Nyle, McCrory’s strike deal on medical supply centers

Nyle International Corp. announced Tuesday that it had reached agreement with McCrory’s Corp. to open medical supply centers in McCrory’s chain of 1,425 retail stores.

“As far as I know, this is the first time it (selling medical supplies) has ever been done with a large retailer,” said Samuel Nyer, chairman of Nyle International, which is based in Bangor. “We will have 25 centers started by the end of October, and we hope to have 40 or 50 in place by Christmas.”

The first medical supply centers will be established in McCrory’s stores in New England and New York. But if the idea proves to be successful, the company could have 500 centers in operation nationwide by the end of 1991, according to Nyer.

“We will be in all of the stores as soon as possible,” he said.

Nyle has established a new subsidiary, Nyle Home Health Supplies Inc., to develop the centers. It will lease space in McCrory’s stores to sell such health-related items as wheelchairs, walking aids, bathroom accessories, treadmills and products for sports injuries.

Some of the larger medical supply centers will be staffed by Nyle employees, according to Nyer. Ultimately, the new subsidiary could generate hundreds of jobs in Bangor and elsewhere, he said.

Nyle already has some experience in the field. Its largest subsidiary is ADCO Surgical Supply Inc., which distributes medical supplies and equipment to doctors, nursing homes and other health-care providers.