JUNK Brands Acquires Building, Continues Rapid Growth Path

Bentonville company JUNK Brands is expanding its corporate office, and adding a retail space.

Store owner and founder Kourtney Barrett recently paid $650,000 for an empty, 16,000-SF warehouse at 1004 N.W. 11th St. in Bentonville. The property is adjacent to the company’s existing office at 1006 N.W. 11th St., just off North Walton Boulevard.

JUNK Brands was launched in mid-2012. Barrett said the company, which designs and manufactures high-performance headbands, ear warmers and other fitness gear, is growing rapidly and needs the space.

“After remodeling the building we plan to expand our corporate offices, double our manufacturing, add new technologies to our processes and open up a retail space,” she explained.

Barrett said she hopes to move into the new building by Jan. 1. She made the acquisition through her JUNK Brands Real Estate LLC.

The Peck Family Trust, led by Gregory R. Peck, was the seller.

Barrett called the North Walton Boulevard corridor a “safe investment” for growth. She said JUNK Brands has about 35 employees — a mixture of full-time and contract workers — but said that number could approach 50 by year’s end and 70 by April 2015.

Junk Brands’ sales should pass $1 million in 2014, Barrett said. The company has partnerships with Reebok and CrossFit Inc. and new product lines are currently being tested with other national retailers.

“If you watched the CrossFit Games on ESPN, any of the headbands you saw were probably ours,” Barrett said. “That’s given us some credibility and allowed other large retailers to give us a try. Once we’re there, it’s easy after that.”