How (Not) to Start a Business in the Middle of a Pandemic

Unprecedented.  Challenging. “New Normal.”  Whatever buzz words you use, there’s no denying that the world has dramatically changed since I last posted in January.  And so has BPNC. With COVID-19, we put our plans to build a retail space on hold.  As BPNC’s founder, I made this decision with a heavy heart. It eats away at me a little each day that our one-stop shop retail environment - that sourced products from local farmers and vendors - wasn’t built before the pandemic fully took hold.  Together with online ordering and the delivery options that BPNC intended to provide, the retail store could have filled a critical gap for both local farmers and customers when COVID-19 shuttered farmers markets and closed restaurants.  

To their credit, my neighbors moved swiftly to get online and find other outlets for their products. (Sidebar: This isn’t to imply that everything’s “all good” now for small farmers, as explored in this Mother Jones article featuring PTB Farms - about a mile up the road).  For my part, I explored alternative uses for the land and tried to partner with various farmers for delivery, but didn’t have any takers.  My plans for the property are not over, simply on hold, while we reassess how it can be put to best use for the community.  

In the midst of all this upheaval, I realized that I would need a cloth face mask.* I ordered one online that looked cute - blue gingham checked - on April 3rd.  I received the perfunctory e-mail update about a week later that shipment would be delayed due to COVID-19.  When it had not arrived in the promised two weeks,** I decided this would not do.  I contacted Laughing Frogs Studio owner Amanda Pelon and asked whether she could sew me a face mask.  “Cloth face covering” she corrected.***  Like many other sewists, she had been making them for family and friends, and I happily hired her to make one for my (pie) face.**

As with all LFS projects, Amanda did a beautiful job with the face covering with the materials she had on hand.  An expert in needlework and fabric design, Amanda’s “fitted” face covers incorporate best practices from the CDC (e.g., filter pocket, high-density cotton), together with unique design elements learned from her time in Japan.  Objectively, I admired it’s durable construction and thoughtful function.  But the solid fabric that we chose for the outside and fitted design made me feel like I was appearing in an episode of the Handmaid’s Tale.  

And so began BPNC’s journey to produce cloth face coverings for sale.  With Amanda on board as lead designer/consultant, BPNC is finding the intersection between style and function.  It is not lost on me that we are entering a very crowded space when it comes to cloth face masks.  But here’s what sets us apart: 

• Function:  To do its job, a face covering has to fit and be made of quality materials that can serve as a barrier fabric. Whether you choose our fitted or pleated style (but we hope you choose the fitted for its filter pocket), you can feel confident that it’s made of the highest-quality cotton.  Both fitted and pleated versions of our cloth masks come with ties to allow for customized fit.  Our “fitted” version - as the name implies - sits very close to the face, with little to no gaping, if correctly tied.
• Style:  Function is important.  But the best FC (face cover) is the one that you will wear. We think that means fun designs with the option to customize.  We now have a direct line to Spoonflower, a Durham, NC textile manufacturer that prints custom fabric on-demand. That means we have timely access to (literally) millions of fabrics, as well as the ability to customize fabric for cloth face masks.
• Support Socially-Conscious Business:  Buying a cloth face mask from BPNC means:
  • Employing local sewists and admin staff who are otherwise unemployed due to COVID-19;  and 
  • 1:1 model ensures that one mask will be donated for every cloth face covering purchased.  

We have hired four people since the beginning of the pandemic who would otherwise be unemployed due to COVID-19  Your purchases support their continued employment, as well as the ability to hire additional staff. 

We’re still in the early stages of learning how to bring new value to our cloth face cover/mask customers. We believe timely delivery and customization are a good start. However, we believe that if face coverings are the “new normal” for socially-responsible citizens, we’re only beginning to understand what makes someone want to wear one.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:

(1) Spread the word about what we’re doing: “Like” us on social media, tell your friends, keep checking the website for updates.

(2) Connect with me offline to share your custom order requests, feedback, or (other) cloth face mask horror stories so far.

(3) Purchase a face covering from our limited inventory online while we ramp up production with our recent fabric delivery.

Thank you to all who have provided input or feedback so far. And for the larger community, stay safe - follow the three “W’s”: Wear. Wait. Wash.