Having experienced first-hand the challenges of living through a global pandemic with a disability, Aussie entrepreneur Shane Hryhorec made a quick business pivot in a bid to address an under-serviced need and help support his community.

Hryhorec, who runs disability equipment provider Push Mobility, launched a new range of hand sanitiser and wheel spray designed to provide a protective layer against germs.

Hryhorec launched his Wheely Hand and Wheely Surface products in the space of just four weeks, and sold “thousands” of units in the first week alone.

Sourced from New Zealand manufacturer Zoono, the products have been proven to protect against some coronavirus strains. According to Zoono, they can protect hands for up to 24 hours, and help keep surfaces clean for up to 30 days.

A wheelchair user himself since 2007, Hryhorec founded Push Mobility to offer people with disabilities better quality equipment with more attractive designs and better functionality.

“My first wheelchair was horrid,” he tells SmartCompany.

“I was surprised that companies were providing equipment of the standard they were in 2007.”

The business now has two warehouses, one in Melbourne and one in Queensland, and has expanded into different types of wheelchairs, as well as sporting equipment and consumables.

Hryhorec has also been involved in beach access projects, helping make the Aussie outdoors more accessible to people with disabilities.

Revenue has “grown year-on-year consistently for the last seven years”, Hryhorec says.

“We’ve managed to do quite well in the business over the years,” he adds.

“We haven’t relied on one sector or one income stream.”

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