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Rafi Nova Is Making Clear Masks For The Deaf Community — They're Changing The New Normal

Rafi Nova is changing the "new normal" for the better by creating masks with a transparent mouth covering for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Ilana Stein

Jul 08, 2020

Florida State University

1232

Rafi Nova Is Making Clear Masks For The Deaf Community — They're Changing The New Normal

@rafinova_go

Rafi Nova is a company started by two people who had the vision to sell accessories for traveling. Unfortunately, the company was launched just weeks before the Coronavirus pandemic hit and the sudden decrease in travel negatively impacted their business.

After coming together to decide what they should do moving forward, they decided to make the best of a bad situation when one of the founder's children said to make masks.

They decided to take making masks one step further and accommodate a community in need during this new normal of mask-wearing. Now, Rafi Nova makes masks with a clear panel in the front so that people who are deaf and hard of hearing can see people's mouths underneath their masks.

Along with the making of clear masks, Rafi Nova has a work environment that is unmatched by any other.

Their company is like a family and the work community present at Rafi Nova made the transition from their normal products to masks that much easier.

Founders Adam and Marissa Goldstein had some great ideas thus far in their career as business owners and in addition to sharing information on the smile mask, shared some information and tips on how to become a successful business owner.

I had the absolute privilege of interviewing the founders about their new masks and their business practices and here is what they said:

1. How was the company name decided upon and created?

Rafi Nova was inspired by our travels with our two sets of children - Raya, Efi, Noa, and Eyva. We want to build a company that reflects our values and there is nothing that reflects that more clearly than your children.

2. How was the shift from regular products to masks?

We launched Rafi Nova as an accessories brand with the mission to inspire parents to get out and go in February 2020 — which was probably the worst time in history to launch a brand encouraging travel.

Just a few weeks after the launch, the coronavirus pandemic struck, and we needed to reevaluate our plan for the brand. We spent some time brainstorming solutions, until one day our daughter Evya said "make masks."

3. How are the masks constructed to benefit the deaf and hard of hearing communities?

We make the Smile Masks with a wide clear panel that allows the mask wearer's mouth to be visible.

We also made sure that the masks had adjustable straps to accommodate hearing aids or cochlear implants.

While the Smile Mask was designed with the hard of hearing and deaf community in mind, we have seen that the masks are beneficial to a wide variety of communities and professions. Facial expressions are essential in establishing trust.

4. What is your greatest takeaway from shifting your company's focus to benefit the consumer need amidst a pandemic?

Create well made, thoughtful products that people need!

5. What is your favorite part about running a business?

Being able to build an amazing team and getting to work with them everyday!

6. What kind of work environment do you have at your company? Is everyone friends outside the office?

Yes! We have a super fun, very open and collaborative atmosphere. At the same time, everyone is extremely hard working and gets their work done.

7. What is the best piece of advice to give to anyone who wants to start their own company?

Just do it! The timing will never be perfect. If you wait until everything is "perfect" you will miss out on the opportunity. Start small -- but just start!

With business advice like this, Rafi Nova is clearly an up and coming company with founders that have a sense of community.

The ability for them to flip the switch from travel accessories to masks is a pretty admirable feat and one that should definitely be recognized.

Their products are, in a way, one of a kind as there isn't anything on the market right now quite like the smile mask.

The smile mask comes in a two-pack that retails for $30, accommodates for cochlear implants and hearing aids, and enables people to continue using non-verbal communication.

There is also sales and deals for certain products as they make regular masks, kids masks, and anti-fog masks in addition to the smile mask with the clear panel.

Rafi Nova is doing a great thing for all sorts of people that will benefit from being able to regain the use of non-verbal communication like teachers, speech pathologists, and those that are deaf and hard of hearing.

Check out the press release for the smile mask here:

Rafi Nova

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Rafi Nova Is Making Clear Masks For The Deaf Community — They're Changing The New Normal

Rafi Nova is changing the "new normal" for the better by creating masks with a transparent mouth covering for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

1. How was the company name decided upon and created?

2. How was the shift from regular products to masks?

3. How are the masks constructed to benefit the deaf and hard of hearing communities?

4. What is your greatest takeaway from shifting your company's focus to benefit the consumer need amidst a pandemic?

5. What is your favorite part about running a business?

6. What kind of work environment do you have at your company? Is everyone friends outside the office?

7. What is the best piece of advice to give to anyone who wants to start their own company?

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10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

Movie Tickets

Candy

Gag Gifts

Dollar Shave Club

A Stocking of Toys

Stationary

Picture Frames

Sports Accessories

Bath Accessories

Portable Phone Charger

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Hairbands, Clips, and Bobby-pins