Kayaking, Partying & Profits

“It seemed like such a dumb idea, but it took off,” States says. “And the tape is cheap to produce.” Turning what seemed at first like a “dumb idea,” typifies States’ approach to the business.

“Eric’s beyond the classic entrepreneur,” observes John Hunt, president/CEO of Santa Barbara-based Compuvision, a local area technology consulting firm. “He’s daring and willing to take on new businesses, and basically has no fear whatsoever. He just decided one day to move into the catalog business; read up on it, taught himself, and with no mentors to help him, jumped right in. I’ve never met anybody with that ability.”