When Colin Struthers started his business 20 years ago the place was “a very small shop in the middle of town” he remembers. “We were a very very small shop for about seven years and it was really small” he says again. Nothing to compare with the current shop, where there is even enough space to show off old wheelchairs that people used in the past.

Colin worked for a company that dealt with medical supplies but he also had a business on the side to do with wheelchairs. When the company folded, he made the most of his knowledge of machines, and thinking the medical field “is too competitive to be honest”, he created Med-Ecosse, a company specialising in mobility products. This was back in 1994. 

Things have changed in those 20 years. The business is no longer in the middle of town because when they had the opportunity to move they did it with the idea to get into a bigger place. “You know, you have more stock to show people”. The route in the shop starts with scooters and continues with wheelchairs, beds, aids and chairs.  It’s a very wide range of products.

The old wheelchairs are near to the ceiling like an exhibition. They used to be on the floor, Colin explains, but not anymore because the manager told him that the room needed new things. But he likes them. “I think it’s a good idea, just to show what people used to use a hundred years ago or so. They attract attention because they are different and remind us where we came from”.

A lot of changes

Colin gives an example of how the technology has advanced: The new wheelchairs are made with new materials that, for instance, make it easier to put them into cars. It was impossible with the old chairs, because they were too heavy. He laughs.

There are a lot of examples of new technologies. The first scooters he had in the store were very basic. Not today. He explains that now the products are more reliable and are always being upgraded and new versions are coming out. The joystick controls or the screen have more options every time.

Now there is a fancy control box to control other things. “If you want to spend your money you can control the windows” Colin says. Not the cheapest option.

A decision

The possibilities depend on the chair and the budget. To him, what’s most important is that people feel comfortable. “I guess we want to provide a good service, you know. Being polite costs nothing, listening to people costs nothing. We don’t apply pressure, if you want a wheelchair; it is up to you which one. We maybe suggest a chair, but we don’t say definitely you need that. I prefer people to make their own decision according to what’s comfortable”. 

There are some essential questions that need answered when someone is going to buy a chair. What do they want it for? Where they are going to use it? How long are they going to sit in it every day? How tall or how heavy the person is? … Colin explains that what they do is a social assessment to try to work out what is best for someone. They like to do home demonstrations with the machines to match what the customer wants and can afford.