Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ini Eyoh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ini, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I am a registered nurse with a public health nurse certification based in Minnesota. During the peak of COVID, I was working my first job as a new registered nurse as well as finishing my second degree. Due to the increased stress and workload, I needed an escape. Unity Scrubs was my creative outlet made with the intention of connecting with several healthcare heroes, making an impact in healthcare and my community, and merging my passions.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have been a nurse for three years so far. I am currently back in school pursing my Master’s Degree in Nursing with an emphasis in Nursing Administration and Organizational Systems Leadership. As a public health nurse, I am very passionate about serving the community and unifying healthcare workers coming together as one to tackle the many health disparities and health inequities prevalent in healthcare. There are over 4 million nurses in the world and less than 10% of those nurses identify as Black/African American. Although I am proud to be a part of that 10%, it’s important to emphasize that representation and diversity in the healthcare industry is an ongoing issue. The goal of representation in healthcare is to ensure that all patients receive culturally competent care and that the experiences and perspectives of diverse populations are acknowledged and integrated into medical decision-making and policy. Improving representation in healthcare can also help address health disparities/inequities and ensure that the healthcare system is more equitable for everyone. My brand Unity Scrubs is my way of bringing awareness to these issues and advocating for diversity and inclusion within all healthcare settings while connecting with other healthcare heroes who believe in the same mission. In general, I love fashion and being able to express myself. As a women working in healthcare, I have learned what I feel most comfortable in for my day to day work and used my experience, additional research, and creativity to produce high quality medical uniforms (scrubs) for other women in healthcare. Unity Scrubs embraces diversity by promoting inclusivity in all healthcare settings.We aspire to be a catalyst for transformative change in the world of healthcare attire, where healthcare heroes from diverse backgrounds are celebrated and empowered by wearing Unity Scrubs. These scrubs not only symbolize our commitment to fostering equity and inclusivity but inspire a positive shift in the healthcare industry. The mission behind my brand is to unify healthcare professionals in the pursuit of equity by raising awareness of and advocating for underserved communities facing adversity in healthcare. The vision is collaborating with various organizations that share our commitment to improving diversity and inclusion in healthcare. Our aim is to provide scrub sets to support these partners as we work together to create a healthcare landscape characterized by equity and inclusivity, where every healthcare professional, regardless of their background, feels valued and is equipped to provide exceptional care to all. There isn’t just one face of healthcare. Unity Scrubs reflects this by promoting and encouraging diversity and inclusion in all healthcare settings by supporting all shapes, sizes, cultures, and educational backgrounds of today’s healthcare heroes. To honor our mission and vision of Unity Scrubs, we have partnered with Small Sums. Small Sums is a local nonprofit based in Minnesota that outfit indivduals experiencing homelessness or housing instability with the required work items needed to start a new job. in 2022, Small Sums served a total of 573 African American/Multiracial clients which made up 70% of their clients. Of that percentage, 9% of those clients worked in the healthcare industry. With our partnership, we plan to continue to increase these percentages of African American clients working in the healthcare industry by providing high quality scrubs to be well equipped on the job. Hearing the stories and gratitude of the clients we have helped through our partnership at Small Sums has been very inspiring and fufilling. Unity Scrubs has also been a part of several different community events allowing the opportunity to share the mission and vision of the brand, sell the medical uniforms, and connect with more healthcare heroes as well as foster more community connections.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
While brainstorming the launch of my brand and formulating a business plan, I dedicated countless hours to researching the necessary requirements, potential sources of assistance, and estimated costs. Around the same time, in 2021, approximately a year into my nursing career, intriguing opportunity surfaced: a position as a travel nurse, tasked with administering monoclonal antibody infusions to COVID-19 positive patients in order to alleviate their symptoms and reduce the risk of hospitalization. Although I had never ventured into the realm of travel nursing, I had heard of the lucrative compensation it offered due to the prevailing circumstances. Eager to channel my passion for public health and community service, I wholeheartedly embraced this new endeavor. Of course, working as a travel nurse had its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Among these advantages was the substantial income potential; I had the chance to amass a significant sum of money in a relatively short timeframe, in addition to receiving bonus checks upon completing the travel assignments. With the ultimate aim of bringing my vision for Unity Scrubs to fruition, I made the conscious decision to work tirelessly, committing to 10-12 hour shifts, five to six days a week. I was fully committed to self-funding my business, and my unwavering determination began to yield results. Eventually, I found myself in a comfortable financial position, poised to acquire everything necessary for the launch of my business.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A recent pivotal moment in my entrepreneurial journey came when I realized the untapped potential in the medical uniform industry. Initially, my focus was primarily on catering to a specific demographic (women), but as I delved deeper into the market, I recognized a significant gap in providing quality medical uniforms for men. In additon, several men wokring in healthcare have reached out ready to support my brand yet I did not have products specfically designed for them. It was a eureka moment, and I knew that pivoting my business was the right move.
To execute this pivot, I conducted extensive market research to understand the specific needs and preferences of male healthcare professionals. I sought feedback from potential customers, created sample scrub sets, and closely studied market trends. Armed with this knowledge, I have began the process of rebranding my business to offer a comprehensive range of medical uniforms designed for both men and women.
This transformation wasn’t without its challenges. I do not have a team, I run my business completely on my own and have had to source new suppliers, redesign my product line, and rethink my marketing strategy to effectively reach both male and female healthcare professionals. It required a substantial investment of time and resources, but I was committed to providing high-quality uniforms that met the needs of a broader customer base. I am in the process of updating my website and creating a more interactive experience for my customers to cater to their preferences and needs. Simultaneously, I recognized that expanding my business would require more than just a diverse product line. It would necessitate strategic partnerships with organizations and institutions within the healthcare industry. To achieve this, I proactively reached out to medical facilities, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations.
Today, as I continue to refine my product offerings and nurture these current and potential partnerships, I’m on the path to redefining my business and making it a go-to brand for medical uniforms that cater to all healthcare professionals, regardless of gender. This pivot has not only opened up new opportunities but has also allowed me to make a more meaningful impact in the healthcare industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unityscrubs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unityscrubsllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unityscrubsllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ini-eyoh-bsn-rn-phn-3532b4119/
Image Credits
Samantha Leeann Photography Marcus Styles