Laurie King is excited about bringing her medical equipment business to Grand Marais. Lake Superior Medical Equipment opened this week in the Cobblestone building next to the Pumphouse Fitness Center.
Laurie King knew she wanted to expand her Duluth medical equipment business, just where though, was the question.
“We traveled throughout the Northland, up to Bemidji and up the shore and places in between. We decided we do a lot of business up here,” said King in an interview this week. “We also like to hunt and fish, especially my husband. I always said this is just like home, only 100 miles north. He fishes all of the streams all of the way up the shore and we like it up here. We didn’t know where to locate a store though and when this spot came open, we just decided to go for it, and here we are!”
King, who is a certified respiratory therapist, has been in the medical supply business for 25 years, and has owned her own business the last 9½ years.
“We have 15 employees in Duluth. We’ve grown a lot since we opened our doors,” King said.
The store in Grand Marais is adjacent to the Pumphouse Fitness Center and occupies the space once used for dance and aerobics.
So far the Grand Marais location is stocked with about three-fourths of the items it will hold when all of the medical equipment and supplies arrive. That said, there is already a lot to choose from.
“We carry everything from canes to crutches to commodes, C-pacs and pulleys and terra-band exercise equipment, wheelchairs, scooters, scrubs, cover-ups, beds and vibrating chairs, daily living aids, bath aids, items for new mothers and individuals that need special equipment that will help them live better,” said King.
Items like wheelchairs and scooters will also be available for rent, she added.
After everything arrives and is put on shelves or displayed on the floor, King said she would ask the medical community and community members, “What don’t you see? What haven’t you been able to get up here and what would you like to see here? We want to fill the gaps and fill the need.”
King has three other certified respiratory therapists working for her in Duluth, one RN and a half-time RN on staff.
“I didn’t hire the RNs as nurses, but it sure is nice to have their expertise,” King said.
When the company sends an employee to a client’s house they train the client (and client’s helpers) how to use the equipment. “We also work with your insurance company(s) and doctors to make sure you are receiving the best equipment that will help you the most,” said King.
Currently one person has been hired for the Grand Marais store with plans to hire at least two more people. King will also be in Grand Marais on a regular basis. She encourages people to stop in and check out the inventory.
“If you need something and you can see it, touch it, feel it, you can determine if it is right for you. We will explain our products to you and train you how to use them. Everybody’s different and everybody has different needs.
“We are here to help you any way we can.”
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