Canadian Owned- Booma is Booming!

In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, I sit down with Jessie and Dominic, the husband-and-wife team behind BOOMA, a proudly Canadian family-owned pickleball and ping pong equipment company.

What started as a family discovery of pickleball in Florida has grown into a serious Canadian brand producing USAPA-approved paddles, pickleball gear, protective eyewear, bags, nets, balls, accessories, and ping pong equipment.

We talk about family business, entrepreneurship, raising kids around sport, the explosion of pickleball, paddle technology, product development, Canadian-made passion, and what it really takes to build a brand from the basement up.

This is a great conversation about more than paddles. It is about family, risk, passion, sport, community, and the growing movement to support Canadian pickleball.

🔥 Visit BOOMA:https://boomastore.com/

🔥 Follow BOOMA on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091676805689

In this episode:
• The story behind the BOOMA name• Building a family business as husband and wife• Discovering pickleball in Florida• Why pickleball is such a powerful intergenerational sport• How BOOMA develops and tests new paddles• The importance of USAPA approval• Paddle lifespan and what players should know• Pickleball eye protection and safety• The Montreal Canadiens BOOMA paddle story• Why supporting Canadian pickleball brands matters

If you love pickleball, Canadian businesses, family-run companies, or stories about people taking a risk and building something meaningful, this conversation is for you.

Please like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who loves pickleball.

#Pickleball #CanadianPickleball #BOOMA #KitchenConversations #PickleballPodcast #PickleballCanada #FamilyBusiness #PickleballPaddles #SupportCanadian #PickleballLife

And that wraps up this episode of Kitchen Conversations.

If you enjoyed the conversation, be sure to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

And if you want the full experience, including the visuals, head over to YouTube and watch the episode at

https://www.youtube.com/@KitchenConversationspodcast

Or search Kitchen Conversations Pickleball Podcast

That’s where these stories really come to life.

You’ll also find links and show notes in the episode description.

Until next time…

more than dinks, drops and drives…

these are stories from behind the paddle.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hi, welcome to the podcast. Welcome to Kitchen Conversations, and thanks for being here today. You know, the backbone of the country is small businesses, small entrepreneurs who bring to the table something that big corporations simply can't. And that word, in a nutshell, is passion. And you're going to hear lots of that in today's conversation with Jesse and Dominic, owners of Boomer Paddles on Kitchen Conversations. Well, Jesse, Dominic, welcome to Kitchen Conversations. Welcome to my little teeny tiny podcast that uh I'm building here in Kingston, Ontario. And it's really just an absolute pleasure to meet the two of you this morning and to get a chance to say hello. So thank you for being here and welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Thank you for the invitation.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Yeah, it's a pleasure for us to be to be here and um to speak with you.

SPEAKER_02 0:48

Wow, you have just an incredible story. And we were talking just off camera a moment ago, and I have such a deep passion for family-owned businesses and family-owned companies and a high level of respect for what it takes for a couple, a husband and a wife or two partners, to go to work every day and come home every day and sit at the dinner table and talk about the company every single day. My wife and I owned a family business for, I guess it was in our family for 50 years, believe it or not. It started back in 1967, and her and I and her brother kind of came into things with her parents in the late 80s, early 90s. And uh, so I come to the conversation today with a deep appreciation for what you guys are doing as a couple. And as my father-in-law said to me uh once, and I've never forgotten this, he said, to make a marriage work, it's a miracle. To make a marriage work at work, it's a double miracle. So I've never forgotten that. So congratulations on all the success that you've had, uh, both as a couple and a family, and uh now as a family business. So I wanted to start by saying that to you. It's it is a special relationship, though, isn't it? Wouldn't you agree with that?

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Yeah, yeah. Um it's uh we we've we've been together for a long time, and this was kind of a natural step for us. Um so yeah, but um we do talk about it a lot. So the kids um know the business very, very well. Um they they hear us on the phone, they hear us at the table, they hear us on the weekend. Uh, we answer clients' calls all the time. So um, yeah, definitely uh uh a family uh a family affair.

SPEAKER_02 2:21

Yeah. Well, Jesse, I'm gonna tell you, I think that will serve both of them well down the road because I think it shows the commitment and the passion that that you both have for the company and the business and the realization of how important it is in your lives today. And I know for our boys, we, you know, it's the same story. I mean, we would be at home at night with dinner, and of course you'd be talking about the business. And it was, you know, for those listening today that have not been involved in a family-owned company that work for a corporation where you're permitted to turn it off at five o'clock and not think about it till the next day or the you know, after the weekend, it's that's not a luxury that family-owned businesses have. We just don't. And so we were 724, and so the kids were immersed in all of the talk about, and for us it wasn't nearly as exciting as what you're doing. I mean, your business is exciting. We sold furnaces and air conditioning. It wasn't there's not a whole lot of excitement around that, but we enjoyed it. But I, you know, I would much rather have been talking about pickleballs and uh pickleball paddles and and all of that.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

We go on vacation when we're taking pictures of the paddles, we're taking and the kids are like, Again, I need to be in another photo. Like, can't you find somebody else? And now, as they're getting older, they're like, Oh, just play together a bit and I'll take a few shots. And like, oh, come on.

unknown 3:31

I know.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

Well, listen, getting kids to do what you're they're supposed to, and certainly I don't know what age your boys are. Mine are 28 and 25, and there was a certain phase where it didn't matter what mom and I asked them to do, they were just gonna fight it. I mean, I think it's just a phase of boys go through, you know? It's like stand there and try to smile because it cost us a lot of money to get here, and we're gonna pretend we're having a good time. Oh boy.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Memories, memories still will be you'll you'll smile and that's it. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

It's it's fun now, though. We just had our youngest, he's in Ottawa, he lives in Ottawa, our oldest is in Thunder Bay, so we don't see him much. We're flying up to see him in a couple weeks, but our youngest in Ottawa, we see quite a bit. And you know, it's funny to see that relationship change. They've gone from being the kids to kind of being our friends in in a different sense. And I mean, we're still parenting to some extent, but uh yeah, it's quite it's the greatest job. I mean, I loved what I did for a living, I really did. But I love being a dad and I love being a husband, I love being a parent. Uh yeah, it's just my pride and joy, those two kids for sure. So, well, listen, let's um, yeah, let's break our conversation into three rallies if you guys are are good with that. And I try to keep that in the spirit of the game with three rallies and uh rally one, I'd love to hear a bit about your working background, your education, the sports that maybe the two of you played coming up and growing up and maybe met playing sports, perhaps. I don't know, but uh a bit about that. And then rally two, we have to talk about pickleball and how you found it or maybe it found you. And and outside of the company, outside of Boomer, how does it fit into your lives today? And I'd like to hear a bit about that. And then rally three, which I really hope is our longest rally. We want lots of back and forth on that, but I'd love to hear the story of your company. I know you have an interesting story about how it kind of started and uh where it is today and hopefully where it's going. So, with that said, can I ask you to jump into rally one and start by giving me a bit of background on the two of you and kind of what have you done to get where you are today? I'm fascinated to hear that story.

SPEAKER_00 5:22

Yeah. Um, I studied in finance and marketing. And um, I worked um for IBM as a sales specialist, and then I went to um my um my father has uh uh Taylor dealership, so I worked there uh family business also. Uh worked there for maybe 10 years, and then I moved on to finance, and then uh I work also uh as um I was developing uh selling uh cellular uh trail camera for um a local company here. Um and um I was responsible for their Amazon sales uh in the US and Canada. And then uh over all these years I was looking for I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, so I had some opportunity to buy companies, but it didn't it didn't work out. So at one point um we uh we uh we decided to start our own company, uh Boomer. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:29

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

Yeah years ago, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Wow, lots of sales experience for sure. Yeah. I say people that don't, you know, haven't been in sales, they don't know what they're missing. I mean, I just I loved every minute of it. I spent 40 years out there trying to peddle something or another. And uh I actually think I probably started selling when I met my wife. We were uh teenagers, 12, 13, 14 years old when we met. So I I think I did a really good sales job then to get her convinced that I was the right guy. And uh yeah, I often say she could have done a little bit better, maybe a whole lot better, but yeah, uh it's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

It was your sell pitch, your sales pitch.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yeah, yeah. I was selling at 13 already. I didn't realize that was I was destined to be peddling something for most of my life. So now I'm peddling a podcast, so nothing's changing.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

Yeah, Jesse, what about you? Um so I have uh a background in marketing and uh international business. I studied, I did my my master's in international business. Um worked mostly in manufacturing companies, uh really in marketing, product development, um, sales also. And um uh I I kind of just followed the Boomer Trail. Um and um I had Dominic had been looking for a business for a long time and nothing really worked out. Um and uh we were looking for a business that would really fit with us. Um and then we'll we'll know what it is after that, but um I'll keep the suspense. So yeah, um I was uh Dominic started Boomer um a few years, uh when maybe two years, and I jumped in later on.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

Yeah, it's fascinating. But you've got to have, I think, you know, to your point in the story about trying other things, we have to do that in life and we have to sort of dip our toe in there and decide if it's right or wrong. But you know, we always said to the kids, uh, passion before paycheck uh was always a mandate that as a family that yeah, if you're not passionate, and and listen, I joke a little bit about selling furnaces as opposed to pickleball paddles and gear, but you know, I did really love it. And and I think it was something that we took very seriously, but we enjoyed it. Um, so I think, you know, there's so many people. My dad was probably my example about doing something that paid well, but he did not enjoy it. And so I, you know, as a young kid, made a promise kind of to myself that whatever I ended up doing, I'd I'd love doing it. It sounds like that's kind of the path and the passion that you've followed as well. And uh yeah, so I'm looking forward to hearing that story in just a bit. What about your sports background? Oh, wait, before we get there, let me go to this. What's your love story? How did you let's hear the the Boomer love story?

SPEAKER_00 9:04

Yes, yeah, we met we met at uh uh Bishop's University. We we both went there. So um I was asking for some English lesson, so she provided me some lesson and uh we met from there.

SPEAKER_02 9:19

Yeah, wow, isn't that great? How many how many years ago now without a bin?

SPEAKER_00 9:23

Oh gee.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

He's the one that does the calculations. Oh wow, we were in second year of un first year of university, I think.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

I was it's more than it's probably close to 30 years now. Oh boy, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah, that doesn't make us any younger. That's not we we should cut that out of the podcast.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

It might be the best part of the podcast. We're being frank and honest, you know. Yeah, that's what the yeah, the foundation of the company. We're our integrity, transparency, and honesty, yeah, for sure. So yeah, we can change a lot about our lives, can't we? But we can't slow the clock down. There's just no the first person to figure that out is gonna do okay, by the way. But uh yeah, well, it's interesting. What about your sports background? Did you guys do a lot of sports together, kind of you know, when you were starting to get your act together?

SPEAKER_01 10:10

And uh yeah, well, sports is uh the center of the center of our of both of our lives. Um, I've been in uh in high school, I played um soccer in the badminton team, the swimming team. Um we we still continue to do a lot of sports. We're like a jack of all trades, master of none. Like we have a basement full of uh uh we could probably open a sports store, and now with the kids, so it's even worse. But um, we make sure that we have something for every for every sport. So we we play golf, we play tennis, we play obviously pickleball. Um but uh yeah, old past badminton players now.

SPEAKER_00 10:52

Um I played hockey also, uh but nothing uh competitive level. Like uh I was playing for fun, and um so like Jesse just said, uh we're uh we're playing a lot of sports, but not on a competitive uh level.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

Yeah. And we're always yeah, we're always into sports too. Like if we have a few minutes, we're out running. Uh we've run Dominic's run uh marathons.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Uh forgot about that. Uh yeah, and we'll be thinking of running another one too.

SPEAKER_01 11:31

It might be a comeback. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Oh, oh, is this something that's coming up this summer? This fall? Are you training?

SPEAKER_00 11:40

We live in Warwick, a small town, 5,000 people uh city. And uh we're gonna have our first marathon in the fall, and it's a Boston qualifier. So uh it's been like uh maybe 15 years since I ran the marathon, but uh, I mean now is the time to come back, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

Well, good good for you. I'm gonna tell you something. If you ever see me running, uh pull over and pick me up. The only time I'm running if it's somebody's chasing me. And so that's just please, yeah. If you see me, if you see Mike running down the road, pull over because somebody's after me.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

Well, along those lines, when he was uh training for the marathon, he would just go and run and run and run. And after 30 odd kilometers, he called me. He says, Okay, you can come and get me. I'm gonna be at this point at uh around this time. And so in the training, he wouldn't do a loop or he wouldn't come back, he'd just run and then he'd say, Come get me.

SPEAKER_02 12:39

Come get me. You were running an Uber, a marathon Uber. That's what it was. Yeah, yeah. The mom taxi took on a whole new dimension for sure. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

And then if we keep talking about the sports, our kids do um play very um high-level uh hockey, actually, um, and baseball in the summer. So uh we're doing the uh the Uber sports taxi uh from uh to to all over the place. Um so we've seen a lot of arenas and a lot of baseball fields.

SPEAKER_02 13:09

Yeah. Well, listen, I'm not here to guide you or parent you, but I will tell you that you know, enjoy the moment. It goes so quickly. I remember the boys both did basketball, volleyball, and I've mentioned this on previous podcasts, but I cried in the school gym, the last game that each of them had, because you know, they were not going to go on to anything post-secondary. You know, it's uh they played more recreational, social, and did some competitive stuff. But as a parent, it just comes to a grinding halt and it's over. And so yeah, I miss sitting on the benches watching the kids. I really do.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

And the social aspect also, the parents. I mean, that those are your people for years and years and years that you see every weekend. And then all of a sudden, when the hockey stops, you're like, Oh, I actually have a Saturday and a Sunday. Um, so yeah, that's special. That's hard.

SPEAKER_02 13:54

Well, maybe, and maybe that's a great segue into Rally 2, which is the game of pickleball, this crazy, wonderful thing that started back in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, and how we all love it so much. And you talk about the social side of kids' sports and your own sports background and and the friendships that are you know formed through there. There's just no better way to meet people than pickleball, in my opinion. You're right.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Yeah. Definitely.

SPEAKER_02 14:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

You just show up at a court and then you have the whole new uh bunch of people that uh new friends that you create. We um while we travel and play pickleball. Um, we used to travel and run for the marathons, but now we travel and play play pickleball. And we show up, even with the kids, at a play in a place, and we just start playing. And then every morning you meet them, hey, how are you doing? Hey, and it's uh new friends.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Yeah, you know, Jesse, I just can't put my finger on it. And I've been, like I said earlier, maybe off camera that we um I've been playing about three years, and I just there's no other part of my life where I've met people. And of course, being in sales, that's what it's all about is meeting people and creating relationships. And so I understand that side of it, but there's something about this game that the instantaneous friendships and the camaraderie and the trust, and it just seems to come so quickly. And I maybe one day somebody will figure it out, but there is a certain magic moment, and I call it that within pickleball, where there's just this social game happening, and all of a sudden, the next thing you know, there's private games being booked as a result of those relationships, and we start to build new form, form new groups and new friendships. So, yeah, just terrific. So tell me about the first time you played. Can you recall the first game? Who introduced you to it? Where was it? What did it feel like? And were you hooked immediately, or was this a game that took a little bit of time to kind of, you know what? I think we can do this. And I think with your extensive, you know, sports background, a lot of people, I think there was a time when I wouldn't say embarrassed because that's not the right word, but maybe it was a bit awkward to admit that you were a pickleball player, you know, like you know, there was this sort of secret society. It was hard to find courts, the availability of courts and you know, places to play. It's not like it is today, where you can find great facilities in almost every city across Canada and North America. But uh tell me about those first couple of games and who it was that maybe drew you into all of this.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

We uh we went to Florida to see uh my father, and uh he um he was um on a campground. Well, do we call it a campground? Yeah, campground, yeah. And we were going to play uh tennis. So um we went there, but uh there were like probably 10 or 12 pickleball courts. We didn't we didn't know anything about that sport, so we we had our um our tennis paddle and we were going to play tennis, but we were so curious to find out more about this uh sport. So uh we asked questions and then there was like uh renting in place where the the the used to rent uh pick a paddle so that we can try it. They were the wooden type ones, yeah. Yeah, really high-tech. So we we tried that and we just fell in love with the sport. I mean uh we we had a lot of fun like the first hour. We really know the rules, so we asked a lot of questions. We went on the internet to find out more, and uh uh and then I said uh then it came up like as I was uh researching uh on the sport, it was he was saying all over the place the the most uh the popular booming sport. So uh I was always uh on the um thinking about a new uh new business. So uh I just fell in love with the sport and I was looking for a new business. So uh let's go with the the passion and see what it uh ends up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

And when we when we were our kids are tennis players also, since they're like three or four years old. So we we immediately just started to play, and the kids caught on, and they're like, hey, this is cool, and they're hitting the ball left to right. And within a few minutes, we actually had a game going on, and then the people that were playing, they're like, Oh, okay, you guys are starting off, and and then they they asked us to play, and then they had the kids involved, and the kids are playing with older people, obviously, but there's no discrepancies and everybody's having fun, and that's where we're like, Wow, this is really, really cool. So that's where we kind of said, Wow, this is a sport that you can catch on, you can play with many generations, um, and and and it's easy and there's no um like if you're starting to play tennis, it's something to start mastering where the ball will be going. Yeah. You're you're you're hitting the ball all over the place. So um yeah, immediate uh immediately hooked. Um it was uh and the kids just uh said, okay, let's every day after that, let's go play pickleball, let's go play pickleball.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Yeah, it's so uh it's it's it is that sport, Jesse. It's a great point you've made. I appreciate you saying that this morning because it does lead into this, which is when you think of any other sport, you know, to try to have grandparents playing with grandkids, it's kind of a it doesn't generally work, but pickleball is that game and where grandma and grandpa can actually beat the kids and the grandkids. And and and so they love it, but at the same time, you know, the kids are like, we're gonna get granny, you know, we're gonna have dial, get her number dialed in at some point because boy, she's really good, you know. And and I think that's part of that magic. And and we talk about the explosion of the sport and the game and and how it continues to grow uh across not only you know Canada, but North America and beyond. And uh, I think we're gonna see some real growth coming of Asia, you know, and you guys would be very tightly tied into that and and know more about that than I would. But uh what a moment uh when you step onto that court. What a moment. And the recognition of I've got it figured out in 20 or 30 minutes, and I loved what you said. We weren't really playing, but we were playing in a sense that you weren't keeping score necessarily, didn't understand all the rules necessarily, but it doesn't matter. You know, it doesn't matter. You can get out there and hit the ball. And yeah, I've often said my wife plays at least twice a week with a group of ladies, and I'm still not convinced they keep score. Like I I have no idea, but they have everything that's right. They have their game, I've got my game, and it all works out at the end of the day. So yeah, what a terrific story. So, how does it fit into your yeah? Do you get a chance to play today? I mean, you're so busy with the company, but you do good, good.

SPEAKER_01 20:23

We play once a well, we play at least once a week. We have a league um on Monday nights um in the winter. And what's really neat is my father, who is 75, I keep saying 75, but it must he might be a bit older than that, top shape. Um but he plays like he'll take he'll pick up the kids and he'll hey let's go play pickleball. And and they're like, hey, we're gonna beat him someday. And uh they give him a hard time, and uh, so there's a lot of competition between the two. But my father plays with us. Um we have a group of 10. 10 of us uh that that play. So that's um that's kind of uh our little pickleball moment because yes, um, it's we haven't uh had we haven't been able to really um schedule time in the schedule for the last few years because we've been so involved and invested in the business. Um but um this year we we've managed to do it, which uh which was a big accomplishment.

SPEAKER_02 21:22

Yeah, it's it's hard to prioritize, uh prioritize all that, isn't it? I mean, it's tough. And and the business has to take precedent. I mean, just has to, and I get that, as we mentioned earlier, but uh I think it's important to stay connected to the game, you know, I really do. And I I took about an 18-month uh hiatus from it. I had a bit of a shoulder injury, nothing serious, but I just needed to do that. And I needed to clear some of the game's cobwebs out of my head. I was playing four hours, six hours a day, four or five days a week. And yeah, I got pretty intense and not in a sense of being competitive because I didn't do a lot of tournament play or anything, but I just loved the game and I couldn't say I couldn't say no. Noah left my vocabulary. I used to be able to say no, you know, I can't, but then something Happened when pickleball came into my life. And I'm embarrassed to admit, but I've been leaving the local club after four hours. Somebody in the parking lot says, Hey, Mike, so-and-so just canceled. Could you could you step in? And I turn around in the parking lot and text my wife and say, I won't be home for dinner. I got to play again. So yeah, I don't do that anymore. I I've I took that break. And I think, you know, for those listening, uh, you know, it's something to think about. Maybe you're struggling with that because it's such an addiction and it really is hard to leave three people hanging who are trying to have a doubles game. You don't want to be that person that says, I can't help you. So um, so it's nice that you've got it in your in your week. And it's so nice that your dad's part of this and part of the kids' lives as well. What a great part of that story. That's terrific. Yeah, it's really something. It really is. So yeah, and I think at the end of the day, you know, if you're listening to the podcast, and this is someone had asked me a couple weeks ago, what are you trying to do with this podcast? Like, what is your ultimate goal? And how would you define that you've had some success with what you're doing? And and I guess it really boils down to something pretty simple. And that is that I'm hoping that someone listening to this today is inspired by something that you say, because nothing I say is probably going to inspire them, but I hope you do, to get out and try the game. So if you're thinking about pickleball and you've heard about pickleball and you've got friends and family that might be playing pickleball, but you haven't, um, you know, the three of us are here today to try to encourage more people to get out in the court because I really believe that it's a game changer. And I really believe it's a life changer. And I think, you know, you would agree with all of that for sure.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

Yeah, we have some some customers also that have had never played pickleball or any racket sports either. And they're like it's like life-changing for them because wow, I can actually play this game. And then they get, as you say, addicted to it, and their life changes. They're they're not into sports and they're not pickle, um, they're not racket uh sports players, and like yeah, they're not, they're they're more they they'll walk and things like that, but not into to real sports, and then they discover pickleball, and it's just yeah, wow, life changing. So we see those transformations, which is wonderful.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

It is, Jesse. I I had a friend who drew the person that brought me into pickleball is one of the founding members of the Kingston Pickleball Club. And her name is Pam Bidnost, and Pam brought my wife and I into the game. So we will forever be grateful for that. And she was a friend and a neighbor, and we'd known her for almost 30 years before we stepped on a court with her. But uh, her her reflection on it and her love for the game really comes from being, at the time she started, 55 years old, but able to compete and win medals. And she like she was a tournament player and she loved it. She said, Mike, I never thought at 55 I would ever compete. And she was fairly athletic growing up and played a lot of sports, but she said, My days of winning medals, you know, uh, or tournaments was was gone, in my opinion, gone. And then all of a sudden, pickleball landed in my literally landed in her lap. It was by accident that she found the game. It's a great story, great podcast. It's on the channel now. Um, but she shares her passion for it. But that moment of recognizing at 55, hey, I can still be an athlete is pretty inspiring. So maybe to the person listening who says, Oh, my sports life is washed up. It's not. And you can play this into your 80s and be very competitive. So that's great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

Yeah. It's one of the, well, it's the only sport that you can still be on a podium with a medal and be 75 years old.

SPEAKER_02 25:19

Absolutely. You might need help getting up to the podium, but you'll be, you know, once you're on the podium, you're just bring your steps, Joel. Just park your walker and go over and get on the podium. So yeah, it's great. Well, I love all that. Well, listen, let's jump into rally three because that's really why we're together today. I mean, I love all of that. And I appreciate you being so open and candid and transparent about your story. It's just a great story. And I knew I knew it would be. I just knew it would be. So thank you for that. But this story of your company, uh, I'm so inspired by it. And uh, we touched briefly on it, Dominic, with the concept in Florida. You sort of saw an opportunity. Can you tell me now? You've come home from Florida, let's start there. How do we get from that moment of the the, you know, the the airplane lands again and now you're back in Canada and you're thinking about this? How do you get from there? Yeah, cold. Yeah, you look out the window and go, what just happened to me? I just left Sarasota and look where I am. Uh yeah, I've been through that more than I hate care to admit. But uh, how do we get to where we are today, from that moment to today? How can you walk me through that timeline?

SPEAKER_00 26:13

Yeah, uh, when we uh arrived from Florida, I was um I was uh keeps uh searching on uh on Pecal and uh on paddles and uh uh what it takes to uh to make them certify from the uh for the USP, the process and everything. And the name also Boomer. We uh we found Boomer because our uh sons uh every time they were like doing uh good shot in sports or anything, they were saying Boomer. I don't know how it came out, but it uh always we always thought one day if we start something, uh we we have to think about the name Boomer. And um we were uh so Boomer was available in Canada regarding trademarks and everything. So and in the US we we went through the that process for the trademark and everything. So um Boomer, we thought that Boomer was like meaningful uh for our family, so we decided to go with uh that name, and then um we um we uh we did some research regarding the the paddles and uh we did try some uh some uh samples that we we got from some suppliers and then we did some design from locally. Uh so we that was like the first year it was all about research uh and development, testing. It takes a long time, just the process for uh uh to get a paddle approved is it's six weeks. So just to send the paddle, they do the testing, they came back with the results, and uh and before that you have to uh do to do the design and testing. So uh there's a lot of work behind a paddle.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Uh but uh it's uh it was important for us to have the USAPA approvals also because um we wanted people to be able to do tournaments. We thought we for us, if you're serious, you need to be in it and have the the paddles at a certain level that um people can use them for tournaments. So that was really important for us. So that that step was um non-compromisable, um, even though it added additional costs and additional time to the release um timelines.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

Yeah, but you did it right, and I think that's the point that that needs to be made here, you know. And because I and correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told in you know chatting with other podcast guests that there are approximat well over a thousand twelve hundred, fifteen hundred paddle manufacturers around the world today. Is that number? Is that do you agree with those numbers?

SPEAKER_00 29:08

Uh probably uh yeah, it's crazy. There's a lot of paddles out there. Um, yeah, I might be right. I don't know the exact number, but uh there's a lot of the yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:21

But I guess the point I would make is there's probably a majority of those not worried about those types of things, Jesse. But you know, to see that Boomer was and took the right steps, and you know, this is the path that we're taking, and we're doing it for the right reasons. And yes, it's adding cost and time, and and it takes patience, you know, to get through all of that. But yeah, doing it right out of the gate, I don't because you sort of get one chance, I think, to establish your brand equity and to come out and say, we're a serious company, and this is kind of, and I want to ask you in a in a moment here, um, you know, where you sort of see yourselves fitting into that broader picture of paddle manufacturing and distribution and that sort of thing. But we'll get to that in a moment. But yeah, I really applaud you for that because I think that's a big step. And and I recognize, you know, from the people that I've talked to on the podcast, that's that's not an inexpensive undertaking to get a paddle approved. And the timelines on it are expensive. And and uh yeah, so good on on both of you for taking that route. So so that sort of begins things and you start working. When did you officially start selling paddles? When did you sort of say, okay, we're ready, we've got a product offering, we've got you know access to inventory. What how did that all start and when did that start?

SPEAKER_00 30:26

Yeah, I had some experience with uh Amazon because I was uh responsible to uh to sell the trail um camera uh on uh on uh Amazon. So uh we started uh with our website and on Amazon as well. So uh we started there and then uh we um some stores uh slowly they they they um they uh they were selling our products. So um actually we have like uh one store in Kingston, the pickable authority that sells our product in Ontario. So um uh yeah, so uh slowly we we had some stores. Yeah, these are our latest ones, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

Yeah, and we we started off with a a basic offering, so introductory level paddles. We had the balls, um, and then from then on, we the the brand built um itself up and we introduced more products, so a higher level um pickleball uh ball uh pickleball paddle offering with uh intermediate advanced um paddles at the moment. Um and we have also like an introductory kit that people can uh start off with, which is really neat. Max a huge seller.

SPEAKER_00 31:51

Um and um we have also protective glasses that was added to our lineup uh a year ago. So uh we have eraser, we have like uh professional um uh pickable nets also. We have uh bags, bags and new products are coming right now. We're working on new products, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

New paddles in the uh sorry, Jesse, I was gonna say I would compliment you extensively on on all of the sort of client-facing work that you're doing. Your website is amazing, it's clean, it's efficient, you can navigate through it without a problem. Everything's right there, makes sense. And your social media, I don't know, I don't know if you sleep at night because your social media is just so amazing. It's I can't pick up my phone and not hear a story about Boomer. Like it's wonderful. And no, it really, it's really, really, really well done. And I think maybe I have a deeper appreciation for that level of commitment and time that that takes, having started the podcast and trying to get somebody to listen to it and and find it. And it takes some work, so I could take some lessons from what you're both doing in that regard. But when we talk about all of that, which is which is terrific, thank you. What when did that start? What year would you say the business kind of started moving? Was like we're 2026 now when we're recording this.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

So yeah, 2022. Uh yeah, and um, before that, we took like one year of uh uh research and development R D. So we started selling uh our first product in 2022.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Yeah, and I remember when the uh the product came in, it was a huge truck with boxes and boxes of battles, and I think we must have that on our social media. Yeah, the garage was full, and we're like, okay, what are we gonna do with this? Where are we gonna put it? So um the kids were jumping up on the boxes and they were they they were smaller at that at that time, and uh so we we hauled all of the boxes and it's in the basement and placed everything and had to overflow in some a few places, but it was overwhelming to see, oh, okay, this is what it looks like. So these are all this is what we've been working on um in our garage.

SPEAKER_02 34:08

But what a what a moment when that very first delivery arrives, you know, all the research, all the development, all the sleepless nights, all the worry, all the risk, all the money, all the time, all the dreams and the hopes and the prayers. I mean, all of that comes together when you're putting a family business together. I get it. And uh that moment of that product arriving had to be something special. And I think, Jesse, I did stumble on that photo in doing my research on on today's podcast. I think there is a picture of the boys and you guys in a garage, and it's their brown cardboard boxes with a with the name on it and and they're pop there. Yeah, I think I did see that photo. So as I do the edit process for this, maybe if you're generous enough to allow me to use that photo, I'd love to show that because I think that would be great for yeah, for those watching and listening. Uh, but yeah, people don't understand that grassroots moment where you're literally in your garage, your basement. Every corner of the house has got a box full of you know, Boomer product hiding and waiting for the next step. And yeah, well, what a was there ever a point where you were second guessing yourselves from that moment you decided you came back from Florida, you thought about the business, you knew the game was growing, you loved the game. Was there did you have a moment where you thought, oh gosh, you know, have we made a mistake or was it just full steam ahead and never never gave it any consideration?

SPEAKER_00 35:19

Uh that's a good question. Uh I don't know. No, I don't think uh we had any regret. Uh we sometimes we take this take decision on products and everything. We're not sure about the reaction of uh customers, but uh um I mean uh we didn't have regret.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

We know it's no kind of go with the fly fly by the seat of your pants and see how it how things will turn out, and you take the risk. There's a lot of risk. Yeah, and think about those really fast. So technologies um they come and they go, and it's a trend and it's really hot, and then the next day it isn't. So um it's right now the momentum, it that's that's our challenge is to keep up with the technologies and to uh to to to continue because uh you have that six-month window, that uh six-week window that um you're waiting for your approval to come in. Um in six weeks, a lot happens in Piccadillo.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Yeah, it's hard to believe. So so so I understand, and those listening get it. Um, you know, you're talking about constant paddle evolution. You're I assume the two of you are that's a topic of discussion almost regularly, daily with you about what's next, what's next. Because I mean, your products are amazing. I mean, they're they're just wonderful to hold and they look great and they feel great and they play great, and you know, so you've got all that working, but you know, it's got everything. I love what you've said, and I'm glad you went there today because I think it's missed on a lot of people that, you know, we think about the um the tech industry moving quickly, iPhones and iPads. And you can buy an iPad today, it's outdated yesterday. Like it's already, you know, but really pickleball as an industry and paddle technology as part of that industry, I think is there's some parallels there that maybe the average pickleball player isn't thinking about. They're playing with quote unquote the latest paddle, you know, from from say Booma. But the reality is you're already working on the next one and the next one after that. I would is that fair? Is that a fair assumption?

SPEAKER_00 37:21

That's fair. Yeah, you have always to think about the next one. Um, yeah, so it's it's a challenge, but it's a fun challenge to uh to be part of. So uh always innovate and try to find the new uh the new uh the new thing, the new uh paddle level.

SPEAKER_02 37:42

Uh yeah, and on that note, what drives that? Like what like when you say we're trying to figure it out, like how what do you drive that? Where does the information for that next paddle come from? Is it just your intuition or are you looking at client feedback? Are you following industry trends? How do you sort of determine that?

SPEAKER_00 37:58

Yeah, like customers, uh suppliers, uh um looking at the the competition. Uh and we um we we have also um we work with uh very good players uh that uh use our battles and they always uh bring feedback to us. So uh uh we we we kind of uh do uh 360 uh uh research on that and talk to a lot of people and uh try to find the the next best battle.

SPEAKER_01 38:34

Yeah, we do mixed matches, like we we have samples in the house laying around everywhere, and then we try them out and we lend them out to key people players, and then they say, Well, I like this, but I like this one a bit more, and then so so we we go back to the drawing board and we say, Okay, how about we take this characteristic and we move it on to this one, but we like this one a bit more. Um, so yeah, it's um it's uh a lot of back and forth to get the right paddle out.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

For sure. And you know, I when I think about the paddle, it's interesting, obviously, as a player and a passionate player. I love the game clearly. I mentioned how many hours I used to play in a day, which is still a bit of a you know an embarrassing admission. Um I had it so bad at one point. I still have it, just not quite that bad anymore. But there's for me at least, when I think about the paddle that I like to play with, there it really boils down to trust. And I use that word in a sense that, you know, whatever it is that I'm holding in my hand, I have to have a trust relationship with that paddle. And I'm not a good enough player to maybe be able to tell you what I think I'd like to see in my next paddle, but I can tell you what I love about this one, you know, and and and and I don't know if you hear that from other clients or people that you're working with, but I've always said that as a player, you know, and and of course, what's the first thing every pickleball player does when they miss a shot? They look at their paddle, right? It's the craziest thing. You'll you'll you'll whiff a ball, and your first thing you do is you glance at your paddle like there's a hole in the middle all of a sudden. Like, what happened? Like, yeah, yeah, I don't get that part, but we all do it. Every every pickleball game that's happening right now, in this moment in North America, somebody is staring at their paddle trying to figure out what went wrong. And so I think, yeah. So yeah, so I'm interested in your thoughts on that. But for me, it's trust. It's there's a trust issue, a trust relationship that exists between what's in my hand and uh and how confident I guess I am as a player when I'm on the court. So I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

SPEAKER_01 40:26

I'm I'm I might move towards like a quality, um, a quality side of the paddles, but for us, it's really important that people have a good quality um in the sense that um there's no warranty claims. Um so there's the technology, but the the confidence that your your your paddle won't disintegrate within the next uh month or two that you're using it um because um we're not a well-known brand, we're a Canadian brand, we're not international. So we have to gain people's trust by um offering a good quality product, and that's what we strive for. So for me, what you're talking about, the trust is really related to um you're buying a Boomer paddle, you you can trust that it won't break in your hand within the next uh few uh few weeks, um, and it'll last you a long time. We'll be able to follow your progression, your progression through um through your your stages of pickleball. So um that's that's how I see it.

SPEAKER_02 41:29

Um yeah, it's well said. I love that. And I think it's a valid point. And and on that note, Jesse, what you know, as a pickleball player who doesn't know the answer to this question, what should the life expectancy? Because I mean, there is a life expectancy on anybody's paddle. I don't care if we're talking yours or theirs or hers or his or mine or what what what should the average social player that's playing, you know, three or four times a week, maybe playing a reasonable amount of pickleball, which is uh, you know, depending on who you're talking to. But let's just say they're playing, you know, four, five, six hours a week, give or take. Um, what can we expect out of a quality paddle like a boomer? What's the life expectancy for that?

SPEAKER_00 42:07

Well, as um a general rule of thumb, um, it's uh a paddle like in the industry, it's about five or six hundred hours of play.

SPEAKER_02 42:17

Okay. All right.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

So it's like a rule of thumb. It depends our how strong you you uh hit the ball and what's your uh playstyle. But uh usually five between five or two six hundred hours of play, it's uh like a good uh rule of thumb. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:38

It's hard to tell when your paddle is um is uh used because you don't if it's a tennis racket, you'll have the cords, you'll be able to see the strings that they're they're kind of wishy-washy, but the pickleball paddle can still be very nice on the on the outside, and the inside will be all crushed because obviously you're trying to hit the middle of the paddle as much as possible, and you don't know what's happening inside. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:04

But you know, all of that said, and I think if there's another reason, and there are so many that we could talk about the three of us today, about why this game is so popular and why we all love it so much, but it really is a cost of entry. I mean, you know, the court fees, the shoes, the paddle, like it really is inexpensive if we were to compare it to, say, the game of golf. And you mentioned golf earlier, and I know for me, I can't speak for you, but I'm gonna go through at least 30 bucks worth of balls and 18 holes because I'm terrible. So, like, I mean, you know, so I always get a kick out of certain people go, oh, gee, you know, club A or Club B, their court fees are getting a little expensive. And I go, well, what well, they're $15. I go, $15? Like that's I spend that by the fourth hole on just golf balls. Like, so I always find it interesting. And that's and listen, that's not everybody that you know that's that's the rare case. But I think part of the game that I love is that cost of entry. And then everything we talked about with with your dad being able to play with the boys, and so that generation. Ability, but also it's really not an expensive game to get involved in. You mentioned the starter pack that you have, which is great. Um, and interestingly enough, if you go back into history of the game, Barney McCallum, uh, they sold starter kits, you know, uh all those years ago in 1965 when they developed this game and they developed the their company uh and started selling paddles and balls. They had kits and nets, and so it's interesting that you're doing some of that. It's kind of a throwback in history. It's great. Uh so good on you for that. But yeah, I think, you know, we have to be realistic about the gear that we're using because your shoes are gonna wear out. And so, you know, people never think twice about having to replace a pair of running shoes. But I think, Jesse, what you've said, I can look at the bottom of my shoe and realize I've got a problem. But when I take a look at this paddle, superficially it looks great. You've done a great job on the edge guard, so it's gonna hold up. This paddle's gonna hold up very well on the outside, but we're not really sure what's going on on the inside. And Dominic, that's a great point. I do, I'm six foot two. Um, so I'll, you know, I I do hit a pretty hard ball if you know, if it's in the right spot. And so other players are softer. A little, I I tend to hit the ball fairly hard when I get a chance. So I'm probably gonna peel through a paddle a little quicker than than some others, but uh yeah, it's interesting. It's good. This is all really good conversation because I don't think it's something that uh I've heard many people talking about. So I'm really glad that we had a chance to go there. Yeah, I don't know how you know. You feel it, I guess. You kind of feel it.

SPEAKER_01 45:20

Yeah, yeah, you you feel the sound and you feel that it doesn't really respond as well anymore. Um, we have some very powerful players that um play with our paddles and they go through them in about six months to eight months, and they like they hit a ball like there's no tomorrow. It's dangerous. You gotta have your glasses on to play against them.

SPEAKER_02 45:43

Yeah. Well, listen, let's talk. I I I I'm watching the clock. I I want to be very careful. I've taken up more time than I'd hoped to, and I apologize for that, but it's just such a great story. Um, do you want to spend a bit of time talking specifically about some of your products? And I love what you've done with the eye protection. And I'm a huge advocate for eye protection, by the way. I think that the industry needs to take a firmer stance on this. I I hate the word mandatory because I think that's not something we want to be part of the game. But at the same time, uh, what you've done with being able to take the lenses in and out, uh, you know, I think is a real winner. And uh so I'd like to, you know, maybe again, not to take up too much more of your time, but anything specific about your product line, be it the paddles, the bags, the glasses, the ping pong side of your business as well, which you haven't touched on. But if you want to take the next couple of minutes and just express anything you'd like to about the product line, I'd really love that.

SPEAKER_01 46:31

Um yeah, well, I can uh I can maybe just touch base on a fun project that we did, the Montreal Canadians um project that uh we haven't talked about. I'm not selling anything here, but it's it's um it's uh something that we're very proud of. Um we got an email from uh a Montreal Canadian's email address. Um, and um at the beginning I was like, you know how you receive a lot of spam and things like that. And I'm like, oh, this can't be very serious. And then we said, well, I'll respond and see. And it was really the Montreal Canadians that were contacting us, and they were looking for a gift to um give to the players, uh to the players at their uh fundraising um golf tournament. So we made a boomer uh raw carbon uh Montreal Canadians pickleball paddle. So all of the um all of the golfers that participated in last fall's edition of the uh foundation tournament got a boomer paddle. So we were really proud of that. Um they came with a case and an eraser. Um so that's um that's that's I don't know, is it was nice of them to reach out to us.

SPEAKER_02 47:44

It's pretty big. That's a pretty big story. That's a great story, yeah. I mean, but you're right, when that moment happens, you've got this email thinking, is this legit? Like how to so good on you for chasing that down. What a great story. What a great story.

SPEAKER_01 47:57

Um other than that, well, you you talked about you touch the glasses, um, the protective eyewear. Um you can remove the lenses uh easily. And um a lot of people I think a lot of people are using them without the lenses because the indoors with the lighting, when you have the um the clear lens, you have kind of a flash and uh uh that you don't see that well. Um so a lot of people like that. Um and there is a clip that you can add um if you want to add your own um vision. Like um you go to the optometrist and you have the uh the clip, uh your your prescriptions added to um to that little clip, and you're you can play um you add it to the glasses. So um that's a huge seller. We um we sell a lot of the um of the glasses because um a lot of the players are being injured, um, those um very powerful or non-powerful players. And you're even uh you're even a a source of injury um to yourself. I um uh awkwardly uh injured myself playing pickleball. I hit the ball and it I hit the ball and the paddle came um hit me on the on the on the lip. So I had like a huge bruise for a while and I looked in the mirror and like, what is this? And then it was a bruise. I thought it was dirty and running around and meeting people all day. I hadn't looked, but no, it was a bruise. So uh bloody um lip and everything like that. That's um that's I can't, I guess I have to wear a mousepiece now to play.

SPEAKER_02 49:34

Hockey helmet with a with a cage, maybe maybe yeah, yeah. Well, I've always said the most, yeah, the most dangerous person on the court is my partner. I've always said that, you know, because I've got time with the ball coming the other way, but I have no idea what my partner's about to do. So yeah, a lot of injuries do happen on the same side of the net. They really do. So yeah, great point. Yeah, great point. Well, I love the glasses, I love that whole concept. That's terrific.

SPEAKER_00 49:56

We we have um our last three um latest three um paddles, like the titanium, like the one that you just showed. Um they have like two layers of foam, one for the thermoform, and the other one is an Ava layer, and uh it's a Gen 3 paddle, and um it's uh it's good to uh make some uh bowl effect on it.

SPEAKER_01 50:22

Uh some uh very gritty gritty.

SPEAKER_02 50:26

Yeah, it really is, isn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

Oh yeah, that's the one that you have.

SPEAKER_02 50:30

I love it. Yeah, yeah, I just love it.

SPEAKER_00 50:32

And also we have uh the elite, uh same um same thing except uh except except uh um being a titanium paddle, it's a carbon paddle. So um uh this is a softer touch, softer touch, and we have like the pre-key 1v, it's um it's in Kevlar. Yeah. Yeah, so for more power, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:02

And then one cool thing, we can't really show um that well, but we do have a really neat bag. Um, and the bag will come apart um to uh become a um uh it unzips. So I don't know if I can show it here without destroying everything. Um it comes apart. So when you're going to the court and you don't want to bring them a huge bag with their everything in the summer, especially you just take your bike or you walk to the courts. Um, this is like a sling bag. I don't know if we can see. So you have a two-in-one bag um for I think it's $139. Uh, a leather, like a kind of a leather finish to it. Um, this is really hot right now. It's really uh and with the summer, the good weather coming, you'll have a a good two-in-one um option.

SPEAKER_02 51:58

Yeah, well, I mentioned your website before, and you know, as we wrap up our conversation this morning out of respect for your time, um, you know, I'll we'll leave all kinds of contact information in our show notes and we'll make sure that everybody knows how to get back. Because I think, you know, you need to get on that website, you need to read the story. You've done a great job within the website of the about us section, and and uh so get in there and dive into the Boomer story and hear all of it, uh, you know, just to reconfirm everything that we've talked about this morning. But, you know, you've done a great job of laying out the website. And, you know, we had a bit of experience as a business uh trying to create websites and we had some online we had our own internal online ordering system as well, web order entry and that sort of thing. So, you know, connecting points through Amazon, we'll make sure that's there, the website, and we'll definitely mention the pickleball authority and my buddy David, who's who's you know been so generous in helping me get to you guys. And he was the first guy to mention uh you and your company to me, and he's very proud to be uh a distributor for you. And uh, I don't know if you're aware that he's given up on he's selling nothing but Canadian product now.

SPEAKER_00 52:55

I'm not sure if I just found out uh yeah, I just found out that yeah, it's great.

SPEAKER_02 53:00

He's made a very bold move there, and I think you know it's it's a smart move. And we kind of mentioned uh earlier in our conversation, perhaps even off camera, just you know, we're kind of in a political moment right now, globally. It's not just us and them, it's the world. And I think for David to have taken that stance, I really applaud him. And you know, he is such a great advocate for for your company and for the game. And uh, I'm so happy that you have a relationship with him, and I and I hope that continues because he's uh he is somebody locally that if you are in the game of pickleball and the Kingston, you know, Ontario really for that matter and beyond. I mean, really across the country, he's he's well known. And uh so you've done a good thing in partnering with him for sure. So I applaud you.

SPEAKER_01 53:36

Oh, yes, yeah, we appreciate it very much. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 53:40

Well, listen, I'm gonna let you go today. You've got a company to run. I've got a retirement plan to get underway here. I gotta go and do, I've got, I've got to go quit this and go do absolutely nothing for the rest of the day unless I can find another pickleball game. But uh I've got a couple of fa I got a couple of favors to ask. And and one is could I please stay in touch with you and could I please have you back on the podcast down the road to maybe chat about what's happening with you and with your company? Um I would love that. So I'll keep you on my list for that if that's okay. And then the other thing is we're not far apart. And I would just love a chance to meet with you one day, play a game of pickleball, and have lunch. So if you if you ever find yourself heading this way or if I'm heading that way, perhaps we could connect. And it's always nice, you know, we meet virtually with so many people in the course of uh it just seems that's the world we're in today, but we're only a few hours apart. You know, I'm in Kingston and you're you say, was it what's the name of the town again? Warwick?

SPEAKER_01 54:27

Is it Warwick, yeah? Warwick next.

SPEAKER_02 54:30

Yeah. So we're not far. So we should we should try to make that happen. It would be great to get a game in with the the two of you if you ever happen to come this way. So yeah, it's great. And just before I say thank you and goodbye, was there anything else that either of you would like to mention this morning? Because this has been just an inspiring and enlightening. And I knew it was going to be. I said to my wife coming down to the podcast studio, I am so happy to talk to the two of you this morning. And certainly from the family-owned and operated side of things, it's uh it's it's sort of a secret club that we have that only we understand. So we're not even going to try to explain to those people that don't work in a family business, but uh, congratulations on absolutely everything you've done and you're doing. And I wish you nothing but continued success. You you just you've done a great job here.

SPEAKER_01 55:10

Thank you very much. Uh, we really appreciate the support that we've uh received um from going from being an unknown Canadian brand to actually having people reach out to us um saying that they've seen us, they've heard about us, somebody's talked about us, and they'd like to know about our products. Um, I mean, it comes directly from to the heart every time. So it's uh really, really fun to see the pickleball community um how they've backed and uh supported Boomer uh throughout the years.

SPEAKER_00 55:43

And all their retailers also that uh resell our products, um taking about David also from Pickleball Authority. Yeah, uh I mean uh the enthusiasm.

SPEAKER_01 55:54

We really appreciate it. Yes. So thank you.

SPEAKER_02 55:58

Wow, you're you're welcome. And I hope that this you know tiny little podcast that's going absolutely nowhere, does something in some way to help that movement. Because I think, you know, as a final thought to the two of you as a Canadian and as a very proud Canadian, uh, especially right now, I think that what we're looking for as players is a viable option. If we have a viable option, which Boomer is, to buy Canadian and support Canadian and play Canadian pickleball, I think that's what we're gonna do. I think it's just getting the word out there that there are options against brand A and brand B. And, you know, some of the challenge, I'm sure, because we were a small family business, we were up against some of the giants in our industry, and and you are as well, with some of the well-known names that we're not mentioning this morning. But they've got so much marketing money that, you know, sometimes it clouds people's judgment. And I think the fact that there is a great option and a great Canadian option is probably the best part of our story this morning. So I applaud you both for everything you're doing, and and again, continued success with everything. And I look forward to continuing to talk to you down the road.

SPEAKER_01 56:58

Wow, thank you. That's very well said, and we appreciate your time this morning. And um, hope definitely we'll see you again on a pickleball court this time.

SPEAKER_02 57:10

You just said it, it's on tape. You can't escape now. So it sounds great. Yeah, well, have a wonderful day, and we'll talk sooner than later. Thank you both for being here this morning. Thank you, Mike.