People of all ages rely on mobility equipment to navigate their everyday challenges in life. According to Science Daily, in the older adult population alone, more than 36% rely on a cane, walker, wheelchair or scooter, and more than 9% rely on multiple mobility devices. By Brianna Bohn
People of all ages rely on mobility equipment to navigate their everyday challenges in life. According to Science Daily, in the older adult population alone, more than 36% rely on a cane, walker, wheelchair or scooter, and more than 9% rely on multiple mobility devices. For Diane Baratta and her late husband, they were reminded daily how indispensable these devices are.
“My husband was dependent on his mobility scooter to get to and from dialysis. On the way to treatment, his chair stopped working in the pouring rain. I called where we purchased the chair and found that they were out of business,” Diane said. She proceeded to call several local businesses to fix her husband’s scooter with no luck. That was until she found Mobility City.
“Vinny answered the phone late Saturday afternoon, and I told him my story in tears. He said, ‘I can send a technician today to help you,’ and he did,” Diane said. A few years later, her husband passed away. Little did she know that Mobility City would continue to have an impact on her life.
“I decided to do online dating and planned to meet someone for dinner. We started to get to know one another, and that’s when I asked, ‘Are you the company who came to fix my husband’s scooter?’ My date replied, ‘Are you the girl who was on the phone crying?’” Diane was unaware that she was sitting across from Mobility City Founder Vinny Baratta. Soon, they developed a relationship, Diane started working at Mobility City and the couple got married. She was the impetus to start franchising.
Heartwarming stories are almost expected from Mobility City. After all, the mobility equipment brand helps restore people’s independence and lead healthy, productive lives. A repair-focused model, Mobility City fixes everything from wheelchairs and scooters to lift chairs. Much to the relief of its clients, the brand also provides rentals, sales and sanitization services. Vinny had found a niche market with repeat customers.
“People say, ‘I can’t get to the bathroom, I want to get the mail, I want to watch my grandchildren play ball.’ We have the products and equipment that solves their challenges,” said Vinny, who was born into a family of doctors and started his first surgical supplies store in 1983. At a young age, Vinny was surrounded by patients who needed assistive equipment, leading to his predisposition to help others. Customers experience his kindness every day, and like-minded franchisees thrive off of it.
“We don’t sell our franchise. We show people what we do, and they say, ‘This is my calling in life,’” said Vinny. With 54 franchises awarded and 38 operating and open, the brand has given a new lease on life to customers and franchisees, especially entrepreneurs who have craved independence and wish to own an essential, recession-proof business.
“People love the simplicity of our model,” he said. “It is an owner-operated business that requires just four employees. Our interactive showrooms have a racetrack so people can ‘try before they buy.’ We have 90 national accounts that we service, and we teach you how to be cash flow positive in a very early part of your business.” Franchisees can also expect room for scale and growth, owning a territory with a million-person population.
“My grandfather stressed to me: ‘Stay focused and work hard on giving people a better quality of life, and you will be successful no matter what you do.’ That’s what we do every day,” Vinny said.
Brianna Bohn