{"id":10546,"date":"2013-02-14T19:26:18","date_gmt":"2013-02-15T01:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nashvillewraps.com\/blog\/?p=10546"},"modified":"2019-12-30T15:18:37","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T21:18:37","slug":"vanderbilts-hospital-gift-shop-just-what-the-doctor-ordered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nashvillewraps.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/14\/vanderbilts-hospital-gift-shop-just-what-the-doctor-ordered","title":{"rendered":"Vanderbilt’s Hospital Gift Shop – Just What the Doctor Ordered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Vanderbilt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Running a hospital gift shop is no easy task. But if it’s the gift shop at Vanderbilt University Medical Center<\/a>, the rewards and the challenges can be many.<\/p>\n

Vanderbilt University Medical Center\u00a0in Nashville, Tennessee is a highly-respected research hospital, so having a gift shop that meets the needs of its 23,000 employees not including patients along with their families and visitors is important.<\/p>\n

Gift Shop Manager Myke Ondek explains, \u201cHappy, relaxed people heal faster. A hospital gift shop serves many of the same people on a daily basis, so to keep people coming in, the merchandise mix has to change constantly. We\u2019re always rearranging the shop and changing out merchandise. We put unusual things in the window or outside showcases so they\u2019re stopped in their tracks and come in just to see what\u2019s new.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pigs in the Window<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Vandy\u201cRetailers realized that if they put baby piglets in the store window, people couldn’t help but come in to see them. While they were there, they\u2019d purchase something.\u00a0We also put \u2018a pig in the window\u2019 to draw people in. We may use temple umbrellas from Bali, ceramic garden hippos, giant plush animals – these our \u2018pigs in the window\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vanderbilt logo items like t-shirts, hoodies and jackets are by far their best-selling merchandise. Snack foods and sundries are sold right alongside posh gift shop items like gemstone pendants and flowers.<\/p>\n

Their tiny 500-square-feet shop is run by 5 full-time paid retail professionals and about 30 Vanderbilt University students through a work study program. Their dedicated staff opens early and stays open late 364 days a year and closes only for New Year\u2019s Day. Gift shop proceeds currently sponsor medical scholarships at Vanderbilt\u2019s School of Medicine<\/a> and School of Nursing<\/a>\u00a0as a tribute to the auxilians who have worked for decades on a volunteer basis in the past.<\/p>\n

\"Vandy<\/p>\n

Packaging You Can Cheer About<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nashville Wraps is proud that Vandy\u2019s Medical Center Gift Shop was one of our very first customers. \u201cOne of the best things about Nashville Wraps is the selection,\u201d commented Myke.\u00a0\u201cWe may need inexpensive bags, ribbon and tissue for some general things, but we also sell rather expensive items that need packaging to match the caliber of the merchandise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite items are black and gold gift bags<\/a>, metallic tissue<\/a>, black grosgrain ribbon<\/a>, printed labels<\/a>\u00a0and jewelry boxes<\/a> that change seasonally.\u00a0We\u2019re affiliated with a world-class hospital and university. Nashville Wraps\u2019 beautiful bags and ribbons in our official black and gold make it easy for us to satisfy internal corporate gift needs.\u00a0We buy tons of giftware for our departments to use for employee recognition or staff events. The gifts are presented before University Chancellors, Chief Executive Nursing Officers, Professors and CEOs, so we want the packaging to look sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myke offers important advice to other hospital gift shops: \u201cLove being around people, and if you ever stop loving it, change your vocation.\u00a0Sick people need to be treated differently than a customer at a sporting goods shop. If you care about them they will feel it. When my own mom was sick and I couldn\u2019t get to see her daily, I would call the hospital gift shop and they would go to her room and put her on the phone with me or just check on her.\u00a0Their kindness made me realize how important it is to be good at what I do because I care about who I am doing it for.\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n

Thank you Vanderbilt for being a wonderful example to the many hospital gift shops we serve. Go Commodores!<\/p>\n

Helpful links for hospital gift shops<\/span>:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

– Cindy Jones\u2019 Hospital Gift Shop News<\/a> – a peer-to-peer manager’s newsletter for hospital gift shops.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0Purchasing Power Plus<\/a> – a buying group that offers great discounts from several vendors that service hospital gift shops.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Running a hospital gift shop is no easy task. But if it’s the gift shop at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the rewards and the challenges can be many. Vanderbilt University Medical Center\u00a0in Nashville, Tennessee is a highly-respected research hospital, so having a gift shop that meets the needs of its 23,000 employees not including patients…<\/p>\n

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