Ben and Julie Berry's family business landed the May 2026 cover story — "When Little Things Become Big Things" 

It started with a staple gun, a turkey target, and a whole lot of frustration in a backyard in Maine. 

This May, it landed on the cover of one of the archery industry's most respected trade publications for nearly 30 years.

TargetTack, the veteran-owned, family-operated small business in Maine founded by Ben and Julie Berry, is the subject of the May 2026 cover story in InsideArchery, titled "When Little Things Become Big Things." The feature traces the company's path from a single idea to a nationally recognized brand, now expanding worldwide in serving archery ranges, firearms ranges, clubs, training facilities, and families across the country. 

For Ben and Julie, the cover is less a finish line than a heartfelt thank-you message. 

"We've been blessed," Ben said. "Getting to do this with our large family across the country — and getting to work with people who care as much about this industry and its customers, as we do — that's the part we don't take for granted." 

It Started in the Backyard 

The origin story in the article is one TargetTack customers know well.

Ben was trying to hang a turkey target on a bag target in his own backyard, using the same thing most people reach for: a staple gun or an unreliable target pin. The arrows kept pulling the staples out, and the target face didn't stay secure. He'd grab the staple gun, walk out, and reset the whole thing again.  Ben struggled with hanging up paper targets to various archery and firearm backstops for years, just like millions of target shooters have for decades, and it was time for something new. 

Julie had a suggestion. 

"Ben's an entrepreneur by nature," she said. "He's always been an inventor, and he's always wanted to fix problems." So she told him (partly tongue in cheek) to go invent something better. 

He did. 

What came out of that was the patent-pending TargetTack: a reusable, serrated target-retention fastener that holds paper faces securely to a wide variety of targets and backstops. Julie contributed to the original concept that became the serrated edge. Their son-in-law, a science-backed engineer, helped with the ergonomic head, shaft, and material choices. Ben added the eyelet as a multipurpose feature, so the head could hang or hold things, too. 

That same thinking led to VersaTack™, a patent-pending push-in fastener that makes hanging acoustical foam and panels faster and simpler. It's in field trials now, with pre-orders opening ahead of the first limited US manufacturing run. Subscribe for updates on VersaTack and all TargetTack news. 

Built in America, on Purpose 

TargetTack products are made in the USA, and the Berrys have been committed to domestic production from the start. The company worked with STEAMfruit, an industrial design and 3D printing firm in Biddeford, Maine, to bring the first product to life, and its fasteners are molded from American-sourced, medical-grade polycarbonate with a UV inhibitor. The gamified paper target line is manufactured in New Hampshire with humidity-resistant paper material. 

"We believe in things being American made," Ben said. "It's not just about us. It's about the community we live in, the whole shooting sports industry and the millions of families who make our country great." 

Julie put it plainly: the goal is to bring productization, skilled working jobs, and manufacturing capability back to Maine and back to this country in general. 

Those standards trace back to service. Ben enlisted in the Army at 19 and continued to serve as an officer. Julie spent her career in information technology, including work supporting the defense industry. Military service runs through both sides of their family. 

"Anything that was put into our hands or carried in our packs in the military had to earn its place, be reliable and work every time under extreme conditions," Ben said. "I have that same mentality about anything we do here. We don't cut corners." 

Making the Range a Place for Families 

The part of the story Ben and Julie are most passionate about isn't the product. It's who gets to use it and how they support families who want to enjoy family shooting sports. 

TargetTack has become a bronze-level sponsor of Scholastic 3D Archery, supplying targets and fasteners for youth events, and equipped with every competitive bale at the inaugural S3DA Open.

"The product was intuitive and noticeably easier for athletes to use compared to traditional methods," said Cody Kirby, S3DA Executive Director. "The feedback from both athletes and coaches was overwhelmingly positive." 

S3DA works to make shooting sports accessible and affordable through their partnerships and relationships in the community. At TargetTack, affordability drives product decisions, too. The Berrys have kept overhead low — the business started out of their barn and still runs from a space in their basement — specifically so retailers can earn fair margins and families can afford to get on the range. 

"We're putting good products in good people's hands to let them have some fun, while training with purpose," Julie said. "I think we're doing a good thing here." 

Grateful, and Just Getting Started 

The Berrys are still TargetTack's only official employees. Everything else runs on family, friends, and business partners who believed in a small idea early. 

Ben's reaction to the cover is about the same as his reaction to everything else that's happened over the last few years. 

"If you had asked me that day a few years ago if I could believe putting up an archery target with a staple gun would have caused all of this to happen, I would have said you're bonkers." 

To every range, retailer, coach, club, archer, instructor and family who's been part of the journey: thank you. TargetTack is proud to be a veteran-owned, family-owned American business — and the Berrys have no plans to slow down. 

Read the full cover story in the May 2026 issue of InsideArchery. 

About TargetTack 

TargetTack is a veteran-owned, family-owned and operated American company creating practical, USA-made products for archery ranges, firearms ranges, training facilities, and shooting sports families across the country. Built around family values, service, and hands-on problem solving, TargetTack helps ranges and communities create better, cleaner, and more engaging training, hunting and range-day experiences — from your DIY backyard setup to youth archery programs to professional training and competition environments. 

Learn more: targettack.com Contact: info@targettack.com | (833) 822-5748 Follow: Instagram @targettack.llc | Facebook TargetPracticeMadeEasy | YouTube @targettack234