Ep 342: How She Started a Racket Sports Clothing Brand - The Wringer Wear Story with Wendi Aspes

Meet RingerWare And The Big Idea

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Well, hello friends, this is Kimberly. It's episode 342, and I'm so glad that you are listening today because I am interviewing the one and only Wendy Aspis, the owner of RingerWare. Oh, yes, RingerWare makes clothing for men and women for all types of racket sports, whether you're playing pickleball, pedel, or tennis. They are the yummiest fabrics, but what you may not realize is that they have a very special technology, and it's a patented technology that has been incorporated into the skirts and shorts to help people who have sweaty hands. And I know you some of you are like, oh yes, I have sweaty hands. And some of you are thinking, wait, do I have sweaty hands? And here's the truth you probably do more than you think. And you've probably wiped your hands on your shirt or tried to figure out, you know, towels to have, but they've got the patented technology that's on the skirts and on the men's shorts. So that when you wipe your hands on this fabric, and it's an amazing, like nice fabric that's on the sides, allows you to wipe your hands. They're dry because they believe that dry hands are fast hands. So this clothing line is awesome. I'm so happy to have met Wendy. I was actually at a pickleball tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. My husband and I live here in Houston, and we had qualified for it from our local club here at Ace Pickleball. So shout out to Ace. We went there and we ended up, y'all, winning the tournament in our 50 plus division. We won $2,500 and some shoes and a racket. It was like insane. I was like, when in the world do you get to win $2,500 these days? Anyways, we had a ball and I met Wendy there because she was marketing her business there. She had a booth and I went up to her and I was talking to her and she shared her story and all of a sudden. And I thought, this is amazing. I'm gonna have to have her on the show. This would be awesome. And I think what she shares is so important to you, whether you're in the idea stage of a business, whether you're starting one now, whether you're building one, you get to hear what she has gone through and how intelligently she has positioned her brand in the marketplace to really find that sweet spot of racquetball sports because, or, you know, racket sports in general, because there doesn't seem to be a brand out there that really owns this space. And so they're looking to do that. They've got the patented technology. The fabrics are yummy, like totally yummy. I love my skirt, my sweatshirt, my top that I got. And I'm just excited for you to hear the story and learn from Wendy. She sare, she shares everything very clearly and simply, but you can just hear the intelligence behind everything, the strategy behind what she's doing because she's taking this seriously. So if you've had a dream or you've had a passion for whatever it is, this is going to inspire you. And I'm so excited to share Wendy with you. Also, too, really quick, you get a 20% discount today for being a listener. All you have to do is click the link down below that takes you to RingerWare. And by the way, it starts with a W. It's W-R-I-N-G-E-R Ware, W-E-A-R. So ringerware.com. Okay. And if you just click the link down below, that's my affiliate link. It'll take you over and you'll get that 20% off. Or if you just use the coupon code SJGS, you will get 20% off. So so excited for you to hear Wendy and so excited for all that you're gonna learn from her. Okay, on to the episode. Well, hello, Wendy. I am so excited that you're here today on the She's Just Getting Started podcast.

SPEAKER_00 3:42

What an honor. Thank you so much. I am so thrilled to be here. This is really an honor for me as well.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

Ringerware is impressive, it's awesome, and it's a new business that you're just getting going. And I want to hear all about it.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

Every day is a uh new adventure for sure as a as a business owner, as I'm sure most people who start who've started a business

The Closet Aha Moment

SPEAKER_00 4:02

can attest to.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Yes, it's like a roller coaster ride. It's like emotional and actual roller coaster. 100%.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

It's like dealing with a middle school girl, is really what I think.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

It's unpredictable, takes all these turns. Exactly. Definitely one of the most fulfilling things and one of the awesome journeys. So I would love for you to share why RingerWare exists, why it was started, and just give us the scoop on it so it could everyone can understand where you're coming from and why it began.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

Sure. Um, I've been a competitive athlete my whole life. I started playing tennis when I was a little girl, and I played all as I was growing up and through high school, and I went to college to play. And it was kind of like religion in my house. You picked up a tennis racket. Um, and I always had sweaty hands, and it was just my thing. I would lose grips, uh, rackets would fly out of my hands. Um, but it there was no solution for it. Um, fast forward a bunch of years later, because I grew up in the Northeast, um, I moved down to Atlanta where it is hot, really, really, really hot and humid uh a lot of the year. And when I was playing racket sports down here, um, my problem got worse. And I realized that there had to be a better way than what was on the market, which was honestly nothing. You have um overgrips and you have lotions and you have um towels that you can use, but nothing that actually solved the problem immediately in the middle of a point. And finally, one day I just had enough and I was standing in my closet and I was getting dressed to go play. And I thought, there has got to be something better than just a regular skirt or just a regular pair of shorts. And I have an idea that can change the game for women like me.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Literally and figuratively like everything. Really? Wait, so that that aha moment for you was in your closet?

SPEAKER_00 6:00

In my closet, putting on a skirt. Um, but the truth was I didn't know how to go about doing it. I didn't ever start a brand before. I've never been in the apparel business. Uh, I was a director of marketing for a pediatric brain tumor research foundation. That was what I did for work. So the racket sports was on the side for fun and for um just to get some competition and to work out. Um, but it wasn't ever something that I was pursuing. And then in that moment, I thought, I I'm ready to make a change. I think there's um a midlife, so getting knocking on 50's door. Right. And um I wanted to do something different. And this idea was uh at the top of mind. And then COVID happened. And during COVID, like many other families um in the US and probably across the world, we all put a net in our driveway to get outside and get a little exercise, um, play with the kids, and we started playing pickleball. And we started getting obsessed with pickleball. And and it was like, all right, this is the perfect time to pivot, change careers, change course, and try to pursue this idea that um I had had um, but didn't know how to get there. So that's that is really this the start of of where Ringer started.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

Yeah. So were you still working when you had this aha moment? You were still working, were you working full-time?

SPEAKER_00 7:41

Uh I was I was working um for the foundation. Okay. Um, from home. Okay. So uh everything, you know, the whole world was on hold.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

So yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Uh, but yes, I was still working at the And you were doing marketing.

SPEAKER_01 7:53

So you kind of had a little experience with like, oh, how may uh how you bring a message out or sharing a message with the world and trying to attract people and and all of that. So, what was the first thing you did? You're like, okay, I'm ready. I'm ready for this like second act. I want to pursue this. I see a need. What were those first steps that you took?

Finding Mentors And Manufacturing Help

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Well, uh, funny you say that. The first step was um discussing this with my brother-in-law, who was also becoming obsessed with pickleball at the same time that I was during COVID. Okay. And saying to him, hey, uh, what if we did this together? What if we started a business together? What if we started an apparel brand together? He's a sweaty mess when he plays. Uh, my hands are sweating. Let's build a brand around sweat technology. Um, and he was all in, which to my probably my husband's um chagrin, he was a little apprehensive about me going into business with his brother. Um, but we bring very different skill sets to the table. Um, and I think that we both have a passion for this sport and for, and myself in particular for all racket sports. So we thought, hey, let's give it a shot. Let's see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Yes, that is fascinating that you would start your business with your brother-in-law. Um, I know the in-laws and family and all that can have an interesting dynamic. And sometimes they say that doesn't work. What was it about your complementary skills? Like what were those skills that you think would work together well?

SPEAKER_00 9:29

Well, I think the most important thing really is that we're both in this to succeed for one another. And I want to win so he can win, and he wants to win so I can win. So we have each other's back. And we're, and I think in general, the apparel business can be tricky as I'm learning day to day. And to have a partner who you know is trustworthy and is going to shoot you straight and protect you when you need it, I think really makes a difference and has made a big difference for us.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

So you tell him, and then you're like, okay, we want to do this. So now what? Now what happens? Now we try to figure out how to do that.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

Uh we we went around and we spoke to a lot of people who had either been in the apparel business or had been entrepreneurs, and we tried to surround ourselves with mentors and experience to help us kind of navigate how to source fabric, how to pick a factory, how to design, how to have a technical design. I mean, there were layers upon layers upon layers. And my personality is very much um, I want the playbook. Give me the playbook, right? And I can follow the steps and I can crush it. But when you don't have a playbook and you're making it up a little bit as you go, it's difficult. Um, new things are coming at you all the time. How do you process it? Where does it fit in your schedule? Oh, by the way, I'm also a mom of three.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

So I'm navigating those roles as well. Um so that's that's kind of where we started. We just tried to to talk to people and and figure it out from there.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Yeah. I can't imagine trying to find manufacturing. I'm just thinking about that. And I'm like, oh my gosh, clothing is just a whole world that that I don't know too much about, you know, actually doing it yourself. But yeah, man, so do you do it in the USA? How how do you go about that?

SPEAKER_00 11:26

So we we got really lucky. We met a partner based out of California. Oh, and they have been in the industry for a long time, and they had connections and made introductions for us. So wow. That was really, really important because we tried to do it on our own and the prototypes we got back were just not right. And both uh I also was very much felt like I'm not gonna do this unless it's a hundred percent, I can get a hundred percent behind it.

SPEAKER_02 11:57

Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

Um, and if the product's not perfect, I'm too old to wear something that's uncomfortable or doesn't fit right or doesn't look right, and it's gotta perform.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

So you had mentioned that about the sweaty hands and all that. So, how did that start coming into play?

The Patented Towel Fabric Explained

SPEAKER_00 12:14

So the real differentiator, I think, in who um Ringer is as a brand is that we have a patented fabric that's built into our men's and women's bottoms, and it's basically a towel built into your shorts and skirts where you can wipe your hands and it absorbs the sweat and then it evaporates. And our outer layers are hydrophobic, which means water repels right off of them. So you're not sitting in anything heavy and um sweaty. And it's a game changer. If you think about it, and when you tell when I tell people the story about Wybringer started, they'll say, My hands sweat all the time, and I'm constantly looking for relief. But if you could find relief mid-rally, right on right on your skirts or your shorts, then you're thinking about the next point. You're not thinking about when am I going to wipe my hands? Because the truth is, if you're focusing on your sweaty hands, you're not thinking about the next rally, next point. All of a sudden, you're two, three points down. How did that happen? You've lost a game because you've lost focus. So we're giving you a competitive edge that everybody needs.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Right.

Brand Positioning And Market Opportunity

SPEAKER_01 13:20

And so when you were trying to figure out your market positioning, which by the way, for everyone listening, I feel like Wendy and Jason have done a really good job of this and are taking this extremely seriously, which I see a lot of new business owners kind of jump in sometimes and they don't really think about their positioning and their long-term goals and everything. So tell us about that. Like compared to the other brands out there, what was kind of your thought? I know you said it was the technology that was totally different. What else do you think it is that makes your brand special or that what you were trying to do with your brand to position it effectively?

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Well, I think we're trying to be the Racquet Sports apparel brand for everyone who loves the sport and feels part of a community. I think in this day and age, it's really important. And I find there's a lot of people want to feel a part of something, a part of a community. And it's almost like like you how you and I met. If I see you playing and we start talking, oh, you're a pickleball player, I'm a pickleball player. There's like this instant connection. And then in that connection, we foster community. Um, and Ringer wants to be the brand for that community. So yes, we we have a competitive edge. We make a difference on the court, but we make you feel good and look good as well, because looking good is is important. Um so our things fit you well, our cuts are flattering.

SPEAKER_01 14:49

Yes, they're so cute. This is skirt, by the way. Oh my gosh, it fits so cute. I love it. And this top so cozy. I'm like, it's yummy fabric.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

And I think these are our fabrics. We've developed them. We took a lot of time and careful thought into um what we want it to feel like, how we want it to wash, let's be honest. Because if you're sweating in it at all, you have to wash it, uh, how it wears over time.

SPEAKER_02 15:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

Um, so we were very intentional with our creation of everything we've made.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Yeah. So you sell online direct to consumer. And is your goal to get in stores or just to always be direct to consumer?

SPEAKER_00 15:28

Or what are your thoughts on that? So our we do sell direct to consumer online at ringerware.com. Yes. And we also are in pickleball facilities. Okay. We are in um country clubs. Um, we are expanding in the wholesale market. We do co-branding. So we can put your logo uh on our gear as well. We are doing uniforms for major league pickleball teams, for senior major league pickleball teams, for colleges. We do the uniforms, uh, uniform top for the University of Georgia Pickleball Club. Um, so we are really running the gamut. Uh we we want anyone who loves racket sports to wear our stuff. And I think because the growth of the racket sports market, yeah, and not just pickleball, I'm talking tennis. Padell. There's a crazy stat. 92% of people who play Padell one time play it again. So 92%. That's crazy. Therein lies a huge apparel market as well. So pickleball's booming, right? From 2021 to 2024, there's a 311% growth rate. 311.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

Let that sit for a second. That's tennis is up and is uh on the rise as well.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Now you have Padell. Um so there's a huge market there for apparel. And in my personal opinion, there's never been a brand that has owned the space. There've been lots of at-leisure brands. There's been, you know, brands that are definitely recognizable in in their own sports, but no one has ever been a brand that really gives you quite a competitive edge. And so we say, like, what does your skirt do for you? What do your shorts do for you?

unknown 17:30

Right.

SPEAKER_00 17:30

Ours do something for you. They give you an edge that you did not have. And that I think is the big differentiator of who we are.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

Wow. And I love the branding. Did y'all have to get a professional company to do this? Or how did you come up with the branding?

SPEAKER_00 17:45

No, when your when your partner and your co-founder uh is was a creative director, it's it's really nice that it comes in.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Super easy at that point. Yeah, yeah, that must be nice. There's a lot of people that struggle with trying to get their brand done and all that.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

100%. So ringer's twofold. Ringer is one is ringing sweat, right?

SPEAKER_01 18:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

And the other is a ringer, is everybody wants to play with a ringer. So it's someone who's the best at on the court, but may not look like it. So let's be honest. It's still a pair of shorts. It's still a skirt at the end of the day. It's still a shirt, but it performs better and it does something. So that's why that's where ringer the name came from.

SPEAKER_01 18:25

I love it. Did that take you a long time to come up with it? Or was it just like these are the things that our goals are? And it was like, boom, that's the name.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

Yeah, it it was one of the first ones that um that came out, and and I was like, that's you're like, that's it. Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

I know I remember seeing you at the pickleball thing. I think you were wearing a sweatshirt that said it because it was in the winter. I was like, what is that? Yeah. And I was talking to you about your stuff. We were on a break, and I was like, oh my gosh, these are so cute.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

And by the way, watching Kimberly play was so fun. She crushed it out there.

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Was I a ringer?

SPEAKER_00 19:00

You she was a ringer.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

She played division.

SPEAKER_00 19:04

It doesn't matter what division you play in. If you are having fun, that's what this sport is all about.

SPEAKER_01 19:10

You're sesame.

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Well, it was fun to watch. It's always fun to watch when you can tell people who are super, super competitive, um, even when they're just smiling, like just by your stance and by your your facial expressions. I knew that your opponents were in some trouble.

SPEAKER_01 19:27

This was a real deal over 50. My husband and I, my husband's actually the competitive one. So we joke

Marketing Playbook And Ambassador Program

SPEAKER_01 19:33

all the time. But anyways, it's it's so much fun. So as far as you doing marketing and things, like you had the booth at the the pickleball championship that we went to in Atlanta. So what are the things that y'all are doing to market and get the right? I know you mentioned you had college players um wearing it and wearing the brand and things like that. Is there any other things particularly that y'all have goals for that you want to do? Or um, sure.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

So we have an ambassador program, which we are really excited about. We have a lot of people signed up. Um, and that's great because they represent the brand and then they post content. Um, the Atlanta PPA Slam is coming up starting Monday. That's a major event for pickleball. And so we will be there in the Pickleball Central tent. Awesome. Um, and then we're just marketing to, you know, the Padell clubs and the tennis clubs and all the pros. We do trade shows, um, we do pop-up events. Um, we're just trying to really get the message out there because my favorite part so far has been when I've told someone the story of what Ringer is and why it's different. And they've come back and said, Oh my god, why hasn't anyone thought of this before?

SPEAKER_02 20:53

Right.

SPEAKER_00 20:53

Where has this been my whole racket sports career? Yeah and that was that was how I felt. The first time I put on the skirt and played in it, and it was just a prototype, I thought, this is it. This is what I've been looking for all these years, and I've tried all these other things, and here it is. So we solved, we solved the problem.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Yes, what an amazing feeling. Well, it's funny you say that because when I met you at the pickleball tournament and I was like, I want to go see, I saw your stuff there in the corner. I went over there and I was like, oh, this is so cute. And I started talking to you, and then you were sharing a little bit about the business, and then we kept talking, and then you shared the story. And I was like, this is so awesome. This is exactly what you should be doing. Just me being a person that's been a business coach and just like, you know, I've met all kinds of vendors. But all of a sudden I was emotionally invested in this. And I saw that it had this angle of, you know, that you could wipe your hands on it and no more sweaty hands. But then also you were sharing your story, how this was a second act for you. And all of it just drew me in. And I thought, this is fascinating. This is awesome. And so I just want to commend you on that. Because I thought that was really good about you sharing the story. I think part of it right now, it's an education process, right? Everyone knows some of the other brands at their stores everywhere. And maybe we don't have to be educated on those. But I think when you have a new brand that has a patented technology and has something very special about it that came from a gap and came from a need in the market, you've got to educate people on some level. And being a real human being and talking to people that come up to your booth or ask about your clothing and having a fun conversation goes so far. It goes a long way.

SPEAKER_00 22:36

And so I think that's actually it's the most rewarding and the most difficult at the same time, right? Getting that message out there, spreading the word, sharing the story, um, posting the content, keeping up with, you know, I I'm I am learning TikTok uh at a much at a much slower pace than my my children, I promise you. Uh I've been told my videos are cringe, um, and some other some other lingo, I don't know what means, but um yeah, so that's that's the hardest part is is the story is there, right? It is right and it's not complicated. There was a gap in the market, I figured it out. Let me introduce this to you. It will change everything for you. Um but it's hard, and we've you know, we've done this all ourselves. So we've we've bootstrapped this and um we've got some exciting things in the works that you know hopefully will take us to the next level. But um it's you know, it's not all sunshine and and roses and pickleballs and tennis balls and all the things. I'll

What’s Hard About Bootstrapping

SPEAKER_00 23:44

tell you that.

SPEAKER_01 23:45

What's been hard? What do you think is been hard? Just for other listeners out there who who are starting a business too, and we've got the ups and downs, like we mentioned at the beginning. What what's been hard for y'all just on an honest level? Like what because you're a new business owner, like you didn't, you weren't doing this before.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

So I think what's been hard is knowing what you don't know and trying to figure out how to bridge that gap. Um I think time management is always an issue. There's so many things and there's so many um places I want to be physically. I want to be at every tournament. I want to be at every club, I want to talk to every pro, but I'm one person.

SPEAKER_02 24:24

Right.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

So what are the tools at my disposal that I can use um to spread that message? Right. It's an amazing podcast, meeting you, you know, talking to other. Hopefully there's women out there who love the racket sports and say, hey, I'll check this out. Or um, I think those that's been, I think, the difficulties. Um just trying to bridge the gap of what I should know, what I do know, and what what is still out there. And and owning your own business. I know in my bones that this product can change people's lives on the court. And I just have to keep pushing until everyone else knows it too. Oh

Product Demo And Performance Details

SPEAKER_00 25:07

my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

I love that so much. Okay, so now as you're talking, I'm like smiling because I love the story and everything you're sharing. But also wondered if you could show us I see the cute little purple top behind you and all that.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

Okay, so this is the skirt that comes in a bunch of different colors. Okay. Um, and this is the fabric, the patented fabric built in here on the side.

SPEAKER_01 25:27

Oh, okay, on the side, right? On the side. The little green black one.

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Exactly. So you're black there. It feels it feels like a towel.

SPEAKER_01 25:33

Right.

SPEAKER_00 25:34

Um, and you can wipe your hands, it absorbs the sweat, and then it evaporates. It has, you know, compression lined, okay, shorts underneath. Yeah. Um, we also make a women's short as well. Oh, okay. Um we have a men's short that's compression lined. It's got the same patented fabric. You could see it on the back, on the front for men. But here's the coolest thing this is hydrophobic, which means water repels off of it. Let's see if you can see this. And I'm gonna pour a little water and it just drips.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

Wait, what?

SPEAKER_00 26:05

Rolls right off. You're not sitting in anything heavy. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna have to order my husband a beer.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

He'll just roll amazing, and he sweats profusely as well.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

So right on. So there you go.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

The product is amazing.

SPEAKER_00 26:19

Wow. And you know, when I talk to people, sometimes they're like, well, I don't sweat and I don't really and I'm like, if you're holding a paddle or a racket, anything that you're gripping tightly, which you have to when you're playing a racket sport, your hands are definitely have moisture on right. And so I think that those players then, you know, they use the product, they're like, oh, this is totally a game changer than what I had initially thought it was.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

Yeah. Yeah. I bet you know, trying it is then you become a a believer. A believer. No, but a believer. I am a believer though. Um, but anyway, that's all.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

I hear you. Yes, that's a different episode that we're gonna discuss. It's a totally different episode. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:03

And this sweatshirt is so darn cute. I love how the sleeves are blousey. I don't know exactly, is that what you called it?

SPEAKER_00 27:11

A blouse, yeah, it has a little blouse and sleeve. So we have that, we have hoodies, we made light, I'm wearing the leggings right now.

SPEAKER_02 27:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

Um so we just built a whole line out based around the shorts and the skirt, just tops and things that look cute. And these are these are all performance fabrics, so they don't hold sweat. Um, next week I'll be at the PPA tournament and it could get up to 90 degrees, and I'll be out there all day long, and I'll come home and you won't see any sweat marks through it. So it's pretty special. Like I said, too old to wear things that don't work for you.

SPEAKER_01 27:42

Yeah, yeah, I know. Like we gotta have some function now. And yeah. And I want it to fit nice and look cute, and these definitely fit that bill. I absolutely love them.

SPEAKER_00 27:52

And it it's great for it's great for teams. We have pros wearing it, um, the pros are wearing it on the courts. And so it's it's exciting to see the trajectory of this because I am, you know, when you vision board it out, yeah, um, I see where this can go. Yeah. And it's it's just getting the right, I think, pieces in place to get there.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

When you were just saying that about the pros wearing it, and I'm thinking about your aha moment in the closet, which I envisioned as well. And I'm thinking the contrast between that and then seeing the pros where it, I mean, there's got to be this like feeling of just pure fulfillment and exhilaration all at the same time that this actually happened. You actually did this. And how rewarding is that for

Second Act Mindset And Final Advice

SPEAKER_01 28:36

you?

SPEAKER_00 28:36

It it's it feels great when I have a minute to think about it, which nobody has a minute to think about it. Um, I think what's also really rewarding for me is I wanted to show my daughters, and I have I have three children, I have a son and two daughters. I wanted to show them that you could do anything at any time. Um, that it didn't matter if you didn't know how to do something, you could learn. Um, for all my kids to show them that, and that this is a big pivot. Um, I spend a lot of time doing this, a lot of time that, you know, I don't get back. Um but I so deeply believe in this product to my core that I can't stop. If I someone said to me, Well, what happens if this happens, or what happens if you had to stop tomorrow? And I said, I I can't stop until everyone has heard and everyone has, you know, listened to this podcast as the first one because you're the first, you're the first podcast I've done. So this is exciting.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

Excited. That makes my heart smile. I love it. I'm so happy. Yeah, now you'll be addicted to these two. You'll be like, okay, great. What other podcasts can I get on? Great marketing tool for any business out there because there's people like me who want to feature people like you and want to have these conversations. And um, you know, you can be talking to women who are just starting a second act, or you can be talking to business owners. There's all these different angles about innovation and building a brand and and all that. And I think there's so many things you can do. It's just it's just so wonderful to watch. I'm just so thankful I got to meet you that day. And is there anything that you want to leave with the listeners out there? People who may be thinking about starting a business, anyone who's building a business now, do you have any words of wisdom or anything that you want to share?

SPEAKER_00 30:18

Um, I would say, first of all, thank you so much for having me on here because this has just been so fun. Um, I would say that there are going to be a million reasons why you shouldn't start a business or why you shouldn't follow that dream, or why you can't think it's possible to meet that goal. But all of that is just noise. And if you block out the noise and you just focus it on one thing and doing one thing really well, you'll be successful. And if you love it and you're passionate about it, and you you know, I I like to think that Ringer is a disruptor in this field, right? We're not a big gun, uh, we don't have billions of dollars behind that we can pour in. We're very strategic about our spends. Um, and so there is the old adage, if there's a will, there's a way. It's absolutely a hundred percent true. And I I I encourage all your listeners to go after their dreams. And if it works, um it it will be so rewarding that all the pain and all the doubt will completely wash away.

SPEAKER_01 31:29

Oh my gosh. I love that. Amen, sister. I think that is awesome. And I hope everyone who's listening takes that to heart. Wendy, you're amazing. I'm so thankful we met at the tournament. And I'm so thankful that I get to prance around and play in the this ringer wear and be able to wipe my hands on my skirt when they get all sweaty and I'll think of you. And I'm so honored just to be wearing the brand and talking to you today. And thank you for coming on.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

Thank you. I'd I'd also love to offer your listeners um a discount.

Listener Discount And How To Connect

SPEAKER_01 32:03

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_00 32:04

Um, they will let's do that. So, anyone who goes to our website, which is ringerware.com, um, if you put in the code SJGS, um, they will get a discount. Um a checkout.

SPEAKER_02 32:22

I'm excited.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

And if they have any questions, you can you can email me. I'm Wendy at ringerware.com, Wendy with an I. Um and I'm I'm always I'm the one who answers all the emails. Um so I'd be happy to talk to anyone. And I think I appreciate you so for sharing Ringer. And I can't wait to see you at the next tournament.

SPEAKER_01 32:44

That's it.

SPEAKER_00 32:45

Winning winning in Ringer.

SPEAKER_01 32:47

That's exactly right. Well, that's amazing. Okay, so coupon code SJGS for everyone listening, and all of Wendy's contact information in the Ringer website, Instagram page, all that is down below so you can follow, get involved, and and see how amazing their products are, how cute they are, and learn from her about what this looks like to be building a business, doing something you're really passionate about. Yeah, it's such a great example, and I love how serious y'all are taking it and positioning it. And I have no doubt it's going to be a fantastic success.

SPEAKER_00 33:21

Well, thank you so much for believing in us, and uh really excited to see what the future holds.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Yeah, you too. Well, thank you for this episode. Okay, don't forget, dry hands are fast and fast hands, that's right. I don't know. Dry hands are fast.com. Yes, you can get more valuable information for your journey. And you know what? You don't need to go through this alone. I would love to help. Thank you so much, and have a great day. Bye.