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Episode 204: Carlton Calvin – Toy Trendspotter, Co-Founder of Razor

Carlton Calvin, the President and Co-Founder of Razor, joins the show to share his journey from being intrigued by hot crazes in the toy industry to bringing Razor Scooters and other iconic toys to the US. Hear how to keep your eye out for hot trends, generate explosive demand, continue to innovate, the most bizarre products to come out of Razor, and the most impressive trick performed on a Razor Scooter. This episode covers everything from RipStiks to hoverboards. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What was it about Pogs & Slammers that caught Carlton’s attention
• How did he hear kids were starting to play with scooters
• What made Razor Scooters take off
• How did explosive demand impact how Carlton ran the business
• Does he get any sleep today
• What is a hoverboard
• The most comfortable pun
• What’s something surprising about being a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver

Connect with Carlton at Razor.com.

Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.

Show Notes

• Intro & Toys
  • [0:29] Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
  • [0:39] Connect with Carlton at Razor.com
  • [2:47] What excites Carlton about trending toys
  • [3:25] Law Firm
  • [3:54] What was it about Pogs & Slammers that caught Carlton’s attention
  • [5:10] Jurassic Park Mosquito
  • [5:20] Natural History Museum of Los Angeles (NHM)
  • [5:27] Technology (Tech)

• The Razor Story
  • [5:46] How did Carlton hear kids were starting to play with scooters
  • [5:59] Fingerboards
  • [6:11] Pop Shove-It
  • [6:21] Why thank you
  • [6:32] Tech Deck
  • [7:00] LA Times (Los Angeles Times)
  • [7:25] How did Carlton strike a deal with the manufacturer within a couple weeks
  • [7:54] What made Razor Scooters take off
  • [8:16] PR Agency (Public Relations)
  • [8:24] People Magazine, The New Yorker, Burger King
  • [8:36] Word of Mouth (WOM)
  • [8:59] Why did people gravitate to Razor Scooter Model A
  • [9:32] Silicon Valley, Dot-Com Boom
  • [9:52] Yo-Yo
  • [10:01] Advertising
  • [10:23] Cool Yogas, dude
  • [10:42] How early on in distributing to the US did Carlton realize the explosive demand
  • [11:06] How did explosive demand impact how he ran the business
  • [11:22] Does he get any sleep today
  • [11:39] Model A
  • [11:47] Check out Razor.com
  • [12:04] How does Carlton approach offering new products for Razor
  • [12:48] RipStik
  • [13:10] Mini Motorcycle, Electric Motorcycle
  • [13:26] Electric Scooter
  • [14:02] Bird, Lime
  • [14:24] Hoverboard
  • [14:43] Patent
  • [14:48] What is a hoverboard
  • [15:02] Hovertrax
  • [15:23] That’s it
  • [15:51] How does Carlton educate himself and team on electric vehicles and toys
  • [16:29] Customer Service
  • [16:53] How do you grow a business and continue to innovate over the years
  • [17:05] Finances
  • [18:17] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool. Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com (bottom of the page)

• Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [19:18] Turbo Jetts
  • [19:28] Heelys
  • [19:41] Spark Scooter
  • [19:56] Sound Chairs
  • [20:33] Such a comfortable pun
  • [20:43] Nancy Cartwright – Wild Business Growth Podcast #180: The Voice of Bart Simpson
  • [20:53] My Life As A Ten Year-Old Boy by Nancy Cartwright
  • [21:09] What’s the most impressive trick performed on a Razor Scooter
  • [21:42] What’s something surprising about being a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver
  • [22:27] What’s the quickest Carlton’s ever solved a Rubik’s Cube
  • [23:43] Thanks again!
  • [24:23] Connect with Carlton at Razor.com
  • [25:04] What are Carlton’s Final Thoughts
  • [25:14] Spidey Sense
  • [25:39] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify if you’re feeling super nice
  • [25:58] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on GoodPods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
  • [26:01] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
  • [26:03] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
  • [26:09] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com (bottom of the page)
  • Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo

What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?

Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.

How do you start a podcast?

Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at max@maxpodcasting.com to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.

Thanks for listening to Carlton Calvin on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And see who can scoot for the longest time without stopping. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!