Personalized support is a crucial part of delivering exceptional customer service – and that’s especially true for medical device suppliers and consultants. For CEO Andrew Kardish of O2assist, a clinical consultation firm based in Lake Forest, CA, business success depends on making sure all clients have customized assistance at all times. O2assist specializes in portable oxygen concentrators and other home health products. But their product offerings are only one part of their client-focused culture.
The company offers an impressive product line and patient-focused support. Under Mr. Kardish’s leadership, O2assist has become one of the fastest-growing home health clinical consultants in the United States. His company addresses a critical home health need – pulmonary disorders and related diseases are the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. – while putting patients first. All O2assist clients are assigned a Personal Oxygen Specialist that provide technical support, responsive communication and other support.
Innovative Company spoke with Mr. Kardish about future growth prospects for o2assist, personal sources of inspiration and useful advice for young entrepreneurs and business executives.
1. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Most notably Jesus Christ and Zig Ziglar. However, there have been many anonymous, nameless, everyday heroes. Anyone who has ever put someone else’s best interests ahead of their own is inspirational. At O2assist, we think of our clients as family members, and there are countless historical figures and everyday heroes who exemplify this characteristic.
2. What piece of advice would you give to someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
Make sure that you really love and are passionate about what you are doing. If you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re probably not going to enjoy spending countless hours immersed in your particular line of business. More importantly, customers/clients/patients can sense authenticity.
3. Where do you see your business in 10 years?
$500M+ in sales, but more importantly, 95% of our patients will be in a better place before they met us. We love giving our patients and clients the independence they are seeking. In another 10 years, I see O2assist delivering a better quality of life for even more patients!
4. How do you go about marketing your business?
We have hired Ignite Visibility, top-tier marketing firm based in San Diego. Our Mission at o2 assist is to focus on our patients’ needs and deliver appropriate and timely solutions to them. We look to Ignite to assist us in reaching our target audience. Our efforts are focused on patient care and support thereof.
5. What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Word of mouth and referrals have been extremely beneficial. To that end, we look to re-direct resources away from traditional marketing methods to embrace a more community-based Social Media Marketing.
6. What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
a) You can never please everyone. Sometimes your best is not good enough and that’s alright.
b) Today, someone’s word and their handshake does not carry the same weight as it did 30 years ago.
c) There are no shortcuts.
7. How does your company provide innovation within your industry?
One patient at a time. “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care about them.”
Well said, Mr. Kardish! Regardless of your industry – medical supply, manufacturing, construction and other sectors – all young business leaders would do well to heed Mr. Kardish’s advice of embracing a customer-first mentality. To learn more about o2assist, please visit their website or call (866) 285-0655.
