Walcott Radio
Walcott Radio is a family-owned Iowa retailer (founded 1986) selling CB, 10-meter, HAM, GMRS, marine, and business band radios plus antennas and accessories from 70+ brands, and offering in-house repair and installation services primarily to truckers, off-roaders, farmers, and radio hobbyists nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersWalcott, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Walcott Radio does
Walcott Radio (formerly Walcott CB Sales and Service) is a family-owned specialty retailer and service provider of radio communication equipment, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Walcott, Iowa adjacent to the Iowa-80 Truckstop (World's Largest Truckstop) on I-80. The company's core product set spans Citizens Band (CB) radios, 10-meter radios, antennas, mounts, coaxial cables, microphones, speakers, SWR meters, and power supplies, alongside adjacent categories including HAM amateur radio, GMRS/FRS, marine, business band, and police scanners. Walcott Radio carries 60+ radio models from 70+ brands (Cobra, President, Uniden, Midland, Galaxy, Connex, Stryker, Firestik, Wilson, Solarcon, Driver Extreme, Astatic, among others) and operates a dual retail-and-fulfillment model: a walk-in physical store plus installation bay, a 2022 dedicated shipping warehouse enabling 99% same-day shipping for orders placed before noon CST, toll-free phone ordering (1-844-WALCOTT), and a PCI-DSS compliant e-commerce storefront at walcottradio.com.
The business earns revenue primarily through unit-priced hardware sales (entry-level CB systems from ~$150-$200 up to professional 10-meter/HAM units at $400+) and complementary in-house repair, tuning, and modification services billed as labor. Distribution combines the e-commerce site, the physical Walcott store, and phone-based inside sales. Customer acquisition leans on educational content — a Learning Center with 23+ articles and four free interactive technical calculators (SWR tuning, antenna length, AM PeP to RMS, CB range) — plus a 4.8/5 Google Shopping rating across 3,004+ reviews and 240,000+ cumulative orders since founding. Primary customers are long-haul and regional truckers (channel 19 monitoring, mirror-mount and dual-antenna setups), with secondary segments in Jeep/off-road enthusiasts, farmers (no-ground-plane systems), HAM hobbyists, and business/commercial fleet operators. Walcott Radio remains under continuous family ownership, with certified technicians averaging 38+ years of experience supporting a 5-day average repair turnaround and on-site professional installation.
Walcott Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Walcott Radio
- Legal name
- Walcott Radio
- Website
- https://walcottradio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Walcott Radio is a family-owned Iowa retailer (founded 1986) selling CB, 10-meter, HAM, GMRS, marine, and business band radios plus antennas and accessories from 70+ brands, and offering in-house repair and installation services primarily to truckers, off-roaders, farmers, and radio hobbyists nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Walcott Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- CB and Two-Way Radio Equipment
- SIC
- Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RF, Antennas & Wireless Components Retail (CRACAKAM)
Keywords
Where Walcott Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walcott
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Walcott Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Radio and Communication Hardware Sales: Walcott Radio generates the majority of revenue through the sale of radios (CB, 10-meter, HAM, GMRS, Marine, Business Band), antennas, antenna mounts, coaxial cables, microphones, speakers, power supplies, and accessories. Products range from entry-level CB radios under $100 to professional-grade 10-meter and HAM radio equipment priced at $400+. The company carries over 60 radio models in stock and represents 70+ CB radio brands.
- Radio Repair and Modification Services: Walcott Radio offers in-house repair services for CB radios and related equipment with certified technicians having 38+ years of experience. Services include radio tuning, modifications, and upgrades. The company maintains a 5-day average turnaround for repairs and offers peak tune-ups for improved performance. Labor charges for modifications are non-refundable per company policy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level CB Radio Systems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional/High-End Radios |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Repair and Modification Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Walcott Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Walcott Radio is a family-owned retailer and service provider that sells CB radios, 10-meter radios, HAM, GMRS/FRS, marine, and business-band radios, plus antennas, mounts, coax cables, microphones, speakers, SWR meters, and power supplies from more than 70 brands. The company complements retail sales with in-house radio repair, peak tune-ups, and modifications performed by certified technicians, supported by free online calculators and a Learning Center of educational articles.
Product overview
Walcott Radio is a specialized radio communication equipment retailer and service provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of CB radios, 10-meter radios, antennas, and accessories from over 40+ brands. The core product lines include CB radios (Cobra, President, Uniden, Midland, Galaxy, Connex, Ranger, Stryker) paired with CB antennas (Firestik, Wilson, Solarcon, Stryker, K40), antenna mounts (Driver Extreme), microphones (Astatic, Ranger), SWR meters, and coax cables. Supporting radio categories encompass GMRS/FRS radios, HAM radio equipment, marine radios, business band radios, and scanners. The company distinguishes itself through complementary free online tools (SWR Antenna Tuning Calculator, Antenna Length Calculator, AM PeP to RMS Converter, CB Radio Range Calculator) and a Learning Center with 23+ educational articles. Walcott Radio provides in-house repair, tuning, and modification services by certified technicians with 38+ years of experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CB Radios (Citizens Band, including FM, handheld, mobile, base station, and 10-meter variants)
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% of orders ship same day when placed before noon CST on weekdays
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Walcott Radio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Walcott Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Walcott Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Walcott Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- RoverRadios: Smaller specialty CB/radio retailer focused on Jeep and off-road segment. Comparable as an emerging niche player targeting one of Walcott Radio's secondary customer segments (Jeep/UTV enthusiasts) with overlapping product mix.
- Driver Extreme: Manufacturer of premium truck-specific antenna mounts (mirror mounts, Cascadia/International/Kenworth mounts) that Walcott Radio carries. Comparable as an emerging accessory specialist with overlapping trucker customer base and product line.
- Firestik Antenna Company: Manufacturer and direct seller of CB antennas (a category that overlaps with Walcott Radio's antenna inventory). Comparable because they sell direct to consumers with technical expertise, competing for the antenna portion of the trucker/hobbyist wallet.
Direct peers
- Ham Radio Outlet: Multi-store amateur (HAM) radio retailer with deep technician expertise and same broad radio communications overlap. Comparable for the HAM-adjacent portion of Walcott Radio's catalog and educational/technical service model.
- CB World: Long-running CB radio retailer offering radios, antennas, and accessories from major brands with educational content and technical support. Closely matched product assortment and customer profile (truckers and hobbyists) as Walcott Radio.
- Right Channel Radios: Online retailer specializing in CB radios, 10-meter radios, antennas, and accessories for truckers and hobbyists. Directly comparable e-commerce-first specialty retailer in the same product categories with overlapping customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Cobra Electronics: Iconic CB radio brand (Cobra 29 LTD Classic is a Walcott Radio bestseller) that sells direct and through mass retail. Comparable as a manufacturer-incumbent competing for the same end customer via different channels.
- Midland Radio: Major manufacturer of CB, GMRS, and business band radios sold direct and through big-box retail. Comparable for product overlap and as a competing brand-and-channel alternative to specialty retailers.
- President Electronics USA: Brand behind several bestsellers at Walcott Radio (Washington, Thomas, Adams 10-meter radios) that also sells direct. Comparable as a premium incumbent brand in the same niche with DTC push.
- Uniden America: Major radio brand (CB, scanners, GMRS) that sells direct to consumer alongside retailers like Walcott Radio. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose products Walcott Radio carries, with potential disintermediation risk.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Walcott Radio social profiles
Digital presenceWalcott Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Walcott Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Walcott Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Walcott Radio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Walcott Radio
What does Walcott Radio do?
Walcott Radio is a family-owned retailer and service provider that sells CB radios, 10-meter radios, HAM, GMRS/FRS, marine, and business-band radios, plus antennas, mounts, coax cables, microphones, speakers, SWR meters, and power supplies from more than 70 brands. The company complements retail sales with in-house radio repair, peak tune-ups, and modifications performed by certified technicians, supported by free online calculators and a Learning Center of educational articles.
Is Walcott Radio a public or private company?
Walcott Radio is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Walcott Radio founded?
Walcott Radio was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Walcott Radio based?
Walcott Radio is headquartered in Walcott, United States, in the North America region.
How does Walcott Radio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Radio and Communication Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are radio Repair and Modification Services.
Who are Walcott Radio's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are RoverRadios, Driver Extreme and Firestik Antenna Company. Direct peers are Ham Radio Outlet, CB World and Right Channel Radios. Broad incumbents are Cobra Electronics, Midland Radio, President Electronics USA and Uniden America.
Does Walcott Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Walcott Radio.
What industry is Walcott Radio in?
Walcott Radio's product category is CB and Two-Way Radio Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAKAM, RF, Antennas & Wireless Components Retail. Its SIC code is 5731.