The Promo Pro: Christopher Faris, founder/CEO, Boost Promotions (asi/142942)
Client: A billion-dollar convenience store company
Job: Provide safe, reliable, high-quality custom masks that could be sold in stores
Order Value: About 850,000 masks (a seven-figure order)

STEP 1

Become the Resource Your Client Needs
The convenience store company had a problem.

The business was desperate to secure a reliable supply of fabric face masks it could retail. However, it was the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and such masks were in short supply. Complicating matters was the fact that there was no small number of snake oil salesmen promising they could come through, but not really being able to deliver.

It was rough going – until Faris and Boost Promotions got involved.

In the past, Faris had orchestrated successful branded merchandise initiatives for the company. However, with the promo market faltering and his client in need of a retail PPE solution, Faris ventured beyond his traditional sphere and set about being the partner his client needed at that critical moment in time.

STEP 2

Understand the End-User & Product Requirement
As with any order, Faris made it his top priority to understand the client’s precise need. “They wanted a face covering solution that could be sold in stores for all consumers to purchase,” Faris says. “The goal was to provide a safe, quality mask at an affordable price that could be bought quickly.”

STEP 3

Secure Essential Business Status Internationally
Coming through required a monumental effort that involved everything from navigating international bureaucracy to delving into the minutia of creating the custom masks. First, Faris assisted a Boost shirt factory partner in Mexico in obtaining “essential business” status with the Mexican government. That enabled the factory to remain open so it could start producing fabric masks.

“Once our partner had essential status, we created templates and guidelines on how to cut and sew two-ply fabric masks,” Faris explains. “It took only a week to get approved prototypes. Then we purchased all the T-shirt fabric (100% cotton) in every color that the factory had in stock to ensure we had ample supply and color options for the masks.”

STEP 4

Manage the Logistics
Ultimately, Boost and its factory partner produced about 850,000 custom two-ply cotton adult face masks, each of which were individually polybagged with UPC stickers. But the work didn’t end there. “We had to make sure the logistics were buttoned up,” Faris says. “We worked with our freight forwarder to coordinate weekly pickups from the factory and to then get everything through customs and delivered to our partner warehouse in Laredo, TX.”

From there, Boost saw to it that the masks were delivered expediently to the client’s main distribution center, from which the company’s own fleet of trucks whisked them to stores. “Everything had to go off correctly,” Faris says. “There was no room for error.”

STEP 5

Continue to Capitalize
The white-glove service Faris and the Boost supporting cast provided from first to last ensured the successful creation and delivery of excellent masks just when the client needed them most. “I worked closely with the CEO and they were extremely happy with the entire process,” notes Faris.

By venturing into retail product creation, Boost opened a whole new stream of business with the client – a stream that’s continuing to flow. “Since the mask order,” Faris says, “we have continued to collaborate on other new retail items with the client.”