The Sutton Smith story
From attic startup to multi-million dollar venture
At 21, Sutton Smith isn't your typical college student. He leaves a positive impression wherever he goes. While many of his classmates talk about weekend plans, he is mapping out blueprints not only for exams but also for his next enterprise. He completed his undergraduate accounting degree in three years at TCU and is working on his MBA. While he participates in regular college groups like Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Young Life and other clubs, he also does something out of the ordinary.
It all started in the attic of his parents' home in the stillness of early 2020. He turned a hobby into a heartbeat. What began with tinkering with airsoft pistols, uploading content and offering upgrades has turned into a multi-million-dollar business.
In March 2020, a time when soccer practice, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and school stopped, Smith found himself with an immense amount of time. His high school classmates used COVID as time off from school. But Smith had ambition for growth. A combination of curiosity and circumstance led him to bring back his childhood hobby, playing airsoft. The pandemic disrupted normalcy, but for Smith, it offered a blank page.
"I was too ADHD to stay at home. I hated being bored," Smith said.
He thought back to hobbies he found and things he could do during the stillness of COVID. He used the unlimited time to build a website for airsoft guns, post tutorials and sell customized parts.
"I started it for fun," Smith said. But that fun idea became something more. He saw a gap in the market and a demand for these airsoft weapons.
Then, a major turning point occurred. When his side hustle became a true business, he changed his major, ordered parts and introduced his own brand, LA Airsoft, which involved engineering, innovation and manufacturing.
In one year, his revenue climbed tremendously, and he realized he couldn't run the business out of his parents' home anymore.
"Our dining room was used as storage for packages," Smith said. That's when he realized it was time to move to a facility.
Yet, the balance between the CEO and the student is hard to maintain. Smith moves between lectures at TCU and order fulfillment with his business. He balances his fraternity and the Neely School of Business with his studies in manufacturing and accounting.
His journey wasn't easy.
"I feel like I was never taken seriously during the beginning stage of my business because of my age," he said. In fact, he didn't show his face until years in his business.
But he defied the odds. He took a stand against the idea that business owners must have experience and be of a certain age. He didn't wait until he finished school; he started before his university journey. His story is unique in its own way.
His venture is not simply about selling player parts. It’s about community, about culture. His brand focuses on customers and supports users. He listens and reacts. He says his business’s success is rooted in relationships, trust and value.
In this way, Smith's business is an example of strength. He has set the scene for a young creator in a new world. A young person whose passion turned into an empire.
"It's not just about the money. It's more than that," Smith said.
Finally, there’s the question of legacy. Smith has scaled products, and his growth is beyond the norm. What remains is what is next for Smith. By attending classes as an accounting major, Smith said he has learned a thing or two about balance sheets and taxes.
"I've definitely learned so much through my classes. I never knew what a balance sheet was while I was making thousands of dollars a month."
For Smith, the attic became the start of his journey. TCU became his stepping stone. The venture became more than commerce; it became a story of possibility.
Photo courtesy of Sutton Smith
Photo courtesy of Sutton Smith
Growing up...
Childhood....
In Smith's childhood, he was always part of a team.
"I really like the team atmosphere, too," he said. From sports to helping his grandpa with the furniture, he always kept himself busy.
"I was always doing something," Smith said. "But in high school, I did soccer mainly, ran cross country and track, kicked for the football team a little bit, too. But yeah, tried to stay in shape."
"I always knew I wanted to start a business."
Smith's dreams and inspiration started when he was early in his early childhood.
What were you like as a kid? Were there any early signs you’d grow into someone who wanted to build things or run a business?
Smith explained that growing up with a family business helped push him to start a business.
"I feel like even when I was younger, I would say definitely my family business helped grow my desire to be an entrepreneur," Smith said. "I would say, even when I was younger, I loved the concept of like making like, buying and selling, like, whatever that was."
He remembers early in his childhood, during the Christmas season, his grandfather and he would go look for mistletoe to sell in front of the family furniture store.
"He just did it to spend time with me, which was really sweet," Smith said. "And then we would like to sell mistletoe outside of one of the furniture stores and do really well. And we ended up donating most of the money anyway." 

"I found joy in creating. I always knew I wanted my own business."
The Shreveport native says he remembers being little and helping his family package furniture for their business, Ivan's Furniture, which has been in his family for generations. But Smith took a different path. He paved a new road for himself.
Do you think anything from your childhood or your environment, hobbies, or family dynamic helped shape your entrepreneurial mindset?
Smith's parents, Ashley and Trey, described him as an entrepreneur since he was little.
"Sutton is a natural born leader," Ashley Smith said. "He is very goal-oriented and loves to learn new things and is not afraid of trying."
Trey Smith agreed.
"Even with his hyper drive of energy, he could focus that on accomplishing any task he wanted to do," he said. "This ability to focus his energy in positive ways is something that definitely sets him apart."
Friends described Smith as compassionate. Collin Ferrell, a friend from TCU, described him as having that "classic Southern hospitality."
"Sutton is genuinely one of the most caring, thoughtful, and respectful people I know," Ferrell said. "He treats people with a natural kindness that says a lot about how he was raised and who he chooses to be."
Ferrell isn't the only person to describe Smith like that.
"From his business endeavors to his undergrad and graduate education to his social interactions, Sutton never misses a beat," said friend Lucas Monfort.
Many other people described Smith as not just a great person, but an amazing leader.
Smith's professors spoke highly of him.
"Absolutely fantastic student and even better person — works hard, gets along well with everyone in class, is genuinely curious and wants to grow as an individual," said Christopher Harper, communication studies instructor. "The kind of student you remember throughout your entire teaching career."
David Stein, director of community impact at TCU, admitted Smith to the MBA program.
"He was one of the youngest students I ever admitted to the program," Stein said. "What makes Smith stand out as an entrepreneur is that he has the ambition and confidence to grow such a big idea, but he also understands the value of always learning and growing."
Jennifer Grennan, an accounting professor, commended Smith for being hard-working and humble.
"I believe Sutton’s curiosity about how things work and his desire to make them 'work better' is what drives his success," Grennan said. "It’s these same qualities that are making him a successful entrepreneur."
Zack Hawley, professor of economics, said, "He had the rare quality of having perspectives from both the consumer and producer side. Most students pick up choice theory quickly, as they live most of their lives as consumers. Sutton had an advantage in firm theory."
Caption goes here. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith)
Caption goes here. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith)
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
Photo courtesy of Ashley Smith
LA Airsoft
Realistic, tactical, safe
LA Airsoft is known for customization and quality airsoft equipment. It's designed for high-performance and experienced players.
"We want to make sure there is a wide variety of options for our customers," Smith said.
Customers can upgrade and personalize their airsoft weapons. They offer upgrade pieces that can be customized, such as slides, grips and performance components.
Local and innovative
LA Airsoft store is in Benbrook, about 15 miles from Fort Worth. The store is a local spot for airsoft players looking for equipment. The shop offers a range from basic guns to customizable parts. The staff in the store can help players find upgrades and repairs. The store isn't just for serious players; it is open to players of all levels.
When did you first realize your hobby could turn into a real business rather than just something you did for fun?
Driving the industry
Smith's love for his product and his talent in the industry helped him succeed. He focused on customers. If they requested certain colors, he went to the designer to make it happen. He says there were many challenges along the way, but as his business grew, so did he.
"As the business grew and I wanted to take the next step, I felt like the business was always ready," Smith said. "We both grew together."
Smith's success is a blend of passion and talent. His success in the industry is a combination of prioritizing customers and resilience. He continues to work directly with designers to deliver the colors and features they requested. Although he faced challenges along the way, he continued to grow alongside his business.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
What makes an entrepreneur?
Are entrepreneurs made or born? It seems that some people have this gift of finding holes in the market and taking a leap of faith to create a business.
Some research suggests that both entrepreneurs are born and made.
Jeffery S. McMullen and Dean A. Shepherd argue that at the center of an entrepreneur is uncertainty. Entrepreneurs don't discover opportunities; they create them by making decisions in the face of uncertainty.
What makes an entrepreneur?
Photo courtesy of TCU
Photo courtesy of TCU
Will Dover
Department Chair, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
"Some people are naturally wired for entrepreneurship, but many others are made through experience, education, and deliberate skill-building."
Photo courtesy of TCU
Photo courtesy of TCU
Devin Burnell
Assistant Professor
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department
"Entrepreneurial action only occurs when motivation, ability, and opportunity are all present — if even one is missing, it does not happen."
Photo courtesy of TCU
Photo courtesy of TCU
Thomas Allison
Professor of Entrepreneurship
Robert and Edith Schumacher Executive Faculty Fellow in Innovation and Technology
"Both! Trait-like characteristics, as well as experiences and knowledge gained in childhood have significant positive benefits for a variety of entrepreneurial processes including opportunity recognition and resource orchestration."
Photo courtesy of TCU
Photo courtesy of TCU
Daniel Pullin
Chancellor
Professor of Entrepreneurship
"On balance, I think it’s the culture, the environment, the lived experiences and the network you build — along with the education you gain — that allow more entrepreneurs to fully express their passions."
Does Smith think entrepreneurs are born or made?
"I believe both, I'm a risk taker and I knew if I put thousands of dollars into my business and I don't get a return, it's okay because I'll keep trying," Smith said.
The future for Sutton Smith
Smith is just getting started...
By embracing his opportunities, he plans to continue growing his business and hopes to start others. Over the past year, he has been working on launching an accounting software, Flow Keeping, which is designed to make accounting easier for small business owners.
Smith has put thousands of hours into the design, structure and organization of Flow Keeping. Trial and error was the biggest time thief for his new software.
Smith also realized different challenges with his design. He said people were the biggest ones. He had to switch the companies he was working with multiple times. He says he finally found one that worked for him.
"I saw a gap in the market by experience," Smith said.
THE TIMELINE FOR SUTTON SMITH
2010
Introduced to buying and selling
Ivan Furniture
Smith starts to develop an interest in buying and selling goods with his grandfather.
2020
COVID
The start of Smith's business ventures
Smith realizes he has an immense amount of time. He starts to post tutorials for building Airsoft.
May 2022
GRADUATION AND CHANGES
Smith moves to a warehouse Smith graduates from high school and moves to Fort Worth
Sutton Smith graduates high school and moves to attend TCU.
June 2022
THE MOVE BEGINS
Smith moves to a warehouse
Smith realizes he needs more room, so he moves to a warehouse in Shreveport.
Feb 2024
THE OPENING
Smith moves to a retail location
Smith signs a three-year lease in Benbrook, Texas.
LA Airsoft
Facility space
3,740
square feet
Established
2020
start of his business
Revenue
$2.3M
in 2024 fiscal year
SUTTON SMITH
The link to my full uncut interview with Sutton Smith: https://youtu.be/PzSnIcUVPOk.
If you would like to access my questions from other interviews, please email me at tatumdehart@gmail.com.
For access to full interview transcripts, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JGPWv5xGl1XA9vVsxu4DXxf7ULlhN8PhIuluiKb1GQU/edit?usp=sharing.
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