LAS VEGAS – Manufacturer representatives from nine finalists in the biannual Innovative HME Retail Product Awards (sponsored by HomeCare Magazine) vied for the coveted top three awards on Day One of Medtrade Spring at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. After officials from all nine finalists made their presentations,
session attendees and judges voted to determine the top three winners.
The top three winners were:
1) Pride Mobility Products: Jazzy Air Powerchair (185 points)
2) Roscoe Healthcare/Compass Health Brands: Free2go Rollator (130 points)
3) Topricin: Pain Relief Cream (109 points)
“Caretailing is the evolution that we are looking to create,” said moderator Jim Greatorex, Business Development, VGM Retail Services. “The awards were too close to call, and I was impressed by the quality of the entrants. Medtrade Spring attendees and judges made the ultimate decision.”
“For me, it’s all about the marketing materials and sales materials so my sales people don’t have to do as much work,” added award judge Cindi Ciardo, CEO and co-owner, Knueppel Healthcare Services. “If we’re busy with other customers, people can look at the merchandising until we’re able to talk with them. Good merchandising is a hook.”
The nine finalists (in alphabetical order):
• Drive Medical: Flip a Grip (Fall Prevention)
• Grip Solutions: Grip Lap Board
• Golden Technologies: Nano Tek High Performance Fabric
• Pride Mobility Products: Jazzy Air (Powerchair)
• Roscoe Healthcare/Compass Health Brands: Free2go Rollator
• Sonic Alert: Home Aware Home Alerting Solution
• Swedo Inc: Swede-O Heel Pain Center
• Topricin: Pain Relief Cream
• Vionic (Vasyli Medical): Vionic Pain Free Shoes
Panelists/judges:
• Mike Sperduti, CEO, Mike Sperduti Companies
• Cindi Ciardo, CEO, Knueppel Healthcare Services
• Rob Baumhover, director of Retail, VGM Retail
The biannual Innovative HME Retail Product Awards are one of several opportunities to grow providers’ caretailing component. The awards honor HME products that are particularly suited for retail sale. “I urge providers to check out all the manufacturers that made the top nine,” said Kevin Gaffney, group show director, Medtrade. “We will again have the Innovative HME Retail Product Awards at Medtrade 2016, scheduled for Oct 31-Nov 3 in Atlanta.”