The Drip Bar: Nutritional IV Cocktails

The history

For a few years I had been working with my spouse, James Talley, DC to help other clinics learn about and implement IV Therapy into their Chiropractic Clinics. I wondered, "Why don't we use our manuals, knowledge, and experience and open a satellite clinic, start to finish?"

The beginning

James is exceptional with helping my vision come to life, and the space I found was going to need him. The space used to be an Herbalife drink bar. It was in a historic building in the middle of downtown. The businesses in the immediate area were mid-high end with nice boutiques, a steak house & sushi bar, amid the beauty salons. I lucked into a lower rent small space, perfect for my budget, $10,000.

We had to

paint,
put in a new handwash sink
new bathroom sink
deconstruct the existing bar

I enlisted my daughter Katy to use her Cricut to make vinyl lettering on the glass and "Drip your vitamins" - The Drip Bar: Nutritional IV Cocktails, LLC's official tagline.

The vibe

During the two months it took to get the location ready for my open date, I carried a paint swatch with my concept colors just in case I see something I wanted for the 'Bar. (The program includes a list of everything I purchased for the 'Bar & where I ordered from - completely turn-key.) From chairs and IV poles to aesthetics and patient comforts, I wanted the 'perfect vibe'. Whether is was or not, is subjective.

The Changes

There is no perfect place with the perfect vibe and you could drive yourself to drink. Should I add this, that, do this, that - you'll never open. Join the clubs, meet your neighbors, hand out cards, brochures, and set yourself apart. I did a couple of IVs for family to test out my set-up. The carpet runner I thought was so 'perfect' didn't work well with rolling stools. The towel shelf was inconvenient. It isn't always how you see it, plan it, or want it. You have to PRACTICE with confidence.

Change was ALWAYS happening. I moved the fridge, I moved the make station. I moved the printer. The practical application is everything.

The Reveal

The Drip Bar: Nutritional IV Cocktails, LLC was ready. The 65 days - mostly weekends and after 5pm - was a whirlwind. I honestly loved every minute of it. I hung 12ft. long linen curtains I made by myself, I created and painted a light bar over the counter out of PVC painted to look like old, beaten metal to match my 'vibe'. Hung Edison bulbs, painted shelves, made a sitting bench from leftover wood, assembled lamps, hung lights, obsessed about my large window... I LOVED The 'Bar.

The Opening

The 'Bar, of course, did the fancy opening with The Chamber. I enjoyed hearing how nice the space looked, how interesting the concept was, how the food was so delicious. My daughter, Emma, who was our phlebotomist, made a charcuterie of fruits with our logo in blueberries. Croissant chicken salad sandwiches, tasty treats, etc. I had lemonade, tea in a beautiful dispenser, I spent a lot of time and money. I wanted to really impress the Chamber members. I was expecting business from them and connections.

Only one person came in for services. She got a Lipo Injection.

Do not sweat the small stuff.

The Drip Bar: Nutritional IV Cocktails, 2022-Now

The Business

The day-to-day operation of The 'Bar was 'Follow the plan". We used the Policy & Procedure in the book to do everything. It was how we planned it. And guess what? It worked. It was smooth and easy from Opening Procedures to Closing Procedures, We made one or two small edits a day at first, but after those hiccups and corrections, we were on auto-pilot.

The costs

I kept to my $10,000 opening budget. From nutraceuticals, IV lines, First Aid kits, and printer ink, on opening day I had about $2,500 left of my budget. I had paying patients on day one. I was offering Lipo Injections for $25. They are the easiest to sell, work great when administered correctly, and patients do love them. I upped the ante with brochures about Lipo Injections I use for patients to give to others giving them a credit & the new patient a special price. They work exceptionally well. (These brochures and marketing techniques are included in the program.)

The 'Bar was solvent, turning a profit, going mobile with our Mobile Program, we were enjoying the buzz. We really were enjoying the relationships we were making. When you have a warm, cozy place, offer a great service at a great price, you get a lot of return patients. One of ours was an executive at the casino and asked us to come for a 2-day employee health fair. Only one of each type of healthcare business was invited. A big feather in our hat. We had been invited to give IVs or injections to visiting artists and the WSOP players LOVED our energy-rich pushes, but this was for the largest employer around. It was a big deal.

The best day

The employee health fair was a big win. The casino gave us a room in the hotel for a night. I went upstairs to take a nap because it had been a long day and I had vibrated really high, so happy, so fulfilled that my dream, concept, hard work, had finally 'made' it. In 8 months from paying a deposit on a little space to now treating and meeting literally 100s of employees of one the largest employers in Oklahoma in one day. I was exceptionally proud of my family, employees, and my life.

The last day I saw the 'Bar

The day after 'The best day'. I went to the 'Bar as per my usual routine, but we were closed. I put away the boxes of lines, bags, tourniquets, business cards, and random items from the day before and was starting to feel pain in my stomach. 'Had I eaten?'. ''Had I gone to the bathroom?'. The answers were questionable. I decided to lock up, get in my yellow VW Beetle and go home. By the time I was home, which was a 25 minute drive, I was sweatting. The pain in my belly was overwhelming. I went to bed. That night would be a blur. I know I went to the ER, came home, then the next day, went back to the ER, which ended up in an ambulance ride to a larger hospital about 25 minutes away.

The beginning of the end

Pain scales are subjective. If I am talking the little faces on the VAS, I was the last face - 9/10. I was in manageable health, because I had pretty much 24/7 access to the best chiropractor in my opinion. 'I don't know yet' was the answer I received from ER doctors when I asked what was wrong with me. Tests. Blood tests, CT, all were done, all were 'inconclusive'. I was admitted, but sleep was out of the question. The next few days blend together. but on day 12 of my stay, after a gallbladder surgery, 10 days of not eating and excessive weakness, I was going to go home. 'Let my PCP figure it out' was the atmosphere I felt. There were other factors - I was STUPID and committed THE cardinal sin because Obamacare was law - I was UNINSURED. I had only AFLAC and an ICU plan (which REALLY came through for me in the last 3 years). I feel I over-stayed my welcome.

The End

I cannot go into details due to pending legalities, but here is what I can and will say - I fell when I got up to go to the bathroom. There are many factors, again, I can't go into details, believe me, I want to.

I spent the next 4-ish months in ICU, surgery after surgery, and then another 7 months in rehabs, nursing homes, two other hospitals, and a specialty hospital. While laying in a rehab bed, I called the Healthcare.gov phone number and got BCBS insurance 8 months after my fall. My healthcare facilities and care CHANGED tremendously. (there is a story there, too)

My family kept the 'Bar open, but without me, my daughters couldn't keep it going. I took on too many roles, after all, the 'Bar was my baby. About 3 months after my fall, my family packed up the 'Bar, moved the majority back to the original clinic. They took down the linen curtains I loved so much, divided the special things I bought to make the 'Bar cozy and warm between the 4 of them, and closed The Drip Bar: Nutritional IV Cocktails. They did not tell me until my surgeries were finished and I was lucid enough to understand. I cried like a baby.

The afterward

The good news is the Operational Manuals I made for the 'Bar worked even when I was not there in a management role. Another point of good news was my youngest daughter who worked at the 'Bar, went to work at the clinic. She assumed my role there, too. She picked up my Operational Manual, and was able to bill insurance claims, manage the clinic, and is probably better at my old job than I was. The Operational Manuals work. I wrote them for this exact scenario. I help her occasionally by phone or LogMeIn, but she's on auto-pilot because my Clinic Contingency Plans work.

I wish I could tell you more, but I really can't...YET. I can tell you this, I can't walk or do anything much physically, but, I have HOPE. :)