About Tapir

The family business Tapir started with shoe care but now the range goes beyond that. We at Valfrids have personally used their shoe products for over 15 years. We are particularly fond of the fact that they do not contain petrochemical solvents or other aggressive chemicals. We appreciate their craft-oriented and extremely quality-conscious philosophy.

Tapir has always relied on natural raw materials. Each individual ingredient, whether it’s carnauba wax for shine, lanolin for protection or nourishing beeswax, gives the products unique properties. Tapir’s extensive range covers everything you need for perfect care – of your home, your clothes and shoes, even your car or motorcycle.

In the countryside outside Hanover, they have their idyllically located production facility. Everything is done by hand.

A large number of antique recipe books have been collected at Tapir. Many of them were thought to be lost. The rediscovered recipe manuals were often more than 100 years old and turned out to be a real treasure. They teach us how nurturing products were made long ago, before the use of petrochemical raw materials. This is how people took care of their shoes, clothes and homes generations ago. A pair of shoes was carefully cared for and could last almost a lifetime. In yesterday’s care products, natural waxes, oils and solvents were the basic ingredients.

Tapir’s founder Bodo told us at Valfrids, as an example of how careful they are with their raw materials, that they tried to buy flaxseed oil in bulk on the European market. But the quality was too inconsistent. They needed to establish contact with a grower and ensure consistent quality. So an agreement was made with a local farmer, he started growing flax and Tapir promised to buy the whole harvest. This way, they could have a direct dialog with the producer and they knew what quality they were getting. The flax is organically grown, more expensive than buying it on the open market, but it ensures the quality you want.

Waxes, resins, fats, oils and solvents are used, all of which are of plant origin. High quality and natural raw materials – sourced from four continents – together form the basis of the unique recipes used in Tapir products. True to the founder’s motto: “Only the best is good enough!”

See also Tapir’s range specially developed for cars, boats and motorcycles. You can find it here.

In the picture the Tapir team. Founder Bodo fourth from the right. On the far right, Hubert, who is Valfrids ‘s instructor on how to use the products.