As we get ready to turn the page on another calendar year, it’s safe to say that 2020 was a little bit out of the ordinary. The past 12 months have been marked by a global pandemic, polarizing political events, and widespread social unrest. Our hope at APA Medical is that none of these events has had too negative of an impact on your life and that you can look forward to 2021 with a hopeful, healthy, and optimistic outlook.
As we look back at our 2020 year in review at APA Medical, our highlight is that we celebrated our 50th birthday! That’s right, APA Medical dates back to 1970—we’ve been distributing medical equipment and supplies to clients throughout the Twin Cities and to facilities nationwide for fifty years. Our mission from 1970 is the same as it is now: to provide our customers with the highest degree of service and knowledge available in the industry.
50th Birthday Celebration
Our 50th birthday was a good time to reminisce and we couldn’t help but smile as we recalled a story that took on legendary status at APA Medical. Don, one of three Ocel brothers who started the company, had been a carpenter before entering the business and was out on a call to an institutional customer. During the visit, the purchasing agent asked him if APA sold sphygmomanometers. Don replied with confidence, “We certainly do,” only to return to the office and start asking around, “What’s a sphygmomanometer?”
Humble beginnings indeed, but the Ocel brothers learned very quickly that hard work and a dedicated commitment to service were a great foundation to start a company on.
Now 50 years down the road, our birthday wish at APA Medical is to continue to serve you, our dedicated care providers and loyal customers who have helped make APA Medical what it is today.
Celebrating Sam and Sarah
Our 2020 year in review and 50th birthday wouldn’t be complete without tipping our caps to two of Don’s children, Sam and Sarah, who are now the owners of APA and are a part of three generations who have worked there, grown up there, and welcomed an extended APA family there.
Sarah, who began working for APA at 17-years old, follows in her father’s footsteps by doing just about everything that keeps APA going on a day-to-day basis. Figuring to work part-time after college until he figured out what his real profession would be; Sam finds himself in the family business nearly 40 years later. This sister-brother team has used their father’s work ethic to build a company that makes his memory proud.
Big Additions to Our Scooter Offerings
We’d be remiss in our 2020 year in review if we didn’t mention that we made some significant additions to our power mobility scooter lines. Power mobility scooters let people reclaim parts of their lives that mobility issues steal from them and allow them to participate easily in day-to-day activities like shopping or family outings.
APA Medical is proud to offer a full line of Golden Technologies and Pride Mobility power mobility scooters. Our scooter line runs from the compact, easily transportable models to the heavy-duty outdoor travel models. Many models offer both three- and four-wheel versions. Our staff can work with you to determine which one might be best for you.
4-Wheel and iRide Scooter
We were excited to have added the Pride ZT10 4-wheel scooter to our inventory this summer. With a sleek, contemporary design that can traverse out-of-reach places, this scooter moves seamlessly through doors and down hallways. The ZT10 combines powerful dual motors and two-wheel drive with revolutionary turning technology. Three-speed control lets you adjust your speed when moving from indoor to outdoor driving.
2020 also saw us add the Pride iRide scooter to our stable of offerings. This ultra-lightweight scooter is super portable and is perfect for traveling. Equipped with both a manual hand brake and supplemental foot brake, the iRide delivers a safe and comfortable ride!
COVID-19
No look back at the 2020 year in review can avoid talking about COVID-19. The pandemic infiltrated just about every walk of life this year and we, first and foremost, want to extend our condolences to anyone who lost a loved one due to the virus.
The pandemic has impacted every brick-and-mortar store to some degree, and our showroom is currently closed. That said, we feel fortunate that our company has been able to adapt our workforce and work environment in such a way that we have been able to continue to serve the community without much noticeable effect. APA believes in reacting quickly but carefully to the evolving situation based on the most current information. Updates will be posted regularly on all platforms. So, please tune in.
The long-term effects of COVID-19 are, however, beginning to erode production with our suppliers, which you can read about here.
We want you to know how fortunate we feel to be active participants in our community in south Minneapolis. Our community members have continued to support us during a year that no one could have expected. We are incredibly lucky to be a part of such a thoughtful and supportive community. We certainly hope that we are able to re-open our showroom soon and look forward to doing so once it is safe for everyone involved.
Holiday Giveaway and Free Shipping on Incontinence Products
As a small way of giving back and to help celebrate our 50th anniversary this holiday season, APA was able to give away a $599 gift card for a Lift Chair of your choice! We are also offering free shipping on all of our incontinence products through December 25th.
Health and Happiness in 2021
2020 has been a tough year for a lot of people, but here’s hoping brighter days are ahead in 2021. We wish nothing but health and happiness for all of you in the coming year and hope that we’re able to see many of you in person again when it is safe. We will always be proud members of the communities we represent, both the Twin Cities and the Upper Midwest, as well as the medical equipment supplier and service community across the nation.
We’re proud to have reached 50 years of service, and we assure you that our commitment to the community will never change. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2021!
