Professional Fashion Uniforms

Year established: 1982

Product or service offered: Scrubs, lab coats, work shoes

Number of employees: 4

Location: 46 South Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Owner: Barb Whitlock

Describe your business/occupation in exactly five words.: Scrubs, lab coats, work shoes

What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?

Barb Whitlock, owner: To carry the latest and most stylish scrubs between St. Louis and Memphis and continue expanding new lines like the Alegria shoe line. My mother, Geraldine Stone, opened P.F.U. 30 years ago. Since day one, Professional Fashion Uniforms has consistently brought the latest medical uniform styles to this area, always listening to our customers about the need for comfort and delivering on those requests. Bringing in the Alegria line is just one example of delivering on customer requests.

Give us an example or two of an idea that came to fruition in the last couple of years, and how has that helped your consumers or clients?

BW: We added approximately 1,000 square feet to our store and expanded our men's department to include a large selection of lab coats.

What role does your business play in the betterment of the community?

BW: We provide the health care worker with the latest in medical equipment, scrubs and lab coats. We also provide a payroll deduction plan through the medical centers for the purchase of these uniforms.