Radio Front Desk
Radio Front Desk is a podcast that talks to real people in real clinics about what it takes to build a health and wellness business.
Host Denzil Ford, Editor-in-Chief of Front Desk magazine, digs into the inspiring stories of folks building their practices from the ground up — including what works, what hasn’t, and everything in between.
Created by the team at Jane App, this podcast is your source for discovering fresh ideas and proven strategies for clinic life. Join us on this journey of building a practice you love.
Radio Front Desk
How coffee inspired a clinic location
This week on the podcast, we’re exploring one of the most critical steps in building a successful clinic — choosing the right location. Denzil sits down with Eric and Caroline, co-founders of Vitae Health & Sport in North Vancouver, to unpack the thoughtful, strategic process behind their decision.
From analyzing community plans to surprising insights drawn from a major coffee chain’s strategy, Eric and Caroline’s story reveals just how much effort goes into finding a spot that not only works now but sets their clinic up for long-term success. They share the risks they took, the lessons they learned, and one clever lease negotiation that gave them a major advantage as first-time clinic owners.
Have you opened your own clinic? We’d love to hear how you chose your location! Send in your thoughts and join the conversation.
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Oh hi, it's Denzil here. Picture this for a second You've got a vision for your clinic, a checklist of everything it needs to thrive and a really good feeling about how it's all coming together. But then you realize you're missing something. Where are you going to put it? That's the exact spot Eric and Carolyn found themselves in when they were gearing up to open their first clinic Vitae Health and Sport. They had it all mapped out their services, their goals, the whole nine yards but they were missing that one critical piece of the puzzle a location. They knew the stakes were high.
Speaker 1:When you think about it, picking your clinic's location isn't just a nice to have. It's one of those big make or break decisions that sticks with you for a long time. But when I interviewed Eric and Carolyn for Radio Front Desk, I was shocked at just how much more goes into choosing a location than I thought Everything from digging into your local government plans get this to leaning on the decisions of a coffee chain. They really did look at this decision from every angle you can think of. That's why I want to take a few minutes to share some of the steps that Eric and Carolyn took that really stood out to me, including some. That kind of took me by surprise. All right. So first up they leaned in on coffee, and not in the way you might think. Eric and Carolyn had a few neighborhoods in mind for their clinic. Then something interesting caught their eye A major coffee chain had recently leased a spot in one of those areas. Now why does that matter? Well, think about how those big name chains operate. They've got entire teams crunching the numbers on things like foot traffic, demographics and future growth potential before committing to a location. So when that coffee chain set up shop, it was like a big flashing sign telling Eric and Carolyn this spot is worth it. For two first-time clinic owners, this took some of the guesswork out of the decision. Plus, it gave them some validation that the neighborhood had solid potential, not just for now but for the long term.
Speaker 1:Next, they did a little treasure hunting. You might be thinking how did Eric and Carolyn even know about the coffee chain plans? Well, they started by diving into the municipality's official community plan, and that turned out to be a great move, because those plans outlined areas that were pegged for growth. They saw planned developments like housing projects and retail hubs and realized these were the spots that would become pretty busy and bring in foot traffic, which is exactly what a new clinic wants. Plus, the idea of being among the first to make a name for themselves in a blooming neighborhood excited them, even if it felt risky.
Speaker 1:Now this next move. Well, it's genius. They locked themselves in as the only clinic. Here's what I mean. When they were signing their lease, they negotiated an exclusivity clause. That means that no other business offering the same services could open in the same complex, and this wasn't just about cutting off competition. It gave them peace of mind Without having to worry about a similar business setting up shop next door. They had the breathing room to focus on growing their clinic. Eric and Carolyn approached their location search with strategy, patience and a clear focus on the future, and I think that's a lesson worth taking to heart for anyone setting up a clinic. If you've already opened your clinic, what was the number one thing that made you pick your location? Send me a note at frontdesk at janeapp and I'd love to hear your story. All right, that's it from me today. Thanks for tuning in and hanging out. Remember, be thoughtful, take your time and pick a spot that not only feels right but sets you up for the long haul. You've got this.