Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Adam Davidson, Owner of Mainline Wellness, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is called Mainline Wellness. My customers are people that suffer from iron deficiency and anemia caused by a variety of conditions, including but not limited to pregnancy, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles, GI illness, cardiac issues, and cancer. We provide a faster, more efficient, and more comfortable alternative to long hospital waits.
Tell us about yourself
My day job is working at Lions Gate Hospital as an Emergency Physician. I'm also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine. While continuing these roles, I developed an outpatient IV therapy (Mainline Wellness) with a focus on intravenous iron treatment. The spark for Mainline formed when I saw many patients coming into the Emergency Department wanting and needing iron IV treatment.
There was a space in the market for rapid access to safe and convenient IV therapies. This spark ignited when a personal friend couldn't get access to iron IV treatment in the hospital and was suffering from severe anemia. It felt rewarding assisting my friend in receiving the treatment he needed and seeing firsthand the impact on his quality of life. I wanted this to be readily available to others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My proudest moments come when I get unsolicited reports from patients on how much their lives have benefitted from receiving IV iron. As a physician, improving patient lives is always a priority, and when you see and hear that you're having a positive impact on patients, it's incredibly satisfying.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The biggest challenge so far has been getting the word out to care providers in the lower mainland that one, we exist, and two, we provide a safe, efficient, and rapid alternative to hospital referrals. I still work in the ER and combined with clinic work.
It leaves me very little time to reach out to other clinics and providers. The good news is that patients themselves have been strong advocates, and we've essentially been relying on their amazing word-of-mouth reports to get the word out. I would love to have more time to reach out and chat with other physicians, but there are only so many hours in the week.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The most important thing to me was providing a service that was dearly needed. When you can combine your training and passion and actually help people, there is no better feeling. I would say the other two tips would be to hire good people that support your objectives and to have a positive attitude throughout. There are days when it feels like I've taken on a lot, but I can see how I want Mainline Wellness to develop. Bringing positive energy to that vision is essential.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mainlinewellness.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mainlinewellness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mainlinewellness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mainlinewell
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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