Hello,
My name is Hai Thai. I am a pharmacist who dispenses “phresh, phun, and phashionable” pharmacy t-shirts. My brand is PHARMACY PHASHION. I started PHARMACY PHASHION in late 2007, but due to a personal family matter, I took an hiatus for two years. Now, as 2010 is approaching, I am relaunching PHARMACY PHASHION and I am excited to offer a new line of products.
I started making pharmacy-inspired t-shirts in 2007 to wear to work. At the time, I was working as an inspection pharmacist at a mail-order pharmacy where the dress code was casual. This was such a relief for me since over the past eight years working as a drug rep. and a retail pharmacist, I was always dressed in button-down shirts, ties, and slacks. This was very uncomfortable in Arizona particularly in the summer months. So, I dug into my dresser and found different skateboarding t-shirts and golf brand polo shirts to wear to work. Then over time, I thought to myself why wear skateboarding brand shirts or golf shirts when I could make and wear pharmacy-inspired t-shirts and polo shirts more fitting to what I am doing. After making a few and wearing them at work, my peers would ask where I got the shirts and soon everyone wanted one. Surprisingly, I got a great deal of attention when wearing the shirts in public as well. People would stop me and ask what’s that on my shirt.
From this experience, I realized two things. First, there is a growing need to enhance the appearance of many pharmacists…just kiddingJ I realized that while pharmacists are widely perceived to be nerdy, dorky and, well, extremely anal, pharmacists in general are very creative and cool people who have a relaxed and fun side to them. I believe this creativity could be translated into very cool, very fun shirts that pharmacy people can wear proudly. Secondly, I realized that there is a need to positively promote our profession to the public. Wearing pharmacy-related shirts is a way to brand our profession. When people stop me to ask about the shirt I am wearing, I take it as an opportunity to start a dialogue with them about pharmacy and its benefits to society.
I believe that I am the perfect person to achieve the above needs. Why? Because it seems like everywhere I’ve practiced, my peers including technicians, pharmacists, store managers and even customers always comment on my dress and appearance. For example, I was voted “Mr. GQ” by my Merck Sales Training Class in 1999. In addition, for as long as I could remember, I’ve always been interested in fashion and design. I was also the cartoonist for my high school newspaper. But more importantly, this is my hobby. I have a passion for pharmacy and a passion for fashion. So naturally, PHARMACY PHASHION is my passion!
PHARMACY PHASHION is a home grown business, not a big corporation. I run the business myself. I am involved in the initial t-shirt design all the way to shipping the shirts. Just like if I was working in a pharmacy, I take great pride in making sure I see the product from beginning to end. In a sense, it is like taking a prescription from a customer at the in-window, processing and filling the prescription, and giving it out at the out-window myself. The old-fashion way. This ensures that I provide to my customers a high quality product and great customer service. PHARMACY PHASHION is truly my passion and I don’t consider it work because I enjoy making shirts for myself. Being able to sell them is a plus. I create the products in my home office, which is equipped with a sewing machine and an iron.
My t-shirts are unique and different from other pharmacy t-shirts sold elsewhere because PHARMACY PHASHION is a brand. When it comes to t-shirts, I prefer brand over generics! I do not use third party vendors or t-shirt shops like CafePress to make and ship out shirts for me. Although you can find a wealth of pharmacy-related t-shirts there, I am not interested in making t-shirts for a quick buck nor am I interested in making t-shirts that poke fun of our profession. Instead, I want to build a positive brand, a following among the pharmacy community that will last a long time. Like most curious and conscious pharmacy consumers, I like to know the mechanism of action, the indication, the side effects behind the brand I am consuming. Thus, I am open to let you into my story and my brand. PHARMACY PHASHION is the first and only apparel company with a pharmacy label. Thus, to ensure authenticity, all of my t-shirts have the signature embroidered Pharmacy Phashion Pill Patch on the left sleeve. I pay close attention to details and I am involved in every step of the t-shirt making process to ensure that my customers get a fine, high-quality product deserving to carry a pharmacy name.
Since PHARMACY PHASHION is a home grown business and I make limited edition t-shirts, all shirts are priced at $20. I get high-quality 100% cotton 6oz t-shirts made of USA fabric. I come up with the design ideas and, in some cases, work with a graphic designer. After the shirts are professionally screen-printed, I put the finishing touch by affixing the signature embroidered Pharmacy Phashion Pill Patches. I package them and ship them out myself. Thus, a lot of time and care goes into creating the shirts. The t-shirts are limited edition and are not massed produced. I make about 50 shirts at a time and I come up with new designs biweekly.
The “bottle-bot” is the brand’s signature logo. It was inspired by the mortal and pestle idea. I wanted to make a company mascot and so I added pharmacy bottles or vials to make up the head, arms and legs of the robot. The outcome is a “phun, phresh and phashionable” logo that catches people’s attention. And that was the whole idea behind this brand. Whenever I wear this logo in public, people always stop me and ask what t-shirt it is. This is like an opener in sales which captures people’s attention. When this is achieved, I explain to them that I am a pharmacist and I explain to them the importance of pharmacy. It is really fun! I hope you enjoy my collection of pharmacy shirts, and I am sure people will ask you about them when you wear them out and about.
Sincerely,
Mr. Pharmacy Phashion