Snowboarding Trailblazers Invite Other Entrepreneurs to ...
A trailblazer represents the spirit of an entrepreneur in its truest form; someone who discovers a new way through wild, untouched territory; an individual who forges their own path for others to follow.
Entrepreneurs are willing to go where others feel cautious, fearful and often don't even see a possible trail; for the Ritters this includes some of the most remote backcountry where few humans ever tread.
Spark R&D's innovative splitboard bindings offer snowboarders access to some of the freshest untouched powder in the world. Splitboards separate into two skis so that adventurers can make long treks up the mountain, reconnect the skis and then snowboard down on a single board. Splitboarding represents a small niche of the snowboarding and skiing industry, yet those who embrace it are passionate and appreciate the freedom it gives them to go beyond commercial resorts' predetermined runs and ski lifts.
The Ritters are successful entrepreneurial trailblazers who remind us to look beyond the obvious as we create our products and services. Will recognized a need for improvement in the binding system because snowboarding is one of his true passions in life. He transformed his idea into something tangible and his resulting company has taken its place alongside an ever-growing number of successful American manufacturing companies across the country.
A few simple tips for all entrepreneurs from the Ritters:
The Ritters created success by following a simple blueprint that others can also follow. Spark R&D rose in prominence and continues to move into uncharted territory of success. We hope they inspire you to continue forward on your as-yet-unexplored paths.
From Prototype to Professional In their early days, Will and Becca spent their weekends exploring the backcountry of Montana with friends. On one particularly deep powder day Will was the only snowboarder on snowshoes, while the rest of the group was on touring skis. Out of breath and sweating profusely while the skiers moved easily uphill enjoying conversation, Will was fnallyready to invest in a splitboard.
"The first time I got out on a splitboard, I was stoked," Will shares. "I didn't have to wallow in the powder on my snowshoes with my board strapped to my back.
Travel was much more efficient. From day one, though, it seemed to me that a huge improvement would be to make a splitboard-specific binding." In the beginning, splitboards used a conventional snowboard binding with an adapter. While workable, this system was heavy, tall off the board and too flexible.
Will envisioned a way to improve the binding system in hopes of making something better for personal use. The basic thought was to incorporate all of the needed parts into the baseplate of the binding and leave out anything that wasn't needed.
Not content with letting his ideas remain in the abstract, Will worked to create an actual prototype to demonstrate the effectiveness of the splitboard binding. The earliest prototype was constructed of plywood, but soon after usable versions were made from laser-cut aluminum and CNC-machined plastic parts. Will tested his designs for his own use while also getting feedback from friends, his wife and other splitboarders on Internet forums.
During the initial binding development, Will worked as a mechanical engineer at an industrial design firm where he created products to suit the needs of others while incorporating what he had learned into his splitboard binding side project.
After unveiling the bindings, Will was overwhelmed with requests to buy them. What had seemed like a fun project was now starting to look like a potential business.
With Becca's support, Will took the entrepreneurial leap, quit his day job and started Spark R&D to pursue the binding business, as well as work as a product designer for his own clients. He followed his heart and his passion, and it paid off.
The Splitboard Spark The unique design of a splitboard and the need to adapt from skis to a solid board makes the binding component critical, as it affects total weight, handling and performance. It is no easy task to perfect the binding designs. What may seem simple to most is, in fact, quite complex.
Early Prospects While Will was experienced and capable at the actual design of the bindings, manufacturing the product was another beast entirely. The early parts and components had to be ordered or subbed out to third parties. They were expensive and took away some elements of control over the final product, but they gave the fledgling company a window of opportunity for future development and growth.
As Spark R&D grew, it also expanded its shop space, which is now roughly 16 times the original square footage. The ability to create in-house parts also expanded. They bought their own CNC machines, a whole system to anodize (color) their products and even an injection molding machine for plastic parts. As processes have been brought in house at Spark R&D they have seen a decrease in costs and overall time to produce goods while increasing quality and manufacturing capabilities.
From Startup to Creating a Profitable Business Will's vision and skill set were sufficient to get the company off the ground. However, with incredible growth came increased demands in all areas of the company. Trade shows, payroll, cash flow, financing, inventory - the list of important things that were falling by the wayside was growing.
Enter Becca Ritter (the other half of this trailblazing pair). Initially helping out part-time, it was apparent that Becca's eye for detail and organizational skills were needed at Spark R&D. Eventually she also left her day job to serve as business manager and CFO, along with anything else that needed to be done to transform the company from a startup to a mature organization. "Without Will there would be no bindings, and without Becca there would be no Spark R&D," explains Matt McKee, Spark R&D's COO.
Will doesn't have an inflated ego (another essential ingredient for success), and he does what he does because he enjoys it and knows that he will continue to improve on it.
Will sought feedback from users and friends, incorporating adjustment to his designs as necessary. That same tradition continues today in the form of taking customer feedback as they update the designs on a continual basis. Because they have maintained such tight quality control and do most of their own manufacturing, they can make improvements on the fly, test their designs within a 20-minute drive from the shop and get almost immediate feedback. R&D stands for research and development, and their company continues to pursue their namesake.
Their employees love the sport and are excited to take part in a growing and evolving company. Many entrepreneurs are shifting their focus toward high-tech, automated solutions; however, Spark R&D has gained success by remaining a hands-on, old-school manufacturing company.They have managed to make the most of what modern technology offers while incorporating the artistry and hands-on craftsmanship that is missing in many of the products developed today.
My oldest son-in-law shared with me recently that splitboarding allows him to reach new heights and places he never imagined before. It's during this time that he contemplates enjoying the beauty and peacefulness that surrounds him and has some of his best creative thoughts come to him.
To learn more about this organization and their story, visit their website at www.sparkrandd.com Additional reporting for this article provided by Mary Michelle Scott , Fishbowl President.
