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Founded in 2017, Get A Drip has quickly established itself as the U.K.’s leading provider of intravenous nutrition therapy. From humble beginnings with a mobile clinic on wheels to a portfolio of 15 locations and counting; here’s everything you need to know about the booming IV therapy market.
Start-up life
It was 2010 when founder and CEO Richard Chambers, 33, first considered the idea to democratize the administration of IV Vitamin Drips.
“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on my 18th birthday and three years later found myself rushed into intensive care after suffering with complications,” explains Richard.
Following on from this experience and a further seven years in and out of hospital due to a weakened immune system, Richard was overwhelmed by the benefits of IV treatment as a major factor in his recovery and general health maintenance. As a result, he started Get A Drip in October of 2017.
With no affordable options on the market, he wanted to provide an alternative, more efficient and cost-effective way for people to supplement their diet to meet the extensive list of vitamins and minerals required to maintain optimum bodily function.
Richard explains: “Vitamin Drips are a very effective way of receiving high doses of essential nutrients as they allow the vitamins to bypass the gut and go straight into the bloodstream, therefore avoiding any absorption issues and ensuring the nutrients are 100 per cent bioavailable for the body to use and that results are felt quickly.”
Exponential growth
Get A Drip has announced turnover of £2.65m for 2021/22 with that figure projected to rise to £10m this tax year. The news comes amidst an ongoing boom within the wellness market, now valued at a growing $4.4tn. The IV therapy and vein access markets and supplements markets are valued at $54.9bn and $163.9bn respectively.
Since the business’ inception, more than 35 medical professionals have administered over 45,000 vitamin drips and intramuscular (IM) booster shots, and the brand boasts 4 corporate clinics in Boxpark Shoreditch, Westfield Shepherd’s Bush, Westfield Stratford City and Canary Wharf.
The decision to franchise was made back in 2019 and after enlisting the help of Ashtons Franchise Consultants, the first franchisee was onboarded in August 2020. Currently, there are 3 franchised clinics internationally, with 2 locations in Dublin and 1 in Rotterdam, with many more countries in the pipeline including K.S.A., U.A.E., Malta and Canada.
In addition to these ground-breaking clinics, Get A Drip offers a call-out service via seven mobile franchisees based in and around London, ensuring optimum nutrition is as accessible as possible to anyone, with the service operating door-to-door anywhere within the M25.
The brand is actively recruiting for area development franchise partners and is on target to open a further 20 locations by mid-2023. Agreements are in place with Westfield, Hammersons and Landsec for clinics inside the top shopping centers both within the U.K. and Internationally.
The bloodline of the business
Alongside building out its list of franchise sites, Get A Drip has also gradually expanded its product line to now offer over 15 different IV vitamin drips, affording benefits spanning tiredness and fatigue, sleep, metabolism, immune function, anti-aging, hair and skin health, fitness and more
To ensure the safety of customers at all times, all U.K. clinics are CQC registered, upholding the highest medical standards, and staffed by Get A Drip registered nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dietitians and nutritionists.
All products are also sourced from pharmacies with GMP (Good Manufacturing Processes) certificates, prepared aseptically in a ‘clean room laboratory’ and rigorously tested to ensure their absolute quality and safety.
By building out its franchise network, and continued product and category expansion, Richard hopes to help consumers realize and benefit from IV vitamin drips as a mainstream option.
He explains: “Many people around the U.K. are deficient in essential nutrients such as vitamin D and vitamin B12, and struggle to get these nutrients on the NHS. We believe that everyone should have access to affordable wellness solutions, without losing quality of product and service.”
Richard adds: “Franchising our clinics was a major breakthrough in our mission to bring accessible and affordable IV vitamin drips to the masses. Typically, the drips have only been available to celebrities and the super-wealthy – our aim is to overcome that.”
In February 2019, Get A Drip became the first vitamin drip company to introduce DNA testing for customers, so any nutritional deficiencies can be identified, and subsequent drip therapy can be tailored specifically to individual needs. This has been followed by the additions of blood testing and gut testing to offer customers the ultimate in bespoke healthcare.
Future plans
Expansion continued earlier this year with the appointment of Tecsa as an advisor, former Holland & Barrett CEO and founder Tony Buffin, co-founder Dave Battiston and CEO Anthony Morris now providing strategic, operational and partnership advice alongside Tecsa’s investment in Get A Drip.
Get A Drip is on the hunt for further investment to support its growth ambitions too, currently engaged in a series A fundraise.
As the IV therapy market continues to grow, there has never been a better time to consider a Get A Drip franchise. The brand has sites secured and immediate opportunities available in Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool as well as international locations such as Barcelona, Pakistan and Australia for the right franchise partner.
At a glance
Year established: 2017, franchising since 2020
Number of franchised outlets: 11
Locations of units: Dublin Castleknock, Dublin Dundrum, Rotterdam, Newcastle, Leatherhead, Thurrock, London Battersea, London Islington, London Notting Hill, London Westminster, London Chiswick.
Investment range: £25,000 – £500,000
Minimum required capital: Dependent upon franchise option (e.g. mobile or full clinic)
Contact: Mikey Warren, franchise manager, mikey@getadrip.com
