Shoppers Drug Mart invites Canadians to get outside, get on the road and get into summer

With everything in store for road trips, outdoor entertaining, summer beauty and first aid, Shoppers Drug Mart has great tips for travelling, barbecuing and enjoying the sun safely

TORONTO, May 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Shoppers Drug Mart is bursting with all things summer, in store and online, so Canadians can spend more time enjoying the season. With an extensive selection of brands and products for outdoor entertaining, road trips, summer beauty and first aid, Shoppers Drug Mart makes it easy to get outside, get on the road and get into summer. This season, Shoppers Drug Mart also offers valuable tips, from choosing the right sunscreen or sunglasses to easy barbecue recipes, helping Canadians to make the most of summer from start to finish.

"As Canadians, we look forward to the return of summer and longer, sunny days, so let's spend more time having fun and enjoying the sun, and less time doing errands and being busy," says Canadian lifestyle expert Shoana Jensen. "Streamline your summer shopping and get all you need for summer road trips, outdoor entertaining, first aid and beauty all in one place at Shoppers Drug Mart." To help Canadians prepare for summer trips and activities, Shoppers Drug Mart has all of these essentials and more.

Summer Road Trips
From the Trans Canada Highway to cottage country, Shoppers Drug Mart carries plenty of road-worthy snacks and supplies to stock up for short and long road trips. Brands like Nativa Organics, Simply Food and Carnaby Sweet offer a wide range of snack choices and refreshments, from tetra pack juices to nuts and chips. Life Brand offers a selection of summer-themed water bottles and wet wipes to make after-snack cleanups a breeze. "A good road-trip checklist should include anti-nausea tablets, just in case, and don't forget to pack reading materials like magazines to help pass the time," says Tammy Smitham, Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart. "At Shoppers Drug Mart, you can even stock up on pre-paid gas cards before you hit the highway." Other road-trip essentials include travel-size toiletries, Amigo brand treats to keep the family pet happy on the road and the new Stylize collection of sunglasses for men and women.

Outdoor Entertaining
Even before the first official day of summer, many Canadians have already lit up the barbecue, and Shoppers Drug Mart is ready with all of the staples for summer entertaining in the backyard, at the camp fire or at the cottage. Stock up on paper plates, cups, cutlery and serviettes, including compostable plates from Bio-Life. Start things off with chips and salsa, followed by Simply Food prime rib burgers, barbecue sauce buns and condiments. Frozen entrées can provide an unexpected treat for all ages at summer cookouts, such as pizza on the barbecue or chicken wings as a delicious side dish. Life Brand Frizzantes make a great accompaniment, with a host of refreshing summer flavours to choose from. Add toothpicks, bug repellent and citronella candles for a worry-free outdoor party. This summer, Shoppers Drug Mart also offers great tips for summer cookouts and recipes to make barbecuing easy: visit ShoppersDrugMart.ca starting in May.

First Aid
Shoppers Drug Mart makes it easy to find first-aid products that will take Canadians from their cottages and camp sites to the country's lakes and hiking trails. "A summer first-aid checklist should include basic staples like bandages, bug spray, after-bite and allergy medication," says Victor Wong, Associate-owner, Shoppers Drug Mart. "For summer travel and outdoor activities, we also recommend packing KT Tape, wound wash, calamine lotion, ice packs, wrist bands and itch stick, so you can deal with the most common cuts, scrapes and minor injuries of the summer season."

Summer Beauty
"Jumping into summer should begin with a few simple beauty routine updates, to prepare for spending more time outdoors on sunny days," says Pierce Rees, Beauty Boutique Manager, Shoppers Drug Mart. Beauty experts and pharmacists at Shoppers Drug Mart can offer guidance in choosing the right sunscreen with a range of SPF options and a variety of formats, from lotions to spray-on formulas. Summer beauty checklists should also include after-sun care products like aloe vera gel and moisturizer, to prevent skin from becoming too dry. Brands like Balea and Yes To Cucumbers offer cooling facial towelettes that make it easy to freshen up on a hot day, and Quo Cosmetics launches a new summer collection with bronzers, blotters and hot new lipstick shades. Last but not least, Rees says, "Keep toes and feet looking their best in sandals with new tools from Quo, including foot files and callous shavers, and choose a bright polish to complete the look." In May, Quo by ORLY unveils a new lineup of summer nail shades, ideal for creating the season's most stylish manicures and pedicures.

About Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec).  With 1,240 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada.  The Company also licenses or owns 55 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and six luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale.  As well, the Company owns and operates 62 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services.  In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities.

For more information, visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

Video with caption: "Video: Canadian lifestyle expert Shoana Jensen shares shopping tips for road trips, outdoor entertaining and summer beauty so Canadians can get outside, get on the road and get into summer. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20130515_C6676_VIDEO_EN_26754.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20130515_C6676_PHOTO_EN_26754.jpg&clientName=Shoppers%20Drug%20Mart%20Corporation&caption=Video%3A%20Canadian%20lifestyle%20expert%20Shoana%20Jensen%20shares%20shopping%20tips%20for%20road%20trips%2C%20outdoor%20entertaining%20and%20summer%20beauty%20so%20Canadians%20can%20get%20outside%2C%20get%20on%20the%20road%20and%20get%20into%20summer%2E%20&title=SHOPPERS%20DRUG%20MART%20CORPORATION%20%2D%20Shoppers%20Drug%20Mart%20invites%20Canadians%20to%20get%20outside%2C%20get%20on%20the%20road%20and%20get%20into%20summer&headline=Shoppers%20Drug%20Mart%20invites%20Canadians%20to%20get%20outside%2C%20get%20on%20the%20road%20and%20get%20into%20summer

Image with caption: "Shoppers Drug Mart has stocked up on outdoor entertaining staples so Canadian shoppers can get everything in one place this season, from eco-friendly compostable plates and stylish outdoor dinner ware, to prime rib burgers and all the fixings, juices and frizzantes, bug repellent and even toothpicks. (CNW Group/Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C6676_PHOTO_EN_26734.jpg

Image with caption: "As Canadians gear up for road trips, Shoppers Drug Mart is ready with plenty of road-worthy supplies - handy snacks like tetra pack juices, nuts and chips, summer-themed water bottles and wet wipes for easy cleanups. Other road trip essentials include sunglasses, anti-nausea bands, reading materials and pre-paid gas cards. (CNW Group/Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C6676_PHOTO_EN_26736.jpg

Image with caption: "Sun care is the first step in any summer beauty routine and Shoppers Drug Mart offers many SPF options in lotions and spray-on formulas. For stylish summer manicures and pedicures, check out the season's on-trend nail polish shades, and for outdoor activities, pack allergy medications, after-bite and cooling facial towelettes (CNW Group/Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C6676_PHOTO_EN_26755.jpg

SOURCE: Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation

Media Contacts:
Sherry Lawlor
LexPR Canada
416-574-0405 
[email protected]

Natalie Ouellette (bilingual)
LexPR Canada 
416-542-9140 x3363 
[email protected]

Lana Gogas
Shoppers Drug Mart
416-493-1220 x5141
[email protected]