Protective Masks Direct is one of the UK's largest suppliers of FFP3 face masks for respiratory protection for asbestos work, respiratory protection against viruses and mould spores.
Protective Masks Direct has spent nearly two decades supplying high-grade PPE to hospitals, governments, and industrial buyers.
As the market shifted dramatically during COVID, trust, quality, and repeat business became even more critical - and standing out from the crowd has become more and more difficult.
By launching a mobile app with MobiLoud, Protective Masks Direct opened up a new, direct channel to communicate with their customers, boosting retention and setting their brand apart.
Snapshot
Vertical: B2B (Healthcare PPE & protective equipment)
Platform: Magento
Business Impact:
- Launched a mobile app quickly and cost-effectively
- Established a direct communication channel outside of search engines
- Strengthened brand credibility and professional perception
- Laid the foundation for retention via push notifications
“MobiLoud turned something that was just an idea into something we could actually get live.”
- Mat Lambert, Director of Protective Masks Direct
The Roadblock
Protective Masks Direct operates in a trust-sensitive category.
Following COVID, the PPE market became flooded with new entrants selling cheap or counterfeit products. These were often at the wrong protection levels, and the companies selling these products were essentially just partaking in a money grab.
While many suppliers chased short-term gains, Protective Masks Direct chose a different path.
They prioritized trust and reputation, something they knew would help their business win in the long run.
At the same time, the business needed to continue growing year over year - without compromising its reputation for quality and safety.
Mat had considered launching a mobile app for years, but the traditional way to build one was much too expensive, complex and resource-intensive.
So he had an eye on the app space, but was waiting to find the right solution to make it happen.
Why They Chose MobiLoud
MobiLoud changed the equation.
Instead of the prohibitive cost and effort that came with a custom build,, MobiLoud offered a way to:
- Launch an app quickly
- Keep costs manageable
- Avoid adding internal operational overhead
- Extend their existing ecommerce experience into a native app
As Mat explained, the difference was practical:
“Using you guys made the whole process far more user friendly. And from a cost perspective, far less prohibitive.”
What was previously an abstract idea suddenly became something that could realistically be shipped and maintained.
Launch & Early Results
Everything went according to plan - Mat was able to get an app live that did everything they needed it to, with a minimum of fuss.
“The whole process was straightforward. It was reasonably quick from the initial discussion to the first draft.”
Early signals have been positive. The app gives them a new, more direct way for customers to interact with their brand. It also reinforces Protective Masks Direct’s credibility, in a market where professionalism matters.
They’re also in the process of turning on push notifications.
For Protective Masks Direct, push notifications enable:
- Direct communication that won’t get buried in spam folders
- Timely reminders (e.g. filter replacements, reorders)
- Promotion of special offers or updates without relying on paid media
Compared to email, push notifications are seen as more immediate and more visible, especially for a business built on repeat purchasing and trust.
The Takeaway
Protective Masks Direct’s experience shows that mobile apps aren’t just about transactions. They’re also about control, trust, and long-term relationships.
By launching an app with MobiLoud, the business created a direct line to its customers, strengthened its professional image, and set the foundation for better retention. All without the cost and complexity of bespoke development.
Want to see what your ecommerce site could look like as an app?
MobiLoud helps brands like Protective Masks Direct turn their existing websites into fully featured mobile apps, without rebuilding, without added headcount, and without long-term maintenance headaches.
Get a free app preview and see how your site performs as a native mobile app. Your brand could be live, in the app stores and on your customers’ phones, in just a few weeks.
Protective Masks Direct is one of the UK's largest suppliers of FFP3 face masks for respiratory protection for asbestos work, respiratory protection against viruses and mould spores.
