Masks #PivotMasters

Since the end of April, masks have been mandatory nationwide. The need for masks has thus expanded from the medical field to the everyday use of everyone. Some startups have been brave and entered the market early, and this despite the fact that their actual product range is a completely different one. It so happens that startups of various kinds are now becoming mask producers through pivoting. We would like to introduce you to some pioneers here in the first part of our #PivotMasters series.

Von Jungfeld & Bewooden

The sock producer and the manufacturer of wooden accessories were among the first companies to switch their production to the manufacture of respiratory protection macs. Henrik Roth, co-founder and managing director of Bewooden, explains how this came about in an interview with Wirtschaftswoche. Already on March 16, the Czech Republic calls the lockdown and both local BeWooden stores have to close.

BeWooden also records the first declines in the online shop, but there is no talk of a similar situation in Germany yet. Meanwhile, demand in the Czech Republic for face masks is rising rapidly.

Bewooden reacts dynamically and decides to have 200 masks made by local seamstresses and donate them. Through Facebook, they tell people about the fundraiser. After that they can hardly save themselves from requests, the company receives about 150,000 mask requests.

These quantities can no longer be handled in their own factory, so the company launches a call for help: anyone who has a sewing machine at home should help sew. With the help of volunteers, production increases to around 500 masks a day.

Meanwhile, the BeWooden founders decide to distribute the masks in Germany as well. Through theEntrepreneurs Organization

, a second fashion startup is found that is willing to lend a hand: The Mannheim-based "Von Jungfeld", known from the "Höhle der Löwen". They are actually known for their fashionable socks and have a wide network of distribution and production partners. Together, the two startups manage to expand their mask collection to a production capacity of 25,000 masks per week.

The masks are made in collaboration with local sewing and manufacturing companies, who are grateful for this unexpected order. Normally, the seamstresses would be sewing dirndls for Oktoberfest, for example, where demand has collapsed due to Corona.

Besides the online shop also offers the possibility of a mask donation to people in need. Groups of people who urgently need a mask receive these donated, so-called Solimasken

, then for free.

trigema

Germany's largest manufacturer of sports and leisurewear also wants to help and is switching its production to masks in the short term. The company wants to produce about 100,000 masks per week. trigema is very transparent about the production of the washable and reusable masks and publishes a video about their production. With a proud price of 12€/piece, they belong to the high-priced segment, but trigema stands for German brand quality and a fair production in Germany, we think such an investment is worth it.

Fitz and huxley

The Berlin backpack manufacturer would like to support Berlin tailors with the distribution of masks, who are struggling with fewer orders due to the crisis. At the beginning of the crisis they thought about how their startup can contribute and decided to cooperate with local tailors. The masks are available in the online shop from 7€. In addition, the company sends a mask for free with every order of its products.

Born for life & andmetics

Born for life and andmetics, which otherwise manufacture medical products for infants and hygiene products, also now produce and distribute masks.

Juniqe

Particularly stylish mouth-nose coverings are available from e-commerce startup juniqe. Various colors and designs are available here. The advantage besides a donation for every second mask sold to the #Europecares

association, the artists who contributed to the design are also supported.

Re-nt

Who would like to support the project "Doctors without borders

" with the mask purchase, which buys its mask best with re-nt here go namely from each sold mask 5 € to the relief organization. The prices for this are between 18- 35 €

Oderso

The Youtuber and musician Fynn Kliemann also produces masks with his fashion label. And that for 2,20€ per mask, if you buy them in a pack of ten. For quantities of 100 or more, the price drops to €0.98 per mask, which is primarily intended for institutions such as kindergartens or retirement homes. Currently, Kliemann has purchased materials for the production of about 10 million mouthguards.

We hope we could give you some ideas and show you how good things can come out of the crisis. In this sense #mask on and stay healthy!

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That was part #1 of our series "Pivot Masters." Next week, we'll turn our attention to "sanitizers"

in part two.