Kandy Kruisers

These days, it is all about transportation. Whether you’re going to work, to the store down the block or even just to class across campus, traveling short distances with ease, style and convenience does not have to mean investing in a car or even a bike. Kandy Kruisers mini cruisers offer all of these assets and more in a sassy and stylish package that is great not just for getting from place to place but also for the awesome fun of riding in general. These mini cruiser boards and related products were brought to the world by a remarkable group of people from an environment very much in tune with their target market: a college campus.

Products like mini cruisers, which are oriented to a youthful market, are often manufactured, marketed and sold by entities that are at least somewhat out of touch with the people actually buying and using the products. The type of lifestyle associated with these products continues to be the focus of endless research, analysis and cynically engineered marketing, but there is one important element that is all too often missing from even the most shrewdly executed marketing campaigns and product launches: authenticity.

It is not difficult to see the uncommon and refreshing authenticity behind Kandy Kruisers. The products are brilliantly colorful yet unmistakeably contemporary and well-designed. The bright neon colors of the boards themselves, as well as the available LED-illuminated wheels, pull off the remarkable trick of being insanely eye-catching without coming off as the least bit garish. This type of legit design and extraordinary grasp of the market can only come from a company run by people who know their customers, because in many ways they are those customers.

The founders of Kandy Kruisers met at something called a Hackathon, which is a collaborative event where coders and software developers meet to work on various projects, or the same project. This particular Hackathon at the University of Houston turned out to be fortuitous, since the issue at hand was intra-campus transportation.

With a small amount of start-up funds, Kandy Kruisers is now a full-fledged entity selling boards, wheels and T-shirts through its website with a distinct flair and savvy that is difficult to find in larger companies. Putting the company’s stylishness and unique approach aside, the products are what matter. Kandy Kruisers offers products that enable quick, easy and ecologically friendly transportation without the expense, hassle and risks of car or even bike ownership. Even though these types of boards were extant before Kandy Kruisers existed, this exciting new start-up is likely to build a new, robust demand with its original and incisive approach.

Transportation continues to be a wide-ranging issue with a complex set of problems. This includes not only long-distance transport but also short-distance transportation for college students who have tight schedules and often limited means. Kandy Kruisers offers a convenient and budget-friendly solution to these issues from a perspective that is knowledgeable and novel. This start-up has already hit the ground running, and has promise to spare.

Insights From the Founders:

(A special thank you to CEO for introduction)

1. How did the idea to start Kandy Kruisers develop?

The idea for Kandy Kruisers came during our freshman year, while I was walking to one of my classes with an old friend of mine, who always rode around his longboard. Wondering why he didn’t go for a more portable option, I looked for what was out there. Finding everything unsatisfying, I stopped searching until I watched Lords of Dogtown and noticed these kids shredding in awesome little boards that when it clicked!

2. How did you convince your partner(s)/financer(s) about your idea?

Finding the right business and life partner is hard to do, but if the founders and partners have a common goal in mind and that goal is to revolution the industry you are in. the convincing is easy to do.

3. Did you finish college? What is the most valuable lesson you learned from there?

2 of the founding members have finished college as for me I will be graduating this coming May, the most valuable thing I have learned from college is having a successful business is one of the most hard thing you can ever do, and once you expect utter hell when starting your company you will be just fine. That there is no right or wrong time to start a company and that is the best time as any. To be fearless, humble yet bold and most importantly if the world turns against you, never turn against yourself.

4. What is one piece of advice you would give to students who want to start a business while in school?

Go for it and don’t look back. The most important thing is just starting, once you’ve started, you will be surprised at how much help you’ll receive from people that are looking to make your ideas come to life.  Stay resourceful, and always push ahead of any hurdles you may see in your path. Fortune favors the bold my friends.

5. What are your future plans, both for yourself and Kandy Kruisers?

Kandy Kruisers is expanding aggressively across the United States, as now we are an international brand. We have national chains picking up our products, that should make picking one of our boards or products easy for all. Most importantly we’re working on a new sweet, delicious, new board the world has yet to see. We are growing into a lifestyle brand, rather than just a skateboard company, and have a line of upcoming products that reflect that. Our mission has always been to create world class products and as long as we get to do that and our customers love what we do we know we are doing a great job.

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