First the Albert Clock was treated to a reinvigorating cleanse, then the Merchant Hotel opened one of Belfast's premier jazz bars but the redevelopment of High Street doesnít stop there. Formula Healthís face-lift has turned heads of customers, commercial businesses and the Lord Mayor alike.

Cllr Pat Convery officially reopened the pharmacy in December and since the ribbon was cut it has attracted thousands of plaudits. "It's remarkable just how many other independent businesses from the neighbouring area have been asking how we achieved such significant changes," explains superintendent pharmacist Declan Byrne. "We had absolutely gutted the original premises, knocked down all internal walls, removed the ceiling and all fixtures and fittings, laid new plumbing and rewired the pharmacyís electrics so there was very little more we could have done. We introduced everything from new signage and branding through to new lighting and a fresh consultation area."

Fresh is certainly a watch-word for the pharmacyís modern, sophisticated new look, painted in a clean and effective greyscale with charcoal and silver accents. "The new theme works very well," Declan added, ìwe used to have a more primary coloured based theme but it looks much more clinical and strong now."

By the time structural work had begun on the pharmacy, the team had a firm plan in place for any disruption. "It was tough at times but we had made some provisions," Declan added. "A temporary partition had been built just behind the front of the shop so the floor area was divided in two, but the space we were operating from was only one third of the shop. That meant that it was extremely tight for dispensary activities, that there would be no private consultations and that existing stock levels had to quickly be reassessed. Also, we had no bathroom facilities so we were very grateful to the neighbouring shops! It was difficult to operate in such a tight space and it was probably just as uncomfortable for our customers."

Before long however, the middle and rear areas of the shop had been completed in a breathtaking new fashion. "Essentially after that we had four days to move all the stock from the front to the back where the new dispensary and floor area had been built, shelving and lighting had been installed, a new ceiling constructed, a new bathroom plumbed, and new consultation room ready to welcome patients into. It was a lot more comfortable waiting for the front of the shop to be completed since there was no structural work to do around there."

Presumably such a large-scale change has completely redefined the capacity for providing existing and extended services?  

"Our old level of provision or indeed potential was not even close to where it is now! We offer all the glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure monitoring services which many pharmacies do but we also offer health screening, such as for allergies. We have a chiropodist who uses the consultation room and a sports nutritionist. Throughout this forthcoming year weíll be focusing on the health checks and screening. Weíve been promoting our services in local newspapers and weíve also done some service advertising on websites which list us as a company."

The team has even advertised their services in secondary care. "We've taken some television advertising in the Royal Hospitalís waiting room, Declan added. Posters and promotions have also featured in-store and weve had special themed offers, from sports nutrition to disability aids. The representatives from some of our suppliers have also been in to talk about their products and the customers all think itís fantastic. Few of them even recognise the pharmacy, but we've kept the same lines just in larger volumes so we've also done well to attract lots of new customers.

"There is generally a heightened level of awareness about the pharmacy in the community and we're also seeing a lot more prescription business. We still focus mostly on disability aids but sports nutrition and prescriptions are increasing."

Pharmacy manager Shauneen McKenna who joined the Formula Health team in July 2010 just as the refurbishment started believes that the challenges of Formula Health are quite unique. "We have a large selection of easier living aids and sports supplements as well as an extensive range of complimentary medicines," Shauneen, who has recently started to study a homeopathy course with the London College of Homeopathy said. "I certainly think that complimentary medicines an increasing area of growth within the business and I am asked questions about the treatments daily."

Naturally Shauneen and the Formula Health team adore the new changes - and even the staff are subject to expansion. We recently welcomed two new members of staff to the pharmacy and itís great to see that theyíre also delighted to be here. As a team and as individuals we are seeing some wonderful improvements. Everywhere is so much more spacious and our facilities for storage have improved. Stock control and retrieving stock has also become smoother operations.î  

2011 is already looking likely to present some further changes for the better. Declan, who has previously had four years of experience as a pre-registration tutor is hoping to welcome a student to the pharmacy. I really enjoyed tutoring students at Finaghy Pharmacy and Formula Health is now an unmissable location for a great, well-rounded education year," Declan said. "We're in the city centre and weve got a really varied demographic so its important that we have a broad portfolio of services to match that. Weve got a lot to offer pre-registration trainees."

Declan and Shauneen have recently undertaken a business management course with the University of Ulster at Jordanstown to help them to achieve success and develop management skills and learn about advertising and finance which we believe will help grow the business. Declan, Shauneen and the directors of Formula Health also wish to sincerely thank all their colleagues and the staff of the other pharmacies in which they have worked in the past for helping them to move stock and restock and merchandise after the refit.

Declan believes that the process was a challenging, exciting and thoroughly worthwhile one for the whole team. "We're definitely reaping the benefits of the work and investment and hope that we will continue to for years to come," he said. "It was nothing short of a whole team effort to get where we are now. I'd really like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the team for their patience and understanding during the refit, especially to Shauneen whose leadership really helped to support us and to Paula Gray who was in the late stages of pregnancy with her second child. Paula's since had a healthy baby boy and we've since reopened the pharmacy."