Expansion and diversification
In the 1990s Boots branched into dentistry, with a number of
stores offering this service. Boots has also made a venture into
"Wellbeing" services offering customers treatments ranging
from facials, homeopathy, and nutritional advice to laser eye
surgery and Botox (although the Botox service was short-lived).
These ventures proved to be unprofitable. Boots Hearingcare was
sold, and although it continues to trade at Boots, the service
is owned by another Company. In late 2004 Boots also sold off
the Dentistry, Footcare and Lasix eye surgery services to Optical
Express who, like the Hearingcare, will continue to trade at Boots.
A branch of Boots in South LondonBoots has also diversified
into the research and manufacturing of drugs. It discovered ibuprofen,
a painkiller and continues producing, trading and exporting its
finished form (tablets, syrup etc.) in the UK and internationally,
although manufacturing the bulk drug is now the activity of major
pharmachemical operations in the USA, India and China.
Boots may well expand into the U.S. by supplying its
popular ranges such as Botanics to department stores. Boots stores
are starting to sell products not traditionally associated with
Boots such as Dyson cleaners - under the name 'Offer of the Week'.
These 'odd' items are bought in bulk and savings on High Street
prices are passed onto the customer. Although many may see this
as odd, Jesse's own customers were often presented with 'odd' items
which Jesse purchased by buying in bulk and taking the first steps
towards the strength of bulk buying. Jesse once filled the windows
of his second Goosegate shop with sponges!
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