New[ research](https://www.gemconsortium.org/report/gem-20202021-global-report) shows entrepreneurship stumbled in 2020.

- 43% of people know someone who stopped a business because of the pandemic.

- Only 25% know someone who started one.

But there was also the COVID start-up. An established company forced to start again.

Pearl Chans Resparkle eco-cleaning products company was 8 years old when COVID-19 hit.

Sales initially boomed, but plastic bottles ran out nationwide.

* _In Jan and Feb we sold out all our stock within a month or so, with orders like 50 bottles of disinfectant. But then I couldnt secure additional plastic bottles. There was a huge shortage in Australia, and China wanted a 100,000 bottle commitment._

Without stock the Melbourne-based entrepreneur had come to a crossroads.

* _At the time Id just adopted a baby and I was tempted to focus on being a mum, but the fact that Im all about sustainability and want my son to have a cleaner futureI wanted to pick myself up and do Resparkle, only I didnt want to order plastic bottles._

Pearl did pick herself - and got innovating.

She asked herself, What about if theres no liquid? I can pack them in paper\! Why cant hand wash or dishwash come in a powder? The customer can add clean drinking water at the other end.

Working remotely with a chemist, Pearl developed powder concentrates that, without the liquid, could indeed be sent in paper. Water is added by the end user.

Pearls commitment was cemented when she decided to buy her own packaging machine.

*  _I wanted to maintain control because my experience with a contract manufacturer had led to some of the problems of supply._

__ But that meant selling their home.

* _"I spoke to my husband and said should we give it one last try? It was literally ride or die._

Pearl said she was wasnt just personally happy to be plastic free  she saw so much potential.

A cash injection from selling her and her husbands home gave her $250,000 to pump into the rebirthed business $including a packaging machine$. By October, they were up and running again.

*  _Right now, we are just burning cash, we are increasing revenue 20% month on month, and 75% of people are coming back for refills,_ she says happily.
  * _The most important is the repeat business  we sell a starter kit with glass bottles._
  *  _We can refill less that you can buy your supermarket brands. The response is positive  it takes up no space, and people are buying 8 months supply at once._

Pearl says Resparkles growth path right now is doubling down on the range. Theyre planning a crowd funding campaign later this month, and running a big marketing campaign \#choosebetter.

*  _It doesnt take a lot to make a big difference, it all comes down to our daily choices. This is how we address climate change._

__ Pearl says she will also tell her story to build brand love, getting people to understand how far shes come.

* _What happened in COVID-19 really drove me down to the core. I had to know my why, thats what makes you bound back. My why was becoming a mum saving the planet for the future, for my son._

COVID start-ups bring alive the saying Never waste a good crisis.

It reminds us to be bolder, braver.

Sir Richard Branson didnt make a name for himself by playing safe. Conceived in 1970, his Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in many sectors.

- They include mobile telephony, travel and transportation, financial services, leisure and entertainment, and health and wellness.

- In 2004, Sir Richard established Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group.

Dont miss a conversation with Sir Richard Branson.

AICPA & CIMA presents [_Sir Richard Branson LIVE_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/?promoCode=Blog#liveevents)  in partnership with The Growth Faculty

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