Face-mask: the new NORMAL

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A PESTEL analysis is a framework to analyse the key factors such as demographic, economic, natural, technological, political and cultural forces that influence an organization from the outside. the analysis is created in such a way that it is flexible so organizations can use it in a variety of situations.




After the onset of Covid -19, there is not one person who does not know what a surgical mask is. They are a loose-fitting, disposable device which is worn to create a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential harm in the immediate environment. Although all surgical masks are set to be a part of the giant umbrella that is face masks, not all face masks are surgical.
 
1. DEMOGRAPHIC FORCES- Earlier, surgical masks were only worn by people working in hospitals like nurses, surgeons and doctors. But Covid-19 has forced everyone to wear masks and no matter how old you are, you have to wear a mask. Masks do not have a particular demographic to follow as everybody has to use a mask now and it has become a part of their daily routine.

2. ECONOMIC FORCES- The impending virus has led to mask shortage all over the world. There is no other way for the mask suppliers to increase their production than to increase the prices of the masks. This has led to a dire situation where the people of the highest risks get the very few masks that are left. The prices and the shares of the masks have also skyrocketed.   


3. NATURAL FORCES- Before 2020 surgical masks were only used for hospital needs. Today masks like these are used all over the world. Ever since the Corona virus disrupted our daily life, there is not one day we can go out without our masks. Although allegedly the virus is supposed to be man-made, it is a natural force for the surgical mask market nonetheless.

4. TECHNOLOGICAL FORCES- A brand with not much of an advertising, surgical masks came into the public limelight after it was made mandatory all over the world to wear masks. Most of the ads used hospital staffs as examples to show their product is hygienic. The staff are portrayed as people in hospital gowns and wearing surgical masks. This in turn increases the trust people have in these masks.

5. POLITICAL FORCES- US President Donald Trump went on to say that he will not wear masks and that the virus does not affect him. A huge controversy arose around the same. When politics like this came into play, it resulted in a rapid increase in the number of sales of masks, be it surgical or otherwise.

6. CULTURAL FORCES- A new culture of  'mask-wearing' has swept across the globe. This culture is one that cannot be avoided and is necessary to be safe in today's world. Amidst Covid-19, this culture has proved to be of great help to mask manufacturers all around the world as that has led to an increases in their sales.

Sources Cited

  • https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/29/face-masks-us-politics-coronavirus
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120816/
  • https://econlife.com/2020/02/face-mask-production/

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