Purell awash in sales
Illnesses, fears increase demand
By Mary Ethridge
Beacon Journal business writer
The threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome, along with fears of terrorism and the war in Iraq, has caused sales to surge at GOJO, the Akron-based company that makes hand sanitizing liquid for medical and consumer use.
There's no evidence GOJO's Purell kills the SARS virus, but there's no evidence it doesn't. There's just not enough of the virus in existence now to allow for widespread testing.
Nevertheless, worldwide fears of SARS and other new viruses such as the Norwalk and West Nile viruses, led the Centers for Disease Control to issue a plea for more hand washing by health care workers in particular and everyone in general.
Doctors may have to wash their hands 30 to 40 times a day with soap and water to stay safely germ free.
Health care workers use hand sanitizers, such as Purell, when using soap and water isn't feasible or desirable.
Sales of Purell Instant Hand Sanitizers have increased ``significantly'' across the world, said Sandor Katz, spokesman for GOJO. But sales have been particularly strong in Asia, Canada and the United States -- areas where SARS has been reported.
There have have been 100 cases in the United States, including six in Ohio.
As a private company, GOJO is not required to release financial figures and declined to do so for this story.
However, production at the company's main plant in Cuyahoga Falls is at full steam, said Katz, spokesman for GOJO.
``Our people know this is a critical time for everyone. This is a frightening time for many people, so if we can provide reassurance (of safety), we're glad. That's our message,'' said Katz.
Sales for Purell began to lift in late 2001 as Americans were warned about germ warfare and terrorism in the wake of the attacks on Sept. 11 and subsequent anthrax scares.
Business continued to grow last year along with concerns about the West Nile Virus and war with Iraq, Katz said.
The product was given a boost when Americans were advised by experts that hand sanitizers should be on every shopping list when equipping a family to survive a high terrorism alert or attack.
When America declared war in March, sales got another boost.
GOJO, which began selling Purell in the consumer retail market in 1996, has had contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense for years. For the past several years, it has donated 1 oz. bottles of Purell to deploying troops through the American Red Cross, according to Summit County Chapter Spokesman Jackie Zavodney.
Purell, which does not require soap or water, is said to kill 99.9 percent of the germs that make people sick.
One of GOJO's biggest competitors is Steris Inc. of Mentor, which specializes in high-tech sterilization equipment.
Steris spokesman Kevin Marsh said most companies order months in advance. Growth is gradual in times like these, he said.
The defense department orders equipment such as surgical boards and tables from Steris far ahead of time.
Steris does have an alcohol-based hand sanitizer called Cal-Stat, but it is mainly marketed to health care workers and not the general public.
``We certainly stand ready if our government and people need us'' said Marsh. ``Sterilization and decontamination is at the heart of our business.''