“We started noticing orders for the N95 respirator masks late on Sunday,” said Allegro CEO Craig Hood, “and by Monday morning mask revenue alone had reached $20k. That’s when we knew it was going to be a big day.  We responded with site-wide banners, optimization, blogs, sales promotions and a special “Swine Flu” category for customers to quickly find masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and anti-viral disinfectants.” 

The Company reported that the massive number of visitors on the website essentially overloaded it to the point of shutting down for a few minutes around 4pm Pacific time. 

Why the high volume?  “People are trying to do the right thing by preparing for whatever may happen,” said company spokesperson and co-owner Valerie Paxton. “We’re hopeful that Allegro’s products can provide some protection, prevention and peace of mind to those who can benefit most from these anti-viral products.”  

Today, AllegroMedical.com’s brisk sales continued despite the “temporarily out of stock” condition of some of the N95 Respirator Masks.  Paxton says, “Yesterday’s run on masks revealed a major shortage of product from our suppliers, but we have more stock on its way so we’re confident that we can cover the demand.”  The Company suggests that people hold onto their place in line rather than cancel their orders, as the shortage is widespread. 

About Allegro Medical

Allegro Medical is a division of Allegro Enterprises, Inc., a privately-owned company based in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1996, and serving more than 1 million consumer and business customers, the Company is one of the largest and most technologically advanced independently owned suppliers of life enhancing products in the U.S. www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Since launching the first ecommerce site in the medical equipment and home health care supplies industry in 1998, Allegro has expanded into Health & Fitness, Nutritional Dietary Supplements, Sexual Well-Being, Pain Relief, Emergency Preparation and Maternity/Baby. Visitors to www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Contact:

Valerie Paxton

vpaxton (at) AllegroMedical (dot) com

480-990-8881, Ext. 110

Mike and the team are businesspeople and professionals from the Phoenix area, chosen to participate in a unique cultural and vocational exchange with the Aussies.  During their 4-week stay they’ll experience the Australian culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas. 

Mike’s team – the Rotary’s first “all wheelchair” GSE group - will focus on learning about Australia’s disability laws, medical insurance companies, accessibility and public acceptance and in turn will educate the Aussies about how we manage these issues in the US.  All five team members have spinal cord injuries which, along with their professional experiences, will provide a unique perspective about how ”truly able” Americans with disabilities are. 

Darol is an Entrepreneur, Jennifer is an RN and Teacher, Rob is a Police Officer, Kerry is a Student and Enrollment Counselor at the University of Phoenix and Mike is a 7-yr veteran at Allegro Medical, specializing in Product Management and Medical Supply Sales. 

Mike says, “My primary focus will be on the medical supply distribution channel and how Australian medical supply companies compare to ours.  It’s a great opportunity to learn more about my profession and teach them about Allegro’s way of doing business online.  So far I can’t find any Australian companies like us over there so I may be able to shed new light on potential business opportunities.”

“As we go along,” Mike added, “we plan to dissolve any negative or misguided perceptions of people living with disabilities.  We want to show people that we’re productive members of society and we do essentially everything that everyone else does.” 

To prove his point, the team will be busy making presentations, attending meetings around the country and having tea with the Governor, but they will also be doing things like touring wineries, climbing mountains, camping, SCUBA diving and deep sea fishing . 

“We’re hearing that Australia is not as disability accessible as the U.S. and we want to help their cities understand how imporant not only social impressions of disabilities are but how vital accessible public facilities are.”

In April, a similar group from Australia will be visiting the U.S.  For each team member, the Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries.  Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging and group travel within their district.

Follow the team on Mike’s blog AZWheelsDownUnder and find out more about the RotaryFoundation’s Group Study Exchange Programs.

Meanwhile, We’ll MISS YOU MIKE!!  How will we survive without you? Be careful, kay? Eat your greens and stay warm, mate.  Smooch.

L, -v

We understand how important a product *like* Pediasure is for the care of loved ones requiring supplemental nutrition. Allegro Medical has helped hundreds of thousands of people just like you conveniently buy their supplements over the Internet for the past 11 years. However, Abbott Laboratories, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, has announced that it would no longer allow the the 8 oz cans (used in hospitals and health care facilities) to be sold to retail customers.

 
The good news is, we have a great alternative for you, plus a savings discount:

Nestle Boost Kid Essentials –
Nestle offers a fantastic nutritional product – Boost Kid Essentials – that is widely accepted by pediatricians and moms everywhere. Click here to order Kids Boost

To help with the transition, we’re offering a 15% savings on Boost Kid Essentials – Use gift certificate code Nestle15 at checkout – good through Monday, Feb. 23rd.

*Important Note to Health Care Providers – If you are a health care provider or institution purchasing Pediasure 8 oz. cans from Allegro Medical, please respond with your company information. We can assist you in the Abbott Laboratories qualification process which will allow us to continue shipping you the institutional products.

Allegro Medical values your business. We apologize for this inconvenience and encourage you to try the Nestle alternative. Check the homepage blogs for future updates as this story unfolds.

Best regards,

CEO & Founder
Allegro Medical
480-990-8881 Ext 100

We understand how important a product *like* Ensure is for the care of loved ones requiring supplemental nutrition. Allegro Medical has helped hundreds of thousands of people just like you conveniently buy their supplements over the Internet for the past 11 years. However, Abbott Laboratories, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, announced that it would no longer allow the 8 oz cans (used in hospitals and health care facilities) to be sold to retail customers.

The good news is, we have a great alternative for you and a savings discount:

Nestle Boost –
Nestle offers a fantastic nutritional product – Boost – that is widely accepted by physicians everywhere. Click here to order Boost

To help with the transition, we’re offering a 15% savings on Boost – Use gift certificate code Nestle15 at checkout – good through Monday, Feb. 23rd.

*Important Note to Health Care Providers – If you are a health care provider or institution purchasing Ensure 8 oz. cans from Allegro Medical, please respond with your company information. We can assist you in the Abbott Laboratories qualification process which will allow us to continue shipping you the institutional products.

Allegro Medical values your business. We apologize for this inconvenience and encourage you to try the Nestle alternative. Check the homepage blog section for future updates as this story unfolds.

Best regards,

CEO & Founder
Allegro Medical
480-990-8881 Ext 100

He laughed and reminded me that not long ago that statement would sound like ‘a whole lotta gibberish’, (and probably still does to most people).  Regardless, Allegro has jumped on the social networking bandwagon and we now have pages and accounts with Facebook and Twitter.

AllegroMedical.com on Facebook

If you have a Facebook account, click here to find AllegroMedical.com and then click on the link to “become a fan” (top right portion of the page).  It onlyl takes a second and it doesn’t obligate you to anything.  We’re trying to see how many fans we can get!   

It’s kindof a cute page with pictures of our events/parties, our employees, the dogs of Allegro, etc.  I’ll be adding more as time goes by.  You can also see our blogs, special offers/promotions and neat stuff like that.   Feel free to add fan photos, fan videos, write on our wall and leave reviews.  We’d love to see your smiling face.  Yeah!! 

Allegro Medical on Twitter

If you follow me, I’ll follow you!  Same for Allegro Medical.  I have a personal Twitter account where you can follow me, Valerie Paxton and/or you can follow Allegro Medical.  

I’m still not sure about where social networking will take us, but hey, we’re all in this together, right?  Maybe we can all get to know each other a little better.

See you soon!

-v

I’m Craig Hood, President of Allegro Medical. Over a decade ago I started this great company with the express goal of helping folks like you find the medical supplies and equipment needed to take care of yourself, your families and your patients. Many said it wouldn’t work – that people wouldn’t buy medical equipment on the Internet – but I disagreed.

We launched our website with only 500 products, but we offered everything from wheelchairs and walkers to catheters and ostomy supplies. This made us the first in the world to have such a wide variety of medical supplies and equipment, and people loved it. Since then, our business has grown faster than a pack of dogs after a 3-legged cat.

Today, with more than 45,000 items, we have the largest selection of health care products on the web, backed by the best customer service and low prices to boot.

Our goal is still to help people become more independent, mobile, fit and healthy. We are grateful that you have allowed us to help you as well.

By choosing to shop with us, you are among the nearly 1 million customers nationwide who have played an important role in the success of this small American business.

 Feel proud that you shop at a company with:

•  More life enhancing products than hair in Donald Trump’s toupee

•  A solid history with more than 10 years in business

•  Prices so low our accountant can’t sleep at night

•  Customer Service that’s got your back

•  Fast Shipping – faster than a supermodel chasing a doughnut down hill

Thank you for shopping at Allegro Medical!

The success of this small American business is because of you and we know it.

As a token of appreciation for your business I am offering a special gift: please take 15% off* your next order at AllegroMedical.com. Use code ELF15 at checkout until Midnight, Monday December 15th.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy Holiday from all of us at AllegroMedical.com

- Craig

Next up…  stocking stuffers for grown ups; making your home safe for older guests; easy ways to child-proof your home, and much more. 

Now that we’re on a new system I plan to communicate more frequently, with shorter blurbs and blogs.  I’ve been practicing writing shorter pieces.  Sometimes I run too long… like, um… now.  That said…  I’ll let you go.

But first, thanks again for your business.  Remember to gift mindfully and , hint…hint…use our holiday promotions to stock up on your medical supplies!

-v

Is Buying Pink Making a Difference?

Thanks to all of you who promote PINK. Every bit of awareness helps. Keep in mind that donations from the sale of Allegro’s Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Shower Chair and Pink 4 Wheeled Rollator go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help save lives by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need.

As always, we appreciate your support and your business. Have a great day!

-v

Click on “Paraplegia” under the Shop by Condition tab (home page) anytime to see a comprehensive list of Allegro’s most popular paraplegic products including shower chairs, transfer benches, cushions, catheters, daily living aids, safety products, wheelchair accessories – you name it.

Thanks to everyone on the Allegro Experts Network who helped me put the list of products together, along with suggestions from our own Product Manager and Allegro veteran, Mike Benge – a 15-yr. paraplegic with impeccable taste in products and places to work.

Special thanks to Allegro fan and Expert Network member “Del Huffman from Tennessee” for his recommendations.

Del’s Letter

I have been a T-8 Paraplegic for over a quarter of a century; the result of a motorcycle accident. It seems I have tried every medical supply and every type of medical equipment out there. I am more than pleased to possibly help someone ‘cut to the chase’ with what works and is best for the difficult life we must endure in the “Wheel-World.”

As a male with a spinal cord injury, I find the UltraFlex External Catheter, by Rochester Medical, to be the best there is. Also, the Conveen Leg Bags, 800 ml, compliment the caths as the ultimate set for urological supplies. What is best about these items? They are durable, non-irritating to the skin, odor-free, and one can’t tell you even wear them! All of this is important to a person with modesty, as life can be embarrassing at times given our circumstances…

Allegro’s Bisacodyl Suppositories, USP 10 mg. are the most effective available, and very inexpensive too. The glycerin ones are not even close to the bisacodyl in effectiveness.

All of Allegro’s shower chairs are great; I have used several. Depending on the level of injury, the back rest height, and non-slip legs, (rubber tube caps) are excellent for a safe, and relaxing shower. I live alone, and am very active so I need the best products to help me be independent, and on time! I am a full-time college student, majoring in Social Work, I coach basketball, am involved in ministries, and work part-time too. I am very clean and organized. I know that exercise, cleanliness, and a positive outlook are key to a wonderful life of independence and joy.

All the folks at Allegro are always ready to help you and they carry all of the coolest merchandise available you will ever need! From wheelchairs and parts, to hygiene products, there is so much out there and life is what you make it.

Character is measured by what it takes to stop you; adversity with composure is my motto!

A big Allegro “Thank You” to Del! What a guy. If anyone else has suggestions about products that other paraplegic or active wheelchair users would enjoy, please email me. I’m at vpaxton (at) allegro (no space) medical dot com. You’ll have to decipher this on your own, as I have to be cryptic to avoid spammers using my email address.

Live Well. -v

The image of the supercharged wheelchair, complete with jet engine, fat run-flat high pressure tires, a rear airfoil, windsock and curb feelers (for easy parking) is part of an advertising campaign to encourage savvy wheelchair users to “Pimp Their Ride”. The wheelchair is advertised for $387,568 — marked down from $755,000 — and is reported to go 0-300 mph in 4.2 seconds. A safety helmet and fire-retardant underwear are recommended.

“It looks like it belongs in a Batman movie. This tricked out wheelchair fit our concept so perfectly that we decided to have a little fun and advertise it in our electronic catalog and on our website,” says Sean Cramer, Allegro’s Vice President of Marketing. “The Jet Chair is getting a lot of laughs and attention, and one customer actually added it to his shopping cart and tried to buy it. A few people have called to ask if it is real. It’s not, by the way.”

Billed as a practical, general-purpose sub-sonic everyday wheelchair, perfectly at home in the Bonneville Salt Flats doing 400 mph or cruising to the market, it still may not be for everyone. If a wheelchair with a jet pack isn’t your thing, Allegro Medical has plenty of wheelchair alternatives and accessories. Most people start with a cup holder and work their way up. In addition to showcasing more than 115 different wheelchairs, the Allegro website offers 400+ wheelchair accessories, all designed to enhance the functionality, safety and overall look of an existing manual wheelchair or power chair. Anyone shopping at http://www.allegromedical.com can order online and have specialty products like beverage holders, colorful or flashing wheel casters, spinning spokes, cool backpacks, pouches and trays delivered directly to their home. The sky is the limit.

About Allegro Medical
Allegro Medical is a division of Allegro Enterprises, Inc., a privately-owned company based in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1996, and serving more than 1 million consumer and business customers, the Company is one of the largest and most technologically advanced independently owned suppliers of life enhancing products in the U.S.

Since launching the first ecommerce site in the medical equipment and home health care supplies industry in 1998, Allegro has expanded into Health & Fitness, Nutritional Dietary Supplements, Sexual Well-Being, Pain Relief, Emergency Preparation and Maternity/Baby. Visitors to www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Contact:

Valerie Paxton
vpaxton (at) AllegroMedical. com
480-990-8881, Ext. 110