Bear Mayer was just 16 years old when Bruce Bolt became a reality. He was a full-time high school student and baseball player. He was searching for ways to make money, but didn’t have time to get a job with such a full schedule. The only potential way he could get a job was if he quit baseball, and that just wasn’t an option for Mayer. He asked his dad for advice, and he told him to start a company. Mayer was very lost with where he should start, but then it hit him… Batting Gloves. The name Bruce Bolt came from his grandfather named Bruce who was struck by lightning twice, but somehow survived. He started making gloves out of his garage in Austin, Texas. From there the brand shot off and grew rapidly. Five years later players like Jeff Mcniel in the MLB wear Bear’s batting gloves. But what made Bruce Bolt different? Everyone knows there are a million different options for batting gloves out there. Mayer talks about how when he was playing baseball his batting gloves would always rip and get worn down. So, he makes Bruce Bolt batting gloves with “100 percent Cabretta leather” which is made from the skin of sheep that grow hair instead of wool. Mayer calls it “the best leather in the world” and prevents tearing. So, what makes Bruce Bolt different is its durability. The gloves also allow for extra padding to prevent injuries in players hands. Today, Bruce Bolt has arm sleeves, pants, sliding Mits, and more. It has grown so far beyond batting gloves as customers love the designs and colorways of the brand. I personally love Bruce Bolt myself which is why I chose to write about Mayers story. I own my own pair of Bruce Bolt batting gloves, and they are great. It is truly inspiring to see that even with a bunch of huge competitors Mayer found a way to innovate and build a brand in something he loves.
Sources:
Behind Bear Mayer’s creation of Bruce Bolt batting gloves (nypost.com)
It’s so cool that you own some of Bear Mayers batting gloves! I loved reading his story and I think it was very commendable that Bear Mayers would not agree to giving up baseball even though he needed a job. Instead, he used his creatively and was inspired by his love of his sport and found a way to incorporate his interests with his business. It’s also really precious that he named his company after his grandfather. I like that you drew attention to what differentiates Bear Mayers batting gloves from others and it is really neat that he only uses sheep skin to make his products.
This is a super cool and innovative business! I love the familial roots and that Bear was able to use something that he was passionate about. And its great that Bear used players from the MLB to help drive revenue. A great representation of an entrepreneur!