San Diego (January 29, 2024) –As the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with more than 48.3 million Americans playing pickleball, San Diego-based Rally Republic has officially launched to the public as the first California-inspired lifestyle brand created specifically for pickleball enthusiasts.
Founded by a team of successful entrepreneurs in the e-commerce, apparel, and licensed sports sectors, they saw an opportunity to bring their expertise to the world of pickleball and create a brand that offers high-quality yet design-focused pickleball paddles, which are now available for sale online, on Amazon, and in-store at U.S. college bookstores and sporting goods retail stores, including Rally House and Gameday Spirit. Rally Republic’s product lineup will soon expand with plans to unveil apparel, equipment, and accessory lines.
Inspired by the vibrant culture and laid-back lifestyle of California, Rally Republic’s flagship paddles embody the spirit of the West Coast, with designs featuring bright neon colors, checkers, stripes, lightning bolts, smileys, sunshines, rainbows, palm trees, and more.
In addition, Rally Republic has official licensing from most major U.S. colleges and universities, sororities, and fraternities, enabling pickleball players to showcase their college, sports team, and/or Greek spirit while on the court. Rally Republic is also one of the only pickleball paddle manufacturers whose carbon paddles are licensed and approved by the U.S.A. Pickleball Association.
Serving as President of Rally Republic is Chad Phillips, a 25-year industry executive within the sports merchandise licensing, retail, and product development space. Prior to joining Rally Republic, Phillips served as Chief Merchandising Officer at Follett Higher Education, where he led the company to achieve record-breaking sales in licensed merchandise at its 1,000+ college and university campus stores. Phillips also formerly served as Vice President of Retail Development at Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), and Senior Vice President at Rally House. A Chicago-area native and an avid pickleball player, Phillips is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Mike DeCoursey, the new COO of Rally Republic, brings extensive data-driven strategies and 20+ years of leadership in software and licensing. Formerly the CEO of CounterFind, he was instrumental in its transformation into a multi-million-dollar entity. Holding a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, DeCoursey is also an avid pickleball player.
“We are incredibly excited to formally unveil Rally Republic to U.S. pickleball community,” said Chad Phillips, president of Rally Republic. “To me and millions of others who play, pickleball is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. We are committed to creating paddles, equipment, and apparel that embody the spirit of the sport while helping players feel (and play) their best on and off the court. This commitment – combined with our team’s omnichannel merchandising experience and established retail and licensing relationships – will be the key factors in driving our company’s innovation and growth to become the most successful pickleball lifestyle brand in the U.S.”
For more information, visit Rally Republic at www.RallyRepublic.com.
