Bump Stopper expansion plans only just starting
4 Nov 2021 --- “About 60% of all males of African descent suffer from pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), otherwise known as ingrown hairs,” shares Eric Brown, President of High Time Products. “Women of African descent also suffer commensurately.”
Commenting on the prevalence of this skin irritation, Brown details: “This is true for even men who opt to grow beards, who develop new skin irritation along the beard edge and from within the beard area due to bacteria.” As a result, grooming brand Bump Stopper looks to address the needs of men who fully shave, those who don’t, and those in between. Bump Stopper's product range is aimed at both men and women who suffer from shaving bumps, or PFB.
Bump Stopper uses proprietary formulations to target skin irritation and provide razor bump relief. The skin care brand’s antibacterial formula works on treating skin irritation and the often undesired appearance of PFB. “Bump Stopper improves one's appearance to look good and feel confident,” Brown shares. When making its ingredient selections, Bump Stopper chose “a combination of unique antibacterial ingredients that treat the known symptoms associated with razor bumps.”
“Bump Stopper has built a substantial brand reputation and value as the original razor bump treatment that works effectively to eliminate ingrown hairs and razor bumps in three to five days,” Brown explains.
“The brand says what it does without explanation,” says Brown, revealing what attracted High Time Products and its legacy men's grooming brand to its procurement deal with High Time Acquisitions. The latter’s internal research indicates that the brand name Bump Stopper communicates well, giving consumers a strong unaided “reason-to-believe” score. “Consumer wise, this translates into an opportunity for brand expansion,” Brown shares. “Business-wise the brand has distribution expansion opportunities.”
Describing High Time Product’s Bump Stopper line as the “leading razor bump treatment for over 35 years in the US,” Brown believes the brand is poised for greater penetration in Africa, the Caribbean, South America and Europe, through offering a complete shaving regimen.
High Time Acquisitions recognized Bump Stoppers’ business executive team for its experience as well as its respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) team. “From manufacturing to marketing, we are confident and excited about taking the business to new heights,” Brown enthuses.
Saving shavers everywhere
The acquisition is expected to positively impact the future direction and strategy of Bump Stopper. Talking about the deal, the company’s president envisages “a very bright future, to meet the unmet needs of the shave consumer and those who are looking for better results from their current shaving regime.”
“It is our vision to become the dominant manufacturer and marketer of shave, aftershave and skin solution products,” Brown relays. “It is our mission to innovate products that exceed consumer expectations by solving problems, promoting good health and building self-confidence,” Brown concludes.
Launched in 1972, Bump Stopper and its product collection was invented by H.R. Phillips after the founder saw a market need for a product that tackled ingrown hair, razor bumps and razor rash. Formulating the “first razor bump treatment,” at that time, the product was known as High Time Ingrown Hair and Razor Bump Treatment. The name of the product was later changed to the "Bump Stopper," suggested in response to what its users affectionately called it.
Credited for creating an entirely new category in global shaving retail sections, today Bump Stopper and its products are in major retailers, including Walmart, CVS, Kroger and Family Dollar.
High Time Products remains an African American-owned company led by Brown who serves as President and CEO. He has over 35 years of experience leading major hair care companies such as Pro-Line International and Johnson Products. He has undertaken successful mergers and acquisitions, corporate and entrepreneur development, and the revival legacy brands in the ethnic hair care category.
The acquisition of High Time Products by High Times Acquisitions was supported by its financial partners Southern Bancorp Bank, OCP Equity Partners, and Plus Factor Brands. Following the acquisition, the company will move its US headquarters from Reno, Nevada, to Clarksdale, Mississippi.
By Natasha Spencer Jolliffe, BPC Insights Senior Journalist