Paschendale Associates Supplies PPE And More

This Patch article is sponsored by Paschendale Associates.

During the novel coronavirus, wearing masks and other forms of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a must. However, not all masks and PPE products provide wearers with the same level of comfort and protection.

Paschendale Associates supplies KN95 masks, disposable ear loop masks, ear savers, neck gaiters and more. Their KN95 masks are FDA registered, and filter 97 percent of particles according to testing done by the University of Oklahoma — which is above the KN95 standard. Paschendale Associates’ mission is to help people by providing education and high quality products that can be trusted in the current market conditions.

Patch caught up with Dave Heeman, an owner of Paschendale Associates, to learn more about their company goals, their connection to the community and how business is changing during the novel coronavirus.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Heeman: Paschendale has been around for a little over a year, but my partner and I have been importing from China for over 15 years. We set up this company to provide goods our clients needed that we didn’t sell through our other companies.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you're in, and how did you get started?

Heeman: We started supplying masks to our large corporate clients and contacts in healthcare. At first, we really had no plans to sell to the public, but we saw people getting ripped off, people not getting what they ordered and people buying masks that we knew were fake — for three times the price of our masks. We also know the Chinese market and our factory is the manufacturer of the masks. I am not five levels down the supply chain — I am on site every two months. This isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme; this is my life’s work and my reputation hangs in the balance.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger, what would you say?

Heeman: We sell real, high-quality masks.

Patch: What's the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you've faced in your job?

Heeman: I think our biggest challenge is not getting lumped in with all the companies selling fake goods, companies that are price gouging people and companies that are ripping off their customers. KN95 masks are great masks, but you have to buy real ones, and many companies are overcharging for those. For consumers, it’s difficult to discern between real and fake masks, so we’re working hard to try to get our name out there.

Patch: What's the most satisfying part of your job?

Heeman: It’s great to be doing what we can to help people. It feels good when people tell you that they’re happy they found your company. So many of our clients tell us their mask-buying horror stories. You can see our reviews — people love our product and our service and that makes us happy.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Heeman: Our staff is what makes our company stand out. We do what we say and we operate with integrity. If we take an order, it’s because we have stock and we ship the same day. When clients email us questions on a Sunday night they get an answer Sunday night. It doesn’t go to a broker email overseas that never gets answered. Anyone can sell things — it takes dedication to service your clients appropriately.

Patch: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given when it comes to success?

Heeman: Actions speak louder than words. We can tell you all about how great we are, but give us a try and see it for yourself. I had someone who needed masks for an emergency flight the next day and they were wondering what they could do since it was Saturday. So we drove masks to their house that day — two hours away. That person will be a customer for life and refer 10 others to us. That’s how we operate. No one will bend over backwards for a client the way Paschendale will.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you're working on that you're extra excited about?

Heeman: We started selling Ear Savers, Neck Gaiters, Bandages and Hand Sanitizers from trusted partners. Our clients know that our masks are quality products and they trust us to only work with partners on our level.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Heeman: We are social distancing like everyone else, so not at the moment!

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Heeman: Visit us at www.paschendale.com or email us at sales@paschendale.com and we will get back with you the same day!