Founder's Friday, Episode 01: The Beginning

Over 12 months ago, I started getting a business plan together, doing research, talking to everyone I could think of, and getting a sense of what it would be like to really do this. 

Did I know how to do any of this when I started? No. Do I still? I will let you know ;)

Like most things, this started with talking with people (family, friends) about pickleball blowing up. Knee injuries have kept me sidelined for most of pickleball’s ascent in the sports world, but everyone I know was playing. Not only everyone I know, but people of ALL ages. No other sport has transgressed generations like pickleball has, and that was intriguing to me. 

I started digging – what do people wear for this? What is pickleball fashion? Are there brands out there? How do pickleball clothes differ from tennis or other club sports clothing? What would be my goal? How would I do this? (Lotsss of questions – you get it).

First things first – when you build or create a business, it’s *generally* a good idea for that thing to solve pain. I know this from years of selling. If you’re not solving a pain point for someone or solving a problem, good luck. Me starting a clothing brand – if we’re being honest – is not exactly that. There is no shortage of activewear companies out there, and most clothing businesses aren’t that unique from each other. 

But as I dug into the competitive landscape and found literally almost a hundred clothing brands who advertise towards pickleball now – only ONE was made in America. This brand was also geared towards the hyper-competitive pickleball player and professionals. Okay, I thought … here is my in.

Made in America was a no-brainer for me. Here’s the simple reason why – it aligns with my values. Living your values is hard. It is so easy to cut corners in the name of profit or ease, which is why over 97% of apparel sold in the USA is made OUTSIDE of the USA. Wow.

To be made in America means 2 things, in my opinion:

1. Real workers getting paid real wages making a real living for them and their families (are you seeing a pattern here?). Real jobs. REAL sustainability. Not massive factories employing children working around the clock for pennies in unethical conditions. I hope I’m not alone in saying it’s one of my values to care about people’s livelihoods. 
2. Supporting my country’s economy. I love living in America. I feel blessed to have been born here. I want to see us prosper, and I want to see businesses here do well. It was so important for me to find a development + manufacturing partner who shared this value system. The team I’m working with operates out of a family-owned and run factory with about 40 workers on the production floor. Couldn’t ask for better than this. 

My Founder’s Friday posts will have an accompanying long-form video on my YouTube channel [click link here]. Follow the channel so you never miss a video! 

Thanks so much for the support, everyone! Happy day!