With the rise in popularity of our favorite sport, one of the industry sectors that gets caught in its slipstream is the pickleball equipment market.
One of the markets seeing the biggest surge in demand is paddle manufacturing. Tanners, situated in central Arkansas, is a manufacturer well situated to make the most of this boom.
Escalating Popularity
Tanners is in Hot Springs, about 50 miles southwest of Little Rock, and is a big player in the large-scale production of Vulcan pickleball paddles. The escalating popularity of the sport is paralleled by an increasing need for these products, a trend which shows no sign of abating in the near future.
Tanners and Vulcan CEO Vince Signorelli said, “There’s so many aspects of the game that make it have legs and longevity.”
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, your athletic ability. Your ability to have fun playing pickleball quickly is what I think sets it apart from other sports.”
Top Echelons
Vulcan’s expertise has seen them catapulted into the top echelons of paddle manufacture, as Signorelli explains: “We were one of the top 200 brands when we started. Now we’re top one, two, or three in the world.”
Vulcan General Manager Lucia Digiacomo said having their paddles on Walmart store shelves has made a significant difference: “That just kind of exploded.
“We’ve been there for like three or four months now. I think we’re over 27% increase in just three months.”
“This is the headquarters of Vulcan, and everything starts here and gets sent out from here,” he added.
A Knock-On Effect
This rise in sales is also having a knock-on effect on the local economy.
Gary Troutman with the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce said he’s proud to have the factory in the town: “Anyone in my profession at a chamber or an economic development organization, they’re going to tout their local businesses.
“To have one that most of the public recognizes, are familiar with, and associate with fun and good times, that only bodes well for Hot Springs.”
Vulcan claims its warehouse currently stores around 60,000 paddles.
Vulcan Pickleball Park
Tanners also has the Vulcan Pickleball Park, which features four outdoor, lighted pickleball courts.
It is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day.
The park is located at Tanners Team Sports Inc. headquarters in Mid-America Industrial Park, near Mid-America Science Museum at 736 Mid America Boulevard, Hot Springs, AR 71913
For more details, go to facebook.com/vulcanpickleballpark, call 501-760-6888, or email [email protected].
Hot Springs Pickleball Club uses these courts, and you can find more information about them on their Facebook page.
Pickleball Clinic
Don’t miss the upcoming pickleball clinic organized by Hot Springs Health & Fitness.
It will be held on Friday, November 11th, from 4 to 7 p.m. Play with the Vulcan Pro Daniel De La Rosa and Vulcan Teaching Pro Larry Patrick
$125/per person – first come, first served (up to 24 people).
Meals included.
Register by visiting hshealthandfitness.com or by calling 501-525-4 900.
Hot Springs Health & Fitness 281 Lake Hamilton Drive, Hot Springs, AR 71913
The event is sponsored by Vulcan Pickleball and Sunmed – your CBD store.
