How I Built This with Guy Raz – Spikeball: Chris Ruder

Intro

In this episode of “How I Built This with Guy Raz,” host Guy Raz interviews Chris Ruder, the founder of Spikeball, a game that combines elements of volleyball and four square. Chris shares the story of how he revived the almost-forgotten game and turned it into a thriving brand. From contacting the original inventor to navigating the challenges of running a business, Chris’s journey is filled with ups and downs.

Main Takeaways

Reviving Spikeball

• The Spikeball game, a cross between volleyball and four square, was almost forgotten until Chris Ruder revived it and turned it into a thriving brand.
• Spikeball sets were available in the late 1980s, but the game never took off and was eventually discontinued.
• Chris Ruder had to contact the inventor of the original Spikeball and deal with the delicate matter of who had the rights to the game before reviving it.
• Jeff Knerich, the inventor of Spikeball, believes it was unethical that the trademark was not renewed.

Early Challenges and Trends

• Chris ran the business all by himself for six years while holding down a full-time job, struggling with sales, until he noticed an interesting trend among a few particular groups of people that would help get Spikeball on a different trajectory.
• One of those groups was the Amish.
• Playing Spikeball brought people together socially and created a sense of closeness.
• The appeal of Spikeball was not about being the best player or winning, but about the social aspect.

Building the Brand and Community

• Chris Ruder purchased the spikeball.com domain for $100, which was critical to the success of the business.
• Chris Ruder built the Spikeball following one person, one email at a time.
• Spikeball gained popularity among Christian youth groups, ultimate Frisbee players, PE teachers, and Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania.
• Spikeball’s revenue reached $45,000 in year 3 and hit a million dollars in revenue with zero full-time employees in 2013.

Growth and Expansion

• Dick’s Sporting Goods reached out to Spikeball to carry their product, and Spikeball gradually expanded to over 700 stores.
• Spikeball faced cashflow problems and went on Shark Tank to raise money.
• Spikeball acquired Flango, a tournament platform that makes running events easier, as part of their diversification strategy.
• Spikeball’s success is due to serendipity, luck, and taking the first step.

Summary

Reviving Spikeball and Early Challenges

Chris Ruder revived the almost-forgotten game of Spikeball, which combines elements of volleyball and four square. He had to navigate the delicate matter of who had the rights to the game and contacted the original inventor, Jeff Knerich. Despite the trademark not being renewed, Chris decided to revive Spikeball and faced early challenges, including struggling with sales and running the business on his own while working a full-time job. However, he noticed a trend among certain groups, such as the Amish, who embraced Spikeball for its social aspect.

Building the Brand and Community

Chris focused on building the Spikeball brand and community by purchasing the spikeball.com domain, personally reaching out to customers, and targeting specific groups like Christian youth groups, ultimate Frisbee players, PE teachers, and Amish and Mennonite communities. The game’s popularity grew organically through word-of-mouth and social media, leading to significant revenue growth and expansion.

Growth and Expansion

Spikeball’s success caught the attention of Dick’s Sporting Goods, leading to a partnership and expansion to over 700 stores. However, Spikeball faced cashflow problems and went on Shark Tank to raise money. Additionally, the acquisition of Flango, a tournament platform, allowed Spikeball to streamline events and diversify its offerings. Throughout the journey, serendipity, luck, and taking the first step played a significant role in Spikeball’s success.

Conclusion

Chris Ruder’s story of reviving Spikeball demonstrates the power of recognizing trends, building a community, and persevering through challenges. From struggling with sales to becoming a thriving brand, Spikeball’s journey is a testament to the impact of a social and inclusive game. As Spikeball continues to grow and expand, it remains committed to sustainability, ethical manufacturing practices, and its vision of round net becoming a recognized sport with professional leagues and Olympic recognition.