“Becoming self-employed with Tympa was one of the easiest decisions!”

We got in touch with Katie from North Wales Ear Wax Removal who has recently started her own business, becoming self-employed using the Tympa System to deliver ear and hearing healthcare in her community. We spoke to her about her Tympa journey and why she decided to move into wax removal.

How did you start your journey using the Tympa System? 

I started my wax removal training about 3 years ago when I was employed for one of the large hearing care providers in the UK. Initially we were using the original system, the CEEK. The company went through a restructure and as I’d recently been trained on the new Tympa System, I decided to go out on my own as I was aware of the high local demand for wax removal. I took the leap to go self-employed and it was one of the easiest decisions to keep using the Tympa System.

What type of customer uses your service?

I see customers of all ages and demographics, wax affects everyone – however the largest share of my customer base is over 60’s.

What methods have worked well when it comes to getting the word out about your new Tympa service?

I started off by writing to all the local GP surgeries and taking my business cards into the local pharmacies. I have my own Facebook business page as well and word of mouth has been key. I think it’s important for anyone starting out to connect with local healthcare providers as they can refer directly to you. It’s also key to be active on social, something I need to do more of!

Do you have a standout patient stories where you felt you really made a difference?

I had one patient whose son rung me to arrange a home visit as his dad was elderly and chair bound and couldn’t make the phone call as they couldn’t hear properly. When I arrived, I wasn’t entirely sure where to go but could hear a TV being played really loudly nearby. I checked the address and that was the right place. I completed the appointment and removed the patients wax. Later that day I received a phone call from the son saying that he could communicate with his dad so much better! And his neighbours had gone round to check he was alright as they couldn’t hear the TV, and his father was able to chat with his neighbours and was now smiling and engaging with them.

Any advice for other starting out their Tympa journey?

My advice for others would be that there are always ups and downs along the way starting your own business. Some weeks will be busy and some not so, but you can still use the quieter times productively and the busy weeks always come back around.