Enfusia owner Debra Myers said the shift occurred in early March, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came out with a waiver that allowed businesses to begin manufacturing hand sanitizer, as it is considered an over-the-counter drug.
"We can't keep up with it because the demand is so great," Myers said. "It feels gratifying for us because we feel like we're part of the solution event though it's been difficult for us to maintain our raw supplies."
Due to increasing demand, Myers said the company will be adding hand sanitizer to its product line once coronavirus restrictions lift, as she said she believes there will still be demand for the product for the following 12-18 months.
Enfusia has been sending sanitizer throughout Texas and neighboring states to businesses, such as H-E-B, Whole Foods and Central Market, to help them keep product on the shelves.
Myers said her business has had to use a variety of sizes and bottles in order to keep up with demand.
"Today is 32-ounce [bottles] and gallons; tomorrow will be something else," she said. "It just depends on what is coming in and what we can get out the door. Every customer that gets our product wants to place another order."
While other businesses have had to cut staff and hours due to coronavirus announcements, Myers said only been three of her staff—all over age 60—have elected to stay home during this time.
"All of our part-time people are now full-time," Myers said. "We were able to keep everyone on."
Looking to the future, Myers said she believes products such as hand sanitizer will never be consumed the same way again, and the demand will still be there.
"You may have had a bottle that you had in your car for two years," she said. "Now, you're going to find you're going through more and more. ... Anytime we touch anything, we are sanitizing. As the state, country and world open and get back to [business], I think the strain on hand sanitizer is still going to be very prevalent."
