An outdoor enthusiast often wakes before the sun breaks the horizon, reaching for a headlamp, flashlight or lantern to get the day started. The day often ends in much the same way.
Local entrepreneur and outdoorsman Chris Grider found himself in this position, juggling different batteries for different lights and different lights for different tasks. And beyond the burden of the shuffle, the extra gear took up a lot of space and the batteries were going to the landfill.
“I’m an outdoorsman through and through and have been my whole life… and we just kind of thought there’s got to be a better way to do this,” Grider told NTX Inno. “It was kind of born out of life experiences and frustrations around the modular personal lighting space.”
Early last year, Grider launched HEADSPIN to tackle this problem. The company has developed a convertible lighting system. A single, rechargeable light anchors the system and can be placed on different mounts, eliminating the need for multiple lighting devices. Grider said the rechargeable battery is also more beneficial to the environment.
So far, the company has been funded through friends and family, as well as revenue made from sales. Grider said the company saw a solid first year of operation. HEADSPIN sells its products directly to consumers and via independent retailers.
“We call it a lifestyle light, it’s for those folks who like to just get out and enjoy nature and that can be a wide variety of things,” Grider said. “Oftentimes our adventures start early in the morning… and so we want to be a part of that journey, and at the end of the day, when the sun goes down, we want to be there while you’re celebrating that day well lived. We just want to be that tool that’s in your gear bag that you can rely on and really use in a variety of different ways.”
Being a new and innovative product comes with its own set of challenges. Grider said that creating understanding for consumers has been one of HEADSPIN’s largest tasks getting started. He said they often do a lot of marketing through videos, gifs and trade shows in order to show people that the product is not just a flashlight or headlamp, but both and more in one.
In Q4 of last year, HEADSPIN got a bit of recognition, landing a partnership with iconic travel trailer brand Airstream. In addition to selling their product on Airstream’s e-commerce platform, Grider said it gives his fledgling brand a boost of credibility and unique advertising opportunities.
“You can throw it in the boat, throw it in the back of the ranger, throw it in the back of the car for a road trip, it’s just really kind of convenient,” Grider said. “It’s great to be recognized by a brand like that for us, being a young brand that we are.”
"I think everybody is just really plugged in… let’s just get back out and connect with nature."
However, like nearly every business in the region, the coronavirus pandemic has brought new struggles for HEADSPIN. Some of the company’s advertising plans with Airstream have been put on hold. In addition, one of its main marketing tools – trade shows – have been closed due to the pandemic. Many of the independent retail shops HEADSPIN works with have also been forced to close their doors, which has made the company shift more of its focus to online sales and branding.
HEADSPIN faces its own unique challenge, in that its manufacturing is done in China. However, though shipment times have increased, production and supply chains are largely up and running.
“It’s a personal relationship, we love all of our independent shops and it’s hard to see them close,” Grider said. “It’s tough and I think the biggest uncertainty for everyone in business at large is just that: the uncertainty. We don’t know if any of those things are going to open up next month or whether it could be this fall. I’m confident we’ll make it through, it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te9A5z8iyeQ[/embed]
Grider said during the current crisis the two-person team at HEADSPIN have been focused on being smart with expenditures, trimming where possible, and trying its best to plan for an uncertain future ahead.
However, Grider said he does see some hope and benefit to people and HEADSPIN during this time of social distancing and self-isolation. He hopes that people use this time to connect with family and with nature.
“I think everybody is just really plugged in… let’s just get back out and connect with nature, and I think that inherently that comes with spending time with other people,” Grider said. “It’s just that idea of disconnecting a little bit, getting out there, getting off the grid and enjoying time with family and friends. Really just experiencing the outdoors is what we love to do, and I think the product just helps enable that in a positive way.”
