During the pandemic, wearing face masks for an extended period of time has been a constant for healthcare professionals, teachers, essential workers, and many others. Health experts worldwide have recommended people wear face masks to minimize the spread and exposure to COVID-19. However, without a comfortable solution, masks have left many people with soreness and skin irritation around the ears, as well as an improper fit and lack of adjustability. After recognizing the need for a soft and adjustable solution, our consumer team accelerated the product development process and designed a solution perfect for face masks wearers. Introducing VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender Straps. Find out how market insights took this solution from ideation to store shelves in a matter of months.
Introducing The VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender Straps
VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender Straps make wearing masks more comfortable. As a soft and comfortable solution for people’s ears, the mask extenders provide maximum adjustability for any size without a fixed number of adjustment points. Our versatile product works with most masks such as cloth, disposable, homemade, or DIY masks. Available in 4-packs of black, white, and multicolor (red, green, yellow, and blue), our face mask extender straps are hand-washable, reusable, and versatile.
How To Use
Consumer Content Drives Research And Product Development
Consumers’ dissatisfaction with the fit and adjustability of face masks began to present itself across news outlets and social media. People were looking for ways to improve comfort, but the lack of options within the market left consumers to fend for themselves.
People began to hack face mask extenders using whatever they had in their homes – even our VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® ties were used as a solution.
Source: Facebook (MJ Marjorie Espiritu-Wallace)
The story behind the design
While the consumer team listened to the market’s concerns and saw their ‘macgyvered’ solutions, we knew we could create something even better. The team worked closely with the R&D department to start designing a solution in April. The product design and development of the VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender Straps drew direct inspiration from consumers’ homemade solutions. By utilizing market insights, the team was able to work quickly and efficiently to bring this product to market.
Speedy Manufacturing
In just six weeks, our consumer team went from concept and proposal to making the product available to purchase. Our manufacturing teams worked around the clock to produce, finish, and package the product so that they were ready for stores. The VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender straps provide only a small snapshot of Velcro Companies’ innovation and market success.
The VELCRO® Brand Face Mask Extender straps are now available online on Amazon or in-store at Walmart.
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