Living life in the fast lane

HICKORY — Sometimes Luke Walling regrets not having gone to college.

"There are so many lessons I've had to learn that could have been avoided by investing in a four-year degree," the 31-year-old entrepreneur said.

Then again, timing has played such a crucial role in the success of Walling's business ventures that it's hard for him to imagine how things could have turned out any better.

"I guess I've always found it easier to build my own path," he said.

Walling began building that path early, founding a computer business in the basement of his parents' home in 1994, the same year he graduated from Bandys High School.

Walling Data has grown into a $7 million technology company that employs 22 people and is based in an 8,000-square-foot, newly renovated building in Newton.

Walling also owns a Robinson helicopter dealership at Statesville Regional Airport, and in March he opened the Hickory Metro's first Hobby Town USA store.

Married with a 2-year-old son, Walling travels internationally on business and pilots a helicopter whenever he finds the time, which isn't very often.

"I guess I stay pretty busy," he said with a grin.

Walling likes business — and life — at a fast pace, but insists on slowing down enough to make sure things are done right.

It's part of a philosophy he said leads to success in most any enterprise.

"You've got to offer something lots of people want and have a hard time finding, and pair it with an unexpected level of support," Walling said.

"And when people give you feedback you've got to listen."

The strategy has worked well for Walling, a Boone native whose father spent his career in the Navy and whose mother is a professional artist.

Walling Data, which began assembling and servicing no-name computers, is now an internationally recognized company that solves security-related technology problems and meets a wide range of information technology needs.

The company recently moved from Claremont to Newton, and maintains a satellite office in Statesville.

Walling Data has three operating divisions:

• National security software and hardware distribution;

• Local-focused "break-fix" repair services for North Carolina customers; and

• GuaranteedIT, a virtual IT department for smaller organizations.

The distribution division represents various lines, including AVG Technologies, the world's fourth-largest provider of anti-virus software. Walling Data is AVG Technologies' highest-volume distributor in North America.

Walling Data's sales grew by 15 percent this year, which Walling said is more than respectable given the worldwide economy.

"We'd have liked to have reached $10 million, but we've done well," he said. "There is no easy money in 2009."

Opening a retail business during the worst recession since the Great Depression may seem like bad timing, but Walling has made it work.

HobbyTown USA is the largest retail hobby franchise in the world. Founded in 1980 in Nebraska, the company started franchising in 1986.

The 4,200-square-foot Hickory store specializes in hobby-grade radio-control cars, trucks, boats, helicopters and planes; trains; slot cars; games; models; rockets and kites; science and activity kits; and paints and tools.

The store has broken several franchise records since opening, and is out-performing any other newly opened HobbyTown USA store anywhere.

It has become a community gathering space for dozens of people who come to participate in free activities that include scored and timed parking lot racing, indoor micro-racing, and Warhammer, a tabletop miniature war game set in a science fantasy universe.

"The store has just become a hugely fun place to be for literally dozens of people, regularly, every day," said Walling, who includes himself in the mix.

"I opened the store for business reasons, but now I find myself here almost every evening racing cars and socializing with the eclectic group of customers we've attracted.

"The sheer amount of fun that goes on here is amazing," he said.

Walling enjoys the community aspect of HobbyTown USA so much he's hoping to establish a larger gathering space where people can explore their hobbies.

He is looking for a suitable property of 2 to 5 acres that could incorporate a radio-control airplane and car park as well as other amusements.

"That's something I definitely plan to get done in 2010," Walling said.

"It's needed around here."

Walling also plans to open a HobbyTown in the Asheville area.

Beyond that, he wants to concentrate on growing Walling Data, and to continue to concentrate on exceptional customer service.

"Customers in general don't expect a great level of service, whether you're talking about retail or the Internet," Walling said.

"We try to change that. We listen to our customers and then meet their needs. It sets us apart."

On the Web:
www.wallingdata.com