Kathleen,

Over nine years in practice I've always had lulls when the phone didn't ring.
I have never figured out why I'll have 14 calls one day, and others none at
all...... days when I'll call my business number from my residential phone
just to be sure the business line is working.  A few times I actually
returned some pumps after fretting about the overhead, and ofcourse, shortly
therafter I had a run on rentals and had to re-order.

Right now I too have severe competition from new rental stations in the area
including two hospitals. At first I felt threatened but then the fighting
instinct in me surfaced. I've increased my publicity. My son who works in
marketing tells me I have to make a minimum of one publicity effort every
week. That I have to spend time and money promoting myself the way I did when
I first started out. That I have to keep my name in lights out there. I was
getting complacent. Competition isn't such a bad thing.

I stress to people who are shopping for a pump rental that they get my
services (free pumping-related tech-support) at no additional charge for the
duration of the rental, plus free kit assembly and one free attendance at my
breastfeeding support group. A package so to speak.

It seems from reading the financial pages that all businesses have ups and
downs. Ours is no different. We just need to hang in there.

Beverley Rae, MSW CSW IBCLC
Manhasset, NY