S.C.R.U.B.S.

Health care services / Retail: Specialty / Home & Leisure.

S.C.R.U.B.S.
Simply Comfortable Really Unique Basic Scrubs
has a new owner as of July 2000.

Sue Callaway became a nurse back when the uniform was a cap and a crisp white dress. She remembers wearing street clothes to the hospital then changing for duty into a clean uniform. Find out how she invented a business when the hospital she worked for started requiring nurses to purchase their own uniforms.

Since we taped this story, Sue and her partner opened too many retail stores too fast and found themselves in big trouble. S.C.R.U.B.S. was bought by SmartPractice in July of 2000 and has restructured; Sue is still involved. The amazing part of this story is we studied Naomi and Jim Rhode's company, SmartPractice, back in 1994! Jim says he is thrilled to have Sue on his team.

Startup Funding. Personal savings, then SBA-secured loans.

KEY IDEAS.

Timing is everything. (We can hear Sue say, "Amen.")
You can grow your company if you're willing to share.
You can build a mail order business if you can target your market.
Giving customers an easy way to return merchandise builds loyalty.

EXPLORE FURTHER:

TEACHING NOTES & STUDY GUIDE. The Notes/Guides are written for the PBS Adult Learning Satellite System and their Business Channel to stimulate discussions among business students. Use them to reflect on your own business plans and operations, or check out your local SBDC or college/university to see if you can attend an evening course where these stories are used as case studies.
TRANSCRIPT. All the dialogue within the show.
WATCH TV. To find out what is airing in your market, usually on your local PBS-member station, click here.
CONTACT:
Sue Callaway
in care of SmartPractice, 800.522.0800 or 602-225-0595