*When did you start your company, Carlson Customs? 

In 1991.

*What made you want to start a business in the first place?

Really and truly it was a tax write off for my racing, drag racing. It was a very good reason to do it then. 

*When you opened up shop, what was the toughest thing you had to deal with?

Basically learning all of the new stuff as it comes out and how to charge people to work their motorcycles.

That's tricky and having to and knowing what to charge people, the main thing.

I was so used to helping and working just for buddies and stuff, never charged anybody before.

*Have you had any big breakthroughs or accomplishments since starting in 1991?

I have been featured in three magazines. One was for the custom bike I built for a customer, my wide tire kits and custom 

26' rims on a Harley.

The manufacturing parts of like the swingarm and stuff like that, I've been doing that since the mid-90s.

*Very cool, so what is the 'wide tire kit?'

Yeah. The wide tire kit. The first one I did, I did for myself because I wanted one. And then everybody saw my bike and had to have it, so I just started building the kit. Now, you can find my custom tire kits, all over the world. 

I should really make a map that shows all of the locations that they are sold in, a lot of different countries. 

Just to show that this is where my tire went, and this is where my other tires go to the distributors in France and Italy. 

Selling them over there, I've got two kits on Aruba, and one on the island named Cyprus, just a little island.

*That's awesome, man.

I want to go to this island, just to check my stuff out.

*Having your business during 2020 this last year. How'd your business do? 

Pretty good. Just had to make adjustments for dealing with the customers. Having the masks, you know, getting people not wanting to get too close, social distancing, and stuff like that. But other than that we did 

pretty good, people wanted to still have their bikes to getaway.

*How are you bringing in new people?

How am I bringing in new people? Um, word of mouth. 90% is word of mouth and 10% website.

I get new people, darn near every week. 

*That is one thing I have heard, 'you are the best.' 

*Which pretty much answer my next question too, which is, does the internet plays a big role? 

After getting a website make-over from Creative Marketing Agents, I'm sure this is going to make my year even better 

my new website is amazing.

*I notice you're right in there doing everything. Why don't you step back some and be more of a passive owner, 

and just hire people to do it.

Mainly because everybody wants me to do the work. Yeah, that's the main reason I've tried employees, but customers, 

want to make sure that I'm doing the repairs and updates. You know the trust level, the Harley guys for example want to know who's working on their motorcycle.

*Oh yeah, definitely. That's a good point. Very good point.