Grip Spritz
About the Company
Grip Spritz was founded by a team consisting of Matt Olen, a recent college graduate; Tom Rose, a golfer; and Jeff Lutz, a lawyer. The company’s mission is to improve traction for athletes, particularly those playing basketball and volleyball on dusty courts. The idea originated from Tom's experience with golf, where he developed a product to improve grip on golf clubs. After struggling to gain traction in the golf market, the team decided to pivot to basketball, recognizing a larger market and greater potential.
Idea Behind Company
Tom Rose’s passion for golf led to the initial creation of Grip Spritz. After a back surgery that disrupted his ability to play, he noticed that his golf club grips felt off and sought a quick solution. When he couldn’t find one, he decided to invent his own. Tom, a fourth-generation blacksmith, used his connections in the manufacturing industry to develop a product that would restore the tacky feel to rubber grips without making them sticky or damaging the material. His initial focus was on golf, but after receiving a suggestion to apply the product to basketball shoes, the company shifted its focus.
Creating the Company
Tom Rose started Grip Spritz by first developing the product for golf clubs, using his background in metal fabrication and chemistry. After struggling to gain widespread acceptance in the golf community, he explored other potential applications for the product. The breakthrough came when a professional golfer suggested using the spray on the soles of basketball shoes. This idea led Tom to explore the basketball market, which ultimately proved to be much larger and more receptive to the product.
Launching the Business
The company officially shifted its focus to basketball in 2019, after a chance meeting with Tucker Neale, who ran one of the largest girls’ basketball tournaments in the U.S. This event provided Grip Spritz with significant exposure and led to a surge in interest. The team, which now included Matt Olen as the head of marketing, decided to bootstrap the business and grow organically through grassroots marketing. They launched a website, leveraged social media, and attended basketball events to promote the product. Over time, they expanded their offerings to include a traction mat for teams, which became a key product line.
Earnings
Grip Spritz's business began to take off in 2022, when they quadrupled their marketing efforts and partnered with major basketball organizations like Phenom Basketball. They also optimized their presence on Amazon, which helped them reach a broader audience. By the end of 2022, the company was earning around $35,000 per month, driven by both individual sales and partnerships with youth leagues and sports organizations. The team continues to expand its reach, with plans to enter the volleyball market and further grow its presence in basketball.
