Deerfield, Ill., April 23, 2018 –Walgreens is making it easier to shop for every day value in health, wellness and beauty at 17 Gainesville, Fla. area stores. As part of a pilot program in that market, Walgreens is bringing together new approaches to pricing and promotions, product selection, shopping experience and strategic collaborations that bring new services to customers. Over the next 12 to 18 months, Walgreens plans to listen to customer reaction and adjust quickly based on feedback from the pilot, and roll out new ideas to more stores.
Walgreens President Alex Gourlay said, “Today, more than ever, customers are looking for trusted advice, fair value and convenient products and services. At these stores in Gainesville, we are introducing a compelling retail experience that combines lower every day prices, the products customers ask for most often and modern convenience. We plan to continue to expand the Gainesville pilot in the coming months with new service innovations while piloting additional offers and service combinations at locations in Chicago and other markets.”
Lower Every Day Prices
As part of the Gainesville market pilot, Walgreens has lowered every day prices on more than 5,000 items, including health and beauty, personal care and grocery and household items, throughout these 17 stores. In addition, the company has introduced at these stores Walgreens Plus™, a subscription program through which customers who pay a $20 annual fee receive an additional 20 percent off prices storewide[i] every day, including sale prices, and savings of up to 60 percent on prescriptions purchased in participating stores and not billed to insurance and/or used in combination with other health or pharmacy benefit programs. Walgreens Plus members also will have the option of free, same-day prescription delivery[ii] through Walgreens.com.
As part of Walgreens commitment to support the health and wellbeing of communities in the U.S. and around the world, a portion of every Walgreens Plus enrollment fee will be donated to help provide clean water to a family in need around the world through Walgreens existing charitable partnership with ME to WE**.
“With lower every day prices and our new Walgreens Plus program, Walgreens is adding a modern approach to value and convenience to our long heritage of trusted local pharmacy expertise and service,” said Walgreens Chief Marketing Officer Adam Holyk.
Modern Convenience
Walgreens is enhancing its convenience services with value-added offerings from some of America’s most well-known brands.
Walgreens is collaborating with Sprint to trial an offer giving Gainesville-area customers incredibly convenient access to Sprint’s products and services. Gainesville-area customers will now be able to visit Sprint Express stores located within eight Walgreens locations. Customers will be able to meet with a Sprint retail associate to purchase select devices, switch to Sprint, sign-up for service plans or pay their bill. Customers will be offered device options with post-paid and pre-paid service plans available. Additional devices will be offered through Assurance Wireless, a federal government supported Lifeline Assistance Program.
“We’re excited to extend our service offerings to Sprint and provide customers with a convenient way to meet their immediate mobile phone needs,” said Gourlay. “Our focus on value at these Gainesville stores extends to Sprint’s commitment to offering customers the best value in wireless.”
“Our collaboration with Walgreens allows Sprint to grow its retail distribution footprint in some of the most heavily-traveled areas in Gainesville,” said Dow Draper, chief commercial officer at Sprint. “We love that Walgreens is so accessible, and with 76 percent of consumers living within five miles of a Walgreens, it just makes sense to put Sprint Express stores inside existing locations that already generate a lot of foot traffic. Our expertly trained associates will be on hand to answer their questions. It’s the perfect relationship, blending convenience with value and the accessibility for consumers to get all of their shopping needs met at one location.”
Walgreens also is extending its package delivery strategic collaboration with FedEx through an expanded selection of packing and shipping supplies available for Gainesville customers. Through FedEx OnSite services, customers currently can pick up and drop off packages at more than 7,500 Walgreens locations and have them held for up to five days.
In addition, Walgreens is expanding its existing pilot with LabCorp to 10 Florida locations, including four in Gainesville, making available LabCorp specimen collection for lab testing in a secure, comfortable environment. The patient service centers, co-branded LabCorp at Walgreens, are located near the pharmacy area. LabCorp currently operates six other labs in Walgreens facilities in two other states.
“Our new customer offering in Gainesville reflects our brand values of trust, care and accessibility, and we’ve extended those values to new product and service categories our customers and patients have told us are important to them,” said Gourlay. “We look forward to gaining their feedback, as we continue to explore new ways in Gainesville and other markets to deliver value and enhance their shopping experience.”
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), a provider of trusted care in communities since 1901, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,100 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
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Walgreens President Alex Gourlay said, “Today, more than ever, customers are looking for trusted advice, fair value and convenient products and services. At these stores in Gainesville, we are introducing a compelling retail experience that combines lower every day prices, the products customers ask for most often and modern convenience. We plan to continue to expand the Gainesville pilot in the coming months with new service innovations while piloting additional offers and service combinations at locations in Chicago and other markets.”
Lower Every Day Prices
As part of the Gainesville market pilot, Walgreens has lowered every day prices on more than 5,000 items, including health and beauty, personal care and grocery and household items, throughout these 17 stores. In addition, the company has introduced at these stores Walgreens Plus™, a subscription program through which customers who pay a $20 annual fee receive an additional 20 percent off prices storewide[i] every day, including sale prices, and savings of up to 60 percent on prescriptions purchased in participating stores and not billed to insurance and/or used in combination with other health or pharmacy benefit programs. Walgreens Plus members also will have the option of free, same-day prescription delivery[ii] through Walgreens.com.
As part of Walgreens commitment to support the health and wellbeing of communities in the U.S. and around the world, a portion of every Walgreens Plus enrollment fee will be donated to help provide clean water to a family in need around the world through Walgreens existing charitable partnership with ME to WE**.
“With lower every day prices and our new Walgreens Plus program, Walgreens is adding a modern approach to value and convenience to our long heritage of trusted local pharmacy expertise and service,” said Walgreens Chief Marketing Officer Adam Holyk.
Modern Convenience
Walgreens is enhancing its convenience services with value-added offerings from some of America’s most well-known brands.
Walgreens is collaborating with Sprint to trial an offer giving Gainesville-area customers incredibly convenient access to Sprint’s products and services. Gainesville-area customers will now be able to visit Sprint Express stores located within eight Walgreens locations. Customers will be able to meet with a Sprint retail associate to purchase select devices, switch to Sprint, sign-up for service plans or pay their bill. Customers will be offered device options with post-paid and pre-paid service plans available. Additional devices will be offered through Assurance Wireless, a federal government supported Lifeline Assistance Program.
“We’re excited to extend our service offerings to Sprint and provide customers with a convenient way to meet their immediate mobile phone needs,” said Gourlay. “Our focus on value at these Gainesville stores extends to Sprint’s commitment to offering customers the best value in wireless.”
“Our collaboration with Walgreens allows Sprint to grow its retail distribution footprint in some of the most heavily-traveled areas in Gainesville,” said Dow Draper, chief commercial officer at Sprint. “We love that Walgreens is so accessible, and with 76 percent of consumers living within five miles of a Walgreens, it just makes sense to put Sprint Express stores inside existing locations that already generate a lot of foot traffic. Our expertly trained associates will be on hand to answer their questions. It’s the perfect relationship, blending convenience with value and the accessibility for consumers to get all of their shopping needs met at one location.”
Walgreens also is extending its package delivery strategic collaboration with FedEx through an expanded selection of packing and shipping supplies available for Gainesville customers. Through FedEx OnSite services, customers currently can pick up and drop off packages at more than 7,500 Walgreens locations and have them held for up to five days.
In addition, Walgreens is expanding its existing pilot with LabCorp to 10 Florida locations, including four in Gainesville, making available LabCorp specimen collection for lab testing in a secure, comfortable environment. The patient service centers, co-branded LabCorp at Walgreens, are located near the pharmacy area. LabCorp currently operates six other labs in Walgreens facilities in two other states.
“Our new customer offering in Gainesville reflects our brand values of trust, care and accessibility, and we’ve extended those values to new product and service categories our customers and patients have told us are important to them,” said Gourlay. “We look forward to gaining their feedback, as we continue to explore new ways in Gainesville and other markets to deliver value and enhance their shopping experience.”
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), a provider of trusted care in communities since 1901, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,100 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
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[i] To receive 20% off, you must be a Walgreens Plus™ member and use your Balance® Rewards card at checkout in a Walgreens store located in Florida or on Walgreens.com. Excludes prescriptions, alcohol, dairy, tobacco, stamps, prepaid cards, photo orders not picked up in store, money orders/transfers, transportation passes, lottery tickets, charitable donations, clinic services, pharmacy items and services, sales tax, shipping and membership fees. Other restrictions apply. Complete details at Walgreens Plus Terms & Conditions: https://www.walgreens.com/images/adaptive/pdf/Walgreens-Plus_Terms_20180302.pdf.
** Until 2/28/19, for every Walgreens Plus™ membership purchased, $1 will be donated to the ME to WE Foundation. Purchases are not tax deductible. Learn more at Walgreens.com/Plus.
** Until 2/28/19, for every Walgreens Plus™ membership purchased, $1 will be donated to the ME to WE Foundation. Purchases are not tax deductible. Learn more at Walgreens.com/Plus.
[ii] Delivery not available in all areas or on national holidays. Controlled, refrigerated, and Medicare Part B covered prescriptions cannot be delivered. Other exclusions apply. Valid ExpressPay account required. Orders submitted by 2 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends will be delivered same day within selected window. Orders placed after these times can be delivered next day. Not available via mobile app, Refill by Scan, and email reminders. Service subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited. For further details, ask your pharmacist or go to Walgreens.com/Plus.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. All statements in this release that are not historical statements are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but are not limited to, statements regarding pilot programs and initiatives and expected future financial and operational performance. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. Such risks include, but are not limited to, risks related to pilot programs and new business initiatives and ventures generally, including the risks that anticipated benefits may not be realized, risks associated with unexpected costs, liabilities or delays and changes in management’s plans and assumptions. These and other risks, assumptions and uncertainties are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that Walgreens Boots Alliance files or furnishes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, each of Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. All statements in this release that are not historical statements are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but are not limited to, statements regarding pilot programs and initiatives and expected future financial and operational performance. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. Such risks include, but are not limited to, risks related to pilot programs and new business initiatives and ventures generally, including the risks that anticipated benefits may not be realized, risks associated with unexpected costs, liabilities or delays and changes in management’s plans and assumptions. These and other risks, assumptions and uncertainties are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that Walgreens Boots Alliance files or furnishes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, each of Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
Scott Goldberg
Walgreens
(847) 315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com
Walgreens
(847) 315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com