Today we’d like to introduce you to Richelle Nassos.
Hi Richelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Crush Sports launched in September 2023. Our youngest son was introduced to Pickleball at school, and he fell in love with the sport. We have 3 boys and they are all very athletically inclined, but none have shown interest in pickleball. My husband and I came from 2 decades of manufacturing, and doing a start-up again wasn’t foreign to us, so we gave it another go around.
What was different this time was that we had entered into what was the fastest-growing sport in the US and an incredibly saturated sea of paddles. So why CRUSH? We believe that there are 4 key points when choosing a pickleball paddle. 1) Do you like the way it looks? 2) Do you like what it costs? 3) Does it give you the best chance to win? and 4) Do you like the people behind the brand? For Peter and myself we truly are PEOPLE first and PADDLES second!
Our business model is unique from other paddle companies, and I truly feel that is why we are gaining ground. Our customer service is unsurpassed; in a day and age where that is a lost leader. Our paddles are hands down made with immense care and concern for our customers, our brand is sleek & our price is right! We bring the “cool” to pickleball. We are truly about pleasing our people!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road does not equal an entrepreneur or start-up! Finding the perfect match when it comes to funding, business partners, customers, vendors/suppliers, and figuring out how to market your brand in an ethical way that communicates your vision and then see that through while raising children, maintaining a marriage, long hours in the office, little sleep and keeping a healthy balance is an imperfect process and we are not new to this sort of challenge.
God doesn’t give you more than you can handle, though, and we grow the most in hard times (should you choose). So, to answer your question – NO, not smooth, but YES, we will gain knowledge, strength, and wisdom on this journey while touching lives along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My husband, Pete, and myself, Richelle, are the main owners of Crush Sports, and we have proudly partnered with Brett Warner, pickleball professional and paddle expert, to share our brand with consumers across the US.
With over 2 decades of manufacturing experience and retail relationships growing this brand was expected. We offer pickleball paddles, nets, balls, gear bags, clothing, and more. We truly want you to LOVE the way you play; just as our trademark states.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I honestly don’t know. I can answer what people DO know about us though. We love the Lord, and we are unapologetic. I think anyone who has any sort of interaction with us knows how much we truly love people and playing pickleball is quite fun too! It is such a special community of people, and team CRUSH is the best, hands down.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crushpickleball.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crush_pickleball/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrushPickleballWithUs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-rTqkto-Q
