How UROSPOT franchisee Kris Ouimet is overcoming uncomfortable topics by helping clients regain control of their health and lives every single day, from the pelvic floor up
By Kirstyn Brown
Despite a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, Kris Ouimet had always dreamed of working for herself. When she stumbled upon UROSPOT, a pelvic health clinic that fuses health care with innovative, non-invasive techniques to treat pelvic floor conditions, she practically jumped at the opportunity to become a franchisee.
“I had always thought that I wanted to be self-employed, but I didn’t really know what that ‘one thing’ was for me,” says Ouimet, who now owns and operates a UROSPOT location in Ottawa, Ontario. “I knew I was driven and competent and would be successful at what I did, but I didn’t really have anything in particular to sell.”
Ouimet discovered UROSPOT in 2021. During the pandemic, corporate life had lost its lustre, and she was considering a career change. “I wasn’t getting out into the field as much because of COVID, and I was starting to feel frustrated with the same meetings day after day, the same topics. I never felt like I was getting anywhere.”
One day, she was checking out the LinkedIn profile of a former colleague, Erin Craven—the founder and CEO of UROSPOT—and was instantly intrigued by the clinic’s concept. “As a woman in her 40s who has four children, I’m familiar with how challenging pelvic floor issues can be and how they’re so disruptive to your everyday life,” she says. “I looked at my husband and said, ‘I think this is what I should do.’”
Not wasting any time, Ouimet contacted Craven to learn more about the franchise. She started the discovery process in August 2021, and only one month later in September, signed the franchise agreement.
“I just knew this was it; this was the brand for me,” says Ouimet, who jokes that she was probably the fastest UROSPOT franchisee to sign the paperwork. “It’s health care, it’s women’s health, it’s something I’m very passionate about.”
Pelvic health goes public
For Ouimet, part of what made the company so intriguing is that UROSPOT isn’t your average health clinic. Founded in 2019, UROSPOT offers an intimate, almost spa-like atmosphere where women (and men) who suffer from symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, such as bladder leaks and prolapse—subjects that have been historically taboo—receive treatment.
“I know that my mother’s generation didn’t talk about [pelvic health dysfunction]. But I’m a big proponent for women’s health and there’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” says Ouimet. “I think women today, we’ve made such progress. We talk about menopause, we talk about bladder leaks, we talk about mental health issues. All these things are no longer off limits, and I think a brand like UROSPOT is really helping to drive that change.”
So how does it work?
In addition to hands-off physiotherapy and lifestyle coaching, UROSPOT’s unique treatment includes sitting (fully clothed) on a high-tech chair known as the “Kegel Throne,” a device that uses electromagnetic energy to produce up to 11,000 Kegels in 28 minutes to help strengthen and restore pelvic floor muscles.
With 95 per cent of patients in a clinical trial reporting a significant improvement in quality of life after undergoing treatment, UROSPOT presented an opportunity for Ouimet to make meaningful changes in people’s lives. “It’s a way to make a difference directly for clients,” she says. “It’s a way to see the happiness and joy on their faces every day; to employ other young women and help train them and help them grow their careers.”
And her instincts were spot on. Upon opening the doors in July 2022, Ouimet’s clinic was booked solid. (She partly credits its success to the prime location: a city of active individuals with excellent health coverage.)
The clinic was so busy that less than a year later, she had to add a third treatment room to help accommodate the growing client roster. And she’s already looking into opening a second location in the fall.
Taking the lead
As with any new business, running a UROSPOT location had a learning curve. Ouimet says things like payroll and bookkeeping were somewhat new challenges that required extra focus to figure out.
But the biggest lesson she learned when starting out? “Each potential client is precious,” she says, recalling that bookings suddenly dried up in September 2022 because she hadn’t been following up on cancelled consultations. After contacting every single person who had either not shown up to their initial consultation or cancelled their appointment, Ouimet was able to bring half of them back to the clinic. “And that’s really what I’m focused on now, never taking a single one of those leads for granted,” she says. “Every lead is gold.”
On that note, nurturing leads is a big part of her daily routine—among a number of other tasks that make up her day. After an early workout, she starts her mornings by reviewing metrics—lead data, conversion rates, and ROI on various marketing initiatives— followed by examining the clinic’s rating and reviews, calling clients, and then heading into the clinic for a few hours to help where needed.
“I pop into treatment rooms to check on clients, help to cover breaks, check cleanliness of the clinic and washroom, private talk with staff as needed or requested,” she says. “Sometimes I bring in lunch or treats for the staff room.”
Afternoons are what she refers to as the “kitchen sink” time of day, where she might go out into the field to meet with doctors and nurses who have requested more information about the Kegel Throne’s technology. Additionally, she’ll attend franchisee meetings, scout real estate for her second location, recruit new staff, or take care of the bookkeeping (the latter being one aspect, she admits, that is not her cup of tea).
And although it’s a lot of work, Ouimet finds the range of roles all very rewarding. “In the end, I think I’m so lucky that my work doesn’t feel like work,” she says. “Everything I do, save bookkeeping, is fun and exciting to me.”
Of course, she doesn’t go it alone. Ouimet credits her tight-knit and passionate staff—a team of 10 that includes registered nurses, a client care manager, and physiotherapy assistants—for making the business run efficiently. “I’m very fortunate, my clinic runs incredibly well. I’m sure [all UROSPOT locations] do, but I have wonderful staff. They are my legs. They’re the ones that are making sure everything’s running smoothly.”
Invest in yourself
Although Ouimet’s pharmaceutical career may have given her an edge in terms of skills and industry experience, she says a background in health care isn’t a prerequisite for becoming a UROSPOT franchisee. Rather, a solid work ethic and a desire to help others is the secret sauce of success. “I think that you have to be a very driven person. You have to really, really care about your clients, and you can’t be afraid of hard work. You have to want to change people’s lives.”
For those who are interested in joining UROSPOT’s ranks as a franchisee, Ouimet offers this additional advice: spend money to make money. “When leads were down, I chose to spend more money on marketing and started TV commercials. Our leads skyrocketed,” she says. “You need to really invest upfront because with that growth comes more people who will refer their friends. So don’t shortchange your business in the early days.”
Learn more about franchising with UROSPOT
