As 2024 came to a close, the Walker Glass Sales and Marketing team gathered to reflect on a year defined by resilience, growth, and innovation. From strategic partnerships to advancements in sustainability, the past year has set the stage for a promising 2025. Here are some highlights from their experiences and a glimpse into their aspirations for the future.
2024 Highlights
Walker Glass began 2024 with a bang, announcing its purchase of Gardner Glass through its majority shareholder, Ironbridge Equity Partners. This strategic decision marked a significant milestone for both Walker and Gardner, enabling both companies to build off each other’s strengths and drive long-term strategic growth.
The addition of Bobby Chestnut to the roster of Sales Representatives in June brought fresh energy and expertise. Later in the year, Walker’s online customer portal, WeConnect, was introduced and celebrated as a game-changer. The Customer Service team received well-deserved praise for creating a platform that simplifies customer interactions and improves service quality.
New Experiences and Challenges
The team’s reflections revealed the varied learning curves they tackled in 2024. Customer Service and Sales team members expanded their expertise by stepping into new territories, meeting market challenges, and gaining valuable insights into customer preferences across regions. The Marketing team dove deep into the complexities of sustainability, transforming their understanding of transparency, carbon footprints, and other key concepts through extensive research and dialogue with industry experts.
“What’s been a challenge for me, hands down, is everything. I started with Walker Glass in June of 2024, so I have about six months of experience with the business. The challenge is, for sure, learning the products, but more so learning the customers and their needs.”
“After talking to experts and architects, surveying architectural firms, and a lot of reading, I can honestly say that my understanding of sustainability concepts like transparency, carbon, human rights, and chemical content is completely different from what it was twelve months ago.”
Our Takeaways from 2024
Team members took pride in several accomplishments from the past year. The Customer Service team highlighted reduced lead times, thanks to seamless cross-team collaboration and a shared dedication to serving clients more efficiently. Additionally, the launch of the WeConnect portal received overwhelmingly positive feedback for its customer-friendly interface and ease of use, solidifying Walker’s reputation for innovation and exemplary service.
“I’m very proud of Walker for the work it put into our customer portal, WeConnect. We’ve been hearing great things from our customers about how easy it is to use, and how customer friendly it is. They’re just so happy.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
The team expressed excitement about what’s to come, whether that was the thrill of growth and tackling challenges with innovative approaches, or the excitement of collaborating with new industry partners. As Walker celebrates over 80 years in business, we are poised to build on its legacy of excellence and innovation.
“I am tremendously proud of our team for holding our own and forging ahead in 2024, and I can’t wait for 2025! The consensus is that market conditions will improve over the year, and I believe that. Here at Walker, our plans haven’t changed – onward and upward!”
“I think 2025 will be a year of collaboration for Walker. We’ve been around for over 80 years, and I don’t think there’s ever been a time when we’ve had more partnerships, more consolidation opportunities, or more new products that we’re putting out into the market.”