In March, fears about COVID-19 sparked panic buying in the U.S., making hand sanitizer one of the most in-demand items across the country. As hand sanitizer (and the ingredients to make it) became increasingly hard to find, suppliers marked up the price exponentially. As a result of this, two Arizona small business leaders teamed up to tackle the problem, tapping into their resources and relationships for the greater good of the community.
Local business leaders from Tempe-based Phat Scooters® and Scottsdale-based PurMD™ – with help from their primary lender, Precedo Capital – reached out to their friends who run a small, family-owned whiskey distillery in Houston. (When COVID-19 hit, the distillery owners pivoted from their original plans to open and make whiskey and instead hired 30 furloughed bartenders to help bottle, package and distribute hand sanitizer in bulk.) The two Arizona companies purchased 60,000 gallons of liquid hand sanitizer from the Houston distillery to make it available to the public at a pre-COVID-19 price ($0.37/ounce). They also agreed to give nearly 15 percent of hand sanitizer sales to Arizona schools, disabled veterans and nonprofit organizations.
Arizona residents can purchase a gallon of hand sanitizer next week and pick it up, curbside, at one of five event locations across the state. Each gallon of hand sanitizer will cost $47 ($1 off preorders online) with a limit of four gallons per family. You can place an order ahead of time online at WeGotYouCOVID.com. If you are not able to make it to one of the event locations, and you live within a six-mile radius, you can have the hand sanitizer delivered to you. It is that simple – you will be able to drive up, place an order for hand sanitizer (or pick-up your preorder) all from the safety and comfort of your car, or have it delivered to you.
When & Where
Monday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Porch restaurant/gastropub
1128 E. Baseline Rd., Tempe, AZ 85283
Tuesday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Porch restaurant/gastropub
4017 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85018
Wednesday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phat Scooters
3220 S. Fair Lane, Suite 12, Tempe, AZ 85282
Thursday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
BASIS Charter School
9902 W. Yearling Rd, Peoria, AZ 85383
Friday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Vora Financial Group
14 E. Birch Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Week of May 11
Gallons of hand sanitizer and other supplies are delivered to the Navajo Nation
A total of $7 from each gallon of hand sanitizer sold will be donated to Houston hospitals and residents, with $2.50 for Arizona school districts, $2.50 for the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Foundation, $1 for Feeding America, and $1 to help food banks feed families across Arizona who are facing hunger during the COVID-19 crisis. The small business owners hope to raise more than $225,000 for local schools and nonprofit organizations and provide 500,000 meals for Arizonans in need.
Those looking for another way to give back can opt to purchase a gallon of hand sanitizer for the Navajo Nation, which has been struggling to combat COVID-19 due to a lack of clean, running water in many homes. After hearing about this opportunity to give back, representatives from Brophy College Preparatory reached out to WeGotYouCOVID.com to join the effort in helping the Navajo Nation obtain hand sanitizer and other supplies. Andy Ingram, Co-founder of Four Peaks Brewing Company, and Christopher Watts, CEO of Sunstate Equipment, also wanted to help, and have been collaborating with their former Brophy classmate, Tim Moran of Precedo Capital, to make a delivery to the Navajo Nation the week of May 11.
“Other companies have been profiteering from people’s fears, charging between $75 to $225 a gallon for hand sanitizer,” said Peter Johnson, CEO of Phat Scooters. “We want to do the exact opposite with these events. That is why we are selling the hand sanitizer for $47 a gallon. We are working together to get the product to people who need it, and we are offering it a reasonable price. At the same time, we are helping to support hospitals, schools, charities, veterans, and even some neighborhood restaurants.”
“It’s a remarkable thing to see all kinds of businesses and individuals band together to help our community,” said Tony Cerasani, founder of PurMD. “We believe the path to get Americans back to work is to: sanitize, protect and test.”
Since launching in summer 2017, Phat Scooters has skyrocketed in popularity in the electric scooter market both commercially and as a personal lifestyle E-Cruiser. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Phat Scooters has now expanded its product lineup to include a signature Phatty model, a Sport model, Phlex models, a commercial HD and Golf scooter, as well as a food delivery scooter. Phat Scooters has received rave reviews from PGA players, professional athletes, celebrities, and more. Whether it is to run errands, meet up with friends, or hit a few rounds of golf, everyone has a blast cruising around on their electric Phat Scooters. For more information, visit PhatScooters.com or connect with Phat Scooters on Facebook or Instagram.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., PurMD was established in 2020 by serial entrepreneur and inventor, Tony Cerasani. PurMD was developed with one mantra – to be 100% Made in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible to reduce the amounts of harmful bacteria that can cause viruses. When washing hands is not an option, using a hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol can help people to avoid getting sick and spreading bacteria. PurMD carries gel hand sanitizers with at least 75 percent alcohol, and liquid hand sanitizers with at least 80 percent alcohol. For more information, visit PurMD.com or connect with PurMD on Facebook or Instagram.
