March/April 2009

Welcome to the latest issue of Nutraceutical News from IFS. While spring has been slow getting started in the Midwest this year, signs of renewal are starting to be seen across the landscape. Likewise, we hope this issue provides you with some new ideas and a fresh perspective on how to use creativity and proven business strategies to make your business grow and prosper. 

The Client Profile features the unique Vitaphenol® Skin Care Collection by Avidas Pharmaceuticals. The Marketing Column offers some low-cost ways to set your company apart from the competition. In the Customer Service Corner, we discuss how important excellent service is, no matter what the economic conditions, and our Fulfillment Tip shares news on increased shipping costs and how you can still save time and money on product deliveries.

For more information about the content found here or about any of our products and services, you can always visit our website, www.ifssolutions.com.  To share your feedback about this newsletter, please click here.  To unsubscribe, please use the link at the end of this issue.

• Client Profile: Avidas Pharmaceuticals 
• Marketing Column: "Little Things" Make a Difference in Tough Economic Times
• Customer Service Corner: Excellent Service is Always Important
• Fulfillment Tip: Shipping Charges Add Up in 2009
• About IFS: For More Information, Contact Us

Everyone's skin is exposed to constant stress. From late nights to environmental pollution, imperfect diets to sun exposure, the demands of daily living produce aging free radicals that ravage   skin at its very structure. Skin responds by defending itself from attack rather than doing the vital work of visible repair and renewal. Soon collagen and elastin slow and break down, natural lipids and cell turnover diminish - and the visible signs of aging appear. Now, thanks to a break-through skin care collection by Avidas Pharmaceuticals, the skin is free to repair, protect and visibly anti-age itself.

Avidas Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held company located in Doylestown, PA. Established in the fall of 2007, the company is focused on serving the unique needs of specialty healthcare providers and patients through product expertise, medical education and customer service. The company's established specialty physician-directed products target dermatology and women's health issues.

In 2008, the company launched the Vitaphenol® Skin Care Collection. Vitaphenol is a unique hybrid of medically directed compounds offering the most potent and visible solution for anti-aging. Developed and researched by top anti-aging skin care experts, these skin-perfecting products contain the innovative Vitaphenol Complex, a combination of multiple high-potency antioxidants that visibly repair past damage and protect against future oxidative damage.

The Vitaphenol Skin Care Collection is supported by clinical studies and features a highly effective line of anti-aging products that demonstrate a profound visible reduction of lines and wrinkles, and are proven to be important to maintaining healthy skin elasticity and texture. In addition to its presence in the United States, Vitaphenol is being made available internationally to physicians and distributors through the company. Avidas Pharmaceuticals also sells and markets prescription dermatology products Avidoxy DK, Avidoxy, Scalacort DK and Scalacort.

Prior to launching the Vitaphenol collection, Avidas Chief Operating Officer Dan McCall explored fulfillment options for the product line. In his search, he looked for a partnership with a fulfillment provider with a strong reputation for quality personnel and excellent service, and one that would share his values related to products and customers.

The selection of IFS was based, among other considerations, on its reputation in the industry, proven leadership and its central location. The first shipments of Vitaphenol began in September 2008 in preparation for the fourth quarter launch. The growth of Vitaphenol over the past two quarters has been on track with Avidas expectations.

"In choosing a fulfillment partner, it was important to find a company with a proven track record of handling our product type and one that would value our company, products and customers as much as we do," McCall said. "IFS is known throughout the industry for its quality leadership, excellent workforce and history of quality fulfillment services."

"Plus," McCall continued, "IFS' centralized location allows for shorter shipment time and helps us to be more responsive to our customers."

McCall expects significant company growth as the number of people looking to reverse the premature aging of skin continues to increase over the next eight to 10 years. "In addition to the excellent service IFS currently provides, the facility offers us the ability to expand our business in the future."

• Every customer wants to be appreciated. Follow-up a purchase with a thank you note and an offer for a certain percent off of the next order placed. If you take the time to thank your customers and give them a reason to come back and shop with you again, the odds are that they will.
• Look for co-marketing opportunities with a compatible business. This saves both companies money and expands your target base with potential new customers.
• Send your customers a postcard with an advertisement or special incentive offer. This allows you to save money and increase your response rate at the same time. Use color to get the best of both worlds - color increases readership by 41 percent and raises a buyer's inclination to purchase by 26 percent.
• Find multiple uses for your marketing materials. Enlarge a panel of your brochure to use as an ad. Make it larger and use it as a poster or sign. The initial investment in high quality photography will pay off if it portrays your product effectively and is something that you can use again.
• Reprint publicity stories about you or your company. Use the reprints in your mailings, brochures, press kits, sales aids, framed display signs and on your website.  While the newspaper will go into the recycle bin after a day or two, good publicity can - and should - be useful for some time.
• Position yourself as an expert in your particular industry. Offer to speak to consumer groups about topics relevant to your product or service.
• Sponsor a charitable cause that is in line with your company values. Customers like to see the brands they buy giving back to the community. Show your concern by getting involved in community activities, particularly those that have been affected by budget cuts. For example, sponsor activities or donate supplies to a school in your neighborhood.

In the last issue of Nutraceutical News, we reported an increase in postal rates, which will take effect in May. Increases announced by FedEx and UPS in January, added an additional 6.9 percent to air freight rates (partially offset in both instances by a 2 percent reduction in fuel surcharges) and 5.9 percent more for ground deliveries. Increases in some surcharges will also affect special services such as address corrections, delivery confirmations, automatic daily pick ups, and Saturday pick ups and deliveries. 

With the increased costs of postage and shipping being added to the other challenges facing small businesses in today's economy, it's time to look hard at how you are handling your shipping and product fulfillment. If you are still handling it in-house, you might be surprised to learn that contracting with a full service fulfillment company to package and ship your products can not only save money and speed delivery time, it will finally give you the time you need to focus on what you do best…run your business.

For instance, with its central location in America's Heartland, IFS can ship ground packages to the East Coast or West Coast, especially California and  New York, to arrive one or even two days faster, at a substantial savings.

If you are interested in learning more about how turnkey fulfillment services can benefit your organization - whether it's business-to-business or business-to-customer - contact us now, or call us toll-free today at (888) 275-3000.

IFS is a world class, full service fulfillment operation with a track record of success. A woman-owned business, we proudly serve some of the country's most respected corporations. With a special expertise in the fulfillment of nutraceuticals, we can help you run your nutraceuticals business more efficiently and more cost effectively.