Unique Mobility

Making people’s lives easier

Ian Bellamy, founder of Unique Mobility, has always had a passion for making people’s lives easier. He previously ran a wet room installation business for elderly and disabled customers, before spotting an opportunity to improve their mobility issues with other products. He launched Unique Mobility in Launceston in 2001, opening the Plymouth branch in 2015 and the workshop facilities in Exeter in 2019.

 

Positively enhancing people’s mobility

In the early days they sold lots of smaller items such as walking sticks, but the product range has grown over the years and now focuses on larger mobility products.

These products include scooters, powerchairs, and wheelchairs, as well as stair lifts, riser recliner chairs and beds. They also offer a disabled car adaptation service and an array of hoists and stowage solutions.

Their customers include the elderly and disabled, including children, ex-forces personnel and individuals who require short term rehabilitation support. Each of their customers receives 1-2-1 guidance on what products would best suit their needs now and in the future. This customer centric approach has enabled the business to grow by recommendations and by continuing to help people enhance their mobility over the years.

 

Turning challenges into opportunities

Like many businesses, the Covid pandemic was challenging for Unique Mobility. However, Ian, together with his Finance Manager, Chris Yerrell used this time to review the business and what was happening in their marketplace. The outcome was a major restructuring exercise which saw them focusing on the core aspects of the business, whilst maintaining the culture of being a customer centric business.

Another major challenge the company has successfully dealt with is developing a bespoke CRM system. They were operating from three separate databases which they were finding to be extremely inefficient. With the aid of EU funding and using a local Cornish CRM developer, they now have one system which integrates with their financial software and produces management reports to assist them with the running of the business. The new CRM has dramatically saved admin time and reduced processing errors. With Haines Watts guidance, Unique Mobility successfully made a Research and Development claim that helped pay for some of the CRM development work.

 

Future proofing customer support

Ian says that product development and advancing technology will have a big impact on the sector. To ensure their customers have access to the very latest products, Unique Mobility is constantly assessing the marketplace and the new developments which are launched.

By focusing on the larger mobility products, they have created an environment whereby they build better relationships with their customers and continue to advise and support them as their mobility needs change over the years.

 

Help and support over the years

Having worked with Sally Reed and Haines Watts for 15 years, Ian is full of praise for how they have helped the business. He says, “Sally, and more recently Fiona Davey, have been fantastic. They are proactive in giving us good, correct advice when we need it. In addition to helping us secure money back from R & D claims, they’ve been instrumental in us changing to a more dynamic accounts package. Haines Watts have played a pivotal role in helping us be the company we are today.”