With a growing demand for personal protective equipment nationwide, particularly for health-care workers and first responders, industry suppliers Gemline and BIC Graphic North America have introduced new product lines to help meet the need for frontline workers and clients alike.
Lawrence, Massachusetts-based Gemline is one industry company that has expanded into the health-care category by partnering with personal care brands Soapbox and Beekman 1802 to offer a selection of hand-care kits. The products not only serve a need at the present time, but are intended to help clients return to normalcy in a post-coronavirus world, while continuing to prioritize their health and hygiene.
Soapbox produces shea butter-infused hair and personal care products, including hand soap, body wash and shampoo, and each product serves a purpose that’s twofold: for every product sold, Soapbox donates a bar of soap or contributes to health-care efforts in communities worldwide. A Hope Code® included on all Soapbox product packaging allows recipients to track their impact. Beekman 1802 is a goat milk skincare company that manufactures skincare and body care products, like soap bars, hand and body wash and facial cleansers, which are all made with goat milk as the key ingredient.
“We felt the timing was right for our business expansion into the hand-care category, allowing us the opportunity to offer our customers a broad selection of hand-care kits to help them stay healthy, especially as they return to work and adapt to a new normal in hand hygiene and health standards,” says Jonathan Isaacson, CEO of Gemline. “Partnering with these trusted personal care brands with strong retail presence enables us to provide quality products, while continuing to build our brand roster.”
BIC Graphic North America in Clearwater, Florida, is offering more than 20 new products designed to support the fight against coronavirus for essential workers, which include antimicrobial products, safety gear, pre-selected kits and a range of COVID-19-related print materials, such as mandatory posters, to display in businesses that are open. One of these new items is a blank breathable, disposable face mask made with three cloth layers with elastic ear loops and an adjustable nose bridge. Also, available are antimicrobial mouse pads and writing instruments made with PrevaGuard, an EPA-registered antimicrobial additive that is molded directly into the pen’s plastic components to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, mildew and fungi.
“The coronavirus outbreak brought about an abrupt shift in what items people need right now,” says Melissa Ralston, chief marketing officer at BIC Graphic. “We are proud of the efforts of our team members and the strength of our supply chain to quickly provide these useful items to help vital industries during this challenging time.”
