DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - May 24, 2021 - With terms like "dink," "kitchen," "paddle," and "punch," it's no wonder pickleball has become one of America's fastest growing sports (and most fun for that matter). According to the Sport and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball participation grew by a whopping 21.3% from 2019 to 2020 alone. And while the pandemic gave a bump to the growth, pickleball has been trending up in popularity for the last five years. Leading the way is the growth of pickleball among younger age demographics. In fact, according to the 2020 Pickleball Participation Report, the average age of the 3.46 million pickleball players in the U.S is 43.5 years old, with 49% of all players falling into the 18-54 age range.
And that's the market that Delray Beach residents and business professionals Carly Bellis and Courtney Campbell are focusing on with Swinton. The two moms were first introduced to the game of pickleball in mid-2020, mid-pandemic, each with two kids at home, and quickly saw the appeal of the activity and how much fun it could be.
"With all the tennis courts taken one afternoon, we decided to borrow some paddles and give pickleball a try," Bellis said. "We had a great time, and our Thursday evenings became synonymous with pickleball with friends, followed by cocktails, beers, wine and cheese, and tons of fun."
Bellis and Campbell quickly realized that pickleball products, e.g., the paddles, wiffle balls, and gear available for purchase, didn't match their trendy, laidback and fun vibe. Instead, the products seemed unchanged since the sport's birth in 1965, and truly in need of an update.
"It became one of those situations where you want something, you look for it, and when you can't find it, you make it," Campbell said. "That's pretty much how it happened for us. Carly and I wanted to create a brand that was as fun as the game itself – and that's how Swinton came to be."
Bellis, a former lawyer and entrepreneur with numerous digital and e-commerce businesses on her plate, and Campbell, the owner and creative director of Delray Beach-based branding agency Campbell Creative, were the perfect team when it came to creating the brand. Tailored to the young and young-at-heart, Swinton is designed for people who can play a competitive game of pickleball and have a great time, while not taking themselves too seriously.
Swinton is launching a range of products on its website SwintonPickleball.com.
Contact
Melissa Perlman, BlueIvy Communications
