Relocating a Pharmacy or Chemist Shop: A Stock-Moving Checklist

It is late, the shutters at the old shop are down, and forty cartons of syrups, injectables and blister packs are sitting on the floor of the new one. Nobody wrote down what went into which box. The fridge was switched on an hour ago. Customers will be at the door by eight.

Pharmacy stock has batch numbers and expiry dates, some of it has strict storage conditions, and a lot of it is glass. Every closed day sends customers to the chemist down the road.

This checklist covers moving the stock and fittings. It is not regulatory advice. If your premises licence or registration is tied to your address, check with the relevant authority and your professional body, well before moving day, what you need to do.

Two to three weeks out: count everything

Start with a proper inventory. It protects you against loss, and it is what makes reopening quick.

List every product with its quantity, batch number and expiry date. Pull out expired and near-expiry stock and deal with it now, instead of paying to carry it.

Flag high-value and controlled items so they get extra attention, and note which products need refrigeration or a cool, dry place.

A simple spreadsheet is enough. Give every box a number and record which products and batches are inside it. On the day, that box number is what you tick off.

Plan the new shop before you move a shelf

Measure the new space and mark where the dispensary, counter, shelving and fridge will go. Check there is a suitable power point for the fridge and any other equipment. Decide which shelving units are coming with you and which are being replaced.

Then boxes go straight onto the right shelf, not into a pile on the floor.

One week out: pack the slow movers

Pack slow-selling stock first and leave your fast-moving lines on the shelf until the last day, so you keep trading.

• Use strong, clean boxes and do not overfill them. A carton of glass bottles gets heavy fast.
• Pack by shelf or category, so unpacking follows the layout.
• Label each box with its number, category and destination shelf, plus FRAGILE or THIS WAY UP where needed.
• Keep products in their original packaging with labels and leaflets intact.

Glass needs its own care. Wrap syrups, injectables, bottles and diagnostic equipment individually in bubble wrap or paper. Stand bottles upright with dividers, and fill the gaps so nothing shifts. Keep fragile boxes light and put them on top, never underneath. Our fragile packing guide goes further.

Temperature-sensitive stock

This is the part you cannot get wrong. Some medicines must stay within a specific temperature range, and it differs by product.

1. Read each product's storage instructions on the label or leaflet. Do not guess.
2. Get the fridge running at the new shop first. Many fridges need time to settle and cool after being moved, so follow the manufacturer's guidance before you load any stock.
3. Move refrigerated items last from the old shop and set them up first at the new one.
4. Carry them in insulated cool boxes with suitable cold packs, following the product guidance.
5. Keep a thermometer with the cold items and write down the reading when you pack and when you unpack.
6. Keep the trip short, and never leave this stock in a parked vehicle.

If you are not sure how a product should travel, ask the supplier or manufacturer.

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Shelving and fittings

Empty every shelf completely before it moves. Dismantle units where you can and bag the screws and brackets with them. Wrap glass counter tops and display panels in blankets. Move the fridge upright, and follow the manufacturer's guidance on how long to wait before switching it on.

Our guide to moving a fridge or freezer covers that step in more detail.

Keep the closed days short

Two or three trips usually work better than one big one. This is the order I would use:

1. New shop first. Shelving up, fridge running, power checked.
2. Slow stock and fittings early. Move them in earlier trips while the old shop is still trading.
3. Close at the end of trading. Pack the last fast-moving stock and the refrigerated items.
4. Last load early next morning. Reopen once the stock is on the shelves and checked.
5. Tell customers before all this. A notice on the door, a message to your regulars and the new address on your social pages.

On the day

Ride with the high-value and controlled items yourself, or send a staff member you trust. Tick off box numbers as they go onto the vehicle and again as they come off. Before you open the doors, check the inventory against what actually arrived.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Open the Sphere app and choose a pickup van for a small shop, or a truck for a bigger one with heavy shelving.
2. Add the pickup and drop-off with landmarks and parking details.
3. Describe the load: number of boxes, shelving units, the fridge, and which items are fragile or must stay upright.
4. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.
5. Propose your price and choose from the acceptances and counter-offers.

For more on business moves, see our business moves page and the Abuja clinic equipment relocation guide.