Since DRE Medical began 30 years ago in Louisville, Ky., we have become a major player in the international medical equipment industry. DRE works with overseas clients on a daily basis in more than 150 countries and attends key international trade shows all over the world.
Our dedicated international equipment experts work with Latin American clients every day to provide them with the best medical equipment for the best price.
We talked with DRE account executive Francisco Cano, originally from San Cristobal, Venezuela, about his clients and his experience working at DRE.
When did you start working for DRE?
I was hired as an assistant in the International Division of DRE in June 2011 after graduating from Bellarmine University as an international student from Venezuela. Since then, I have been working directly with Spanish speaking clients as well as translating sales materials behind the scenes.
How is DRE accessible to clients whose primary language is Spanish?
DRE’s website attracts a great deal of traffic, and of course it is translated to Spanish to make sure Spanish speaking visitors feel welcome.
We put together email campaigns geared specifically toward our Latin American clients. They are completely in Spanish, and they feature equipment catered to their needs. I also keep up with our always growing inventory of products, translating sales sheets as needed to meet the demand. Our equipment catalogs are available in Spanish.
Recently, we released our new Spanish-version ORSupply.com catalog for medical supplies and accessories. The new catalog features more than 30,000 products from major manufacturers.
Developing relationships is also important, and can be challenging when customers are in another country. Social media helps to bridge that gap and allows customers to connect and get to know us. We provide a custom Facebook contact form for our Latin American visitors to reach out directly.
Emails, sales sheets and Facebook relationships are all important, but we also recognize that nothing can replace meeting face-to-face. DRE just added ExpoMED to our extensive trade show schedule. ExpoMED is a key conference for Latin American clients in Mexico City June 18-20.
What are some of the most requested types of medical equipment?
Our customers from Latin America are very interested in DRE equipment brands. The Torino EXL Operating Room table, Vision LED surgical lights and the Alta 3s Anesthesia Machine are all in high demand — as are DRE’s Waveline patient monitor systems. Latin American equipment buyers are also some of our top purchasers of DRE refurbished medical devices.
What do you think is DRE’s greatest asset when it comes to serving the Latin American market?
Our expertise. My colleagues and I are not just Spanish speakers, we also know the culture and the market. DRE has been making and maintaining business relationships with many repeat customers in Latin America since 1984, and the company as a whole has gained a lot of knowledge because of that. The company also brings in newer employees like me, with first-hand knowledge.
For more information about DRE’s line-up of products and services, call 1-800-462-8195 today. Connect with Francisco on LinkedIn and with your peers on our social networks for exclusive deals and industry updates.
