In Little River, SC, a woman-owned fabrication business is flourishing despite a volatile economy and on the heels of a global pandemic thanks to a game-changing partnership with Dominion Energy. bFIVE40 is a custom manufacturer and fabricator whose small team produces custom apparel, event signage, and a variety of other products.

When Donna Brin, President and CEO of bFIVE40, heard that Dominion Energy needed branded face coverings, she presented them with an idea that led to an impactful partnership.

Dominion Energy placed an order for 60,000 branded face masks and 30,000 neck gators for employees. These items allowed workers to remain safe while continuing operations across the company’s footprint. The magnitude of the order was far beyond anything Brin and her team had fulfilled, presenting an exciting opportunity for growth.

“Sewing is a lost art – it's really hard to find anyone these days with it,” said Brin. “Through the Dominion Energy contract, we were able to hire and train more people.”

To help fill their sewing needs, bFIVE40 created an apprenticeship program in conjunction with local schools to teach aspiring tailors how to sew. They also partnered with the Vocational Rehab of Conway to employ people with disabilities, upskilling the community and closing the skills gap.

The benefits from the project have continued to help grow and support their business. “You need to be innovative to be successful,” said Brin. “The contract has allowed us to be innovative as a company and being able to stay competitive is everything.”

“We’ve been able to start apprenticeships, buy new equipment, create jobs, upskill workers and if you look at that all of those pieces together, it began with Dominion Energy,” said Brin. “We're so excited to continue to do business with them.”

Workday images from bFIVE40

Brin's commitment to her community extends beyond its people, as she strives to make the environment better for future generations. For event and promotional products, bFIVE40 uses fabrics derived from plastic bottles and source raw material to reduce their carbon footprint. Through their partnership with Unifi, the world's leading recycled fiber provider, they receive sustainable certified reporting. bFIVE40 is driven by keeping the environment clean and being able to incorporate that into the products they produce demonstrates an amazing commitment to sustainability.

bFIVE40 is revolutionizing the status quo, transforming their business and the lives of their neighbors in the process. Dominion Energy is proud to work with diverse suppliers like bFIVE40 with similar values and goals.