Randall Thompson & Kris Dehnert: Co-Founders @ Dugout Mugs

Randall and Kris are the cofounders of Dugout Mugs®, an officially licensed Major League Baseball bat-themed mug, and accessory company. Randall played in the minor leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays before getting cut from the team and deciding to launch his own company.

When he began to create the first Dugout Mug, he knew Kris was the perfect person to launch the business with. Prior to Dugout Mugs, Kris found success in numerous verticals, including real estate, apparel, hard goods, affiliate marketing, strategic partnerships, and more. His specialty is rooted in eCommerce and social media where he’s managed to surpass $40 million dollars in sales online.

Together, they’ve created the flagship brand that is Dugout Mugs, with products showcased by some of the most prestigious organizations in the baseball industry.

This Episode’s Heavy-hitters:

- Kris and Randall take pride in being themselves at all times. Whether it’s on the podcast, grabbing a beer, or speaking on stage, the company culture and brand is infused with their personalities through and through.

- Randall first got the idea for the Dugout Mug when he was sitting in the dugout watching the hitting coach cutting baseball bats in half for a conditioning exercise. He took one look at them and decided that if you were able to bore out the middle of the bats, they would make great drinking vessels.

- After getting fired from literally every job in his teens and early twenties, Kris truly started his career as a sales rep for Gold’s Gym. He did so well with early Facebook marketing (in 2011, before it was popular) and good old hand-to-hand sales that he ended up opening more locations for the chain owner.

- Kris and Randall operate on the “Hell No or Hell Yes” system-- meaning that unless the answer to a business move or strategy is a “Hell No” off the bat, they treat it like a “Hell Yes” and go all-in on the opportunity.

- At first, the MLB licensing wasn’t overly keen on granting Randall and Kris use of the official MLB name. Once they saw the sales numbers even without the branding, they were happy to grant full access.

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