Straight From the [Supply] Source

The Supply Source's Michael Bannett started his business out of the trunk of his Honda Civic. That was 15 years ago. Since then, he's gone through five warehouses and two redesigns on his product labels. What's kept this former nail tech at the top of his game is his relentless insistence on testing his own products to make sure nail technicians will be happy. "I personally work in the lab and test products extensively so that I can bring to market the best products available," explains Bannett, who worked in his parents' salon [Bannett's father, Ronnie Bannett, started Nailite] before embarking on his business venture, which marks its 15th anniversary this year.

"I was doing nails as a way to make money," explains Bannett. "I liked it and my clientele grew. After being booked solid for five years, I wanted to do something else." After some serious thought, Bannett decided to develop a line of products for nail techs. "Seeing as I was familiar with products for nail techs and how they were used, I decided to put together a range of products," explains Bannett. "I located a few labs, bought some standard staple items, printed labels, and set out in the back of my car going from salon to salon." His hard work paid off soon enough. He found his niche by offering products directly to salons at wholesale prices.

The Supply Source brand now offers acrylic and nail lacquer, among other products. Coupled with Bannett's strong commitment to service, it's no wonder the Supply Source has the established network of clients he can boast about. "I think that the level of value we create for our clients has evolved over the past 15 years," says Bannett. "I am so appreciative of the clients who have been loyal to us. There are times when I answer the phone and am greeted by a client that I've had for 12 or 15 years. Being able to say that we do a good enough job to keep our clients coming back time after time is a very big accomplishment."