AN_p24_p25_eddiepea_40+44_AN107_Long.QXD 29/09/2021 11:59 Page 1
Eddie Hello ACK IN THE DAY, I had the pleasure to work with a company who enjoyed the perfect ethos for our mobility industry. We all shared the belief that our business involved supplying products and services to a special group of customers. They were special because, through nasty diseases, illnesses, accidents or simply the ageing process, they needed help to maintain their independence, mobility and a decent quality of life. Of course, we made a living selling things but striking a balance between making profits and providing the appropriate product at an affordable price gave true value to our special customers. We needed a clear but precise name to describe our typical customer. We decided on Auntie Doris. She is not just an auntie, she is everyone`s mum, dad, grandparent, friend or neighbour and she needs help. Auntie Doris is 70 (which is young from my perspective). She has arthritis and recently suffered a stroke. She is a little overweight and has become depressed as she has not been able to walk far or do any exercise. As a result, she has gradually lost contact with some friends. Since her husband died, she often feels lonely. She has an unmarried son, Charlie, and a married daughter, Claire. They both live a long way away and have come to visit for her birthday. Being a mother herself, Claire is practical and has already made investigations. She has found the details of 2 mobility shops within 10 miles and noted the price of a few relevant products. She is very worried about her mum and thinks that accidents could easily happen. Falls are common among older folk and Doris is not very steady walking nowadays. Claire, having looked on-line for advice and solutions, is amazed at the amount of help that is available. As a result, she has taken up a couple of small rugs as these could easily be a trip hazard. For the same reason she is going to buy mum some new slippers as her old ones are showing ominous signs of wear!
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Ideally, her mum needs a stairlift to get up to bed and the toilet safely, a mobility scooter to get to the shops and to her friends. She needs some help in the bathroom as she can`t use her bath anymore. Her mum has seen adverts on TV for chairs that rise and recline. She would like one but is worried about the cost. Charlie is not as pro- active as his sister, but he has looked on-line at the price of mobility scooters. He has seen some that look very smart and that cost less than £1000. A lively debate ensued with Claire suggesting that they should approach the local businesses as they can meet them in person and, hopefully, find someone they can trust when spending mum`s hard-earned cash. She also thinks that they might need other bits and pieces in the future and having a local supplier would give Doris some confidence and reduce any stress. Charlie thinks that the retailers are still “salesmen” and will try and make the maximum profit. His “on-line” company will deliver the scooter in two days with no fuss, “job done for £850”. The conversation then moved on to riser / recliner chairs and the same issues rose again. On the internet were some handsome products for around £600. Fast delivery, no questions asked! Claire`s local bloke had chairs from
Eddie Peacock has worked in the mobility industry for “rather a long time”. He enjoyed a challenging career having started by selling wheelchairs, scooters and stairlifts for Sunrise Medical, eventually working his way to the position of UK sales manager. After a period as a self-employed consultant he was invited to manage movingpeople.net, now Handicare Ltd, in
Ability Needs Magazine
