Reviewing the last year seems a very difficult thing to do at the moment, especially considering we are still deep within the throws of a global pandemic that has affected businesses both large and small all around the World.
As the Vale Foot Clinic we set ourselves some ambitious targets for the Year 2020. Having established our business within Dinas Powys we invested much of our time and energy into developing our business in Barry in the hope to develop it into one that our patients and customers of the High street could be proud of.
It seemed a mammoth task when we took our first tentative steps during January 2020. We’d been operating out of the clinic in Barry but we needed to invest significantly in the building, environment and tools that were required to run our business effectively and efficiently.
One of our first steps was to release more of our time by changing our recording and booking system and although this seems a strange step we invested in a completely new patient and booking system, moving away from what we felt was a rather clunky and unfriendly online system to Cliniko! What a move, when set up we realised that one of our first challenges had been overcome. We no longer spent hours searching through what seemed a myriad of screens and settings to find what we were looking for. More importantly Cliniko integrated seamlessly with our web site and almost immediately we watched as our online booking numbers rose and smiled as patients quietly complimented us on our new web site and online booking system.
Then we turned our energies to the much more daunting but even more rewarding job of refurbishing the clinic. Much has been put into place during 2020 both behind the scenes and physically but we hope that our patients (certainly those patients who remember the Vale Foot Clinic prior to January 2020) will recognise the transformation of our ‘shop front’. We’ve added a slideshow of photos below that document our journey and travels through 2020. You may notice the effect COVID has had on the clinic during this journey, the appearance of social distancing tape, hand gel dispensers etc. but this is not a podiatric game of Where’s Wally!
A bare and unwelcoming clinic Jan 20 
and a bare shop window 
An unwelcoming waiting room. 
Our old shoe and product uppliers 
We started with the walls and window display 
Whilst securing new furniture for our treatment rooms. 
Adding interest with products and posters in the ‘shop window’ 
whilst advertising the services we offer 
Setting up a new contract with Joya Footwear 
whilst selling off old shoe stock 
Adding decals to build our brand around the clinic 
whilst moving screens and developing content. 
Purchasing our Swiss DolorClast 
shockwave machine. 
Securing a contract with OS1st Distributors in the UK 
and purchasing our FootBalance analysis machine. 
We can now custom mould orthotics 
in-clinic for our patients whilst they wait! 
Painting and refurbishing the building 
and our shop front 
Stocking and supplying STRIVE footwear 
slippers, shoes and sandals that 
cushion and support patient feet. 
A worthwhile journey!
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We have to say a BIG thank you to many of the companies, agents and distributors that have helped us and supported us on this journey. Without you the transformation of our business, in what has been an eventful and unforgiving year, would have been near on impossible.
To Tim, Lee, Angela and Boo at Joya Footwear, to Anna at Footbalance, Katie and the team at Strive Footwear, to the vital engineers and team at Dental Decontamination, to Beverley and Ben at Bro Radio (Yes we’re on the Radio now!), to Barry Town Council, to C and P Medical Supplies, to Canonbury supplies, to Algeos and Chris for introducing us to Shockwave therapy and our Swiss DolorClast shockwave machine, to Daniel Morgan ‘Sports Chiropractor” for his excellent Shockwave Training sessions, to Celtic Podiatry in Carmarthen for all of your help and advice, to Bob at Bob’s Balloons for all of your support and to the countless other businesses and tradesmen and women, that are too many to mention individually, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your help.
Finally we would like to thank our wonderful patients at both our clinics in Dinas Powys and Barry for your patience and support throughout 2020. It has been a testing year for everybody but hopefully we can approach 2021 with renewed energy, enthusiasm and positivity that all of our lives will soon return to normal.
One last thing, just before you go. We’ve just started a new and exciting project for 2021! Gluttons for punishment eh!
The first few planks of flooring have been laid (actually we’ve finished the flooring) and we are in the process of developing a new service and fitting out a ‘new’ room.
Stay in touch to find out more about our new and exciting Biomechanical Assessment and Rehabilitation Room…
