When a sports kit maker saw a 90% drop in turnover as coronavirus wiped out the fixture list they turned to making face masks to save their season.
Exile Sportswear, in Colwyn Bay, would historically be busy during June and July manufacturing custom kits in preparation for the start of the rugby and football season.
But when the Covid-19 pandemic put global sports participation on hold, owner Marcus Copeland found that the solution to drop in turnover came in the unlikely form of local demand for bespoke face coverings.
The company was hit by their quietest ever three months over the spring but Marcus was approached by fellow Colwyn Bay business owner Ian Saunders, of CryoAction, about the possibility of providing them with company branded masks.
Marcus said: “Initially I was sceptical about demand but we made some samples at a factory where my rugby kits are normally made and my designer worked on some social media adverts to test the water.
"The feedback was positive and we sensed an opportunity to bring staff back off furlough, provide a valuable service to local businesses as they look to reopen and give something back to the local community by raising some money for a local children’s charity.
“The majority of enquiries came from hospitality, tourism and leisure as they began to look towards reopening.
"The face masks have given them a way of protecting staff and customers while still being able to advertise their brand in a prominent position.
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"We have also been donating 25p from each mask sold to Ty Gobaith Hope House whose fundraising activities had been hit particularly hard during lockdown.”
One of the first businesses to place an order was St David’s Commercial, in Colwyn Bay, followed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited, who run all the hospitality leisure venues for Denbighshire County Council, along with caravan parks such as Thornley Leisure, Edwards, Harts and Knightly's.
Further afield, the Scotland Police have purchased for members of the Scotland Police Recreation Association and Exile received a bespoke order from Welsh darts player Gerwyn Price – currently at number three in the PDC World rankings – to wear during televised events.
It comes as face masks are due to become compulsory on public transport in Wales from the weekend.
Face coverings will be compulsory in shops in England from Friday - but Welsh Government is not making them mandatory in shops at this stage in Wales.
Last week, Exile Sportswear received some further positive news when they were announced as 2020’s Most Outstanding Sportswear Provider in Wales in the prestigious SME News Business Elite Awards 2020.