA 70012 127779 PGM SOCKS KIDS FUZZY 12X1 PR 70403 232819 PGM GLOVES LADIES CHNLLE ASST 12X1 PR 70151 060491 PGM SKI HAT RAGWOOL INSLTED 12X1 EA 70011 230664 PGM EAR MUFFS ASST 12X1 EA 70350 223842 PGM FUZZY SLIPPERS ASST 12X1 PR 70402 513895 PGM BEANIE HATS NEON 12PK 70109 220350 PGM TOE SOCKS ASST 12X1 PR 70410 715623 PGM FUZZY SLIPPERS MARY-JANE 12X1 PR 70406 715615 PGM FURRY SOCKS ASSTD COLORS 12X1 PR 70404 715599 PGM FUZZY SOCKS 12X1 PR 70400 715607 PGM SOCKS FUZZY STRIPED 12X1 PR 70401

15

OTC-HBW - NEW!Purell Hand Sanitizer Jelly Wrap 1 oz, Bowl Display25 count Assorted Colors - Free Bowl DisplaySmith Number 568261

Kendall™Skin Wellness System

Covidien offers a full skin wellness system to cleanse, moisturize, protect and treat skin. When used together, this system can help relieve the damage commonly associated with incontinence and keep skin in balance.

Body Wash & Shampoo ■ 2-in-1 Cleanser ■ Moisturizing Lotion ■ Moisture Barrier Cream ■ Soothing Ointment ■ Antimicrobial Cleanser ■ Antifungal Cream

556209 2-in-1 Cleanser 4 fl oz Spray bottle556217 2-in-1 Cleanser 8 fl oz Spray bottle556225 Body Wash & Shampoo 5 fl oz Foamer556233 Body Wash & Shampoo 9 fl oz Foamer556241 Antimicrobial Cleanser 4 fl oz Spray bottle556258 Antimicrobial Cleanser 8 fl oz Spray bottle556266 Moisturizing Lotion 2 fl oz Tube556274 Moisturizing Lotion 4 fl oz Tube556282 Moisturizing Lotion 4 mL Packet556290 Moisture Barrier Cream 2 fl oz Tube556308 Moisture Barrier Cream 4 fl oz Tube556316 Moisture Barrier Cream 4 mL Packet556324 Soothing Ointment 2 fl oz Tube556332 Soothing Ointment 4 fl oz Tube556340 Soothing Ointment 4 mL Packet556357 Antifungal Cream 4 fl oz Tube

Balance. It feels better.

16

If you are in business, then a website is rapidly becoming a necessity. Here are some reasons as to why your business needs to have one.

If you own any kind of business, no matter whether it is big or small, then having a website is really necessary. There are several industry reports, including a recent one published by BC Local News that stresses the growing importance for business owners to build their online presence. A lot of small business owners have taken this advice and have gotten in touch with an Internet Marketing Agency to make a plan to develop their website and boost the visibility of their business in the online world.

One of the main reasons as to why a website is so important for local businesses is that it is a major source of new customers. People who are looking for something that your business provides are far more likely to be doing it online than through any other means. A website will also allow you to easily maintain customer loyalty, by sharing news about your business, such as new products or promotions in an easily accessible and cost effective way.

Online promotion and advertising is also known to be less expensive than other methods of advertising. A Boston SEO Firm can help your business increase the popularity of its website, thereby getting more website visitors as well as more customers. There are plenty of ways to get more visitors to a website which are both efficient and low cost.

A website is also a great time saver. Putting together advertising material such as brochures, pamphlets, catalogs, newspaper ads, etc. is known to be quite time consuming. However, once you have built your website, it will always be there. Of course, you do need to update it from time to time, however the time that it takes to update a website is much lower than what it would take to design a new product cata-log for the year, for example. And it is also far less expensive and allows you to give updates that are a lot more frequent to your customers. As soon as you launch a new product, you can add it to your website right away. This is obviously something you can't really do with a printed catalog.

For those who are thinking of creating a website but do not know where to start, there is a lot of help available. There are many resources and tutorials available all over the internet which give details on all aspects of creating, maintaining and updating a website. But of course, it is also possible to use the services of a Digital Marketing Agency to have a professional website created for you. They will take care of the entire design process and will make sure that you get a website that is completely customized to the needs of your business, so that it can become a useful tool for you to get new customers and keep existing ones.

Why You need a Website for Your Business

17

Whether it’s Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays or anniversaries, buying perfume for a woman can be intimidating. It’s not just that there is so much choice but that each option needs to be sampled and smelled before a decision can be made, which may be a migraine-inducing process. And while bottle design is an important facet of a scent’s overall desirability, choosing a perfume based on its exterior alone almost always leads to disastrous consequences. If you’re planning to buy a loved-one perfume in the near future, here are four essential rules to guide the purchasing process.

First, consider who the gift is for. If it’s intended for your partner or spouse, think about the kinds of fragrances they already own and like. For example, some women prefer heavy musky scents to delicate floral ones, while men may prefer fresh and cooling eau de toilettes to strong spicy aftershaves. If the gift is for your mother, you may want to consider buying a perfume that has nostalgic value - perhaps a scent that she used to wear as a young woman or one to which she has a strong sentimental attachment. On the other hand, if you’re buying a present for a teenager that is likely to be their first perfume, something light and fruity is almost always a good option to introduce their nose to the world of fragrances.

Next, think about how it smells. Visit a perfume shop and ask for some tester strips. Tell the shop assistant what kind of scent you’re looking for and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Smelling a range of perfumes before making your decision is essential but it’s advisable to take a break after every three or four testers, to give your nose some time to clear and avoid the various bouquets mingling into one.

Buying Perfume for Christmas? Consider These 4 points Before Buying!Also remember to always smell the perfumes you’re sampling on a tester strip, rather than your skin. This is because fragrances react with different skin types so even if something smells great on you, this might not be the case with the gift’s recipient. Indeed, always bear in mind throughout the testing process that the

perfume is not for you but for someone else, and that their preferences should take precedence over yours.

Then, consider how it looks. Once you’ve narrowed down your options on smell, the appearance of the perfume bottles becomes important. This can be more crucial in some cases than others. Teenagers, for example, are likely to prefer brightly coloured, fun-looking bottles, while more sophisticated types might rather have a demure design in a muted colour. For many men and women, perfume or aftershave is as

much about aesthetic pleasure as smelling nice so even though the scent of a fragrance is paramount, how the bottle will look on a dressing table is essential to consider. It can be tricky to get this precarious balance right but it’s not impossible if you follow the right steps.

Finally, once you have made your purchase, always keep the receipt. Perfume is an intensely personal item and even if you have been as discerning as possible in your selection, there’s always the small possibility that the wearer will have an unexpected allergic reaction to the fragrance you have chosen.

18

Christmas Eve Story Shows How Problems Can Lead to Discoveries, Improvements

You've heard the story before, but maybe you never associated it with your own business and life.

It was 1818 when Austrian Father Joseph Mohr was worried about Midnight Mass services. The organ was broken. Would there be no singing?

Mohr hastily wrote a very simple song. He took the words to organist Franz Xaver Gruber and asked him to compose a melody to go with them.

That night, "Silent Night, Holy Night" was sung for the first time, accompanied by Father Mohr's guitar.

The masterpiece reminds us that broken things and broken people can be turned into opportunities that can produce more benefits than we know.

Consider the broken employee, the one who objects to going along with a program, the one who complains all the time.

If you get to know the troublemakers, you could discover that their points of view could have merit, that they have the company's interest at heart as well as their own. Talk to them and you could make a discovery.

Now consider the broken customer. Business professor Keith Starcher says some experts say it's best to fire trouble-making customers. It can help in some circumstances, but healing the customers can be a better way.

If you can assume your customers are good people who just want a quality product or service at an affordable price, then hearing their complaints makes sense. They actually want you to succeed so they can continue being one of your customers.

Try to fix what they say needs to be fixed or explain why it can't be done. If you have screwed up, admit it and provide some type of compensation even if it is just a sincere apology.

There are a few people who will try to take advantage of you. You can fire them.

It's wise to be on the lookout for broken things in your organization and think about what can be done about them.

You might not have a stroke of genius like composing a "Silent Night," but you could improve your own world.

Those lovely, welcoming wreaths that today decorate doors, fireplaces and walls have a noble history that reaches into Greek mythology and ancient Rome.

In fact, wreaths were first created in ancient cultures to adorn the bonnets and noggins of the rich and royal. In the ancient cultures of Persia, Partha and Greece, the wreath was

known as a diadem, from the Greek work diadema, or "thing bound around," A diadem worn on the head or bonnet in these cultures was a symbol bearing royal and even spiritual significance.

According to Rob Pullen, author of The Wreath Book (Sterling Publishing, 1988), the diadem was regarded as so lovely that other cultures, and other classes, soon adopted it as a headdress to celebrate not only status, but also festive mood and occasions. The Romans initially scorned the diadem as a symbol insulting to their belief in democracy, but soon were crowning their own military and athletic champions with a diadem of laurels. Later this laurel crown went upscale when gold and jewels were added and became the prototype corona, or crown.

Somewhere along the line the wreath became a door and wall ornament and the maker's choice of materials said a lot about what the wreath meant. A wreath made with holly and mistletoe might be intended to shelter a home from the spirits of cold and winter. A wreath of birch given by a woman to a man meant she accepted his advances as a lover.

Today, wreaths may reflect the personality and spirit of the maker, who can use natural ingredients of dried herbs, weeds and flowers combined with ribbon or even some of the fabulous fake flowers and leaves widely available at craft and art stores. Whatever the material, wreaths today continue to symbolize welcome, eternity and a joyful spirit.

The History of the Wreath Reaches Into Ancient Times and Cultures

19

2012 Continuing Education and Gift & Trade Show

Grove Park Inn • Asheville, NCJuly 20th - July 22nd

Registration Coming Soon!www.smithdrug.com

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summertime, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a female.

We should've known. Only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Santa’s Reindeer Male or Female?

20

A Christmas Message So many beautiful words are woven into our Christmas carols and cards, words like love, peace and joy.

As we celebrate the holiday this year, we hope to build a world where all people learn to care about one another and to live in harmony, a world where our children will know true joy, and where our hopes for peace, freedom and prosperity are realized.

While we celebrate the holidays, we hold our sons and daughters in the Armed Forces close to our hearts. We are grateful for their service.

Though Christians celebrate the Nativity on Christmas Day, the holiday is a chance to extend good wishes for joy, peace and fulfillment for all people, regardless of their religion, or whether they view Christmas as a reli-gious or secular holiday.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things, not the great occasions, give off the greatest glow of happiness.

Bob Hope, actor and philosopher