I'm excited to share the final part of my series. Today, I am going to share how I landed a licensing deal with major toy company, Wham-O! To read the rest of the series see below this post for more.
Immediately following the airing of Shark Tank, Locker Board grew over 300%. It was incredible, but also a lot to handle. My parents had to get more involved to help me, especially my Mom (it became a fulltime job for her). I was homeschooled so I could work on my company.
Retailers and people all over the world started contacting us. Major TV Networks, YouTube Channels, and news outlets wanted to interview me (the year after Shark Tank aired I appeared in over 50 articles/shows/speaking engagements).
We had to find the right manufactures to take over production of Locker Boards and figure out fulfillment, marketing and website platforms. My Mom and I flew all over the country for interviews and public speaking events. This affected my whole family. It was a lot of hard work and, at times, difficult to manage.
I was 11 years old when I filmed Shark Tank and 12 years old when it aired. I was homeschooled 7th thru 8th grade as we figured things out. I'm social and did NOT like being homeschooled.
As high school was approaching, I told my parents I wanted to go back to school. I didn't want to miss out on my high school experience, but I also didn't want to let go of Locker Board. I talked to Sir Richard and the Virgin Group about it and we set a goal:
To find a partner that could take Locker Board to the next level while I focused on school. That partner would take over manufacturing, selling and the day to day operations while I managed my social media and remained the face of the company.
I've always loved the Wham-O brand. I grew up playing with all of their toys (Frisbee, Slip-N-Slide, Hula Hoop, Boogie Boards and more). I decided to reach out to them and sent an email to Todd Richards, the president of Wham-O.
One of the most important things I've learned from my parents is the 50/50 rule. When you put yourself out there and approach someone for help, you have a 50/50 shot. The very worst thing that could happen is hearing the word "no"...and what if they say "yes". It's worth the risk.
It turns out Todd knew who I was. He had been following my story. His son is a teacher and had been one of my homeschool teachers in 7th grade and they had talked about me (I had no clue that my teacher was related to Todd). He invited me to their corporate headquarters, which was only an hour away from our home, and (get this) in the city of CARSON (how ironic is that)!
I'll never forget pulling up to the Wham-O HQ building. It's massive. We didn't realize they also own another one of my favorite brands, Body Glove. I was awestruck when they showed us around. When I met Todd and his team in their boardroom that day, I knew I wanted to work with them. They were so fun, excited about Locker Board and we totally got each other.
The team had to run it by their owner, Joseph Lin. I came back to meet him. I was really nervous because he's a super important guy. We hit it off immediately. My Mom and Dad came with me. When we left, I told my parents that I wanted to do a deal with Wham-O.
It took a year of negotiation and in February of 2020 we officially became partners. A month after we announced the deal on ABC's hit show, 2020, the pandemic hit, and I wound up having to be homeschooled anyways (fortunately this month school started up again and I'm back 4 days a week).
It's been a crazy, tough year, but we have made it through and are praying this is going to end soon throughout the world. I hope you and your family are well and staying positive.
Throughout the pandemic, the Wham-O team has continued to work hard on Locker Board and just launched their Wham-O Wheelz Locker Board Series which are now available at Big 5, Dick's Sporting Goods and on Amazon. It's an exciting time and I still can't believe that Locker Board is part of the iconic brand's line up of toys.
I'm grateful to Joseph, Todd and the Wham-O team for all they have done to make this happen (and in the middle of a pandemic) and sending the team positive vibes that they land Locker Board in major retailers: Costco, Target and Walmart!
God continues to put the right people in my life, at the right time. That doesn't mean there aren't hurdles. A lot of things along the way have been discouraging and difficult. I've learned that when I'm clear about my goals, work hard and I'm patient...amazing things can happen.
I hope you have enjoyed learning more details about my journey through this 6 part series. My family and I felt it was important to share this aspect of my story. God can make amazing things happen if you are willing to trust Him and His timing and you never give up. If I can do it, you can do it.
Shred Hard. Dream Hard. Work Hard.
Carson
Above: Taken after my first meeting at Wham-O in 2019 with Todd Richards (President of Wham-O), Carson Kropfl (Founder of Locker Board) and David Huang (Head of Design and Product Development at Wham-O)
Below: Taken in 2020 at Wham-O HQ holding Wham-O Wheelz Locker Board (Grom Series) in front of a Locker Board retail display.
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My Mom and I have been going back in time and talking about the events that lead me to Shark Tank. It's crazy. When you look back, you can totally see the people who entered my life, and the events that occurred at the perfect moment to push me along this journey. Last week, I explained how I developed my prototypes. This week I'm going to explain how I launched my company.
After working on my prototypes for a few weeks, I came up with my first Locker Board. I was stoked about it and wanted to launch it on Instagram. My parents took me to my middle school, Shorecliffs, one weekend and we filmed a video on my iphone. I posted the video on my new, Locker Board Instagram and overnight had over 500 views.
I rode my Locker Board skateboard to school that next week, put it in my backpack and locker, and showed my friends. All of my buddies wanted one.
At about the same time, my parents told me that they were over paying for all of my surf lessons and contests. My Mom came up with a list of chores (mostly involved cleaning) I could do to earn money to pay for my surf stuff on my own. I HATE to clean so I asked my parents if I could try selling Locker Boards to earn money instead.
I told my parents that the skate shop in town, Republik of Kaliforia, had all of these used decks. When kids buy new decks, they leave their old ones behind and the store's owner, Greg, recycles them.
My Dad took me to Republik. I showed Greg what I was doing and asked if I could have some of the used decks. He gave me about 30 used decks! I brought them home and started making Locker Board decks for my friends. I would bring 5 at a time in my backpack to school and sell them during lunch for $20 each.
Of course, some of the parents started complaining to the school about what I was doing. But, I had the raddest principal, Dr. Baker. He totally had my back. He made an announcement at school and said it was ok to buy and have Locker Boards at school as long as you didn't ride on campus and kept them in your backpack or locker. He could have totally ixnayed it, but instead he stood up for me.
He made sure that the Capo Unified School District was aware of what I was doing and included a story about me and my new business in an email newsletter that was sent to all of the parents in the school district. He then allowed me to set up a collection area in the office where kids could donate their old decks to me. I was selling so many Locker Boards that I was having a hard time finding enough used decks to make them from.
Dr. Baker encouraged and supported me. If he had put a stop to what I was doing, I would have been discouraged and who knows if I would have kept it going. How he handled the situation gave me confidence and encouraged me.
God has always and continues to put the right people in my life at the right time to help me during this journey. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Baker, Greg at Republik and my friends who have and continue to support me.
Below is my first video I posted on Instagram, a picture with Dr. Baker and a picture with my first customers.
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Last week I shared how I met Max Swedlow, one of the Executive Producers of Shark Tank, in an elevator in "Part 1" of a 6 part series I'm writing on "How God Put the Right People in My Life at the Right Time". This week, I'm sharing about the man who gave me the skate deck I used to create my first prototype for Locker Board.
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I receive emails, instant messages and interview requests from all over the world. The top three questions people ask me: how did I get on Shark Tank, land Sir Richard Branson as a business partner and get a licensing deal with major toy company, Wham-O It was hard work and my parents helped me figure things out. However, the fact of the matter is, God put the right people in my life at the right time. This is a 6 part holiday series telling my story. Everything that has happened to me has been a total blessing. God has put specific people in my life to help me. When I was 7 years old, my parents helped me create my first product, Streetubez (a kid friendly version of tarp surfing where riders get to experience surfing and getting tubed right in their own front yards, so kids can surf anywhere...anytime!). I loved Shark Tank, so I jumped into action and told him about Streetubez. I grabbed my Mom’s phone and showed him pictures we had just taken at a lake with me and my friend Sierra playing with it. I literally gave him an elevator pitch. At the time, we only had one prototype and hadn't sold anything. Max loved the idea, but he said I wasn't ready for Shark Tank. He gave me his business card and said to keep in touch. It turns out his name was Max Swedlow and he was one of the Executive Producers of Shark Tank!
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One of the show’s youngest entrepreneurs pitches idea for compact skateboard and lands investment of a lifetime from Virgin mogul Richard Branson
San Clemente, Calif. (October 1, 2017)—At age 11, Locker Board founder Carson Kropfl faced the “Sharks” in the season 9 premiere of ABC’s hit business reality show Shark Tank and struck a deal for his innovative skateboard company. The show’s celebrity investors heard the young entrepreneur’s pitch and fought to partner with Locker Board, the first non-folding, compact and sustainable skateboard designed to fit in a locker or backpack.
Now 12 years old, Locker Board founder Carson Kropfl of Orange County, California, impressed the group of “Sharks” with a skate demonstration on his portable skateboard alongside his skater friend Sierra Downer. Carson, who was joined by his mother Carrie Kropfl during his pitch, went in asking for $60,000 for 15 percent equity, and ended up accepting $65,000 for a 20 percent stake. Sir Richard Branson, business magnate, investor, philanthropist and founder of the Virgin Group, outbid Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, as well as Robert Herjavec, tech entrepreneur and investor, for the opportunity to invest in Locker Board. Branson told Carson that the reason he invested in the 7th grader was because he reminded him of himself.
“Having started a business at a very young age myself, I was excited to see Carson walk through the Shark Tank doors and pitch his business,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group. “Carson’s passion for Locker Board was clear from the start, and I especially love that he is recycling old skateboards and refurbishing them to solve the problem of not being able to fit their boards into their lockers. I look forward to watching Carson and Locker Board continue to ‘shred hard and dream hard!’”
Locker Board’s sustainability-driven business model emphasizes upcycling and reuse of old boards, effectively reducing the volume of manufactured waste destined for local landfills. Locker Board’s unique 17-inch boards are refinished top to bottom from recycled decks donated through the company’s local skate shop retailer network and from new but slightly blemished boards manufacturers decide not to sell. In celebration of his deal with Sir Richard Branson, Carson created a board with British Invasion Travel Cruiser mini-skateboard, inspired by his experience on Shark Tank.
“Being on Shark Tank was an incredible experience and I wish every kid with a dream could have an opportunity to share their ideas like I did,” said Carson. “My mom, dad and business mentors are the reason I’m able to bring my ideas to life.”
At first, Carson personally designed and built every Locker Board skateboard by hand in his backyard workshop in San Clemente. Today, to keep up with increasingly high demand, the company uses renowned board maker PS Stix Skateboard Manufacturing to handle production. Locker Board has also brought on Wing Lam, Co-Founder of Orange County-based Wahoo's Fish Taco, as a business adviser.
Carson’s interest in creating sustainable boards grew during a visit to Nike World Headquarters in March 2017 with the Independent Youth Organization (IYO). IYO is a non-profit organization through which Carson educates other young people about starting a business. While at Nike, Carson met Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, a sustainability expert with Nike’s Sustainable Innovation Team. After the tour, Noah began mentoring Carson on how to research and develop sustainable products.
Carson’s love of skating and commitment to helping others converge in his ongoing financial support of the Tony Hawk Foundation, which develops public skateboard parks in low-income communities across the country.
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ABOUT LOCKER BOARD
Founded in 2016 in San Clemente, CA, Locker Board is the only non-folding skateboard available that is compact enough to fit in a locker or backpack. Founder Carson Kropfl was 11 years old and wanted a skateboard that he could easily travel with, which none of his favorite boards did. As part of Locker Board’s mission to further expand the recycling movement within the skate and surf communities, the company’s skate decks are created from recycled and blemished decks donated through a skate shop retailer network. To help more people experience the fun and joy of skateboarding, Locker Board donates $1 for every board it sells to the Tony Hawk Foundation, which helps develop public skateboard parks in low-income communities across the country. Locker Board was featured on the season premiere of the hit ABC show Shark Tank. Visit Lockerboard.net to learn more and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Christopherson/Anne Milo-Shanahane: locker@globalresultspr.com p: 949-278-7328
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The day is finally here! We can officially announce our most exciting news since the establishment of Locker Board in October 2016.
Although we cannot share any details about the outcome of the show (sorry no spoilers here) we’re going to announce everything we can right here, right now.
So, let's get started…
First, Locker Board will be airing on the "Shark Tank" Season 9 Premiere on Sunday October 1, 2017 8pm/7pmC on ABC... So Get Ready!!!
Note: "Shark Tank" episodes will now be airing Sunday nights, no longer Fridays.
The Kropfl family’s big break came unexpectedly in 2013, during a family vacation to the mountains.
One morning, Carson and his family were headed to the hotel lobby for breakfast when a young couple joined them in the elevator. Carson’s Dad noticed a "Shark Tank" logo on the man’s sweat-shirt. Chit chat ensued and the Kropfl’s soon discovered that their new friend was none other than Max Swedlow, an Executive Producer for "Shark Tank".
Instinctively, the entrepreneurial Kropfl’s launched into a (literal and) well-practiced elevator pitch about their Streetubez (skate tarp) product–a skateboard accessory that Carson and his mom had invented together.
Impressed, Mr. Swedlow offered his business card and asked the family to keep in touch. He advised Carson to stick with it and keep growing his business.
Months later, after learning of Carson’s remarkable success with Locker Board, the "Shark Tank" impresario invited the Kropfl family to apply for an appearance on "Shark Tank", Season 9. Of course, they accepted.
In June of 2017, Carson filmed the “Shark Tank” episode in with his Mom, Carrie Kropfl. He pitched the Sharks and asked them to invest into his company, Locker Board.
In addition to Carson’s Locker Board Skateboard, he also show-cased his skateboard accessory product, Streetubez, on “Shark Tank”.
Check Out Locker Board Products Here
Check Out Streetubez Product Here
Carson has designed limited edition artwork for his Locker Board Skateboards that will be available the night “Shark Tank” airs. There will be three new boards available with artwork that was inspired by his experience on the show. You will be able to purchase these boards through his website: Lockerboard.net
The new art has a special application process that helps show case portions of what the original deck looked like, reminding Locker Board riders how awesome they are for personally supporting sustainability.
To keep up with increasingly high demand, the company now uses the renowned board maker PS Stix Skateboard Manufacturing to handle production. Locker Board has also brought on Wing Lam, Co-Founder of Wahoo's Fish Taco, as an adviser to help them navigate the skate industry. Through all the growth and change, Locker Board still remains the only non-folding skateboard available that is compact enough to fit inside a backpack.
Follow us on social media where we will be releasing more updates about Locker Board leading up to the show and you will get a behind the scenes look at a private party that Locker Board and Wahoo's Fish Taco will be hosting to celebrate the event!
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