Business has certainly grown for Martha Tsamis since April when Neos Kosmos reported on how the nightclub owner faced with the closure of her Melbourne night clubs found a way for her family and close friends to survive by supplying masks and hygiene packs to counter the shortages of those products when COVID-19 first made its presence felt in our lives.
Since then Martha has remained on the same track but has diversified to partnering with a company, rolling out hand-sanitiser stations that have been taken up nationwide by leading retailers such as Woolworths, Dan Murphys, Big W, Bendigo Bank and Ikea. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan was at the unveiling of the product in his state.
“We have been at it since April. These stations have been rolled out rolled out in a big way and now it has gone crazy,” said Ms Tsamis. “Just to give you an idea, Woolworths alone has bought 1,181 units alone.
“I knew when things opened up with the lifting of social-distancing restrictions there would be a need for hand-sanitisers. So I looked around for something local. Most of the products come from China. I found what I wanted from a Sydney operator, and is made with Australian materials and labour,” she said.
The company, Sanitation Station, produces a steel stand that is contact free and includes a five-litre bottle that dispenses 10,000 sprays, a UV light to also kill germs. The unit consists of hidden shelving for bottles and cloths for cleaning. A smaller unit dispenses one litre or 1000 sprays which is aimed for smaller businesses.
READ MORE: Covid-19 flip from running night clubs to delivering much needed medical gear
“We partnered with St John Ambulance Australia as their sanitiser formula is brilliant. It is made in Australia and uses 80 percent proof bio ethanol made from sugar. It has a very good moisturiser in it.
“When you buy a sanitiser 10 percent goes back to St John Ambulance,” she said.
“This has been a journey with other Australian players and I am passionate about it,” she said adding that her family were very involved in the process. Her sister in law , Gina Tsamis,who has a scientific background oversees the project to ensure it meets all the requirements.
Ms Tsamis post-COVID-19 venture began with supplying masks at a time when they were disappearing from shelves faster than they could be replaced.
The problem with the disposable masks has been where and how to dispose of them properly without damaging the environment – a problem that has been apparent in may countries around the world.
Her solution has been to focus on producing washable, reusable masks that do not impact on the environment.
“We are making reusable decorated masks so that we do not put an added burden on landfills. We will be putting out a campaign with St John Ambulance on to how to dispose of masks properly she said.
♦ For more information visit the HandSanitiserStations site. For the masks visit the Chasers Wine and Supply site. Call 0425 848 179.
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