Tag: retail sales
VGM names retail director
January 31, 2023HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – Tim VanAntwerp, formerly of Van’s Medical Equipment, has joined VGM & Associates as director of retail services. He’s tasked with assisting VGM members with meeting their revenue goals through retail sales. “At VGM, we strive to help our members thrive in the DMEPOS industry, and Tim will be a major asset to our members looking to explore the retail side of the business,” said Mike Isaacson, senior vice president of operations for VGM & Associates....
Speaker spotlight: What retail is, and isn't
August 29, 2018Jeff Rowe
ATLANTA - More HME providers are incorporating cash sales into their revenue streams. But at Medtrade in Atlanta, in “How to Drive Two Trains at Once,” Michael Scarsella, national sales director for Compass Health Brands, will step it up a notch and explorethe complexity of a blended cash sales and third-party pay business model.
HME News: When it comes to cash sales in the HME industry, is it better to be 100% cash or some percentage of cash and third-party payers?
Michael Scarsella:It...
VGM ready to retail
April 28, 2017HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - VGM has leased a retail storefront to create a Retail Training Lab at the upcoming Heartland Conference. Located across from the convention center, the 1,100-square-foot showroom will feature healthcare products and display ideas. VGM's online marketing agency, Forbin, will also be in the showroom discussing online marketing tactics and trends to help providers reach their target audience. “We're proud to enhance Heartland Conference attendees' experience by offering...
Online Retail: Use reviews to establish authority
April 24, 2017Kamal Haddad
A. Absolutely. There are many reasons why you want to allow your customers to leave reviews based on their interaction with you, both in-store, as well as on your website.
First of all, let's distinguish between merchant reviews and product reviews. Product reviews (if you sell products online) is a service you can subscribe to and integrate into your website product catalog. This allows customers who purchase from you to leave a review of the individual item they purchased along with their...
Online Retail: Don't jump at new and great
February 24, 2017Kamal Haddad
A. The short answer to that question is the answer you probably do not want to hear, “It depends.” The long answer is determined by understanding your business focus and your customer mix. To build a successful retail business you must offer products that complement your current funded products and services. In other words, don't think in general terms about what people are looking to buy. Don't get excited about the next new great retail product at Medtrade. Instead, focus more...
Retail expansion: Evolve your showroom experience
December 1, 2014Guest Commentary
We know that retail sales demand for HME is soaring. But how can providers both big and small fully utilize the opportunity?The market driversThe explosion of the health and wellness category has expanded into the mobility segment of the HME industry, and for good reason: Demographic data is coming to fruition. As of Jan. 1, 2011, America's 78 million baby boomers began turning 65 at a rate of one every 10 seconds. That's 262,800 individuals per month, and the wave continues for the next 18 years....
Letter to the editor
November 23, 2010HME News Staff
Keep up the good work on retail ("Listen up Liz: Main Street matters and retail sales don't," HME News, October 2010). While a number of people who use DME are not going to want to spend money out of their pockets, they're more likely to do so if they're educated by the DME provider about the value that the product brings.
Hundreds of thousands of DME customers have benefited greatly by purchasing a Pride Scooter or Harmar Pinnacle Stair Lift. If retailing was not a good option then can you explain...
Listen up Liz: Maine Street matters, retail sales don't
September 26, 2010Liz Beaulieu, Editor
It was mid-August, and I was only 12 cold calls into my usual 20 per day for three days, hunting for stories for this issue, when I heard some providers making some pretty strong statements.
The first of the two providers told me:
"I want to hear more from Main Street America than the Invacares and the Sunrise Medicals. Because I know people are in trouble. I helped a woman, an RN, start a DME company in San Jose and she does a magnificent job, but she's in a competitive bidding area and she's...
Consumer need drives retail scooter sales
July 22, 2010John Andrews
Though consumer spending remains weak in a fragile economic recovery, retail sales for scooters remain steady due to consistent demand, manufacturers say. Fueling that demand: The belief that scooters are a necessary product, not a luxury item that consumers can cut from their budget when money gets tight.
"This is a market where the audience is growing, thus consumption is there," said Mike Serhan, executive vice president of Port Washington, N.Y.-based Drive Medical. "Those who are shopping...
We don't know what we don't know
June 22, 2010Gary Owens
A few years ago during a rough time in my life, I was living by myself when one day my home water heater stopped working. I didn't have much money, but the weather was warm so I decided to take cold showers until my finances improved. As the weather grew colder, my showers got shorter--and extremely painful. Finally, I decided to take the front cover off the water heater to get a model number. With any luck, I thought, maybe all I need to do is replace the heating elements. With the cover off, I...