
2024-10-08
VetFamily Member Day in Spain: Celebrating collaboration, growth, and wellbeing
Bringing together veterinary professionals to foster clinic success and personal wellness.
On October 4-5, VetFamily hosted its highly anticipated Member Day in Valencia, Spain. The event gathered almost 200 participants, including independent member clinics and partner suppliers, to focus on clinic development, networking, and enjoying time with peers. The gathering was a dynamic mix of industry experts, practitioners, and VetFamily professionals sharing their knowledge and experiences to help clinics thrive.
A focus on preventive care and wellness plans
The sessions covered a broad range of important topics, with insights from seasoned professionals and clinics who have tried new approaches. One of the most impactful sessions was delivered by psychologist Sira Sanches, who spoke on the theme of “Learn to live with greater wellbeing in your life and work.” Sira addressed the challenges faced by clinic owners and teams, including managing the expectations of staff, customers, and oneself, all while maintaining a sense of personal wellbeing. Her session provided practical strategies and insights, offering attendees ways to improve their day-to-day lives, both at work and in their personal space.
Another theme focused on preventive health plans. Pere Mercader delved into the current market for wellness plans, exploring pricing strategies and structures that maximize value for both pets and pet owners. His session gave a comprehensive overview of how these plans are evolving, and how clinics can benefit from implementing them. Veterinarian J.R. Garcia from Vetclan in Madrid shared his clinic's journey with health plans, offering valuable tips and real-life insights on how to make these plans a success.
VetFamily Spain is also making exciting strides in this area, as Beatriz Barrero introduced VetFamily’s own wellness plans. These wellness plans will be tailored to meet the specific needs of Spanish clinics and their clients.
Practical business development advice
A key feature of the second day was the session led by Tania Jasny from VetFamily Spain and Hanne Herstad from VetFamily Norway, focused on clinic business development. Drawing on their extensive experience working with clinics across Spain and Norway, Tania highlighted five critical habits that independent clinics should adopt for sustainable growth:
- Involve the team – Empower and engage your staff to drive positive change. A motivated, happy, and productive team is essential to a smooth-running clinic.
- Lose the fear of numbers – Understanding revenues, costs, and profitability is crucial. By knowing the financial drivers of your business, you can better influence results.
- Develop strategic awareness – Know where your clinic stands, where you want it to go, and how your competitors are positioned. This awareness is key to making informed decisions.
- Combat revenue erosion – Many clinics unknowingly give away 10-20% of services by undercharging or offering unnecessary discounts. Studies show that most pet owners are satisfied with their clinics, meaning there is often no need to undervalue services.
- Manage a budget and take control – Setting clear targets and monitoring performance is essential for long-term success. Regular assessments allow clinics to make timely adjustments and stay on track.
Following Tania’s presentation, four clinics openly shared their experiences with managing common challenges and implementing solutions. This sparked lively discussion, with many participants nodding in agreement and contributing their own examples from daily clinic operations. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged an exchange of practical insights, leaving the participants with a sense of shared understanding and actionable takeaways.
Community building and fun
While the event focused on business development and learning, it was also an opportunity to strengthen the sense of community within the VetFamily network. The first day concluded with a teambuilding activity involving both clinics and suppliers, followed by a social dinner and a spirited performance by VetFamily’s very own Pablo Banos and his band leading to a full dancefloor.
The Member Day in Valencia was a perfect example of VetFamily’s core philosophy: being independent doesn’t mean being alone. Through shared experiences, collaborative learning, and a sense of belonging, VetFamily is helping independent clinics across Spain and beyond grow stronger together.
