# Advice Line with Carlton Calvin of Razor

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-08-20
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor

## Summary

Carlton Calvin, founder and CEO of Razor USA, joins Guy Raz to advise early-stage founders on business challenges. Calvin discusses his ongoing effort to institutionalize his 'trendspotting' instinct at Razor, the difficulties of patent enforcement against small copycats, and the importance of focusing on brand over litigation. He then answers caller questions regarding whether to license or build a party game, how to differentiate stationery in a saturated market, and how a craft spirits distillery should manage product complexity and distribution.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=0) Introduction: Carlton Calvin and Razor's Trendspotting
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=550) Patent Enforcement and Copycats
- [10:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=651) Advice for Shawn: Licensing vs. Building 'Eulogy'
- [25:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=1544) Advice for Shareen: Differentiating Stationery on Etsy
- [36:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=2196) Advice for Mark: Simplifying Little Water Distillery's SKU List
- [48:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-08-20-advice-line-with-carlton-calvin-of-razor#t=2937) Carlton's Advice to His Younger Self

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Razor USA (company)
- Eulogy (product)
- Honey Bespoke Stationery & Paper Goods (company)
- Little Water Distillery (company)
- 48 Blocks (product)
- La Colombe (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [76: Tom’s Future Corner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Bootstrapped to 800,000 Units Sold Worldwide: The Story Behind Rockit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-17-bootstrapped-to-800-000-units-sold-worldwide-the-story-behind-rockit) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [Dynamics of the Family-Owned Manufacturing Business w/ Ryan Margolin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-07-18-dynamics-of-the-family-owned-manufacturing-business-w-ryan-margolin) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [116: How to Turn an Invention into a Product Business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-03-02-116-how-to-turn-an-invention-into-a-product-business) (Product Startup)
- [25: Q&A](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2017-03-30-25-q-a) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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