Neel Patel  May 2, 2024

How to Prescribe Custom Apparel Programs to Healthcare Clients

Healthcare is a growing market for custom apparel and promotional items, offering many opportunities for printers. In the U.S., medical offices and staff spend $10 billion each year just on scrubs. Success in this market depends on knowing what the buyers want in terms of uniform styles, colors, and features, as well as other products like tote bags, lunch boxes, drinkware, hand sanitizers, pens, and ID lanyards. We have a great selection of apparel products that are perfect for the healthcare industry at Optamark.com.

You can also focus on physical therapy offices, chiropractors, and wellness practitioners such as acupuncturists, massage therapists, or yoga instructors. Healthcare conferences and events, as well as companies selling supplements, medications, or medical equipment, often need apparel and promotional items.

Each area has its own specific needs and preferences. Before you reach out to potential buyers, it’s important to understand what they require. For instance, depending on their setting, they might need daily work attire, surgical wear, special protective gear, or all three.

Establish Connections with Decision Makers

Hospitals are big places with many departments and layers of management. It’s crucial to identify the right people to talk to and the decision-makers to avoid wasting time on efforts that might not get approved. Once you know who to contact, it’s important to build a strong working relationship and keep in touch regularly to meet their needs effectively.

Break It All Down

Healthcare clients have particular needs or preferences, such as types of clothing, materials, colors, logo placement, or decoration methods when buying customized apparel for their staff.

Athletic and yoga-inspired styles, featuring sleek and simple designs, are gaining popularity. “Athleisure-inspired styles, like jogger scrub pants or fitted scrub tops, are really catching on,” says Ionitsa. “They provide a modern and stylish option compared to traditional scrubs, while still being comfortable and functional.

Ease of movement and stretch, plus a range of sizes:

Medical professionals look for clothing that is professional-looking, fits well, and allows for easy movement without looking boxy or unflattering. “Clothes with smart seaming or adjustable features help create a more tailored and flattering look for various body types when you’re dressing a team,” explains the expert.

Innovative features:

Medical staff want uniforms with plenty of large pockets for carrying tools, equipment, and tech items like smartphones and tablets. “Consider pockets that are designed for easy access to devices, hidden compartments for essential tools, or special closures that allow for quick changes. These features can really help healthcare professionals,” says the expert.

Comfort and breathability:

While scrubs are the go-to, many medical facilities also want quarter-zip or full-zip jackets to keep staff warmer in cooler inside temperatures.

Colors and patterns:

They usually prefer neutral colors or specific color schemes to distinguish between roles or departments, Selecting the right colors or patterns can set you apart from competitors. Some trends also lean towards bold colors and unique patterns, depending on the vibe of the medical office.

Performance fabrics:

Fabrics that are moisture-wicking, waterproof, antimicrobial, and stain-resistant are very popular in the healthcare industry. “These fabrics keep staff cool, dry, and comfortable during long shifts and are easy to move in,” explains the expert.

Decoration options:

They want their logos and names to stand out, so logo placement and high-quality decoration or embroidery methods are important, People also want eco-friendly inks and organic materials where possible.

Choose the right mix of styles for each prospect.

There’s a variety of uniform items, from scrubs and lab coats to sports shirts and dress shirts. “It varies depending on the department, from doctors to office staff.” Compared to other industries, Ionista points out unique needs like antimicrobial fabrics and color-coded uniforms.

Keep colors and branding in mind.

Remember that healthcare professionals see themselves as people who care for others. “If you can create designs that reflect this identity, they’ll appeal to hospital employees and make them more likely to buy and wear the custom apparel.

Feature higher-quality brands:

Decorators need to provide products that meet the quality and safety standards required in healthcare settings. That’s why Logo Unlimited chooses to work with suppliers known for their high-quality garments and materials.

Keep decoration quality high.

We ensure our prints are properly cured because the apparel will be worn and washed frequently.

Be aware of timing and production.

Handling large orders and tight deadlines can be challenging, especially when it’s busy. “To stay on track, we make sure our production processes are efficient and we communicate clearly at every step.

Where Do Online Stores Fit In?

Many print shops set up online stores for medical clients, some for a short period and others indefinitely. Creates websites for doctors’ offices and other healthcare clients, where employees can use a code given by the doctor to purchase their custom work wear uniform items.

How About Special Events?

Creating a calendar of local and national healthcare and wellness events can help you connect with potential and current clients about their apparel needs for these events. Many medical providers and healthcare companies also participate in charity events like 5k runs. Keeping up with their newsletters can alert you to opportunities to supply apparel for these events.

When you’re working with multiple healthcare clients on events, the demand for apparel often comes in bursts. For instance, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a busy time for hospitals and nonprofits across the country. To meet your client’s needs and deliver orders on time, it’s important to plan well in advance and keep your clients organized.

Conclusion

Begin by figuring out what additional problems you can solve for your potential client, not just in decorating their custom apparel. “Think about how you could help a hospital save time, money, and effort by managing batch deliveries, fulfilling individual orders, and overseeing inventory,” he suggests. For more customized solutions that fit your needs, check out Optamark.com.