Financial Commandment #1: Your Money, Your Responsibility
In this post you’ll learn: He almost didn’t review his tax return that year....
Podcast | Episode 609
Crafting Comp Plans, Building a Network of Manufacturing Partners & Vintage 4×4 Rigs
What does it take to scale a 50-year-old family business built around vintage Ford Broncos? In this episode, I sit down with Walt Wimmer, CEO of TOMS OFFROAD, to talk about transforming a passion project into a thriving eCommerce brand serving classic car enthusiasts around the world.
Listen in as Walt shares how he balances heritage and innovation – from managing thousands of SKUs and global manufacturing partners to designing a transparent compensation structure that keeps his 36-person team motivated. We also dive into customer service, marketing in a competitive niche, and how TOMS OFFROAD continues to grow while staying true to its roots.
You’ll learn:
- Walt’s early memories with classic Broncos and how his family turned a passion into a business. (1:00)
- The story behind TOMS OFFROAD and how it evolved from a backyard side hustle to a national brand. (17:00)
- How Walt structures compensation, raises, and bonuses to reward performance and transparency. (22:00)
- Why culture and accountability are the foundation of long-term employee retention. (25:00)
- The challenges of managing thousands of SKUs and maintaining quality across global suppliers. (30:00)
- How TOMS OFFROAD builds lasting partnerships with manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad. (40:00)
- The impact of tariffs and how the team navigated rising costs while protecting customers. (45:00)
- What’s currently working in TOMS OFFROAD marketing mix. (46:00)
- Why storytelling and customer features are key to their content strategy. (50:00)
- Walt’s new venture connecting global manufacturers with brands and lessons learned along the way. (53:00)
- Why living abroad is part of Walt’s vision for a life of adventure and perspective. (55:00)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music
(With your host Andrew Youderian of eCommerceFuel.com and Walt Wimmer of TOMS OFFROAD)
What Was Mentioned
- Walt Wimmer: Website | LinkedIn
- Global Marketing Technologies
- eCommerceFuel Forum
Ideas Worth Sharing:
"[A Ford Bronco] could be a family vehicle, it could be a hunting vehicle, it could be a work vehicle, a farm vehicle. So it was really versatile.” - Walt Wimmer Tweet this “My whole goal with my build and my Bronco is I want it to still look classic and stock, but to have more of the creature comforts and more modern capabilities in terms of drivability, in terms of safety.” - Walt Wimmer Tweet this "Part of my dad being a great business person was the way he was able to build this culture of TOMSOFFROAD and to build the team. We have very low turnover.” - Walt Wimmer Tweet this
Post by Andrew Youderian
Founder and Chief Instigator, eComFuel
Andrew quit an early finance job to sell CB radios online — an admittedly unorthodox career path. It set him on a course to found and sell multiple businesses, host a decade-running podcast, lecture at Harvard Business School and create eComFuel, the leading community for 7- and 8-figure online business owners. Andrew is fascinated with branding, AI, building community, investing and growing meaningful businesses that don't require sacrificing what truly matters.
