In the June issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants magazine, we spoke with the sales team chief from the Australian company that distributes the Omron range of health devices, and how the range can help your customers with their health and wellness.
Tell us about your background and how you came to work at JA Davey, and specifically with the Omron brand. What does your role within the Omron brand entail? 
I’ve been in the pharmacy industry for 23 years. Eight years ago I joined the JA Davey company after working on the retail side of the industry. I head the sales team of the business and look after wholesalers and retail banner groups nationally. We ensure that our customers are given the opportunity to provide their customers with market-leading brands, such as Omron, a Japanese brand known for quality and accuracy of health devices, used by healthcare practitioners nationally.
Tell us how the Omron brand came about. What is the purpose/aim of the brand?
Our mission is to help realise healthy and comfortable lives for people around the world. We want to create an environment where we minimise the current medical impact that certain conditions have on people’s daily lives and create more room for quality of life. Each of our actions and products pursues this mission and represents a step towards improving people’s lives.
Our vision is zero compromise on healthier lives to do everything we can to minimise the effects of a patient’s healthcare condition – to enable them to get more out of their lives because they’re not controlled by their condition.
According to your website, ‘Omron Healthcare products empower you with the tools and information you need to take charge of your health’. Tell us more about this.
We create solutions to manage medical conditions. We offer a wide range of products and concentrate our investment in cardiovascular, respiratory and pain management solutions. Our new range of blood pressure monitoring devices use a global app, Omron Connect. This is one of the leading innovative solutions to manage blood pressure conditions for consumers. The app has features that can assist patients with relevant data to enable them to be guided properly by healthcare practitioners.
The Omron brand offers various products. What are some of your most popular products within the Omron brand? What makes these products standouts?
Our global number one brand is in [the area of] blood pressure monitors, with more than 80 per cent market share based on IQVIA retail (sales data April 2023). The blood pressure monitors offer Bluetooth connectivity, five years’ warranty, and service centres nationally, which is essential for consumers.
We also have pain-relief TENS devices – a drug-free solution for pain management – as well as respiratory products such as nebulisers.
What goes into R&D within the Omron brand? How do you come up with new products?
With the blood pressure monitors, the innovation is driven by consumer data. We have a team in Japan dedicated to research and development of existing products. They have access to global information and trends that shape the next generation of products globally.
What gap in the market are Omron brand products responding to?
When used properly, the Omron Connect app can assist the consumer in managing their health. No more manually written blood pressure readings! It’s all available in the app and a ‘BP diary’ to further improve compliance in monitoring BP readings. This in turn provides up to date information that can be downloaded and sent to a healthcare professional.
How does the brand compare with similar brands/products on the market?
Omron blood pressure monitors are known for quality and reliability. It’s a premium brand that has been chosen by consumers … a trusted brand that has been in the market since 1973, starting in Japan. All Omron blood pressure monitors are clinically validated for accuracy.
How can pharmacy assistants promote the Omron brand within their stores?
Our national field force are experts in educating pharmacy staff, providing technical support, detailed training sessions, category management, merchandising, and blood pressure testing. Using the tools given will further increase their customer relationships, contributing to sales and brand awareness.
This issue is centred around men’s health. How can Omron brand products support men’s health and well-being?
Omron, as a brand, offers a range of products that can support men’s health and well-being in various ways:
Blood pressure monitors – heart health.<bold) Regular monitoring of blood pressure can help identify potential issues and enable men to take preventative measures when they see a healthcare practitioner.
Pain management devices – TENS.<bold) These pain management products use low-voltage electrical currents to help alleviate muscle and joint pain, providing a non-invasive and drug-free option for pain relief. Men dealing with chronic pain or sports injuries may benefit from this [TENS] device.
It’s important to note that while Omron products can support men’s health and well-being, they should not replace professional medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, it’s always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional.
What’s next for the Omron brand? Do you have any other products in the NDP pipeline that you would be willing to share with us?
Our focus at the moment is to educate all pharmacy customers with the new Bluetooth-enabled devices and assist them in providing blood pressure checks in-store. We have no NPD updates at this time.
This feature was originally published in the June issue of RPA e-magazine.
