TOILET PAPER (and the real value of your inventory team)

Mary Coscia
17 Jan 2025
TOILET PAPER (and the real value of your inventory team)

As Inventory Ally prepares for VMX 2025, I wanted to share one of my favorite VMX stories.

In early 2023, I had the opportunity to meet one of my heroes. THE Temple Grandin. 

I was attending VMX for work but planned my meeting schedule around Grandin’s lecture. I fangirled with newly made friends in line, waiting for that front-row seat to see her speak. Whatever the vet-med equivalent of a ‘Swiftie’ is, that was me. I audibly gasped when she walked past, and after watching one of the most inspiring lectures, I was officially a ‘Grandie.’

TOILET PAPER (and the real value of your inventory team)

So when Fear-Free announced autographed copies of Animals In Translation, I raced across the exhibit floor. I was one of the lucky few who had an opportunity to meet a true legend, and I thought of all the questions I wanted to ask her. My palms were so sweaty that I was afraid to shake her hand. 

Yet, when I approached Temple… she didn’t want to answer questions about herself. She wanted to know about me. She looked down at my badge and asked a genuinely inquisitive question like, ‘Support Staff? And what do you do for the hospital?’

I FROZE. WHAT DID I DO?! My badge proudly displayed “I Am A Unicorn,” thanks to another industry influence I admire – and ‘support staff’ – but nothing that reflected my value to the team. 

I managed a $450,000 inventory, led multiple inventory audits, helped with acquisition valuations, stabilized COGs, managed contracts and even advanced to support a national network of some of the most talented purchasers in our industry. I worked with my CMO, COO and CFO to support my hospitals in a way that led with patients and teams first and smart business decisions second.

And I wasn’t even the impressive one! What my teams accomplished before the pandemic – let alone during the pandemic – was nothing short of heroic. Every patient seen during that time received care thanks to tremendous amounts of blood, sweat, and tears shed by a handful of supply chain professionals and their dedicated suppliers. Our leaders made sound business calls, despite major volatility in the market, thanks to data from detailed inventory counts and market insights. Our colleagues were protected because we sourced critical PPE, thanks to strong partners and strategy. Our family members received medical care because they made the sacrifice as essential workers. 

Yet, when standing in front of one of my most significant industry (and lifetime) heroes, all I could muster was that I helped the hospitals stay stocked with things … like TOILET PAPER during the pandemic!!!!

animals in translation signed

In the most authentic, compassionate, and genuine way, Temple Grandin told me how important that role was to keep the hospitals running and laughed with me about how crazy the news stories were during the shortages! 

While this story has become one of my career favorites, I regret letting down all the team members I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of. 

With that intent, I’m thrilled to invite industry colleagues to pause and thank your inventory teams for all they do to support patients and hospitals. Visit Inventory Ally at booth #4440 to share a story,  pick up our custom badge swag, and sign a special thank-you card to send some love back to your team at the hospital. Let them know how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication — straight from VMX!

THANK YOU!