Today we’d like to introduce you to Chuck Rodrigues
Hi Chuck, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born & raised in Boston, MA & attended undergrad business school at Bentley University (Class of 2003) where I met my amazing wife Michele.
In February 2014, I was offered a Sales leadership position at a Carlsbad-based sport training brand called SKLZ.
I made an empassioned plea to Michele:
“Look outside, there is 4-feet of snow…we’re hibernating 4-months a year. Let’s take a chance here & move to California…maybe we’ll fail miserably & move back home in 2-years – but maybe we’ll find a better quality of life and raise our family in paradise.”
We quit (2) stable jobs, sold our house & moved cross-country with our 7-month old baby & we’ve never looked back!
In July 2018, SKLZ was sold to a holding company called Implus. I was tabbed to lead the SKLZ team into this new parent company & establish a west-coast office for a newly created Sports, Fitness & Outdoor division based in Carlsbad. Our mission was to design, develop, market & sell “athlete-first” products across digital platforms & physical retail stores.
In Sept 2022, seeking more flexibility & the opportunity to scratch an entrepeneurial itch, I joined a small start-up called FLITE Sports as Brand President. FLITE is a Carlsbad-based sport lifestyle brand that designs & produces custom uniforms, premium apparel & sport accessory products for teams, clubs, schools & their supporters. Over the past two years, the FLITE team has grown the business into a multi-million dollar brand.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has most certainly not been smooth:
Michele & I left our family/friends in Boston to move to San Diego where we had zero family, friends or professional network.
We have raised our two children: Ethan (11/son) & Riley (9/daughter) with no local family support.
We both have worked for small companies in competitive industries, so there is always uncertainty regarding if our respective businesses will even survive.
The first few months at FLITE, I remember staring at the wall wondering where our next order was going to come from…”dialing for dollars” just to make bi-weekly payroll. I transitioned from an SVP position in a $+400MM global business to battling tape dispensers, packing uniform orders & making daily UPS drop-offs. I still pack orders, but at least now I have some help 🙂
We’ve been impressed with FLITE SPORTS, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Team Uniform space is incredibly competitive, with over 90% of the market share held by global powerhouse brands: Nike, Adidas & Puma.
However, we identified a major gap in our industry:
The big brands pour their energy & resources into the big programs, leaving the small-to-midsize organizations frustrated & underserved.
FLITE focuses specifically on this segment and we pride ourselves on serving this group like a top-tier program by offering custom, premium quality gear & outstanding attention & service.
For us to survive & compete in this space, we have to do things a bit different:
We conduct “cultural deep-dives” with our partners to understand what is important to their organization and then we bring that to life in their custom gear designs allowing them to stand-out in a “sea of the same.”
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Our team is as authentic as it gets, consisting of current/former pro athletes, coaches, & club sport parents.
We understand the unique needs of competitive athletes and work tirelessly to deliver product solutions to support them.
We’re priviledged to align our personal passions with our profession in beautiful North County, San Diego
Pricing:
- 3pc Custom Kit starting at $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flitesports.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flitesports/
Image Credits
Sandra Velez-Lopez
Lynnie Diede
Christina Dibba
Dante Brooks
Kelly Marie
