Jason Clarke knows something about business. As the new owner of MediChair Fraser Valley, he’s been able to build the company up after purchasing it in March of this year. Working in the industry since 1998 he’s found his passion and is doing what he loves – helping people.

Beginning in Kelowna, he worked for Creative Mobility with “two of the best in the business, my early mentors, Jim Miller and Julian Bilideau.” In his 10 months there he learned a huge amount and gained a new perspective, being trained by Jim who himself is in a wheelchair.

He moved to Chilliwack in 1999 after meeting his future wife, Laura, saying “After meeting Laura, I couldn’t stay much longer in Kelowna and moved to the Lower Mainland.” He immediately got a job in a rehabilitation shop in Chilliwack and stayed for 3 ½ years.

In 2002, it was time for a change. Newly married and looking to advance his career, Jason opened the paper to a position with MediChair in Abbotsford. By 2005, he was managing the company, as one of two employees for nearly a year, working six days a week to build the company and regain its momentum.

Jason began the offer process to purchase the business in late 2006. Turning to Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) where he was given information and resources on how to purchase MediChair. Ensuring due diligence on his part, he took it one step at a time to have the business fully assessed and create a workable business plan.

With the help of ABC and TACC, the deal was complete on March 14, 2008. “ABC provided me with a lot of resources and TACC helped me by providing a loan with a very reasonable payment plan that works for me.”

Jason is currently undertaking training through RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America), the only type of accreditation within the field. With added training through MediChair’s head office, providing training in sales, technical training and customer service. “It’s nice to be apart of a bigger ‘family’ rather then just completely on your own. It’s good to have a head body to contact with questions,” He says. He’s been able to directly contact the COO of MediChair, Bas van Lankvelt, whenever he’s needed anything. “Bas is a very positive person and helped when things didn’t look so good.”

With the availability of various mobility aid products, MediChair’s primary focus is wheelchairs. Along with custom seating and accessibility options, for their bathroom, or bedroom, MediChair offers its customers stair-, porch- and vanlifts when needing to get their wheelchair home. Various bedroom and bath products are also available to aid in daily activities. Secondary items include scooters and walkers for customers unable to walk long distances. When a new customer comes to MediChair, they are assessed and ensured they have the right product for their need.

Prices for a basic walker start at $159 and range in price for wheelchairs, up to $5,500 for a high end scooter. “We are targeting females age 55+ because they are the decision makers,” Jason tells me. “Usually it’s a daughter of an elderly person or couple who does the research and helps in the decision making. That’s who we are targeting.”

Through national advertisements; yellow page advertising; directory listings and online through the website they are working to get their message across. They provide two annual flyers distributed nationally via local papers or direct mail. They have a radio advertisement and collectively in BC the MediChair businesses came together to create a pilot project to have a television commercial.

When asked about his favourite part of the business, Jason is quick to reply, “Helping people. It’s the driving force behind doing this. You have to have a genuine desire to help people. The most gratifying part of the job is having someone contact us because the competition can’t get to them on time and our company can step in and help.”

Purchasing the business was one of Jason’s high points this year. With the help of a strong support system, Jason has been able to create his business by doing what he loves. His wife Laura has stood beside him through long and sometimes strenuous hours; she assisted in finding more resources and information for him to plan for the purchase of MediChair.

Further valuable support includes Louisa, who has been providing administrative support since the beginning. “She’s always been a very positive person even when all things looked impossible.” And Michael Mykolaishyn, who runs a successful MediChair store in Surrey. “He has been there for me to help where he can for the last four years. He’s very knowledgeable and one of the nicest people in the industry,” Jason explains. “There’s a mutual respect with the separate territories each store covers, and I know I can talk to Michael when I have questions.”

Jason’s advice for young entrepreneurs, “Due diligence,” He says. “Look at the business thoroughly: the books of the business; the history of the company including speaking to vendors and suppliers. Find out what the reputation a company is before purchasing it, if it has a bad reputation it’s probably not worth it.” And finally, “Having a business plan makes all the difference in the world.”

He’s already reached his six month goals (about three months early) for hiring staff including an outside sales rep. “The challenge in hiring new staff, however, is training. It takes a lot of time, money and patience when new staff is being trained,” He tells me. “You have to have the right people if you are to be successful in this business. Without the right people you don’t succeed.” As for new goals this year: increasing business and growing the awareness of the company within the community.

“Working in this industry has changed my perspective.” Jason says, “I hardly thought twice when I would see a person in a wheelchair – what their challenges might be. Now, I realize the obstacles that need to be overcome on a daily basis. When I’m out in the community in an area that looks dangerous even for someone walking I wonder how someone in a wheelchair would navigate the area. I think differently now.”

Jason is first and foremost about his family, “Me and my family are the driving forces behind what I do. I have to go to work with the right mindset. We’re in an industry where we get to help people overcome their obstacles regardless of the phase they are in their life – youthful or elderly – we get to help people on a daily basis.”

Jason Clarke is passionate about what he does. He enjoys helping others and witnessing their satisfaction. He’s compassionate and personable and understands what it takes to put the customer first. He’s doing what he loves and it’s all coming together for him.

“Providing someone with mobility and freedom is a great experience. There’s this smile that they have on their face after and that is reward enough for me.” Smiling, he continues, “That’s why I do what I do. Even when I didn’t own the business, it was a driving force to get out there and help people every day. We do it quietly. It’s a simple reward for coming to work each day.”

Jason Clarke
MediChair Fraser Valley
www.abbotsford.medichair.com
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