[diarab]

I live in Chicago and am thinking of opening a diabetic specialty store; a store that would sell treats, shoes, books, etc, all geared towards diabetics. If there was a store in your neighborhood such as this would you patronize it regularly? Please give me your input, along with your age and race. Thank-you!

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm a 25 year old white middle class male with a 4 year college degree (need anymore info on me? LOL)

I WOULD NOT visit a store like that, actually, we have about 20 of them in Cincinnati, they are called...

Krogers
Walmart
Meijer
K-Mart
Payless Shoe Source
Etc....

Everything a diabetic needs can be found in any general store. There aren't really any special needs that a store in one location would make enough money from.

That's at least my opinion.

[princesslinda]

I'm a 43 YOWF....and I don't think i'd shop in a diabetic specialty store. Like Jedi, I can find anything I need in a "regular" store setting. I want to feel like a "regular" person who just happens to have diabetes, not someone who needs a special store for their condition.

[LauRa Lu]

I would stay away from a shop like that, I don't really want to be reminded i'm diebtic by looking around a shop. I can get everything I need in supermarkets or online etc.

Do we really need anything very different from non-diabetics people? We can go to the library for books, supermarket for food and shoe shops for shoes....

i'm 24 white and Egnlish

[davef]

I'm a 41 year old white male.

I'm afraid that I agree with the previous posts. I want to live as normal a life as possible and believe that I can get what I want/need in regular non-specialised stores.

For many years I have bought my clothes in a "specialty" store for better built men (okay fat guys) and I have always hated walking into the store as I felt everyone was looking at the fat guy going into the shop. Some years ago I lost enough weight to go to a regular store and buy clothes off the rack like everyone else, boy did that feel good.

[volleyball]

I think you are asking the wrong people. We are in the know and able to find things ourselves.
I suggest you try senior centers and doctors that cater to diabetics to poll. Local people would also help you locate your store in the best location.

[Alice]

Personally, I steer away from products that are marketed toward "diabetics"...that includes diabetic lotion, diabetic socks, ...all that stuff...

Also, aren't there several "diabetic supply" online shops that people can visit without getting into traffic? I just ordered some A1C kits from such a site.

If it was geared toward pumps, meters, continuous glucose monitors, and such...then I think the concept might work...but you'd have to get the coop dollars from a lot of hi-tech companies that already pay reps to sell their their products through doctors offices. Most of these items require an educator who is familiar in the company line.

The concept is good...but the product line is difficult. Also, Chicago is a huge area...unless you're central in the city, the suburbs can be difficult to navigate. The more central, the high the rents.

[Schlep]

Wow I cannot believe this post as I just said to my wife on Saturday that we should open a store like this here in Canada.

I am surprised to see the negative comments from people as I thought it would be so much easier to get everything in one place.

Sorry I do not see the reason for wanting to know my race.

[notme]

Female who has had type one diabetes for 21 years. I would not shop at a store for diabetes supplies only. I find that I need very little for my daily care besides my meter and pump supplies. I would buy anything I do need through my insurance, as they would pay for a purchase from a contracted provider.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Schlep

I am surprised to see the negative comments from people as I thought it would be so much easier to get everything in one place.

The problem is what do you really need diabetic related on a daily basis? Needles, insulin, pump supplies, etc. I'll take a few categories and explain how easy they are to obtain below....

Pump Supplies - Call your pump company and you will have them within 72 hours without leaving your couch. Not to mention the market is so low for this that it's really hard to justify the expense to stock them on hand since infusion sets are so expensive.

Insulin - Available at EVERY pharmacy in the US/Canada and if they don't have what you need, they can get it within 24 hours.

Food - The is NOTHING special about any of those items marked "Diabetic Friendly." If an item has carbs, it's non diabetic friendly, no ifs ands or buts. So unless the store is going to sell only carbless food, which again I can get at Kroger, no go here.

Clothing Apparel - I'm sorry, but I think the entire diabetic shoe/sock market is a scam. Whenever I've looked at them they look like regular shoes and socks. If you need more cushion in a shoe, it's called a Dr. Scholl's insole which are sold at almost every retailer nationwide.

BG Meters - Unless you plan on putting them on the shelf for free, don't even bother.

Test Strips - Again, every pharmacy in the country has these.




The major problem with the idea is putting a store that specializes to one group of people in one location. Say in Chicago, do you pick downtown? Heck, who's going to leave the suburbs to go downtown for medical supplies, in Chicago that's a 2 hour trip. If you put it in Northside, then nobody from the Southside will visit. So even if Chicago has a large diabetic population, whereever you put it most likely you will only get 10% of that market to have the ability to go. Then you'd have to persuade them to go over the many other options out there now (mail order, Kroger, etc.) The idea just isn't feasible or wise at all. It's a guaranteed loss.

[HelenM]

Sorry, I agree with the others , I wouldn't use one. The only special diabetic product I have ever bought is a frio case for travelling with. Everything I need is on prescription. I actively steer clear of so called diabetic chocolates etc.

[Schlep]

Interesting comments - let me ask everyone this - Would you shop in a diet store if you were on a diet? What about a low carb store?

[Jan B]

I would go see the store out of curiosity.

I used to drive over 20 miles to a store called Sugarless Delight -- there were 2 of them in the DFW area, but they eventually closed. They had every sweet thing you could think of, but it was all low carb (as low as possible for the cookies, cakes, etc.), and delicious. They also had yogurt, smoothies, etc. Everything in the store was low carb, and low fat. I loved the place. They catered to all health conscious people; not just diabetics. I would definitely go to a place like that again.

[notme]

We had a low carb store here in our town for awhile. I went there for one item and that was Baja Bob's margarita mix. Nobody else carried it. It was cheaper online and I usually bought it there, but when I needed it in a hurry for a party or guests, I would go and pay the extra price at the "low carb" store. The store opened during the "low carb" fad and it is now closed.

It is too specialty for most people. Diabetes requires a healthy diet, not a special diet. Any treats can come from your local grocery store.

[princesslinda]

Originally Posted by Schlep

Interesting comments - let me ask everyone this - Would you shop in a diet store if you were on a diet? What about a low carb store?

Same answer for me....I can find plenty of low-carb options, as well as diet products at my grocery store. I would assume (whether true or not) that any specialty store would be more expensive than my regular grocer, simply because it was a specialty store. I know our "organic" grocery stores in this area are much more expensive than regular chain stores, and I wouldn't by household cleaners in the drug store, as they are much more expensive at CVS than at Walmart.