A Global Focus on Sanitization Was a Sales Boom for Disinfectant Companies

 

Key Points:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic proved to disinfectant companies that their traditional markets still had plenty of room for new business and innovative product development.
  • Though fitness centers were one of their core markets, 2XL was able to reach clients from schools to healthcare facilities during the pandemic.
  • 2XL had so many orders that it overwhelmed their production, which forced them to find new supply partners.

Commentary:

Gyms across the country in 2020 faced shutdowns and reopening regulations, forcing them to rethink how fitness centers should operate and keep patrons safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the core strategies was, of course, an increased emphasis on sanitization techniques and quality disinfectants. Although this was already an important step in gym upkeep, facilities that got a head start to reopening had to be extra tedious with sanitization to avoid becoming a super-spreader location, which meant investments in new products and new technologies from UV-C robotics to airborne disinfectant tech.

What impact did this mass investment in gym sanitization equipment have on the disinfectants market? MarketScale spoke with David O’Rourke, Director of Sales for 2XL, a disinfectant company, at IRHSA 2021 on how this push for extra sanitization helped his business, as well as on how the increased demand for sanitization products introduced 2XL to clients outside the fitness community.

Abridged Thoughts:

More orders than we could even possibly fulfill overwhelmed our production and had to be able to find new partners to source with. But it’s been something that really showed us the importance of what we’re doing on a day to day basis, having a product that people need. It’s been I got stressful at times, fulfilling orders and making sure we can get that out. We had we let down some people, but we also really, I don’t want to say we saved lives because that seems a little hyperbole. But we did a good job in terms of taking care of people that were really thankful. So that was a good feeling for us, but also a very stressful time. In order to meet that demand to Excel had to stay in constant communication with customers frequently updating them on their supply.

More Stories From IHRSA 2021:

Putting the Member First: Devising New Strategies for Health Clubs to Thrive

Trade Shows Are Back, and That Means Quality Connections for Fitness Vendors

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

farm
The Business Case for AgTech: Better Data Is Key to Managing Risk on the Farm
April 23, 2026

Farming is under more pressure than it’s been in years. Costs are rising, prices are unpredictable, and every decision carries more weight than it used to. What many still think of as a traditional industry is quietly evolving, with more farmers turning to digital tools to manage risk and stay competitive. It’s not about chasing…

Read More
pre-clinical
From Classroom to Clinic: Pre-Clinical Talent Steps Into Healthcare’s Hard-to-Fill Roles
April 23, 2026

Healthcare systems are facing a workforce crisis that’s no longer temporary—it’s structural. Even before COVID-19, staffing shortages across nursing, technical, and administrative roles were already straining capacity; today, those gaps are wider, costlier, and directly impacting patient access. With labor shortages persisting and burnout rising, health systems are being forced to rethink not just…

Read More
learning
If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook
April 21, 2026

The ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus…

Read More
skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

Read More