Use of cluster analysis for the classification of perfumes and cosmetics, which are pharmacy assortment products

Introduction. Structuring the wide list of the positions of perfumes and cosmetics, which are represented on the pharmaceutical market, greatly simplifies work with this category of pharmacy goods at all stages of their distribution. Today's approaches do not fully take into account the specificity of this product group, which are mainly based on the demographic characteristics of a consumer, and also divide the assortment in accordance with the finished product output forms. Objective: to determine the possibilities of a cluster analysis in the classification of perfumes and cosmetics as pharmacy assortment products. Material and methods. For formation of a database, the investigators used the electronic price lists of national and regional firms supplying pharmacy products as of July 2018. The information array was formed according to the parameters characterizing the consumer properties of perfume and cosmetics. Statistical data were processed by the cluster analysis procedure using the one-way communication and Euclidean distance method, as well as the Statistica 10.0 software package. Results. Assessment of a dendrogram with the given consumer characteristics could identify and describe 2 cluster groups with the Euclidean distance of 1.57 in the segment of perfumes and cosmetics. The greatest contribution to the formation of clusters was made by the qualitative characteristics of a product (the availability of confirmed data on its biological activity; the need/absence of a doctor's recommendation; the need/lack of a pharmacist's consultation during vacations). Using indicators of descriptive statistics of the formed clusters, the investigators provide a rationale for the prospects for further investigations in terms of supplementing the list of approaches in the classification of perfumes and cosmetics. Conclusion. The use of cluster methods for the analysis of perfumes and cosmetics can identify patterns and justify possible criteria for the classification of pharmacy products.

perfumes and cosmetics, classification, cluster analysis