Proclaiming itself as the "first ever Chiropractic Convention that has been designed by vendors for vendors," the 1996 National Chiropractic Convention, promoted by Phase II Marketing, made a number of impressive promises:
10 x 10 booths at $2,500
10 x 20 booths at $4,500
20 x 20 booths at $6,500
30 x 30 booths at $15,000
40 x 40 booths (bids only - $50,000 suggested)
Judging from the lackluster response from the chiropractic profession, many chiropractic vendors were unimpressed with the promises and unwilling to pay the high cost of exhibiting. No one seemed to believe that a convention in October could draw 6,000 DCs. At various other conventions, vendors even openly expressed their doubts that anyone would attend in the great numbers Phase II Marketing promised. A quick poll of veteran exhibitors made it clear that very few of them intended to exhibit in Atlanta.
However, as time passed and the interest level remained low, the booth space got cheaper. Four months before the seminar, vendors were offered a 15 percent discount. By September, rumors were that booth space could be had for half price.
On September 30, 1996, just six days before the start of this ill-fated event, Phase II Marketing sent a "To whom it may concern" letter explaining that instead of 6,000 DCs, only 1,821 had responded, and only 62 of the expected 300 booth spaces had been sold.
As angry exhibitors scrambled to cancel hotel and airline reservations, Phase II Marketing answered its telephone lines with only a recorded message. The last line of Phase II's announcement letter said it all:
"As a final result of this failure, Phase II Marketing, will be closing its doors, and filing for immediate relief."
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
