Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Hula.
Hi Christina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Nineteen years ago, I found myself navigating life as a single parent with a baby daughter, and facing the daunting reality of needing to create a secure financial future for us entirely on my own. At the same time, I recognized a need for a uniform source in Lane County that served the local nurses, medical assistants, hospital staff. dental professionals, veterinary teams, EMTs, and hospitality and food service industries. Driven by the sheer necessity to provide for my child and a strong vision to fill that gap in this area, I launched hula b SCRUBS.
Next year, hula b SCRUBS will celebrate its 20th anniversary which is a milestone that fills me with immense pride and gratitude. What began as a way to build a future for my daughter and I has grown into a business rooted in community, connection, and a deep appreciation for healthcare professionals. Over the years, I have been fortunate to build lasting relationships with so many loyal and repeat customers who continue to choose hula b SCRUBS for their uniform needs. Their ongoing support and trust means more to me than words can express.
We continue to offer a great selection of brands, personalized fittings, and a welcoming space for those who dedicate their lives to healing others. Our story is still being written every single day by the dental, medical, veterinary, and service professionals across Lane County who call our store home. As we look ahead to our 20th anniversary, I am incredibly grateful for the community that has supported us, the loyal customers who keep coming back, and the opportunity to continue serving them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Looking back at our 19-year history, three defining challenges stand out to me. When I first opened hula b SCRUBS 19 years ago, the journey began not just with a vision, but during a very demanding time in my personal life: starting a retail business as a single parent with an infant baby. Building a brick-and-mortar store from scratch demands a lot of resources such as time and physical presence, which are scarce when you are nursing and raising a newborn alone. I remember helping customers and taking care of inventory shipments with a baby in my arms. It taught me how to multitask on a whole new level, while reminding me to persevere and give myself grace along the way.
Few events have tested the retail industry like the COVID-19 pandemic. We were considered an essential business, so we kept our doors open despite the severe safety restrictions and supply chain breakdowns. Keeping our doors open meant navigating a very complex maze of constantly shifting health mandates and getting creative with managing inventory shortages. It was a stressful time, but it cemented a deeper bond with our local healthcare community.
The third challenge we’ve faced is competing with online shopping. To survive, we learned that we couldn’t win on price alone. Instead, we had to double down on something online retailers lack: human connection, expert fittings, personalized customer service, and a tactile, in-person experience. By focusing on a unique and welcoming experience, we turned hula b SCRUBS into the go-to destination for uniforms. I am incredibly grateful for every single customer who walks through our doors.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about hula b SCRUBS?
We are a one-stop shop for uniforms, offering much more than just scrubs! Our selection includes restaurant and housekeeping uniforms, EMT pants, shoes, and compression socks. We also carry essential medical tools like stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, and thermometers, alongside a wide variety of accessories.
Specializing in outfitting groups, we work with a variety of facilities, including schools, veterinary clinics, dental and orthodontic offices, medical practices, hotels, hospitals, restaurants, and more. We make the process simple and cost-effective by offering personalized fittings and organizing uniforms by employee for easy distribution. Plus, our quick, hassle-free exchanges and custom embroidery or heat-transfer logos help your team maintain a cohesive, professional look.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Because I started the business as a single parent with a baby, my daughter was the store’s unofficial assistant manager. From its inception, every part of running this business was conducted with a baby in my arms. Customers learned to whisper and wholesale vendors got used to hearing a baby in the background during calls. She quite literally grew up inside these walls, transitioning from a baby in my arms to a small child working on schoolwork at a desk tucked behind the cash register, to standing right beside me helping bag scrubs at the front counter. Over the past 19 years, my customers haven’t just watched my business grow, they’ve watched my daughter grow up, too. Many have been part of her childhood, making this store a place filled with memories and connections that go far beyond business. In many ways, the store didn’t just support our family, our family was raised inside the store.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hulabscrubs.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hulabscrubs
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/hulabscrubs
