VBJ articles

August 2019

Are your practice support systems VUCA-ready?

We live in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. This has made veterinary practice a more challenging and increasingly consumer-driven environment. But with the right support systems in place, a VUCA is nothing to be feared...

29 mins
Face to face: Malcolm Wright from the VBA talks to VBJ

The veterinary profession has probably seen more change in the past two decades than at any other time in its history – and one man who has been right in the middle of the action is Malcolm Wright...

13 mins

July 2019

Infection control and how to win the war on bugs

Veterinary practices are under constant threat from an aggressive and constantly evolving army of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Recent surveys have also shown visible hygiene is an important factor for clients when choosing a practice – what can your practice do to tick both these boxes?

20 mins

Simplyhealth Professionals looks at seven ways the right pet health plan provider can make a difference to your practice...

15 mins
Brain food: the neuroscience of customer service

First-class customer service has never been more important to the modern service consumer – not least veterinary clients. It’s a vital dynamic that drives any successful practice, but, as Ernie Ward explains, to get it right you’ve got to get inside your clients’ heads...

34 mins

June 2019

Innovate or die – put life back into your practice

Innovation is the word on everyone’s lips these days. But what does it mean, and are veterinary practices potentially missing a huge opportunity?

20 mins
Chips with everything: get the microchipping message right

It is easy for vets and VNs to see the value of microchipping because they perform the procedure on a daily basis. But do clients see the value, too? VBJ reminds practices what they can do to overcome the barriers and maximise the business opportunities.

18 mins

A wide range of tailored diets is now available to suit the different breeds, sizes and activity levels of the canine companions we now see as part of our families. But one company has taken this to a whole new level – meet tails.com

18 mins

May 2019

Are you being heard? Calling time on call waiting

The telephone is still the main way clients contact their veterinary practice, but times are changing fast. Online appointment booking and live chats are just the tip of the iceberg, and practices looking to stay ahead need a strategy covering all the options…

27 mins
Building the dream: part two – five tips for sustainable growth

Setting up a veterinary practice can seem like the easy part when compared to developing a successful strategy for growth. Alan Robinson explains how to take the pain out of the process by following five golden rules …

28 mins

April 2019

Enemy at the gates: parasite protection products and protocols

Climate change and increased pet travel have created a perfect parasitic storm for the UK’s companion animals. Old foes like fleas and endemic ticks, along with emerging threats, are putting pets at ever-greater risk – so which products and advice should practices offer to help even the odds?

39 mins
Companion animal nutrition: serious food for thought

Pet nutrition is changing fast and UK practices run the risk of being left behind if they don’t adapt. Significant advances in nutritional science and technology have led to improved therapeutic and wellness diets – how can your practice make the most of these new opportunities?

24 mins

March 2019

Information is power: how to strike oil by drilling through data

So much data is available in the modern veterinary practice that sometimes it can seem difficult to see the wood for the trees. But by measuring the metrics that matter, this wealth of data has the power to transform your practice into a lean, mean profit-making machine...

32 mins
Fast Forward: veterinary business

The second of VBJ’s Fast Forward features is the story of Vet Dynamics – a veterinary business consultancy that has helped hundreds of owners ensure their practice is run as effectively and efficiently as possible.

25 mins

February 2019

Increasing insured clients: everyone’s a winner

Nick White looks at how practices can grow the percentage of insured clients – and the significant financial benefits of doing so…

25 mins
Practice Profile: Village Vets Crosby

It is always a tough task setting up a new veterinary practice from scratch. But some have it tougher than others – as VBJ discovered when we headed to Merseyside to visit Village Vets last month…

2 mins

January 2019

Wake up and smell the coffee: why first impressions count

Focusing on four main client contact areas – exterior, interior, vibe and virtual – could make all the difference to your practice enviornment, says Dr Ernie Ward.

34 mins
Building the dream: part 1 – starting from scratch

Starting a new business is daunting, but help is always at hand. Alan Robinson explains the early considerations in setting up your own practice.

32 mins

November 2018

Practice Profile: The Veterinary Practice

In these days of manic corporate consolidation, it is important to remember the benefits owning your own practice can bring. So when VBJ was asked to visit an independently owned practice that is positively thriving in the face of corporate competition, we jumped at the chance.

3 mins
Skills in short supply: how to mend the recruitment crisis

Adi Nell and Erwin Höhn consider stakeholders’ likely responses to the shortages before proposing a revolutionary workforce planning framework.

31 mins