Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,574,814 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

Medicinal Halloween.


WHAT can a medical supply company do to boost sales in a flat industry?

At Scrubs Unlimited in Westwood Village, owner Phillip Gabriel generates nearly a third of his annual revenue in October selling everything from surgical scrubs surgical scrubs Cotton or cotton/polyester wearing apparel consisting of a short-sleeved shirt and drawstring pants, is the universal uniform of those daring men and women of action, the surgeons, often faded Kelly green. Cf Whites.  and stethoscopes to lab coats and nurse's uniforms for Halloween costumes.

During October, Gabriel said he gets between 200 and 300 customers a day while the rest of the year he averages 30 or 40.

"October is my Christmas," he said. "Call me in December and I'll cry on your shoulder, but this time of year is great for me."

He started marketing his garb as costumes two years ago with a banner across his store proclaiming, "Everything you need to be a doctor or a nurse without the debt."

Medical costumes have become so popular with UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles
UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University)
UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX
 students that fraternities and sororities
See also: Fraternity


The terms "fraternity" and "sorority" (from the Latin words frater and soror
 now hold doctor and nurse parties. This year, Gabriel added "dirty doctor" and "naughty nurse" costumes, which have been a hit with more than just the college crowd.

"A lot of mild mannered man·nered  
adj.
1. Having manners of a specific kind: ill-mannered children.

2.
a. Having or showing a certain manner: a mild-mannered supervisor.
 soccer morns are getting into these outfits," he said. "The nurse's dress is pretty tight and form fitting, but it all depends how naughty they really want to make it."

And it doesn't matter if anything is left over after Halloween, because Gabriel can sell it during the rest of the year. "Except for nurse's hats," he said. "Nobody ever buys those things during the year."

The real doctors and nurses that make up his clientele the rest of the year are apparently amused a·muse  
tr.v. a·mused, a·mus·ing, a·mus·es
1. To occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion.

2.
 by the trend, even its more risque ris·qué  
adj.
Suggestive of or bordering on indelicacy or impropriety.



[French, from past participle of risquer, to risk, from risque, risk; see risk.]

Adj.
 variations.

"In a way, it's kind of flattering," Gabriel said.
COPYRIGHT 2003 CBJ, L.P.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:medical supply company; The Roving Eye
Author:Fixmer, Andy
Publication:Los Angeles Business Journal
Article Type:Brief Article
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Oct 20, 2003
Words:275
Previous Article:Pedal power.(The LABJ's L.A. Stories)(Brief Article)
Next Article:Budgets under wraps but more holiday partying planned.(Up Front)(hospitality industry hopes for rise in business)
Topics:



Related Articles
THE ROVING EYE.(Halloween costumes patriotic after Islamic terrorist attacks)(Brief Article)
THE HYPE ALL DRESSED UP WITH SOMEWHERE TO GO.(L.A. Life)
Rove rage.(Karl Rove)
War of the worldviews: Family Research Council, Washington allies fight for religious right agenda in nation's capital.
Patrols worked, police say.(Crime)(The West University area avoided a riot, but officers issued citations)
WHO REALLY PULLS THE STRINGS IN BUSH'S WHITE HOUSE?(U)(Review)
Scary season lasts all year for Halloween entrepreneurs.(Up Front)
Bush's brain.(Tilting at Windmills)(Brief Article)
White House hypocrisy.(Editorials)(Bush pushes Miers' faith as a qualification)(Editorial)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles