Macedon Resident, Magnatag CEO celebrates 41 years "listening to customers"

Magnatag CEO “Wally” Krapf

Early in his career, Wallace Krapf Jr. discovered he possessed a valuable talent – the ability to solve problems for other people. Since that time in January of 1967, he has used that ability to build a business that has experienced continued growth for over four decades.

As founder and CEO of Magnatag® Visible Systems, in Macedon, New York, he continues to solve problems by developing, manufacturing and distributing magnetic, dry-erase printed white board kits and tools that organize, schedule, track and display information. Today, Magnatag® sells over 2,300 different kits, averaging a new product introduction each month. Wally, as he is known, and his corporation holds more than 20 patents and over 300 trademarks.

Magnatag listens carefully to Customers, a practice started by Krapf, who is not simply satisfied with a sale—he likes to know why someone is buying a product and how they use it. “Asking questions about our products helps us,” he said. “Many ideas have come from customers.”

It's been a busy year at Magnatag®; they have been the subject of an article in the Wall Street Journal, as well as a feature on CNBC's The American Dream TV program. In October, Retired Army Major General Robert Mixon was named president of the corporation to oversee the day-to-day operations and lead the company's growth strategy.