When you speak with Ngan (Kim) Harwood, you sense her focus, steely determination and intense energy. It's no wonder that her business, The FootCare Clinic, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
As Senior Podiatrist and Director, Ngan started the business in Keysborough from one room in a chiropractor’s clinic in 1998.
After two years of working in other part-time podiatry jobs while growing her client base at The FootCare Clinic, Ngan purchased a property across from Parkmore Shopping Centre. She lived there initially with her husband while working out of the building, but they eventually moved out to utilise the entire property for business.
In 2005 Ngan was finally able to “go it alone” and make The FootCare Clinic her one job before she began her next step of creating a holistic, one-stop shop incorporating osteopathy, acupuncture, audiology and naturopathy.
Over the years, Ngan and her team have driven the business’ growth through various marketing initiatives, fostering a sense of family and community, investing in the latest technology, and providing exceptional service.
The clinic’s continued success and growth meant Ngan had to make some tough decisions 20+ years on.
“It got to the point where the podiatry got bigger but I didn’t have more space, so I had to become a ‘real’ business owner and ask my practitioner friends to move out,” says Ngan.
“We made the whole property into a podiatry clinic in 2020 – right in the middle of the pandemic. It was challenging but we kept moving forward and at the end of 2021, we won the Greater Dandenong Small Business Award.”
The FootCare Clinic gives back to the community in various ways, such as donating 1 per cent of revenue to Opportunity International Australia, running a paid employee volunteer program, utilising local businesses, and providing podiatry university placements.
The business kept its recent 25th anniversary celebrations local, inviting longstanding clients and its seven staff members to the milestone event on 12 August at Dandenong’s Bojak Brewery.
