‘Busiest month in company history’: Nomad Goods doubles down on PPE production
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara-based electronics company Nomad Goods is ramping up its production of face masks, which are being shipped across the country.
A few weeks ago, the company had made about 500,000 surgical masks. Now Nomad is producing hundreds of thousands of masks each day at its production centers in China and Hong Kong. The masks are then shipped either from there directly or through the company's Santa Barbara headquarters.
Most buyers are individuals in the health care industry or front line employees such as senior care center workers, grocery store workers, delivery drivers or ride-share drivers.
The company is now also using its supply chain and delivery expertise to distribute hand sanitizer made by Lompoc-based dental supplies company DenMat.
Nomad co-founder Noah Dentzel said Wednesday that the past month has been the "busiest" in company history.
"I think it's blown us all away," Dentzel said.
The products are being sold, though at a price lower than other suppliers, according to Dentzel.
On Nomad's website, first responders and essential businesses can buy a pack of 50 face masks for $20. The general public can buy the same pack for $22.50.
Form-fitting face masks, similar to the KN95 masks, are $22.95 for a pack of 10.
“If we can bring prices down, it’ll force others to bring it down, and we can fight the gougers that way,” Dentzel said.
Hand sanitizer is $25 for a 6-pack for essential workers and $29.95 for the general public.
Nomad has also donated thousands of masks, some to local shelters and care centers.
The company is still making, developing and selling its usual core products, including phone chargers and cases.
Those sales have dipped, though, while the company's and world's focus has shifted to personal protective equipment.
Dentzel says the whole Nomad team has bought in to the new mission.
“We anticipate that we’ll run into hurdles and that’s part of the cost of doing business when you’re moving so quickly,” he said. “But we’re gonna attack those as they come up and we’re gonna overcome them.”
Dentzel says even as businesses begin to reopen and people go back to work, PPE will likely be a part of everyday life for the foreseeable future.
“We’re increasing our [PPE] production capacity, but the demand is enormous,” he said. "I hate to say it, but we’re probably going to see even more demand in the months ahead as the economy opens back up and society re-emerges."
