Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Sutlive.
Hi Spencer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I founded Rugged Road Outdoors, the home of the world’s lightest high-performance cooler, in an effort to make a versatile high-performance cooler that wouldn’t break the bank or your back. The Rugged Road 65 cooler was launched in May of 2021 with the aspirations of changing the cooler game.
Weighing in at just under ten pounds, the cooler sits at ⅓ the weight of coolers with similar ice retention capabilities. But the innovation doesn’t stop here; the patent-pending hinges allow the lid to be both removable and reversible, with cup holders on one side and a game measuring board on the other. The KickflipTM removable lid allows for a more personalized experience, and also takes the struggle out of the cleaning process after a long weekend of hunting or fishing. Additionally, the cooler floats upright every time, meaning it can be pulled behind a kayak or sent down the river rapids while keeping your contents safe and cool. The cooler is protected by the RigoriteTM coating, which was originally developed to make the walls of the Pentagon blast-proof after the attacks on 9/11. It is sure to be the perfect addition to any outdoor adventure. In the development stage, I aimed to create a cooler unlike any other – and I like to think that I succeeded. So, what’s next? As our small business continues to grow, Rugged Road Outdoors is giving back by donating 10% of our annual profits to build wells around the globe to bring clean, reliable drinking water to developing countries. We are excited about how far we have come, look forward to what’s ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Capital was quite tricky in college. I had to work multiple jobs and put all the money into the business. It was a constant balance of keeping my personal and business account from going below $0. -Our first engineering partners sucked up all of our seed money, wasted a year of our time, and told us our product couldn’t be made.
COVID-19 caused shipping rates to skyrocket (from $4,000/container to $25,000). We can only fit 500 coolers in a container, so that increased our costs by $50.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
1: It sounds cheesy and simple, but never, ever, ever give up. Perseverance, hard work, and consistency will get you farther than you can ever imagine. Most people will give up when it gets hard, so dig deep and keep trying (even if it feels like you are failing).
2: Find people who believe in what you are trying to accomplish and hang on to them tightly. From advisors to employees, surround yourself with people who believe in your mission. Block out the rest.
Pricing:
- Rugged Road 65- $299.99
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ruggedroadoutdoors.com
- Website: https://ruggedroadoutdoors.com
- Instagram: @rugged_road_outdoors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuggedRoadOutdoors
