A Visit With Marcee Locke, Any Lab Test Now® Franchise Owner – Wichita, KS

How it Started—How it’s Going

We asked Marcee how she found out about Any Lab Test Now…

“Back in May of 2020, I was kind of actively looking for a business to start. My husband Nick and I had always wanted to start our own business, we just didn’t necessarily have an idea in mind. We wanted to own something that we felt really passionately about, and also something that was new to Wichita.

During this time frame, I was looking for some lab testing and wasn’t able to find any pricing online. I also wasn’t able to go anywhere without a doctor’s order, and I just thought–you know–there has to be a better way. I just want to know what I’m going to pay out of pocket. I have insurance, but I have no way of knowing who can tell me what I’m gonna pay. And that was really frustrating for me, because I happen to be a firm believer in pricing transparency. So anyway, I did some research trying to figure this out and it turns out there is an option and it’s called Any Lab Test Now. It was then I noticed that there weren’t any locations in Kansas, but that there were in a lot of other locations all across the country. I thought this could really be my opportunity to bring something unique to Wichita and just fell in love with the concept.”

What’s There to Like About Any Lab Test Now?

What exactly did Marcee find appealing about Any Lab Test Now’s Business Model?

“Any Lab Test Now was attractive due to the variety of services that they offer that focus on customer service. I love good customer service, but it’s so rare these days. I felt like owning an Any Lab Test Now location could be a huge competitive advantage for us, because I knew that I could provide a meaningful customer experience. 

To me, it’s really rewarding when people who are leaving our store stop and say, ‘Wow, that was really fast,’ or ‘You guys are so nice here’. I’m always sure to reply with a thank you and a request to leave us a positive review. You know, people really do appreciate it when you’re willing to spend time on the phone with them, talking through things like what lab tests might be best for them or whether PCR tests are a reliable option when you have an upcoming flight. I’ve found that they truly appreciate that extra time and care in making sure that you’re getting them the answers they need. So, I love that part of it. I love the interactions with the customers. Meeting and even exceeding their expectations is really fun for me.”

Why Any Lab Test Now is a Solid Franchise Opportunity…

We asked Marcee about the timing of their decision to open a business just as the pandemic hit. Here’s what she had to say…

“My husband and I had countless conversations about the timing of opening our Any Lab Test Now location. We didn’t want to let the excitement of the business concept cloud the reality of the situation that we found ourselves in at the outset of the pandemic. But taking into account the different scenarios that we ran, we still felt very confident in the overall demand for these services over the long term.

We were willing to take that risk up front. We didn’t want to let something short term, like the pandemic, stop us from moving forward with our dream opportunity. But yes, it was still really scary because we were unsure of that foot traffic. And that was really important to this business because we rely on a lot of walk-ins. But I’m really happy we had the courage to move forward despite the pandemic. In a way, it was terrifying, but if I could go back, I would 100% do it again.”

We followed this question up by asking for Marcee’s thoughts on the recession-resistant business model of Any Lab Test Now:

“I will say that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it, as the first few months beat my expectations. And one critical factor is how I think I underestimated how important people’s health is to them. I think that COVID has even increased that level of attention to our health and that’s a good thing, because there are a lot of common diseases out there that can be prevented. People seem to have a newfound appreciation that life is short and they really take care of this one body they’ve been given.”

The Value Proposition of Any Lab Test Now 

How does Marcee describe the value proposition for her customers?

“To me, the real value proposition for my customers is accessible health care. The accessibility is what I see for the people who take an active interest in monitoring their health. They want options. They want transparency and price. When you consider the accessibility for the underserved and those who may not have had access to these services before, I think that’s the true value proposition for the community here. We make it easy for people to get in and out in 10 to 15 minutes, and that’s the true value of accessible health care.”

The Future of an Any Lab Test Now Owner

We asked Marcee what she loves about being an Any Lab Test Owner in her community…

“For me, it’s when people come in and say, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m so glad that you guys open–I’ve been wanting to get tested for years.’ And for some of these people who don’t have insurance, they haven’t been to the doctor in years. Many of them haven’t been tested for a single thing, not even the standard lab tests. And they tell me, ‘I finally have an affordable option, where I can just come in and get some key things checked’. That is the most rewarding thing for me. To just give people that accessible way to finally get the lab work that they’ve wanted done forever. It brings out the passion I have for helping people. We’re providing a service that people truly value. And it doesn’t really get more fulfilling than that.”