Seagull Electronics is operated by Professor Barry Dorr who worked in industry for 35 years and then accepted a teaching position in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at San Diego State University in 2014. Since then he has taught Senior Design (Capstone) where 180 students work in small groups with industry sponsors and students from other departments to develop engineering projects. He is the author of Ten Essential Skills for Electrical Engineers (Wiley, 2014)
Professor Dorr does projects alongside his students. This motivates the students and also allows him to work with the latest technologies. The Bluetooth Radio Retrofit was a multi-year project, and it spawned numerous student and industry projects. We made numerous prototypes, each one incorporating great ideas and new features. We blasted music in the Senior Design lab, and the students gained respect and appreciation for antique radios and high quality audio.
Selling the product on ETSY was an afterthought, but the appreciative comments from customers make it worthwhile.