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At the core of who we are is a deep desire to do good for people, communities, and the environment.
Our Journey
With 3 daughters living on a septic system, discarding menstrual products had its challenges; the considerable toilet paper consumption, messy waste bins and constant threat of a plumbing problem. On what seemed to be an ordinary fall day, Shallan walked into the bathroom and became instantly frustrated with the visual. It was in that moment, the MaskIT pouch was conceived.
~ Fall 2012 ~
With 3 daughters living on a septic system, discarding menstrual products had it’s challenges. The toilet paper consumption, messy waste bins and constant threat of a plumbing problem. On this day, the MaskIT pouch was conceived.
~ Fall 2012 ~
Knowing that, Shallan decided she would not pursue her idea unless it could be done without using plastic or any kind of polyethylene. After months of research and phone calls, she finally found a film that met her standards and requirements.
~ Spring 2013 ~
Now that she knew she could bring MaskIT to life in a way that didn’t contribute plastic waste, it was time to submit her patent application and start the next major hurdle of the journey. She needed to find someone willing to convert the plant based biofilm into her very specialized design on a production level.
~ Spring 2013 ~
Now that she knew she could bring MaskIT to life in a way that didn’t contribute plastic waste, It was time to submit her patent application and start the next major hurdle of the journey, finding someone willing to make her idea.
~ Spring 2013 ~
Shallan finally got the one yes she had been vigorously searching for! Finally a converter was willing to try to bring her concept to life.
~ Spring 2014 ~
Gleeful anticipation quickly turned to melancholy as she discovered the first production run was all wrong. Amongst all the failed attempts spread across the table, Shallan found a bag with what’s considered a converting mistake. “Can you make this mistake larger, and consistently,” asked Shallan. After a quizzical look and a long silence, the converter said come back tomorrow.
~ Spring 2014 ~
Gleeful anticipation quickly turned to melancholy as she discovered the first production run was all wrong. Amongst all the failed attempts spread across the table, Shallan found a bag with what’s considered a converting “mistake”. “Can you make this mistake larger, and consistently,” asked Shallan. After a quizzical look and a long silence, the converter said come back tomorrow.
~ Spring 2014 ~
A full night of redesigning her prototype, and a few assembly equipment modifications later, the converter was able to successfully execute her desired design. The MaskIT disposal bag was finally born!
~ Spring 2014 ~
We secured our first point of distribution, Ashland’s Shop’n Kart as well as successfully launched MaskIT on Amazon. To this point, Shallan had already overcome countless challenges and we were only getting started.
~ Fall 2014 ~
We secured our first point of distribution, Ashland’s Shop’n Kart as well as successfully launched MaskIT on Amazon. To this point, Shallan had already overcome countless challenges and we were only getting started.
~ Fall 2014 ~
Shallan learned about a National Entrepreneurial Competition hosted by Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition (OIWC). She submitted her application and was invited to Salt Lake City to pitch her idea to a live panel of judges along with 25 other budding entrepreneurs. “...The winner of this years OIWC’s Pitchfest goes to Shallan Ramsey!” With that win, she secured a national press release, a free booth at the 2016 Outdoor Retailers
Conference, and later a purchase order from REI!
~ Summer 2015 ~
By the Summer of 2016 we were in 575 stores and counting. From Small Mom and Pop shops to retailers like REI, Sportsmans Warehouse, and Rayley’s. Convincing retail buyers to bring MaskIT onto their stores shelves was the easy part. Educating the entire country to go buy MaskIT, was much more challenging.
~ Summer 2016 ~
By the Summer of 2016 we were in 575 stores and counting. From Small Mom and Pop shops to retailers like REI, Sportsmans Warehouse, and Rayley’s. Convincing retail buyers to bring MaskIT onto their stores shelves was the easy part. Educating the entire country to go buy MaskIT, was much more challenging.
~ Summer 2016 ~
The success of our retail growth showed outside investors everything they needed to see. We secured our first round of outside investment! With this cash infusion, we were finally able to pay for the tooling for our wall mounted dispenser. This allowed us to bring the MaskIT solution to market for public restrooms.
~ Summer 2016 ~
Introducing our wall mounted dispenser opened a whole new world of possibilities, and challenges. A major decision had to be made. We elected to sell MaskIT for home use online through our website and Amazon. We wanted to focus on bringing the solution into public facilities. We had something special that could help businesses, women and custodial staff in a way that was never possible before.
~ Fall 2016 ~
Introducing our wall mounted dispenser opened a whole new world of possibilities, and challenges. A major decision had to be made. We elected to sell MaskIT online through our website and Amazon for home users so we could focus our attention on businesses.
~ Fall 2016 ~
We were full go on the business to business sales. Shallan was flying all over the country to visit Janitorial Distributors and meet with their key customers. The team began traveling to trade shows and we were receiving excellent responses. Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. awarded us the 2017 Prosper Award for Ingenuity!
~ Summer 2017 ~
What do they have in common? They are all recognized by the US Government as official Inventors! 5 long years of going back and forth with the US Patent Office ended in triumph. She was awarded her first patent!
~ Summer 2018 ~
What do they have in common? They are all recognized by the US Government as official Inventors! 5 long years of going back and forth with the US Patent Office ended in triumph. She got the patent!
~ Summer 2018 ~
After 2 years of being on the market, MaskIT was being adopted all over the country by airports, universities, restaurants, hospitals, churches, gyms, spas, salons, office buildings, and on and on. One serendipitous day a facility director went on vacation and saw MaskIT in an airport restroom stall. When she got back to the office, she knew she had to have it in her facility and MaskIT was implemented at the Pittsburgh Google Campus!
~ Fall 2018 ~
By year 3 in the business to business space we were working with major janitorial distributors across the country. We had been to dozens of trades shows and had hundreds of great conversations. At some point, we made a memorable impression on an assistant Director of Facilities for a University. He later went to work for Google's main campus in Silicon Valley and shared our innovation with them. Weeks later MaskIT was implemented at Google's Headquarters.
~ Fall 2019 ~
By year 3 in the business to business space we were working with major janitorial distributors across the country. We had been to dozens of tradeshows and had hundreds of great conversations. We made an impression on an assistant director of facilities for a university who went on to work for Google's main campus in Silicon Valley.
~ Fall 2019 ~
We were on a roll, landing big accounts across the country from government agencies, to airports, huge tech companies, banks, universities and hospitals. We were nominated for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network statewide annual awards in two different categories! We were finalists in both, but feeling the whole crowd erupt as they announced MaskIT as the recipient of the 2019 Game Changer Award was pure elation!
~ Winter 2019-20 ~
COVID-19 sweeps the nation shutting down airports, office buildings, universities, essentially every industry we were focused on building. The life of an entrepreneur always has a level of uncertainty. This was a different kind of uncertainty and the only thing we could do was wait and see.
~ Spring 2020 ~
COVID-19 sweeps the nation shutting down airports, office buildings, universities, essentially every industry we spent the last 4 years building. The life of an entrepreneur always has a level of uncertainty. This was a different kind of uncertainty and the only thing we could do was wait and see.
~ Spring 2020 ~
As we waited in suspense for the other shoe to drop, our home use sales surged on both our website and Amazon. MaskIT solves a universal problem for both homes and businesses. Watching our growth continue through the pandemic created such a sense of stability. We knew at this point we had built something special.
~ Spring 2020 ~
The wellbeing of our planet has been a foundational virtue from the beginning, and plays a part in every decision we make; but we found ourselves wanting to do more. With careful consideration, we chose to partner with OneTreePlanted, a non-profit that brings communities together with the common goal of global reforestation. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to do good for people, communities and the environment as OneTreePlanted gives us the opportunity to do all three. We plant a tree for every product sold.
~ Spring 2021 ~
The wellbeing of our planet has been a foundational virtue from the beginning, and plays a part in every decision we make; but we found ourselves wanting to do more. With careful consideration, we chose to partner with OneTreePlanted, a non-profit that brings communities together with the common goal of global reforestation. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to do good for people, communities and the environment as OneTreePlanted gives us the opportunity to do all three.
~ Spring 2021 ~
With one really good idea, great people skills, and an impeccable work ethic, Shallan Ramsey has successfully taken an idea from her head and made it real. Today MaskIT is used in over 100 universities, 70+ Airports, large government agencies, dozens of fortune 500 companies, hospitals, banks and more. We have also been able to plant thousands of trees! It’s been an epic journey so far, and will continue to be, thanks to all of our cherished customers. ❤️
~ Winter 2021-22 ~
That's our Founder, Shallan!
That's our founder, Shallan!
You Found One!
You found a hidden easter egg, congratulations!
Use Coupon Code: EGG2 at checkout for free shipping.
~ one use per customer ~
In every box of MaskIT you’ll find a small note within; something we like to call #MessageFromMaskIT. Love, acceptance, gratitude and positivity is what we try to put out into the universe. If you post your message on Facebook or Instagram, tag us with #MessageFromMaskIT so we can connect! 😊
With the help of OneTreePlanted and the support of our amazing customers, we are able to plant a tree for every product sold. Together, we are able to make a measurable and positive impact on our environment. ❤️
When you choose MaskIT you are doing so much more than it seems. We see you, we appreciate your support, and we want you to know that you matter to us. That's why we send handwritten thank you cards to each new customer expressing our gratitude. ❤️
( Yes, they really are handwritten, and yes, the founder does personally sign each card. )
We choose to manufacture everything in the USA because we want to provide the highest quality products to our customers.
We want to create jobs for hard-working Americans so they can support their families.
We are also mindfully avoiding relaxed environmental policies and carbon emissions caused by overseas shipping.
We recognize the environmental problems caused by single-use plastics and refuse to contribute to them, no matter the cost.
We choose to use premium plant-based biofilm for our disposal bags because it is the right thing to do for our planet.
We choose to make our packaging with recycled paper, to print with soy-based ink and aqueous water coatings, in a facility that runs on 100% renewable energy because we want to provide the cleanest solution available in the cleanest way possible.
We recognize the environmental problems caused by single-use plastics and refuse to contribute to them, no matter the cost.
We choose to use premium plant-based biofilm for our disposal bags because it is the right thing to do for our planet.