Bid News Blog

From: HME News

by: Elizabeth Deprey

More and more lately, when I ask providers “What’s new?” they talk about their retail efforts. Either they’re just getting started, amping them up or opening up new locations to continue growing their retail income.

I spoke a little while ago to Eric Hagen, who’s moving to a space in October that will have three times the showroom space. What’s the secret to his success? Understanding why his customers come in the door.

There’s a key difference between big box retailers and HMEs branching into the retail market, he said. HME customers don’t want to buy HME, he said—they need it.

From: Ocala Star-Banner

By Jim Ross, City editor

BELLEVIEW — One day last week, Brenda Counsell sat at a small desk inside her store, Comfort Care Medical Equipment and Uniforms, which is in the Kmart plaza off U.S. 441. Surrounding her were walkers, countless boxes of health supplies and racks of brightly colored medical uniforms.

Pretty soon, much of the inventory will be reduced or stored off site. To get a lower rent, Counsell will downsize from two shop suites to one. And she already has reduced work hours for one of the store’s five employees.