The PDA is introducing the option for members to purchase PDA-branded items, such as lanyards, folders, bags, accessories, hats, scarves and other clothing.
Sustainability
To minimise carbon footprint, the shop includes practical items that pharmacists will need, and the PDA has partnered with a supplier that includes recycled products in their range. As the supplier also partners with membership bodies in other sectors, the production and logistics also mean that items are generally made to order, leading to further waste reduction.
Supporting charities
With arrangements like these, where a membership organisation such as a union or professional body can inform members of the option to buy items, there is no need for marketing spend by the suppliers. As a result, the items can be competitively priced and for some products there can also be a commission earned by the membership organisation.
The PDA will not take income from this arrangement and instead will donate any commission earned from the sale of these items to charities such as Pharmacist Support and PASS. This means purchasing a PDA-branded item can also generate a donation to charity.
How do branded items help the PDA to help pharmacists?
The PDA has over 37,000 members and continues to grow. Already the largest pharmacists’ membership organisation and only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK, the PDA wants to encourage those who have not yet joined, to do so.
The existence of the PDA means pharmacists have their own defence association and do not have to rely on their employer for defence, the profession is now unionised and pharmacists can stand up to employers and negotiate better terms via the PDA Union. The PDA is also an actively anti-racist body, against all forms of discrimination, and working to create a fairer more equal profession.
Every time the organisation’s logo is seen by pharmacists it is another reminder that the PDA are available to provide support to its members. The PDA exists to further the interests of employed and locum pharmacists and every additional member that joins is another member that can be supported.
Even more members mean the PDA has even more opportunities to receive direct feedback from pharmacists from across all areas of practice, across the UK. Higher membership numbers also increase the unions’ negotiating strength with employers, and influence with others too.
Pharmacists displaying the PDA logo in their day-to-day activities, may also remind those who would otherwise treat pharmacists badly that even if a member is the only pharmacist in their workplace, they are never alone and can have the resources of the PDA behind them if they need to defend themselves.
Members now have the option to to help promote the PDA. The PDA also welcomes members’ view on the range of products and will update these periodically.
Choice of PDA logos available
As well as the core PDA and PDA Union logos, pharmacists can choose to purchase items branded to show their support for any of the PDA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) or student networks.
