WATCH: Wilgeheuwel couple’s masks help make a huge difference

The arrival of Covid-19 in South Africa dealt the business of professional photographers Eugene and Charlotte Nagel a heavy blow when their income came to an immediate halt in March.

Eugene said they had a full year’s bookings for weddings, corporate and many other events that were either cancelled or postponed. “We have since tried everything creative in our industry to get work, but without success, until Charlotte sewed a fabric face mask for me to use when I go out to do essential shopping.”

Eugene added that at the same time a parent on the Wilgeheuwel WhatsApp group asked if anyone was making masks, as the children would be required to wear masks when they return to school. “Charlotte replied to her saying we could make masks for her. She made a few masks, with no intent to sell or continue with it. That is, until the friend referred us on the Facebook post where the school requested masks, and on the WhatsApp group.”

He explained that, due to this referral, they made a few more masks and then sold some of them to pay their medical aid premium at the end of the month. “So we made some more and I approached a shop and a pharmacy in the area to see if they would be keen to resell our masks, which they agreed to do,” Eugene said.And the rest is, as they say, history. They started advertising the masks on different social media platforms.

“We received between 100 and 120 WhatsApp orders daily. We could not handle everything on our own and requested some assistance on the Wilgeheuwel WhatsApp group. The response was amazing,” he explained.This was not only an opportunity for the Nagels to earn an income, but also to help others. “We worked out a system where people could work from home and be safe. Our assistants were hairdressers, photographers, construction workers, teachers and sales people, among others, and we had every aspect covered; from cutting to sewing to distributing,” Eugene said.

The couple got permission from the Honeydew Police to host a once-off face mask drive thru at their home. “We displayed the masks on a golf cart and in baskets, and had a very successful drive thru. People came from all over to show their support and we managed to sell over 600 masks in just a few hours.”After they stopped selling masks to the public and started supplying to shops, and with the branding added, as well as the message of what exactly happens when they buy a ChilliPix mask, there was no stopping them. “The shops contributed considerably to the success of the masks as they all supported the cause and enabled us to grow this project. We have paid out over R140 000 to the people involved and have in turn supported as many small businesses as we could by buying our stock, etc from them. Our masks are being sold in Pretoria, Boksburg, Krugersdorp and even as far as Port Elizabeth,” he said.

The day after they had sold 10 000 masks, the grateful couple went to Alexandra and donated face masks to those who were unable to afford one. “We were able to give about 800 households one face mask each. Our aim is to go back and supply one for every person in each household and, even more important, to raise funds to feed them as well. We, in association with CraftiNess, also donated 200 face masks to the health workers and residents at Floroma Old Age Home. In addition, we donated numerous masks and hand sanitizer to people on the streets,” Eugene added. Before they started making the masks, Eugene started another initiative.

“I asked people around the world to send portraits of themselves wearing masks in an attempt to collect 10 000 portraits to create a unique and historic art piece, which would then be auctioned off, and the proceeds used to feed the hungry in areas such as informal settlements. But, realising that might take too long, we decided to create 10 000 portrait face masks, and donate R25 of each mask sold towards food for the people in need. For every 10 masks we sell, we donate one to people in need in a small attempt to help them,” Eugene concluded

Watch here for the full story: