The Round Six Podcast

The Round Six Podcast


From Mullet to Billet: Brad Fanshaw

August 24, 2018

BRAD FANSHAW SPENDS AN EVENING TALKING BRANDING, MARKETING AND ADVENTURE


Episode twenty-four gets right into it with the man behind more cool stuff than you can shake a billet guitar at. Brad Fanshaw has launched action sports brands, managed the most well-known hot rod shop in the universe, and was the first to take an automotive aftermarket company public.


He hosts a couple of well-known podcasts: Man Seeks Adventure (with Dave Marker and Heather Storm) and Shift and Steer (with co-hosts Aaron Hagar & Matt D'Andria; and formerly with the late Pete Chapouris), along with producing television shows like Car Warriors and The Car Chasers.


The guys sit and talk marketing, branding, and the value of an experience and not simply having a product, as well as gleaning valuable tips and tricks for making the most of your SEMA Show experience.


THINGS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:



  • Entomology, Shrek 4D and a Dorian Gray reference
  • Early VW influence once again surfaces on an episode
  • Brad's first car
    – Having the fastest car in High School
    – Making twenty bucks street racing before homeroom
    – The vintage Pro Street parts stockpile
  • A sidetrack leads to gold Moroso valve covers
  • Memories of header installs
    – Accessory bracket spacers
    – The joys of constant re-torquing
  • Brad's orange thing
  • It all starts with BMX in our industry
    – The freedom of transport and self-expression
  • Running ABA and organizing Nationals
    – The joys of running a front loader
    – The Orange Fairgrounds incident
    – Blame it on the monster truck guys
  • Being "productively destructive"
  • Taking Vision Street Wear from $10M to $125M in five years
    – Genesis of The X Games
    – Running the largest television production company in Orange County
    – From action sports to a Boyds clothing line
  • Cadzilla leaves the shop, Brad comes in

    • Building the Hot Rods by Boyd empire
      – The value of first-class marketing in a new frontier
      – Laying the groundwork to bring in investment capital
      – Reaching outside of the automotive world to retain the hot rod spirit


  • Brian proposes a Virtual Reality Venture Capital pitch
  • Starting a watch company

SUPER-BONUS TIPS FOR MARKETING YOURSELF/YOUR SHOP AT THE SEMA SHOW:



  • The value of technology/technique sharing
  • Building the Starbucks of the hot rod world
    – The experience of being a part of something absolutely huge
    – Recalling when Brian bought his first Hot Rods by Boyd t-shirt
    – Adapting the action sports approach to the "Boyd look"
    – The Boyd Zone Tour
    – Creating an atmosphere versus buying a product
    – The creative atmosphere at Boyd's during the Chip era
  • From Vaynerchuk to Spicoli in one deft swoop
  • Building a hot rod-themed billet guitar for Michael Anthony of Van Halen
    – Presenting the guitar at the Hard Rock
    – Grabbing press via Tim Allen on Leno
  • Tips for marketing and branding aimed at the small shop
    – How to gain maximum exposure at SEMA
    – Influence potential sponsor companies