Wall-Lift Inc.
“The SBDC asked me, how big do you want to go? I said that if we got to the point where we could sell two a week, that would be great. Now we’re way past that.”
Background
When contractor Mark Helmuth invented the Wall-Lift in 2005, he needed a safer and more efficient way to raise framed walls. The methods available weren’t meeting his needs, so he designed his own solution. Today, the Wall-Lift allows a single worker to hoist up to 50 feet of framed wall in seconds.
“Necessity is the mother of all inventions,” Helmuth said. “I had a need to set walls, and the methods that were out there didn’t quite meet my specs.”
In 2016, Helmuth filed for a patent and began turning his invention into a business.
Working With SBDC
Referred by his banker to the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center (SV SBDC), he worked with Allison Dugan and the team to establish Wall-Lift Inc. Through one-on-one advising, marketing assistance, and participation in the Virginia SBDC Network’s Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), Helmuth gained the tools to launch and grow the company.
“The SBDC walked me through a lot of things,” Helmuth said. “They helped me put together brochures and marketing, connected me with shipping resources, and I took many of the courses they offered.”
Nearly two decades after solving a problem on his own jobsite, Helmuth continues to innovate while staying connected with the Shenandoah Valley SBDC through workshops, webinars, and business advising.
Outcome
Since Wall-Lift’s last Virginia SBDC story in 2021, the company has continued to grow. It has now served more than 1,000 customers, completed its first sales to Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost community in the United States, and Australia, and continues expanding its reach through word-of-mouth recommendations.
“I realized my customers were selling it for me,” Helmuth said. “The first thing you hear is, ‘Man, this is the best thing I’ve ever bought.'”
To support that growth, Helmuth recently invested in new manufacturing equipment that improves production efficiency and precision while expanding the company’s social media presence. Those efforts have contributed to approximately 25% year-over-year sales growth, and one Instagram video recently surpassed 4.3 million views, generating worldwide interest.
Helmuth is also preparing to launch the Beam Lift, a new accessory designed for existing Wall-Lift users. The attachment allows contractors to safely lift heavy beams using their current Wall-Lift system. Even before its official release, Helmuth has already sold several units and plans to introduce it to past customers before expanding sales through the company’s website and social media.
With a growing customer base and new products on the horizon, Wall-Lift continues to reach new heights.
This story was originally published by the Virginia SBDC. To read the original, click here
Economic Impact
Keeping Up with Wall-Lift, Inc.
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