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

healthcare
The Healthcare Talent Fix: Build Pipelines Early, Use Data, and Get the Experience Right
May 18, 2026

There’s a growing tension inside healthcare right now—between the people leaving the workforce and the patients still arriving every day. It’s a dynamic that leaders can no longer afford to ignore. The numbers make that clear: the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the U.S. could be short of as many as 86,000 physicians…

Read More
education
Just Thinking… About Federal Funds, Student Support, and the Future of Education with Eric Reaves
May 15, 2026

As conversations around the future of the U.S. Department of Education continue to intensify, educators and federal program leaders are facing mounting uncertainty about how federal funds will be managed, distributed, and regulated. At the same time, schools serving historically underserved students remain heavily reliant on programs like Title I and other federally…

Read More
trust
The Strongest Leaders Build Belief, Model Discipline and Earn Trust
May 14, 2026

Workplace leadership is under pressure: employees are continuing to disengage, and many managers are still trying to fix a trust problem with performance tactics. Gallup reported that U.S. employee engagement fell to 31% in 2024, its lowest level in a decade, and its research has found that managers account for at least 70% of…

Read More
medicine
The Art of Recovery: Where Music and Medicine Meet in Patient Care
May 14, 2026

Healthcare today can feel overwhelming—not just for patients, but for the teams caring for them. After a major illness or injury, recovery isn’t handled by one doctor alone; it often involves a whole network of specialists, from physical therapists to nurses to social workers, all trying to help someone regain their independence and quality…

Read More