2020 Massachusetts Manufacturing Awards 39
W
hen the COVID-19 Pandemic
hit, Speakeasy Travel Supply
of Centerville, known for
their wide variety of travel scarves,
shifted gears to begin making
much needed personal protective
equipment.
Owner, Bethany Salvon, noted
"Necessity is the mother of
invention." When the pandemic hit
and the travel industry was deeply
impacted, Salvon's company pivoted
their operations to make face
masks. The masks initially were for
donation only for hospitals and the
medically vulnerable, but eventually
were offered for sale to sustain the
ongoing donation program.
Salvon said Speakeasy initially
landed on the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative's radar
when it was launching a competition,
but it was for personal protective
equipment and not applicable for the
company. "But our name stayed on
their list, and in June the competition
expanded to face masks and we were
invited to apply," Salvon said.
The challenge of the competition,
managed by Lever, a North Adams-
based business accelerator and
innovation support organization,
was to make a better face mask.
Lever worked with participants on
market positioning, developing a
solid business plan and creating
go-to-market strategies. They were
also given access to manufacturing
experts and potential face mask
customers.
Speakeasy was awarded a
$25,000 grant, which will be used
for supplies, marketing and other
business operations. She expects the
new product to be available later this
month at an approximate $25 to $30
price point.
Speakeasy Travel
Supply
City/Town: Centerville
Total Employees: 3
Year Company Founded: 2013
Company Website:
speakeasytravelsupply.com
Nominated by:
Representative William Crocker JR
M A S S A C H U S E T T S
Manufacturing Awards 20 20
Pictured: Bethany Salvon of
Speakeasy Travel Supply Company
