Jason Steele, Director of Marketing and New Business Development was featured in a special report in The Chronicle of Healthcare Marketing entitled “Sampling 2009”.   Along with Steele, STI’s Chairman of the Board, Gerry McDole was featured as he recently spoke at a recent OPMA event in Toronto in February.   

The report focused on new approaches for traditional sampling within Big Pharma.   The article highlighted the fact that despite reductions pharmaceutical companies have made in promotional expenses, investments in sampling programs appear to be steady, if not increasing.   Steele associated the dramatic increase of pharmas employing alternative sampling programs to various factors.  “Business is increasing dramatically” he reported.  He explained that more and more brands are using SmartSample® and SmartPayment™ programs in new and existing companies because of decreases in marketing budgets and sales force restructuring.  “We have expanded our business throughout 2008, and what’s coming as a trend are pharmacists becoming more influential in their brand recommendations

The report highlighted a variety of other reasons alternative sampling programs make sense.  Namely the fact that alternative sampling avenues help pharmaceutical companies maintain quality control, as the sample is stored at the pharmacy.  Additionally, pharmaceutical companies are realizing the value an alternative sampling program can have in accessing the “no-see” physician segment (where physicians do not see sales representatives on a regular basis).

McDole, the former president of Astra Zeneca and Rx&D, also promoted the use of alternative sampling programs as a whole as they are redeemed through pharmacy. “Redemption sampling allows pharmacuetical companies to spread the risk and to spread the support around a variety of stakeholders. Patients will welcome having part of their drug costs subsidized. Pharmacists will profit because redemptions occur at their business operations, and pharmas will profit from greater sales. Doctors, too, will appreciate the systems’ ease of use”. 

For more information, please contact STI Directly
Katie Arbuckle
SmartTechnology™ Brand Manager