CosmoBiz Magazine June 2017 | страница 45

Walker Tape Founder, Brent Bonham industry so much that five years later, they were fea- tured in 3M’s business magazine for their success. To this day, Brent Bonham is still at work everyday, creating and working on his machines. His passion for machines constantly drives him to create bigger and better tools for the company. This dedication and commitment is part of what propelled the company to greatness early on. Despite the fact that there was little distribution for tape products, his previous experience in the industry gave him a leg up. Being able to find companies and individuals willing to take a risk with his line was much easier given his already stellar rep- utation. “People who knew my dad knew how honest, loyal, and hardworking he was. They trusted him and were willing to take a chance and buy product. One thing we’ve always tried to push is that we have a really clean, superior product, competitive pricing, and really good customer service,” Diane noted. Adding that it’s very important to them to work with their customers, they often develop new products based on request and will even help buyers create their own label. Building a Brand Since their launch with their first tape the Walker Tape brand has grown to include dozens of amazing products. With wide varieties of tape, removers, and care products all suited for those with hair replacement systems like wigs, fillers, toupees, and even extensions. “A lot of our products have been from people asking for things,” explained Diane, “We would find out what the market needed then go out and get those tapes. We’ve grown so much now that we actually formulate some of our own tapes. We’ve created one product, DuoPro, where one side is more aggressive to go onto the base and the other is less so for hair extensions. That way it goes on strong to the hair extension, but you know it’s going to remove a little easier and cleaner.” “Once lace units came out, we needed a new tape specifically for them. With lace units you can see clear into the scalp so you really need a tape that’s matte. Our lace tape is the dullest on the market. You can see through the unit and right to the scalp without seeing any shine. If we see a need, we go to our tape represen- tatives and tell them what it is we’re trying to resolve and then we work with them to formulate a tape if it’s not something we can do.” As the industry develops, the adhesive market must develop in tandem. After the invention of lace fronts, the next big thing for Walker Tape was tape in exten- sions. This constant evolution is one of the things that’s so hard about this industry from a producer’s viewpoint. Not only is the market always changing, but every cli- ent is so different. Their needs are different, so Walker Tape offers a wide variety of products. “We kept running into situations where something 45