BuffBloom reinvents the nail buffer, evolving the legacy of original creator

In 1973, Jack Woodiwiss left his marketing career at a grinding wheels manufacturer in Staffordshire to begin his own business: developing foam-coated abrasives. These included a sanding block, which gained traction amongst large US companies and became a staple in the home improvement and auto repair sectors.

Jack’s company, Abrapower Inc., caught the attention of Californian, George Dixon, whose wife, a nail salon owner, was using a cut up sanding block on her clients’ nails. He reached out to Jack to see if he could create a softer, more aesthetically pleasing solution. This led to the launch of the 3-way buffer.

The foam for the buffer was switched from an open cell foam (polyurethane) to a closed cell EVA foam (ethyl vinyl acetate) that is softer, and does not allow for bacteria to move through the cell structure, making it ideal for nailcare. The EVA manufacturer was headquartered in Croydon, UK, and the foam was sent to Jack in Staffordshire. The finished buffers were then shipped to George in the US, who distributed them under the Dixon brand.

EVA and Abrapower Inc. built plants in Kentucky, USA, to reduce transportation costs for the bulky foam. However, more recently, Abrapower Inc. identified that to provide buffers at competitive prices, it needed to offer a slightly smaller product with less supply chain add-on.

This led to the launch of the BuffBloom brand, directed by Jack’s grandchildren: siblings, Natasha Bowsher and Adam Tropiejko, who offer the buffers at a cost of 30% less than the previous product.

“Adam is the technical and engineering wizard, while I focus on marketing, customer service, HR and finance,” Natasha shares. “We wanted to create a brand that speaks to a new generation of nail techs: a group that is environmentally conscious and hates seeing a buffer used once and thrown away.

“BuffBloom is inspired by nature, and we worked with designer, Nina Susan, to create a brand image that feels fresh and contemporary.”

BuffBloom offers 3-way buffers that are washable, recyclable and available in a variety of colours. The best-selling buffer is the Orange & White 80/80-grit: a coarse buffer used to shape and remove bulk from acrylic and gel enhancements. The coarse-medium 80/100-grit buffer offers balanced control for shaping and refining, while 100/180-grit is ideal for natural nails.

“Users of BuffBloom products have commented that the buffers’ soft yet firm foam works fast and smooths imperfections, as an essential part of the nail prep process,” Natasha continues.

“We know that buffers have always been important for nail prep, but never been in the spotlight. Our goal with BuffBloom is to change that: to create excitement about a high-quality product that can improve nailcare results. We’re one of the legacy products in this industry, and we want to continue this.”

Looking to the future, BuffBloom is preparing to introduce pumices, toe separators and disposable buffers, including a 2-way buffer. “The nail sector is the nicest industry we’ve worked in, and we’re so excited for the future of BuffBloom,” Natasha smiles.

BuffBloom 3-way buffers are available in a variety of colours and grits, in packs of 6, 12 or 500, via www.buffbloom.com

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