First up is String King, and I'm extremely envious. They make a good product, and they seem to have their morning priorities straight as well. Thanks to those guys for letting us in on the operation.
In Gardena, California, the String King crew suits up before the sunrise, often taking advantage of a healthy morning swell. Being able to squeeze in a quick surf before the workday must go a long way towards maintaining the work/play balance.
The company puts a lot of time into R & D. They've just put out a new line of mesh with something they call Twistex. Pictured here is one of the tests used to dial up new mesh ideas.
Going further with their research, String King has to invent their own ways of testing and measuring their product. "We call this the ‘deflect-o-meter’. The deflect-o-meter measures the stiffness of the head at different temperatures so we can compare different materials and shapes."
As String King and their sales have grown, so too have their product offerings. What began as a mesh-and-strings-only company has expanded into equipment with a line of shafts. They're also set to release a head of their own this year, called the Mark 1. String King also has the amazing tool called uString, which helps stringers and newcomers with easy ways to string their own head.
The business runs like many others, complete with an online department, marketing, social media, and sales. The team works together to make sure the brand is growing with the sport daily.
While they may be a serious company, they are, after all, a lacrosse company, and what self respecting lacrosse company doesn't have a torn up goal in the back for some mid-day stress release? On top of helping them test their products, the cage is a great way for employees to let out some energy throughout the work day.
If the AM surf sesh, the mellow atmosphere, and the lax cage aren't enough to keep the good vibes flowing, the west coast sunset will certainly finish the deal.
I asked the String King guys a bit how they got started, and whether they had any advice for other entrepreneurs out there.
"After playing through high school and college, StringKing co-founders Luke and Jake started with the goal to make the best mesh on the market. StringKing started as two kids in their parents’ basement messing around with mesh. It might sound cliché, but take things one step at a time and don’t give up. Nobody expected us to grow like we have, but we’ve kept working and learning each step of the way. It’s a lot of hard work, and it’s definitely not always glamorous, but if you keep chasing a goal you can make it a reality."
We'd like to thank the guys at String King for sending over the photos and descriptions, and for a sharing a glimpse into their usual day. If there's a company out there you'd like to know more about, hit us up on Instagram and we'll see what we can do.
-MM