The Business of Pickleball - Pickleball Brief

Pickleball Brief
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Pickleball Brief is the go-to business resource for club owners, manufacturers, retailers & start-ups, seeking insights, tools & data.The go-to business resource for club owners, manufacturers, retailers & start-ups, seeking insights, tools & data.

  1. 02/12/2025

    S2E2: Pickleball Group Fitness - Unique Programming, Pricing & Profits with Guest Ryan Van Winkle

    Welcome to the Business of Pickleball, your go-to podcast for industry insights. If you're in the pickleball business, staying informed is crucial. This podcast offers interviews with leaders actively building pickleball enterprises. Today’s episode features hosts Robert Allen and David Feldman discussing a specialized insurance solution for pickleball clubs—the Pickleball Insurance Program (PIP). PIP provides tailored coverage quickly and easily at pippprogram.com or visit their booth at the Pickleball Brief Business Summit. After a holiday break and successful summit, we're back with an exciting guest who shares our passion for fitness in sports—Ryan Van Winkle. Ryan has developed innovative applications within racket sports through his company Bounce, focusing on teaching and learning efficiency. Ryan introduces the Racket Fitness Experience (RFX), which merges group fitness with racket sports, similar to OrangeTheory or CrossFit but tailored to pickleball. The program involves engaging classes using resistance bands suitable for all fitness levels, offering both play sessions and high-intensity interval training on specially designed tetra courts. This approach not only improves player performance but also attracts new participants who are interested in fun ways to stay fit rather than traditional gym routines. RFX aims to create inclusive experiences that can bring more people into racket sports by providing diverse programming options similar to those offered by gyms. For club owners looking to enhance member engagement and retention, incorporating unique programs like RFX can be beneficial. It creates community vibes while adding value beyond regular gameplay—perfect for attracting non-traditional players seeking enjoyable fitness alternatives. To support participating clubs further, RFX limits partnerships geographically, ensuring exclusivity while assisting them in marketing efforts both physically at venues as well as digitally across social media platforms—helping maximize visibility among potential members locally interested in not just playing but experiencing something fresh within their routine workouts! People might discover they enjoy pickleball by combining it with other sports, like football. This approach is similar to what RFX does by tapping into the fitness market. Clubs can target gym-goers and offer them a fun new class, drawing in fresh audiences beyond just pickleball enthusiasts. Pickleball clubs have an edge because it's easy to learn but hard to master, unlike tennis which can be intimidating for beginners. With structured games and courts, even newcomers can quickly enjoy the sport and join leagues or tournaments. Club owners should focus on marketing strategies that attract diverse groups since relying solely on existing enthusiasts won't sustain growth. Offering injury prevention classes could keep members engaged longer without injuries affecting participation rates. RFX aims to create a community through its group fitness programs designed for racket sports. Unlike endurance-based activities, where competition is individualistic, these programs promote interaction among players while ensuring safety during exercises. The business model involves revenue sharing with no upfront costs for clubs; instead of licensing fees alone as initially planned before feedback showed preference towards shared earnings between parties involved—aligning incentives better overall! We adapted our business model, offering an annual license fee for all-inclusive clubs where revenue sharing is complex. We're exploring integrating our format into court reservation apps to track reservations effectively. We've begun discussions with leading software companies like Court Reserve and Play by Point. With enough clubs on board, we're looking at adding a simple UI button for RFX classes—a straightforward integration that benefits everyone involved. Financially, it's crucial for club owners to explore new programming opportunities as margins are tight. Innovative ideas like ours could provide significant additional income, potentially making the difference between survival and closure for some clubs. With growing awareness of health and wellness initiatives in the U.S., there's potential to integrate RFX into insurance plans, particularly benefiting seniors. Additionally, kids enjoy these classes due to their fun format and engaging activities. We're considering expanding beyond pickleball clubs but want to maintain brand integrity by ensuring quality experiences across different venues. The environment significantly impacts user experience; thus, maintaining high standards is essential. Currently focused on certifying more clubs nationwide in early 2025, we aim to engage with multi-sport facilities interested in innovative design and technology within racket sports. Visit rfxfitness.com or contact us directly if you're interested in collaborating or learning more about our offerings. Thank you for joining this conversation about merging pickleball with group fitness—it's a win-win situation enhancing players' health while supporting club growth. Stay informed through Pickleball Brief's updates at subscribe.pickleballbrief.com until next time!

    1h 2m

  2. 11/15/2024

    Episode Seventeen: Winning Pickleball Club Design Strategies: An In-Depth Conversation with Jim Balding

    Takeaways Jim Balding is the founder of The ANT Group, specializing in pickleball facilities. In two and a half years, Jim's team has designed over 500 pickleball courts. The demand for pickleball courts is increasing, with many new facilities planned. Designing for the guest experience is crucial for facility success. Common mistakes include incorrect court sizes and poor column placements. Lighting should be designed to illuminate the entire play area, not just the court. Regulatory challenges include zoning, occupancy, and plumbing requirements. Flooring choices can significantly impact the guest experience. Avoid using red and yellow colors in court design to reduce visual fatigue. Understanding the business model is essential for facility owners. Jim's journey into pickleball began with a love for sports. The club experience fosters community and engagement. Having a dedicated club environment enhances play. Paddle technology is evolving, but regulations are crucial. Facility design should incorporate advanced technology. Integrating services like therapy can enhance member experience. Planning is essential for successful facility development. Collaboration among stakeholders is key to success. Safety regulations are vital in facility design. The growth of pickleball relies on promoting the game effectively.

    54 min

  3. 10/11/2024

    The 2024-25 Pickleball Business Reality Check- Reality vs. the Hype Train -> What's REALLY Going On...

    Show Notes: The Business of Pickleball Podcast Episode Title: The 2024-25 Pickleball Business Reality Check- Reality vs. the Hype Train -> What's REALLY Going On... Hosts: Robert Allen & David Feldman Introduction Welcome to "The Business of Pickleball," your industry insider podcast. Designed for pickleball business owners seeking insights, interviews with leaders, and strategic advice. Key Discussion Points: Challenges Facing Club Owners: Programming for members. Securing sponsorships for clubs/tournaments. Selecting appropriate software solutions. Manufacturers & Service Providers: Scaling businesses amidst growing competition in the pickleball market. Upcoming Event: Pickleball Brief Business Summit, Dates: October 17th & 18th (Virtual Event) Focus on actionable strategies from over 16 expert presenters. Aimed at addressing key challenges faced by businesses in the industry. Main Conversation Themes: Visionary and Strategic Thinking: Industry Maturation: Emphasis on understanding life cycles similar to human growth – beginning, middle, end, rebirth/morphing into new forms. Current state likened to a 'child-like' phase needing sophistication. Sales Strategies: Importance of having a clear sales plan beyond direct-to-consumer methods. Need for professional sales teams hunting strategically rather than relying solely on brand ambassadors or low-hanging fruit tactics. Financial Models and Funding Structures: Critique on private equity's role; often leading to unsustainable practices focused more on short-term gains rather than long-term value creation. Venture Capital approach discussed as calculated risk-taking with overarching marketplace strategies that go beyond individual company success/failure rates. Market Dynamics Observed by Hosts: Feedback loops from club operators indicating lack of follow-through post initial supplier interactions—highlighting gaps in professionalism within B2B engagements. Concerns about outdated ambassador programs not yielding sufficient ROI compared against potential structured outbound sales efforts targeting key accounts/regions effectively driving revenue streams sustainably upwards instead! Future Outlooks Discussed

    46 min

  4. 09/21/2024

    Episode Fifteen: Operational Success for Pickleball Businesses

    The Business of Pickleball Podcast: Episode 15 Insights Hosts: Robert Allen and David Feldman Guest: Ben Johnson, Entrepreneur and EOS Implementer Ben's website: https://www.eosworldwide.com/ben-johnson Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjohnsoneos/ Ben's email: ben.johnson@eosworldwide.com Episode Overview: In this episode, hosts Robert Allen and David Feldman dive into the intricacies of running a successful pickleball business. They are joined by Ben Johnson, an experienced entrepreneur with a background in accounting, private equity, and real estate fund management. Now an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementer, Ben shares valuable insights on building purpose-driven organizations. Key Topics Discussed: 1. Challenges for Club Owners: Programming for members. Securing sponsors for clubs and tournaments. Deciding on the right software solutions. 2. Struggles for Manufacturers & Service Providers: Scaling businesses in a competitive market. 3. Pickleball Brief Business Summit: A virtual B2B event scheduled for October 17th and 18th. Features actionable strategies from over 13 expert presenters. Focuses on tackling challenges head-on with practical solutions. 4. Introducing Guest - Ben Johnson: Ben discusses his journey from being an accountant to becoming passionate about helping business owners live their best lives through effective leadership and operational strategies. Background Highlights: Experience in private equity focusing on buying/selling businesses. Roles as CFO/CEO in entrepreneurial ventures. Current role as an EOS implementer aiding leadership teams to achieve their goals efficiently. Core Discussion Points: Building Effective Teams Through Core Values: Purpose Driven Organizations: Importance of clear purpose within companies to attract like-minded individuals who resonate with core values beyond just moral ethics but also business ethos. Identifying Core Values: Example given is “abundance” vs “scarcity”. Hiring based on these values ensures alignment within the team which fosters better collaboration towards common goals. Reinforcing Core Values: Continuous reinforcement through recognition when employees exhibit these values helps maintain company culture effectively over time despite external distractions or internal changes. Operational Strategies & Discipline: Quarterly Prioritization & Weekly Check-ins: Here’s a more concise version: Setting quarterly priorities and conducting weekly check-ins help track progress against goals and address obstacles quickly. This approach keeps operations aligned with the long-term vision, preventing distractions from daily tasks and unexpected challenges. By maintaining organizational discipline throughout each cycle, all levels of the organization work together effectively, leading to sustained success.

    53 min

  5. 08/27/2024

    Episode Fourteen: Experiential Marketing- What’s Next for Pickleball Trade Shows and Business Events

    # Show Notes - The Business of Pickleball Podcast ## Episode Title: Experiential Marketing- What’s Next for Pickleball Trade Shows and Business Events ### Hosts: - **Robert Allen** - Co-host and Publisher at Pickleball Brief. - **David Feldman** - Editor-in-chief at Pickleball Brief. ### Key Discussion Points: 1. **Introduction**    - Overview of the podcast's purpose: Providing insights, information, and interviews with industry leaders to help pickleball businesses thrive.    - Introduction to today's episode focusing on event programming for club owners and scaling business strategies for manufacturers and service providers. 2. **Pickleball Brief Business Summit**    - Announcement of an upcoming virtual B2B event scheduled for October 17th and 18th.    - Features over 13 expert presenters addressing common challenges in the pickleball business landscape.    - Registration details: [summit.pickleballbrief.com](http://summit.pickleballbrief.com). 3. **Event Recap & Industry Insights**    - Robert Allen shares experiences from attending PickleCon in Kansas City along with team member Erica.      * Positive aspects: Central location, experienced production team, good exhibitor turnout, integration with NMP event.      * Areas for improvement: Enhancing experiential elements beyond traditional trade show setups. 4. **Future of Event Marketing in Pickleball**    - Discussion on evolving event formats to better engage attendees:      * Importance of having a clear intent behind events – understanding what both organizers and participants aim to achieve.      * Need for immersive experiences rather than just conventional booth setups. 5. **Challenges Facing Club Owners & Manufacturers**     * Strategies for effective programming management within clubs as competition increases.     * Importance of excellent execution in keeping members engaged amid growing market saturation. 6. **Experiential Marketing Tactics**     * Leveraging human-to-human interactions even amidst technological advancements like AI bots which might lose novelty over time.     * Emphasis on real conversations leading to meaningful business relationships. 7. **Entrepreneurial Journey & Honest Self-Evaluation**     * Encouragement towards continuous learning from both successes and failures within entrepreneurial ventures.     * Highlighting honesty about what's working or not working as crucial for growth. 8. **Closing Thoughts & Future Directions**     * Reinforcement that entrepreneurship is challenging but necessary for driving innovation within the pickleball industry space        through strategic planning based off honest evaluations backed by data-driven decisions aimed at thriving not just surviving . ### Upcoming Events: - Mentioned future plans including potential expansion into more ambitious events series under “Pickleball Brief”. --- #### Call To Action: Stay tuned! Mark your calendars now so you don't miss out! Visit [pickleball brief dot com](http://pickleballbrief.com) for further updates! Download a FREE copy of our latest Briefing [briefing dot pickleball dot com] (https://briefing.pickleballbrief.com) ---

    48 min

  6. 07/25/2024

    Episode Thirteen: Branding, Innovation, and Controversy in Pickleball Manufacturing - OM Pickleball's Bold Marketing Strategy

    In this episode of The Business of Pickleball, hosts David and Robert chat with Johnny, founder of OM Pickleball. Johnny shares his journey into pickleball manufacturing and discusses the sport's rapid growth over the past five years. He explains how his hands-on experience, rather than traditional research, shaped his approach. The conversation highlights OM Pickleball's innovative internal racket frame concept and their unique branding strategy that positions their product as a 'racket,' sparking debate in a saturated market. Johnny also covers their high-end market focus, direct sales strategy, and partnerships with premium clubs. Tune in for key insights on product design, marketing, and community engagement in this insightful episode! EPISODE SPONSOR: Pickle Pro Advisors > Pickle Pro Advisors

    48 min

  7. 06/06/2024

    Episode Twelve: Pickleball Product Development - From Production to Distribution to Supply Chain Challenges with Mark Kosiba

    In this podcast episode, Pickleball Brief highlights Mark Kosiba, a successful business builder known for companies such as Skullcandy and Traeger Grills. The discussion focuses on manufacturing, market entry, scaling strategies, and insights for the pickleball industry. Mark specifically discusses product manufacturing challenges, particularly in China. Key points include cash flow challenges, defining/understanding customer demographics, data-driven management, prioritization strategies, the value of in-person collaboration, strategic growth via prioritizing customer satisfaction, and the crucial role of quality differentiation in surviving competitive growth markets like the evolving pickleball industry.

    1h 1m

  8. 04/22/2024

    Episode Eleven: Creating A Pickleball Product & Brand from the Ground Up - Cypher Pickleball

    ShowNotes for Episode: The Business of Pickleball with Guest Garrett Cypher. Title: "Stepping Up the Game with Cypher Pickleball Shoes - Insights from Founder Garrett Cypher." Welcome to another episode of "The Business of Pickleball podcast! Robert, David Feldman, and guest Garrett Cypher. discuss Cypher Pickleball, a pickleball shoe company founded by Garrett during COVID. He launched the KEY211 shoe successfully after overcoming many challenges. Online marketing is crucial to reach their tech-savvy demographic. They prioritize product perfection before expanding distribution. Retail diversification is key for success,. The brand values authentic promotion over influencer marketing. Plans for new eyewear are in the works. Garrett looks forward to continued growth and success in the industry. Visit Cypher Pickleball | Men's & Women's Pickleball Shoes for more information. Join hosts Robert Allen and David Feldman as they delve into a conversation filled with entrepreneurial spirit, innovation in sportswear, and the rise of pickleball. This week's special guest is none other than Garrett Cypher., founder of Cypher Pickleball – a brand making waves in the world of pickleball footwear. Key Points Discussed: Introduction to Garrett and his journey into starting Cypher Pickleball during COVID-19. Inspiration behind creating durable pickleball shoes after personal experiences with inadequate footwear. The challenges faced by new brands like trademarking issues and finding product-market fit. An inside look at how social media marketing has been pivotal for reaching an older demographic that's increasingly becoming tech-savvy. The potential shift in ambassador programs influenced by TikTok Shop’s frictionless platform for influencers. Strategies on achieving ideal product-market fit before scaling up, including gathering customer feedback on their first batch release. Importance of having a solid foundation based on quality products prior to expansion efforts such as retail partnerships or wholesale distribution. Insights into partnering with experienced industrial design consultants through platforms like Upwork to ensure top-notch product development. Noteworthy Quotes: “Older players are shopping online…as long as you have transparent returns, reviews that hit right, free shipping – they're receptive.” - Garrett “TikTok is changing the ambassador game…it allows anyone to sign up, sell products directly without any back-and-forth communication.” - Garrett “Before we scale…we want our shoe foundation secure; we’re relentlessly pursuing ideal product market fit." -Garrett Join us as we explore how an internet-first approach coupled with targeted advertising can revolutionize go-to-market strategies for sports startups like Cypher. Stay tuned until the end where our hosts discuss future plans for retail environments within private clubs and franchises—a must-hear segment for those looking to diversify revenue streams beyond just court fees! Don't forget to subscribe and leave your thoughts about today's insights from the front lines of pickleball business innovation!

    45 min
See All (17)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Pickleball Brief is the go-to business resource for club owners, manufacturers, retailers & start-ups, seeking insights, tools & data.The go-to business resource for club owners, manufacturers, retailers & start-ups, seeking insights, tools & data.

Information