Why Don't We Sell FIGS? - The Uniform Store
Share
Why Don't We Sell FIGS at The Uniform Store?
At The Uniform Store, we strive to provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible scrubs and uniforms for healthcare and hospitality professionals. We offer a wide selection of all the latest styles from the the most popular brands; all brands except FIGS that is. We don't get asked about them often, but we still feel it's worth addressing. While FIGS is a popular and well-regarded brand, there are several reasons why we do not to carry their products in our store.
Direct-to-Consumer Model
FIGS operates on a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) model, which means they sell their products exclusively through their own website and app to consumers. This approach allows them to maintain complete control over the entire customer experience, from the initial website visit to post-purchase engagement. By controlling every aspect of the sales process, FIGS ensures a consistent experience for their customers. Introducing any retailers into this model would give up some of that control, and revenue, to the local retailers in your community.
Price and Accessibility
FIGS scrubs are known for their stylish designs but they can come with a hefty price tag. A single set of FIGS scrubs can cost over $130 CAD, and a single underscrub can cost over $80 CAD! This can be prohibitive for many healthcare workers who need a complete wardrobe of durable and comfortable uniforms that don't compromise style or affordability.
At The Uniform Store, we prioritize offering a wide range of styles and colours from the biggest brands. Our expert staff can help you find that perfect fit in the latest styles that will fit your budget, ensuring that all professionals can find something that fits their needs without breaking the bank.
Why are FIGS scrubs more expensive?
FIGS scrubs are known for their sleek designs and premium feel which justifies the price point with some consumers. A full set of FIGS scrubs can run well over $130 CAD. That can be hard to swallow, particularly when you need multiple sets. They have invested in R&D for their materials and developed proprietary stretch-and-antimicrobial fabrics. Those materials and R&D efforts cost more than standard polyester-cotton blends even if the antimicrobial aspects don't last more than a few washes.
Need a new set? FIGS sells exclusively on their website and app and that Direct-to-Consumer model means they pay all advertising costs themselves instead of splitting those promotional costs with retailers like us. Those marketing dollars get passed on to you in the price tag.
On top of that, FIGS covers free shipping, free returns, customer service, and their own warehouse expenses. Traditional brands shift a lot of those fulfillment and service costs to their retail partners which leads to lower prices compared to FIGS.
Saw their latest must-have colour of the season? FIGS drops a lot of limited-edition and seasonal collections to keep consumers interested and wanting the latest styles and colours. This fast-fashion approach means smaller production runs and each scrub costs more to manufacture. Since they don’t own their factories they pay a premium for those lower volumes.
In contract, brands like Barco and Cherokee place large, recurring bulk orders for staple items. They negotiate discounts with manufacturers based on this volume, and retail partners handle a lot of their marketing and logistics. All of that spreads costs out and lets them keep unit prices lower.
All of these factors stack up and taken together, they explain why FIGS scrubs carry a higher price tag:
- Higher marketing spends.
- Smaller batch manufacturing.
- Proprietary fabrics and designs.
- In-house logistics and customer support.
Ethical and Sustainable Practices
While FIGS has a commendable "Threads for Threads" initiative, where they donate scrubs to healthcare professionals in need, we also prioritize brands that emphasize sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices. Brands which focus on eco-friendly materials, align with our commitment to sustainability. By choosing to stock such brands, we support environmentally responsible practices and offer our customers more sustainable choices.
Are there alternatives to FIGS scrubs?
Yes, at The Uniform Store, we offer a variety of high-quality scrubs from brands like Dickies, Cherokee, and Grey’s Anatomy by Barco, which provide similar comfort and style at more affordable prices.
Final Thoughts
If you are a FIGS customer and are happy with your scrubs, that's great! We're happy that you've found what works for you. We're not here to throw any shade at FIGS, we understand their appeal, we're just explaining why we don't carry any FIGS scrubs in our store. While we'd love to help you find your next great FIGS purchase, we cannot because of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business model that FIGS have chosen to use for their company, rather than helping to support local businesses in communities like ours.
We pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection of scrubs and uniforms from various reputable brands like Dickies, Cherokee, White Cross, and Grey’s Anatomy by Barco. These brands provide a wide array of styles, sizes, and price points, allowing us to meet the diverse needs of all our customers. By focusing on a broader range of brands, we can offer more options and ensure that everyone finds scrubs to suits their own personal style and work requirements.
If you're local to the area, or just passing through, we invite you to browse our extensive collection of scrubs and uniforms in store at The Uniform Store. We are confident you will find something you'll love.
If you're not local to the area, explore our products and learn more about our values on our website. Looking for something you can't find? Send us a note and let us see how we can help you.
