In Victoria, face mask sales were high already, but now they have exploded. I have a client that sold out in hours his whole stock on the day it was annouced. Talking to a few of my clients interstate, they are selling well there too.
So it is not surprising that a salesman contacts me, as wants me to use my users for marketing his company range of face masks. When I asked at a price, it became clear that the cost of his masks was higher than an online retailer. So I told him, no and to come back with a real price.
But I did some research. Here is some information that may be of interest to you if you are thinking of marketing face masks in your shops.
There are two markets. The first is for people who want one urgently and those that want it in bulk. I am sure there would be good money in buying a packet say of 50 surgical masks, which on a quick look, I saw for under $30 on eBay with delivery and selling them individually at $2.50. Of course, do some research to see what the prices are in your area first if this interests you.
If you are looking to buy them to resell them here are some points.
The gold standard is N95, in Australia but the problem is that it is somehow this standard is legally tied down by 3M. From what I can see, most Chinese and Australian companies use KN95, which is very similar.
N95 is the American accreditation
KN95 is the open accreditation
P2 is the Australian accreditation
KMOEL is the Korean accreditation
FFP2 is the European accreditation
DS is the Japanese accreditation
From what I can see, all accreditations are only slightly different, check them out here.
Of course, many people do not want an N95. Besides price and availability, many find it hard to breathe through an N95.
And we do have a range of standards. In practice, according to studies, I saw even the lower grade are almost as good for the public. The problem here is that the Australian community looks at N95, so I would not rush to stock even a slightly inferior standard like the KN90.
Note some just use a scarf, in Victoria which is useful as you can avoid getting a $200 fine here.
If you are interested in some history of the modern face mask, is considered to being a Chinese invention invented during the Manchurian plague of 1910.
They were in many places mandatory during the Spanish flu too
and were as controversial then as now.
I hope this helps and if you have any comments let me know.
