| Pharmacists working for Superdrug Stores Plc are to receive
a new uniform of cotton shirts designed, the company says, to give an “approachable
but authoritative” look. These will replace the existing uniform of
polo shirts. Mr Liam Stapleton (pharmacy training and development manager, Superdrug) told The Journal during the Pharmacy Live exhibition on September 10 that, according to the company’s research, customers found a formal “dark suit” look too intimidating. This had led Superdrug to issue its staff with polo shirts to make them more approachable. However, customers had subsequently reported that they felt that pharmacy staff wearing the polo shirts “lacked authority”. There had also been a mixed reaction among pharmacy staff to the polo shirts. The new uniform consists of white, long-sleeved, heavy cotton shirts for men and short-sleeved white blouses in a similar material for women. The shirts or blouses have the Superdrug logo and “pharmacist” embroidered on them. They are expected to be worn with dark trousers or skirts and dark shoes. Superdrug does not believe that wearing ties with the new shirts would “fit into the ethos of the new look”. |
 The photograph shows Mr Stapleton (left) wearing the new uniform while talking to a visitor to the Superdrug stand at Pharmacy Live |