USA Pickleball Ambassador and Eastport Pickleball founder Sara Aiken .
for , she decided to make her own . She launched Eastport Pickleball in 2016 .
“ Never back then did I realize or think about or predict what would happen ( in the sport ),” said Aiken , who had a background in finance and the satellite telecommunications industry .
She branded it as “ pickleball ’ s poshest paddle ” and priced it at $ 125 because at the time , she said , that was the price of a luxury-brand Hermes scarf . She still operates on a small scale , making the paddles right on her dining room table .
Carly Bellis is another woman who was introduced to the sport during the pandemic-fueled explosion . She , business partner Courtney Campbell and their husbands were regular tennis players at their home in Delray Beach , Florida , but one day after it had rained the clay courts they frequented weren ’ t usable and the tennis pro suggested pickleball .
“ We rented paddles from them and literally Googled the rules on the walk to the courts ,” Bellis said . “ Then we got there and had so much fun even though we didn ’ t know what we were doing . There was great energy — people were playing music and having fun , running around , and we fell in love .”
Bellis and Campbell founded Swinton Pickleball to be “ the brand we wished we could find ” when they started shopping for their own gear . Something high quality , but also fun , that didn ’ t take itself too seriously . The products include paddles , bags , towels , hats and apparel , with sayings such as “ Kitchen ’ s Closed ” and “ Dinking Champ .”
“ I think when we started early on there were still some questions as to whether this was going to be a fad ,” Bellis said . “ Now it ’ s proven that it ’ s not .”
Baxter also entered the market after looking for a brand that spoke to the things she loves most about pickleball : its accessibility and ability to bring together people of all generations ,
Sara Aiken with pro Ben Johns . abilities and backgrounds .
“ It seemed like everything I was finding that was fun was really cheaply made , and everything that was performance-oriented was really intense and the marketing was all about sweaty men ,” she said . “ I thought there was an opportunity for something else , a vibrant , colorful aesthetic that also appeals to how people are playing — at family reunions , or work events , or with friends with a beer in their hand . I was speaking to those people .”
Nettie sells a range of paddles but also focuses on gift sets , Baxter said , so that people can share the
SEE NEXT PAGE �
Feature
MAY / JUNE 2023 | MAGAZINE 67