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We had the chance to catch up with Joel Mower from Dink Ninjas Pickleball. From personal challenges to pickleball passion, here’s what he had to say about his journey and the brand’s unique approach to the sport.
Tell us about Dink Ninjas. How did you come up with this idea?
Dink Ninjas: I came up with the idea for the brand shortly after my wife was diagnosed with cancer. I decided to use my creativity and entrepreneurial spirit as an outlet and coping mechanism. My wife has recovered and is now healthy. We are truly blessed.
How did you promote your company in the early days?
Dink Ninjas: I used word-of-mouth marketing and social media platforms to help promote my brand.
How did you decide on your brand’s name and logo design?
Dink Ninjas: I came up with the name Dink Ninjas Pickleball while not being able to sleep one night. I thought playing pickleball with a ninja as your opponent would be nearly impossible. I wanted the brand and logo to have a fun and approachable image.
What challenges did you face when first launching your pickleball products?
Dink Ninjas: Building a brand from the ground up in a space that is new to me posed many different challenges. From building brand awareness, building a website, building an online presence, social media presence, and finding high-quality manufacturing.
How do you differentiate your pickleball equipment from other brands in the market?
Dink Ninjas: I am an avid pickleball player. I have worked hard to develop high-quality products with a unique, fun, and approachable brand image that I believe embodies the spirit of the game of pickleball.
Can you share a memorable customer story or testimonial about your products?
Dink Ninjas: I was approached by a customer whose mother is a cancer survivor shortly after launching our hot pink edition paddle which benefits cancer research. He and his wife organize a yearly charity pickleball tournament benefiting cancer research. Through our conversation, we now donate our hot pink paddles to their annual charity tournaments.
What’s your process for developing and testing new pickleball paddles or accessories?
Dink Ninjas: I continue to create products that I have wanted and needed while playing the game. I believe the best way to test new products is to utilize the incredible pickleball community and gain valuable insights and feedback from fellow pickleball players before launching a product to make sure it is of the highest quality possible.
How do you see your local pickleball brand evolving in the next 5 years as the sport continues to grow?
Dink Ninjas: We continue to be blessed by support from our local pickleball community. We learned quickly that the sport of pickleball that we love so much embodies a strong community. We believe that by providing the best possible experience for the community, we will be blessed by continued support and growth.
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Our intention at Pickleland is to share inspiring stories from pickleball players, local brands community initiatives that make a difference. If you know of other inspiring stories or have one to share, please reach out to us!