Hi and thanks for reading more about me!
The Early Days
Hey there! I’m Allen Walton, the founder of SpyGuy.com, where we provide surveillance and counter-surveillance solutions to everyone from everyday individuals to law enforcement professionals. We’re based in Richardson, Texas, where I grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
My journey into the surveillance industry wasn’t exactly a straight path. After maintaining a decent GPA through high school and spending some time in community college, I found myself living with my parents and working part-time jobs. Everything changed when I landed a position at a local spy shop, where I spent two years learning everything there was to know about surveillance equipment.
Breaking Into E-Commerce
This experience led me to partner with the TV show Cheaters to create their online store around 2011. Armed with nothing but “E-commerce for Dummies” and Tim Ferriss’s The Four-Hour Work Week, I taught myself how to run an online business. That experience gave me the confidence to strike out on my own.
Building SpyGuy
I launched SpyGuy with just a $14.99/month Shopify plan and $10,000 in inventory stored in my home. Thanks to my previous industry experience, I knew exactly which manufacturers to work with and how to market these products effectively.
The business grew so successfully that Forbes featured me in 2015 as part of a new wave of ultra-lean, million-dollar businesses.
Where We Are Today
Today, SpyGuy has evolved into a proper operation with a dedicated office and a small team of customer service professionals. We’re constantly innovating, and I’m particularly excited about our newest product, “Scouts,” designed to help people detect hidden cameras in hotels and Airbnbs—a growing concern in today’s world.
Beyond Surveillance: The FlyGuy Project
Beyond SpyGuy, I’m passionate about helping other entrepreneurs maximize their business travel through smart credit card rewards strategies. This interest has led me to start a new venture called “FlyGuy,” where I help business owners turn their everyday expenses into extraordinary travel experiences.
Life Lessons & Personal Growth
While I may not have followed the traditional college-to-career path, I’m living proof that self-education and determination can lead to success. As Tim Ferriss himself recognized when he featured me as a 4-Hour Work Week case study, sometimes the unconventional path is the right one.
These days, I’m balancing entrepreneurship with parenthood, which has brought an entirely new perspective to my life and work. While having kids has limited my free time, it’s also helped me focus on what truly matters and motivated me to make the most of every opportunity.
Social Media Links
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The End
To keep reading, visit my blog here for my latest articles.