Employees in hospitals, clinics, doctors offices and labs may be required to wear a uniform to work. For various types of medical employees, such as therapists, technicians and nurses, scrubs or lab coats are their uniform choice. Since many department stores and clothing shops don't sell scrubs, many hospital employees get their uniforms from medical uniform businesses. When opening a medical uniform business, it's important to develop a plan to increase the chances of success. Follow the steps below to get started.
Instructions
1. Determine the line of products and brands that will be sold. Research what brands are the most popular. Consider carrying brands such as Dickies, Cherokee and Peaches Uniforms.
2. Get with the times. Scrubs have come a long way. They come in various styles, from pinstripes to denim. Although traditional solid colored scrubs and white lab coats may still be the choice for some, having a variety of the trendiest choices in stock may increase the diversity of customers.
3. Expand your products. Although uniforms may be the highest selling item in a medical uniform business, consider selling other items. Make the store a one-stop shop for all accessories. For example, consider selling footwear and accessories for hospital employees, as well as nursing kits, EMT supplies and stethoscopes.
4. Take your business to the customers. Since a large number of customers are hospital employees, bring scrubs right to the hospital. Call hospitals in your area and ask if an onsite scrub sale is possible. Many hospitals will allow a uniform business to set up shop for a day or two in a cafeteria or conference room. This is convenient for employees and provides a business with customers.
5. Develop a catalog and online ordering. Many businesses have an online store in addition to a store at a particular location. An online store will allow you to reach more customers and make it more convenient for shoppers. Create an attractive, secure and easy-to-navigate website, where customers can select and order uniforms online.
6. Advertise in specialty publications. Target your advertising dollar by running ads in publications for health care workers. Magazines and newspapers are available at the national and regional level geared toward nurses, emergency medical technicians, therapists, lab technicians and other health workers who need medical uniforms.
7. Contact local hospitals to obtain a contract for a bulk order. Many hospitals provide scrubs for some of their employees and will need to buy a large amount of uniforms. Contact the hospital's purchasing department to determine bid on a contract.
Tags: hospital employees, medical uniform, uniform business, consider selling, Many hospitals, medical uniform business