Virtual shop a long
1. Blog about where you typically purchase “conventional” vs. “natural” OTC healthcare products. Is it the same outlet, or different—if different, why is that? Please explain when/how you typically shop for “conventional” vs. “natural” OTC products. How is the shopping & selection process/experience different for “conventional” vs. “natural” OTC products? (Consider how long it takes, how many options you weigh before you make a selection, if you talk to anyone or not, if you buy on deal or not, etc.)
For both natural and conventional OTC, I use the same method to search for both. I always look for best price online for places to buy cheapest medicine. I buy both at various places, including supermarkets, mass market stores, and drug stores. I’ll usually stock up on a few bottles at a time. Also, I usually go to shoprite once a week and look for cheapest deals. If there are any medications, such as headache or cold medicines that are on sale, I will buy them.
2. For EACH healthcare category in which you purchase/use “natural” products, explain in detail how you choose between brands using real-world examples. Snap/post some pictures to illustrate your criteria & how you compare between options.
Sleep aid- As I said before I look online, usually using an app called Flipp, to see which has the cheapest brand of melatonin. Then I will search on google to see if there are any coupons available. I think all brands are the same, so it does not matter what brand I buy, as long as it is on sale.
3. Now, go on a scavenger hunt for some “natural” products that you have never used before…. a. Look around & snap/post some pictures of products that interest you, ones that you would say are “FOR ME”. For each, explain what specifically catches your eye. If you were going to buy a new-to-you “natural” OTC product today, what would it be & I started looking around and noticed some natural medicines that are used for anxiety. A so suffer from anxiety often, I wonder if I would be able to use these anxiety supplements when I’m pregnant, sa si cannot use my current prescription anti anxiety medicine when I do become pregnant. These ar ether ones I saw.
b. Next, please search for “natural” products you would say are “NOT FOR ME”, items that DO NOT interest you. For each, snap/post some pictures & explain specifically why these “natural” items are not for you.
I also heard about people who use natural rememdoes for depression. I do not suffer from depression, but I’ve a lot of clients that do. As I would not use this, even if I was depressed, it could be helpful for those that depressed.
4. Some OTC healthcare brands offer both “conventional” & “natural” products. Find an example of a brand that you think is doing this effectively. Snap/post pictures of their items & explain why this works, what’s good about this brand offering both “conventional” & “natural” items. If the brand is mostly known as a “conventional” brand, what value does that add? If it’s mostly known as a “natural” brand, what value does that add?
To be honest, I cannot think of a brand that offers both conventional and natural OTC. Though having a brand that offers mostly conventional medicine, it may make me more willing to buy the brand. That is because I typically feel like conventional medication works best for me.
5. Where in the store did you find the “natural” products you were looking at today, and does that location make sense to you—why/why not? In your opinion, should all “natural” products be located in one, multi-category “natural” section—or should stores put “natural” products right next to “conventional” products within each healthcare category? Be sure to explain your rationale/logic.
I was in Shoprite today and the naita products were all together, but located across from the pharmacy, where al the conventional medications are located. It makes sense that they are near the pharmacy because they are types of medicine. It also helps it was right across from the conventional meds because it was easy to locate.
3. Now, go on a scavenger hunt for some “natural” products that you have never used before…. a. Look around & snap/post some pictures of products that interest you, ones that you would say are “FOR ME”. For each, explain what specifically catches your eye. If you were going to buy a new-to-you “natural” OTC product today, what would it be & I started looking around and noticed some natural medicines that are used for anxiety. A so suffer from anxiety often, I wonder if I would be able to use these anxiety supplements when I’m pregnant, sa si cannot use my current prescription anti anxiety medicine when I do become pregnant. These ar ether ones I saw.
b. Next, please search for “natural” products you would say are “NOT FOR ME”, items that DO NOT interest you. For each, snap/post some pictures & explain specifically why these “natural” items are not for you.
I also heard about people who use natural rememdoes for depression. I do not suffer from depression, but I’ve a lot of clients that do. As I would not use this, even if I was depressed, it could be helpful for those that depressed.
4. Some OTC healthcare brands offer both “conventional” & “natural” products. Find an example of a brand that you think is doing this effectively. Snap/post pictures of their items & explain why this works, what’s good about this brand offering both “conventional” & “natural” items. If the brand is mostly known as a “conventional” brand, what value does that add? If it’s mostly known as a “natural” brand, what value does that add?
To be honest, I cannot think of a brand that offers both conventional and natural OTC. Though having a brand that offers mostly conventional medicine, it may make me more willing to buy the brand. That is because I typically feel like conventional medication works best for me.
5. Where in the store did you find the “natural” products you were looking at today, and does that location make sense to you—why/why not? In your opinion, should all “natural” products be located in one, multi-category “natural” section—or should stores put “natural” products right next to “conventional” products within each healthcare category? Be sure to explain your rationale/logic.
I was in Shoprite today and the naita products were all together, but located across from the pharmacy, where al the conventional medications are located. It makes sense that they are near the pharmacy because they are types of medicine. It also helps it was right across from the conventional meds because it was easy to locate.
Thanks for your shopping trip! I want to probe a bit with you:
ReplyDelete- Suppose there were 2 melatonin items that were the same price. What other characteristics would you use to determine which to buy?
- What caught your eye about each of the 3 stress items?
- Why would you not use any of the products you showed for depression? (You state I would not use these even if I were depressed - what's unappealing about them?)
- Would you want the natural medicine 'mixed in' with the conventional based on usage? Or, should they all be separate?
If I saw two that were the same price, I would see if I had a coupon for one. If there was none, I would randomly pick. There is no rhyme or reason why.
DeleteFor Natrol, I liked that it said it helps curb appetite. For all 3 I liked that it says that it helps improve mood, which is important to me as a therapist and having an overall well life.
I wouldn’t use the natural depression products because I would want to utilize what a psychiatrist prescribed, as there has been many studies done on them and there are know effects about them.
I had stated before that having them seperate is better because it is easier to point them out and look for what I need.