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Post by davidsmith on Nov 13, 2007 12:50:22 GMT
Hi all
I wondered what, those of you who use Canonbury as a WHOLESALE supplier, think of them getting more and more into the retail end of the business.
They also have the audacity to send out a retail catalogue to podiatrists and FHP so that Canonbury can sell direct to the public thru the podiatrist or FHP. Without commision! What's that all about.
Is it just me? I think it's a liberty. They sell all the equipment required to do your own chiropody / podiatry / biomechanical interventions - at home.
Simply Feet ( that's the brand name) Simply Free would be good. Simply bypass the chiropodist and do some DIY and we can supply all you need.
DIY biomechanics fit your own FFO's, orthoses, braces, whatever,
If you get stuck ask your freindly podiatrist who will give you a brochure and advice free of charge.
Because obviously they are stupid enough to be our unpaid salesmen and do themselves out of some profit.
Is this how Canonbury view thier wholesale customers??
Perhaps Hanns would like to comment?
I'll be using Chiropody Express and Trycare in future, at least they can be bothered to have a human answer the phone and don't leave thier valued WHOLESALE customers hanging on the end of an automated line for half the morning waiting for some half trained, uninterested, demotivated person to answer it. Must be so inconvenient for them to have so many annoying customers always on the phone trying to buy something eh!
Cheers Dave Smith
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Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2007 15:29:27 GMT
Hi Dave, Welcome back . I agree that this seems a bit short-sighted on the part of Canonbury. I'm going to email Hans to give him the opportunity to reply. To balance Daves post, and in fairness to Canonbury, I've always found them a good company to deal with. Cheers,
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Post by dtt on Nov 13, 2007 19:18:53 GMT
Hi Dave Nice to Cya back ;D I must confess to using canonbury for most of my orders and have generally found them pretty good if somewhat expensive. I also noticed this pass it on thing but just ignored it ( the easy option) but I do take your point. A good company is Timesco who are actually guaranteeing ALL instruments FOR LIFE so ... Those bloody answerphone queues are a nightmare with ALL of the companies and the time spent /wasted waiting to speak to someone is appalling But I suppose that is to make you order on the internet ( to save them employing staff) For the cleaning/ paper /gloves Brosch Direct will knock canonbury ( and the rest I believe) into a c o c k ed ( sorry the spellchecker wouldnt let me say that printed properly) ;D ;D ;D hat price wise so ... Hope that helps ( or helps to pacify) ;D Cheers Fella Derek
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Post by twirly on Nov 13, 2007 20:08:27 GMT
Here I go again purrin me spoke int wheel,
I actually stock these brochures in my clinic. Boo Hiss.................. Reason is: <violins please> Qualified 1998, finished student loan n WHOPPING debt from Uni 2 years ago. Ran small dom practice P/T & also small clinic premises. Struggled (awwwwwwwww) so approached NHS for regular money.
(bear with me guys Im gettin there) Built up private practice, left NHS (HOO BLOODY RAY) now just me, myself n I, cannot afford massive outlay for stock & thought rather than send my Pts. to Boots etc for insoles, sillipos etc I underline a product & pass them the brochure. Little by little I am building up my supplies (at higher price than brochure but Pt has no P&P to pay if bought from me). Conclusion is patient has professional treatment, I get the payment for services & Canonbury prevent me from scarey stock purchases until things improve financially.
Seems to be a reasonable tactic to apply for me.
Regards, twirly
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Post by dtt on Nov 13, 2007 21:05:36 GMT
Hi Twirly . Big mistake mate. Do yourself a favour an COMMIT to your business take out a small loan over a longer period to ease the strain ( ask your accountant the best tax breaks etc for that one) Look at your market and PROVIDE YOURSELF FOR YOUR PATIENTS !! that is what they are paying you for Don't be afraid to charge a profit margin on the top You are now in business and that is down to profit and loss. Don't worry about the little things ( that will P**ss off the patients in the long run) provide the best and be the best in their eyes. You wont fail so be brave Cheers Derek
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Post by Gillian on Nov 13, 2007 22:47:08 GMT
Hi there I have the catalogues, they are great for explaining to the patient what they might need at retail price. When they realise they have to pay postage they are happier for me to supply. Some will insist on buying Orthoheel/CCS cream from Boots. Solved that problem supply different orthoses and get my creams that are only available through pods. I tried selling cheaper than Boots and that didnt work. Seems like the door to door homeware catalogues now sell foot appliances as well. I am finding holding too much stock ends up out of date and having to write it off. Most clients think I am on the big sell not that I have the welfare of patient first and foremost. Head banging gently against a wall!!!!! Gillian
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Post by TimVS on Nov 13, 2007 23:24:26 GMT
I just add 'VAT' and P&P to the prices. Nice of them to supply me a glossy catalogue free of charge, I must say.
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Post by dtt on Nov 15, 2007 18:55:17 GMT
Hi Tim et al And if you do, more fool you !! Glossy catalogues do not cover YOUR expenses Canonbury are one of the most expensive providers of podiatry equipment around and the profit margins are HUGE!!! An example is their visiting case ( sorry domiciliary bags) = £189 without wheels or £225 with wheels + vat What a rip off !! Neat ideas GIVE AWAY a nylon pilots bag for FREE!! Same material carries anything, with any order you make !!;D Ahh but I hear Hanns complaining the development costs Do WE not do the development for these companies ?? We are in business too and unless you look after the "wholesale client" you may find yourself retailing direct along with the rest ...... A thought Cheers Derek
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hansb
New Member
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Post by hansb on Nov 16, 2007 15:42:32 GMT
Dear Mr Holland
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to reply to the comments made by Dave Smith on your forum. I would very much like to explain how our organisation works and the reasons behind the creation of Simply Feet. Canonbury is entering its 25th year trading and has grown from a one man band to a respectable supplies company employing 42 people both here in Brackley and at our service department in Blackpool. The core business is that of being a wholesaler to primarily podiatrist and foot health practitioners. Simply Feet operates from the Canonbury premises in Brackley and has been set up following strong demand of mostly NHS podiatrists who want to refer patients to a supplier that can deliver the products they need. After three years Simply Feet now also has a strong following amongst our private customers. Please appreciate that not every private practitioner sells products to their patients and of those few that do, most are only able to offer a very restricted range (e.g. CCS cream, nail files and possibly nail nippers). Please also appreciate that no practitioner (whether private or NHS) is forced to give out Simply Feet catalogues, it is entirely voluntary. Simply Feet is provided as a service to both practitioners and patients and it is up to the practitioner to decide if they wish to use it. Simply Feet is not attempting to wrest business away from the trained podiatrists, it is simply there to provide the patient (and podiatrist) with an extensive range of tried and tested products to improve their foot health IN CONJUNCTION with the care they receive direct from their podiatrist. On the subject of Mr Smith’s constructive criticism of our telephone answering he has a valid point. We have 6 full time telephone order takers here in Brackley and during peak times we sometimes struggle to answer calls quickly. Rather than allowing the calls to “ring out” we use a telephone system which places people on hold so that they at least know we are attempting to answer their call The system also helps the customer select the most appropriate department from a list of 6 options to save them, potentially, being bounced around the office in an attempt to reach the correct person. We are urgently looking at alternative methods of handling these calls and expect to improve answer times before too long. I feel that Dave Smith`s comments on our “half trained – uninterested, demotivated telephone sales staff” are unfair. Our staff are not trained as podiatrists, true – if they were they wouldn’t want to be taking sales orders! However, all staff do receive regular product training and, having listened to their calls many times, I know them to be friendly and enthusiastic. Canonbury Products is very dear to my heart, as are all its customers, and whilst we are unable to please all of the people all of the time, we do our best to satisfy the majority. I am only sorry that Mr Smith is not one of that majority. Reading some of the later posts I am very pleased to see the generally positive comments from other podiatrists in the profession. If you any customer ever has comments (positive or negative) to make please feel free to send them directly to me at Canonbury – I take all such feedback very seriously.
With kind regards
Hans Bakker
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Post by blinda on Nov 20, 2007 22:34:52 GMT
Hi All,
I would just like to relate my experience of treatment by Canonbury as a company; I have visited their showroom in Brackley a few times and have always been warmly welcomed by every member of staff. As a student they supported my undergraduate research project (Thanks Adrian and Barry). In particular, Julia, Hans, Richard and the guy from the store room (sorry can`t remember his name!) also generously made provision for approx 20 of us student pods and physios to experience the Vasyli biomech course there, at an extremely good rate.
As a graduate now working part time in NHS, Canonbury has continued to support and offer valuable advice in buidling my private practice. I have confidence in their products and, on the very few occasions where there has ever been a problem (usually because I ordered the wrong product!) the customer care has always been delivered to a very high standard.
Cheers, Belinda
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Post by Martin Harvey on Nov 20, 2007 22:55:29 GMT
Hi all,
I agree with Blinda. I have used Canonbury for a number of years now and found them (and Hans) courteous and efficient. Not the cheapest certainly, BUT, you get what you pay for. And you can't run an efficient company and a 'bargain basement shop' at the same time, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
As for getting a loan to fund such things - even with 'tax breaks' all loans cost money and ultimately drain your bottom line whereas an 'add on' that does not need amortising is just that - an add on.
Cheers,
Martin
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Post by dtt on Nov 21, 2007 13:16:11 GMT
Hi Martin I made that statement as a general comment on setting up and equipping /stock etc, as Twirly was asking in another thread about "upgrading her autoclave" so I assume she for one is reviewing her "long term future in private practice? Many new pods IMHO make the same mistake as the NHS ie going for the cheapest option in everything which very often works out the dearest in the long run. As you quite rightly said" There's no such thing as a free lunch" you will only get the quality you pay for . The loan ? well yes of course it will cost you money BUT if you have a good business plan then that can be incorporated in your fees and as we all have to suffer the "growing pains" when starting up a business, sometimes to take out an affordable loan is the best way forward ( just my thoughts on that one) I think Dave's point is valid in this particular case as yes for those that "retail" at a price need a profit margin from wherever they can get it ,and when the "wholesalers" start "retailing direct" where's the profit in that for us ?? We do the research ( yes I have done with the manufacturer on a particular instrument that canonbury now retail exclusively in the UK ? Europe) so I know what the mark up is I was also one of Canonburys top turnovers of Vasyli's at on stage (I think I got a couple of freebies for that ) but it was I that was marketing for Canonburys as well as myself and the development of my knowledge was paid for out of MY profits not theirs. I also don't want ANY of my patients coming back to me telling me they can get it cheaper direct after my little bit goes on the top . I don't "retail" as such from my practice so I am not interested in this new venture they are starting BUT if they start selling things like Vasyli's direct then I will be the first one on ALL the forums calling for a boycott of Canonburys and / or any other company if this trend catches on. Cheers Derek
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Post by TimVS on Nov 21, 2007 16:55:34 GMT
Hi Derek et al, I'm struggling to see quite what all the fuss is about here I have always found Canonbury to be very fair and reasonable. A quick flick through the different catalogues shows their prices to be roughly equivalent to the others. As to a retail catalogue, why not? There are lots of 'outfits' out there pushing footcare products, not to mention Boots and now even Supermarkets. Surely a company with a solid background in professonal footcare is ideally placed to offer such a service? Sound business move. Wish I'd thought of it From time to time patients do ask for slightly out of the ordinary products, and I find it useful to pick up the catalogue, quickly add on VAT and postage for a small profit, job done. But if you want to calculate your own fees and profit margins on every product sale, fine. Just don't use the catalogue. Do bear in mind though that when charging if you go much over what the high street retailers are charging, it might not reflect too well on you I think they only sell the Vasylis that you can get over the counter , which we wouldn't bother with anyway would we? So again I don't quite see the problem. As far as their operators are concerned, I do think that comment is a bit mean. I have always found them to be polite. Of course I don't expect them to have specialist knowledge! If I want that, I just talk to Hans, who is nearly always available to help I could tell you stories about some of the other outfits I've had to deal with over the years by comparison, but I'll leave it there for now.
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Post by dtt on Nov 21, 2007 17:47:45 GMT
Hi Tim et al All RETAILERS that's the point Tim Canonbury are Wholesalers that supply the profession not the public we do that (only if you want to , I agree) No that wasn't quite what I meant the fee calculation was in relation to Loans ,not so much retail sales But If I am charging say £40 for Vasylis and Canonbury start retailing @ £25 because they can , then I feel that reflects on me but as I use very few nowadays it would not be a real problem but I can see where it could be to others ?? No your right there we wouldn't bother with OTC Vasylis But if this retail trend starts where does it stop? Heat yourself orthotics?? DIY bioMx, footcare I dunno but if its bothering members of the profession ( and lets remember not everyone is established like us) then every penny may count so I think the point is well made. I do agree about the telephone op's they have always been polite and courteous to me at all times and I Don't expect them to have any knowledge of podiatry save whether they have a particular product .Don't shoot the messenger I think applies there Yes Ive also had some pretty awful experiences with others as well so.... Cheers Derek
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Post by RobinCrawley on Dec 3, 2007 22:25:14 GMT
Hi! This is an interesting thread... This is what you could do: Have a copy of Simply Feet in your surgery. Sell the stuff to the patients at those prices. Here is the key: Say to the patient that YOU will have your wholesaler send them to the patient direct without extra postage. Get them to pay you now. This way you don't need any stock. THEN when you go home, log into canonbury.com order it wholesale and have it sent to your patient (at their delivery address). That way, same product, same company, YOUR PROFIT. Delivery takes a couple of days same as always with free postage. Nice. I have done this. It works... Cheers, Robin
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