https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/nonclinical/occupational/w/vet-practice-survival/61/the-reception-zoneWelcome to the Practice Survival Guide by Vanessa Bird VN. This offers guidance for the non-clinical aspects of working in practice. Some chapters, such as &#39;Office Equipment&#39; are aimed at those who are new to life in practice. We hope that somen-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/nonclinical/occupational/w/vet-practice-survival/61/the-reception-zoneWed, 07 Jan 2009 18:00:35 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:47ac7994-7198-44b7-97e3-f740bdccd5e7Arlo Guthriehttps://www.vetnurse.co.uk/001/nonclinical/occupational/w/vet-practice-survival/61/the-reception-zone#commentsCurrent Revision posted to The Practice Survival Guide by Arlo Guthrie on 1/7/2009 6:00:35 PM<br /> <p>The purpose of a reception zone is clear enough, and the focus is on providing a welcoming environment as people arrive in the practice. But the reception area also provides opportunities to market the practice. Consider the following:</p> <ul> <li>A staff board, with photographs. Clients like to know who they are dealing with. Include qualifications. A nice touch is to add a sentence about individual staff members&#39; special pet-related interests. You are &#39;selling&#39; your people, and that&#39;s no less important than selling products and services.<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>Selected &#39;spontaneous purchase&#39; products. Supermarkets put great thought into which products they display as you wait in the queue. Often little things that you didn&#39;t intend to buy, and do so more &#39;on a whim&#39;. If you have room, the reception zone is the ideal place to display such items.<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>Freebie dog treats. Most dogs walking past our practice actually strain on the leash to come in! That&#39;s because they get goodies out of a jar at our reception desk. We all know that too many treats are contraindicated, but if you can make the dog want to come in, it&#39;s beneficial for everyone.<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>Freebie cat treats. Don&#39;t neglect cats: we use small grip seal bags to make presents of catnip leaves and dried fish for the client to take home. Our sales of catnip and dried fish have soared!<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>A good supply of &#39;bribes&#39; is also useful to get a wriggly dog to sit still on the scales. Clients will often want to know what their pet likes so much, and whether they can buy a supply to take home.<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>Display boards to highlight important, and changing announcements: new stock and promotions, new services, &#39;Lost and Found&#39;, &#39;Homes Required&#39;, pet sitter details.<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>Weighing scales: when those overfed animals come into the practice, don&#39;t wait ... get them straight on the scales!<br />&nbsp;</li> <li>A &quot;Dog Park&quot;. This is a glorified name for a robust hook, mounted near the reception desk: you know how hard it is to write a cheque and hold onto a dog lead whilst your 6 stone Rottweiler is investigating Mrs. Jones&#39; Persian cats!</li> </ul><div style="clear:both;"></div>