Necessity is the Mother of All Invention

Apr 27, 2020

I think we can all agree that during the past six weeks, we have become very familiar with the essential necessities in our lives. The mere shortage of toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and NOW face masks are proof of that. There are some other personal services and "things" that many of us had viewed as necessities during our "normal" lives (and perhaps frivolous to some) such as haircuts, massages, manicures, facials, cleaning services. Yes, we have all managed to do without all of these "things" (except toilet paper).

Fundamental Necessities

Through it all, we are continuing to wake up each day, putting one foot in front of the other and getting through our "new normal" and daily routines. It is the strength, perseverance, and character of the human spirit that helps us survive even under the most challenging times in our lives. Perhaps the underlying theme of this pandemic ... "we are ALL in this together" has been a comfort in some way.

If anyone said to me seven or eight weeks ago that I would be pivoting my business to help my factories stay open so they could afford to pay their employees, and then focus all my time researching, sourcing, and gaining access to PPE supplies to help healthcare professionals and other companies secure the necessary products they needed to survive this pandemic, I would have thought they were living in another world.

However, this is all true. The past several weeks have been both gratifying to be able to help and very intense, and I feel as if I went through a graduate course on steroids…called the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Personal Protection Equipment. The most important part has been learning quickly and finding the best solutions possible about the following.

Which products are better than another, which factories to use,(hundreds of factories have been sending emails daily with access to PPE products), what certifications are needed, which factories are certified, what is FDA approved, which are the best face masks for healthcare workers and first responders and which ones are necessary for the general public, what is the difference between the N95 and the KN95, why are the prices changing every few days,(some daily), why are they getting so expensive, all the changes in regulations between China and the USA, why orders that are shipping air are taking three to four weeks to get into the recipient's hands, why there are fewer aircraft flying daily between the USA and China...and so on...

I will admit, I am very thankful that I have been able to contribute in some small way to the health care crisis at hand.

New Products and Services Developed Within Weeks

What I find truly amazing is all of the new products and services that have developed so quickly as a result of COVID19 (void of all the politics behind the testing and finding a vaccine and cure). I am referring to the various individuals and businesses who have either started manufacturing over a million fabric face masks per week, or individuals who started making face covers in their homes for hospital staff, or creating other products related to personal protection, companies offering various UV sanitizing devices that can sanitize your phone, keys, eye or sunglasses, even face masks, to new face mask "accessories" that will alleviate some tension from the elastic that may feel too tight or too loose around the ears after long periods of use, to a new type of tool that will help you keep your hands free of germs when turning a doorknob or pushing a button in an elevator, as well as some interesting new products for stress reduction. These are just a few that have popped up in the last few weeks, and I am sure there are many more to come. Take a look! They may inspire you to create your own.

What's Next?

My goal during this next phase of "CoronaVival"...(that is survival during the CoronaVirus) is to continue to help companies and services that need PPE supplies, and to continue to bring awareness of new ideas and products that will help my clients feel safe and be prepared to open their doors when the pendulum swings back to the NEW NORMAL of "Business as Usual."

Here's to your Health and Safety!

	SUBLIMATED HEADBAND W/ BUTTONS Sublimated headbands with buttons to hold a mask. It helps to reduce strain on the ears. DETAILS MULTIFUNCTION SANITIZER FOR MASK This super sterilizer will kill Up to 99.9% of Germs, One-click sterilization design, It can sterilize Face Mask, smartphones, Makeup Tools, Mobile Phone, Toothbrush, Jewelry, Watches, and other small items. DETAILS KOOTY KEY ANTI- GERM UTILITY TOOL Never worry about touching germ-filled high contact surfaces again. DETAILS DIY, BANDANA FACE MASK Poplin bandanas are lightweight and versatile. Use as a headband, handkerchief, napkin, or scarf. DETAILS FACEMASK EAR SAVER Allows elastic bands of the face mask to be comfortably hooked together to prevent rubbing behind the ears. DETAILS DIAMONDBACK UNIVERSAL EAR SAVERS Universal ear savers provide long-lasting relief from painful elastic straps found on most medical face masks. DETAILS COLOR-ME MOUSE MAT® Recycled soft polyester surface that provides ultra-smooth mouse tracking. B/W illustration imprint. DETAILS STRESS BUSTER PINEAPPLE Clear thermal plastic rubber ball filled with colorful gel-filled beads, covered with a plush design in the shape of a pineapple. DETAILS

Category: Business Advice, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Marketing Inspiration, Promotional Product Ideas
Tags: Personal Protection Equipment, health and safety, branded marketing