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Podiatrists selling shoes?

Discussion in 'General Issues and Discussion Forum' started by Moose, Aug 27, 2010.

  1. Moose

    Moose Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    How do we feel about the podiatry clinics that sell a range of 'lifestyle' shoes? I have some reservations about the commercialism of it all but I have the space, the location and dancing dollar signs in my head since the visit from the wholesale footwear bloke.

    I'd love to hear anyones stories (preferably 1st hand) about their experiences in the business. Did it make you a decent profit after extra staff costs and end-of-season-sales, etc? Was it hard to let Mrs Smith get out the door without a purchase even though nothing suited her because you had 20K worth of stock out the back? Happy for private messages if you want to say something inflammatory.....:sinking:
     
  2. joejared

    joejared Active Member

    Actually, 2 of my newest customers sell shoes as a part of their product line, one in particular being focused on the diabetic market. At least 2 of my older customers also sell products based on the NAOT line of products. I don't see the ethical issue to this particular point.
     
  3. Moose

    Moose Active Member

    Ok. Are they lighting their cigars with £100's?
     
  4. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    LOL if you think you can do that from selling shoes, he was a very good salesman:empathy:

    When you do your figures, as for anything in business dont forget to have both eyes open and do your figures twice, then get someone else to check those figures and if looks good go for it.

    Only you know what you can afford to out lay and what your client base can afford to spend on a pair of shoes, no use having $1000 shoes if your client base can only afford $100 shoes.

    space to store stock = $
    Space to display stock= $
    Cost of stock = $
    Time to sell = $
    Time to sell with no sale = $
     
  5. Graham

    Graham RIP

    I don't sell footwear in my practice. I recommend where clients should go and what shoes to buy. My experience with collegues who sell footwear is that due to the $$ outlay for stock it almost become imperative that footwear be purchased with foot orthoses!

    Clients I see who have experienced this service are more often than not unhappy! Obviously I do not see clients who are happy!

    I guess it's up to the individual.
     
  6. bkelly11

    bkelly11 Active Member

    Hey Moose.

    I don't sell shoes and I don't have my own clinic however, poor footwear choices from patients can lead to painfull lesions. Footwear is a really important aspect of podiatry assessment and we all try and advise patients to make good foowear choices. Personally, I feel If you have the ability to provide this service for your patients, why not? I would hope your patients will be walking out the door with a pair of shoes suitable for their foot and a good fit. Win for you and win for your patients.
     
  7. RobinP

    RobinP Well-Known Member

    I think a good middle ground is having a very small range of shoes/fitting stock. I absolutely agree with Brian that the success of your orthotic prescription is highly dependant on patients having the right footwear. I hold no stock myself but I do spend a lot of time giving people advice on where to purchase and what to purchase - this is a time cost to me. I often feel that offering to order appropriate footwear for patients would actually save me time and make a little profit.

    I wouldn't be desperate to get rid of stock which is costing me money to be sitting there. I wouldn't require enormous retail space and the time I would spend "selling" the shoes with or without making a sale would be no greater than the time I spend recommending different shoes through websites/shops etc.

    I often recommend and order in Aetrex footwear as it is not available in shops in the UK and is specifically designed to accept orthoses without looking "orthopaedic"

    http://www.aetrex.com/#/products/

    Hope this helps

    Robin
     
  8. Moose

    Moose Active Member

    Yes. It was an Aetrex salesman (Driving a $150K car) that came to visit me..... Hmmm. Undecided still. Thanks for the thoughts thus far.
     
  9. Lizzy1so

    Lizzy1so Active Member

    I sell Dr Comfort and Cosyfeet shoes, but I did a course with The Society Of Shoefitters (www.shoefitters-uk.org ) the shoes I sell are designed for a markets which require careful consideration on style, material and end use (walking shoe/ sandal). i dont make much out of it if you cost in my time and administration but I provide it as a service. There is no hard sell and i provide a lot of information and advice about footwear without selling anything. It has also brought me into contact with several excellent shoe makers who are able to make shoes for very hard to fit feet when clients are not eligable for therapeutic footwear. Wendy Tyrelll and Gwenda carter have just brought a book on therapeutic footwear which is very well written and informative.
    If you are going to sell or provide anything you should understand your product well so i see no harm in selling shoes to people who need them
     
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