CASE STUDY
How a Promotional Products Distributor Made a Hospital Scrubs Program Profitable
Rad Wear had a hospital client who needed a scrubs program, and no efficient way to deliver one at a margin worth having. Uniform Stores replaced four moving parts with a single partner.
PARTNER
Rad Wear
TYPE
Full-service Promo Distributor
INDUSTRIES SERVED
Medical, Corporate, Education
CONTACT
Mike Smith, Sales Representative
PARTNER SINCE
Early 2025
RESULTS
4-in-1
webstore, apparel supplier, decoration and fulfillment from one partner
0
inventory, backorders or multiple POs to manage​
1
dedicated account manager handling setup and support
“Where has Uniform Stores been all my life?!? I am the biggest advocate of using Uniform Stores. There is zero downside and all upside.”
​
Mike Smith
Sales Representative, Rad Wear
The Distributor
Rad Wear is a full-service distributor that specializes in customized apparel and promotional items. They provide multiple uniform programs across several different industries including medical, corporate and education. Each uniform program is unique and has different requirements.
The Challenge
Mike, a Rad Wear Sales Representative, sought a scrubs program solution for a hospital client but faced challenges managing its complexity — diverse brands, colors, logos, stipends, locations, departments, embroidery and distribution logistics — while needing to ensure profitability.
-
Rad Wear lacked an efficient solution for a hospital client’s scrub program needs.
-
Both Rad Wear and their client were burdened with excessive administrative and logistical tasks managing the uniform program.
-
Scrubs program management is labor-intensive and typically yields low margins for promotional product distributors.
While Staples has a long history of managing uniform programs, they knew this specific challenge required an evolved approach. Initial plans to use a standard eStore platform were set aside in search of a more specialized solution.
​
After reaching out to their scrub sources, they found Uniform Stores. This platform was identified as the ideal engine to meet 100% of the client’s criteria. Despite a highly competitive bidding process involving other major scrub suppliers, the partnership between SPP and the Uniform Stores team distinguished itself through:
​
Employee empowerment. Moving beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach to offer comfort and style autonomy.
​
Collaborative integration. Functioning as a true extension of the Staples Promotional Products team to map out complex “rules of engagement” and technical integrations.
​
Proactive management. Providing dedicated account support to navigate the “heavy lift” of the initial launch, plus ongoing support.
“We sought a solution for our existing uniform programs that would effectively integrate and unify all the various components of the programs,” said Mike. “Our biggest challenge was coordinating the ordering process and webstore platform, apparel supplier, decoration, fulfillment, and logistics.”
Why Uniform Stores
After exploring the use of a fulfillment center for the fulfillment process — a notably time-consuming and labor-intensive aspect of uniform programs — Mike learned about Uniform Stores from his Scrub Authority account manager.
​
In early 2025, Rad Wear chose to partner with Uniform Stores because, unlike generalist company store platforms, Uniform Stores offers a platform designed specifically for healthcare apparel programs and provides an all-in-one solution.
“What made us decide to go with Uniform Stores was the fact that they could provide a solution for my needs as well as my clients needs. Uniform Stores was able to provide a webstore platform, they were my apparel supplier, and they provided the decoration and fulfillment. Setting everything up was easy, we received all the help we needed from our dedicated account manager.”
​
Mike Smith
Sales Representative, Rad Wear
The Solution
With Uniform Stores, Rad Wear was provided:
-
A modern, employee-friendly uniform management platform for their client, enhancing the shopping experience.
-
A dedicated account manager to set up the uniform website and provide ongoing support.
-
Streamlined logistics covering embroidery setup, order delivery and employee assistance.
​​
With Uniform Stores, Rad Wear was able to:
-
Offer their client an integrated, comprehensive solution for all uniform requirements.
-
Reduce time and effort associated with managing a large-scale uniform program; after product selection and store setup, the program operates autonomously.
-
Prioritize business development and acquisition instead of managing orders, coordinating embroidery, shipping products and handling customer service issues.
The Results
Mike successfully provided an efficient uniform solution, eliminating logistical burdens for both himself and his client:
​
Streamlined processes. With one user-friendly platform managing everything from ordering to embroidery to delivery, the entire process became streamlined for both Mike and his customer, freeing up their valuable time to focus on more important things.
​
Happy client. Both the hospital administration and employees appreciated the variety of uniform options and the platform’s user-friendly ordering process. Employees gained more uniform choices, and the administration benefited from a streamlined method to fulfill their program’s uniform requirements.
​
Room to sell. Mike can now dedicate his efforts to expanding business instead of managing scrubs programs, and the administrator can concentrate on their primary responsibilities.
“Their automation platform is a turnkey solution for any apparel program. No more stressing about inventory or backorders, decoration, fulfillment, shipping, sending multiple PO’s, etc. Once your program is up and running you can literally sit back and watch the dollars roll in.”
​
Mike Smith
Sales Representative, Rad Wear
Ultimately, Rad Wear delivered a simple, efficient uniform program that managed logistics for both Rad Wear and its client, while remaining profitable.