What do you do about it? Sure, you could complain, or vow never to submit to your kids' demands. Or you could start your own company to provide the same type of goods at a lower price.
That's pretty much the story of how Jason Gillis started Cradle Gear, supplier of wrestling and MMA (mixed martial arts) gear.
The birth of a business
Cradle Gear was essentially born at a major high school wrestling tournament.
Rulon Gardner and Jason GillisThis past February, Gillis launched Cradle Gear with the idea of providing top-quality performance gear at lower prices.
Cradle Gear offers a wide range of sportswear and gear for martial arts, mixed martial arts and wrestling, including shorts, shirts, jackets and singlets.
Here's how the company describes itself on the "About Us" page at its website: "CradleGear.com is your source for all sports apparel and branded casual wear. We work directly with contracted manufacturers who adhere to our strict guidelines resulting in the highest quality and extreme comfort. We can provide the very best for lower prices than any of our competitors."
The idea seems to be working. As Gillis told InterMat, "It's really taking off, thanks in large part to social media."
"We strive to deliver top-quality products and excellent customer service, all at low prices."
A "market correction" for high-price performance gear
Jason Gillis is a wrestling fanatic who never wrestled. "All my buddies in high school wrestled, as did my college roommates," said Gillis, who counts a number of college wrestlers and coaches among his friends, including Jim Andrassy, head coach of the mat program at Kent State University, Gillis' alma mater.
Cradle Gear Team with Henry Cejudo"I started Cradle Gear because my other businesses are successful," Gillis said matter-of-factly.
He then told the story of his sons and the $40 fight shorts at the Ironman tournament ... and, continuing with the theme of high prices, segued into just how expensive it is for athletes to participate in extra-curricular activities.
"Too many kids are having to pay to play sports," Gillis said. "I understand that times are tough and school districts are having to watch their funds, but it really closes the door on some kids' ability to participate."
"I was talking to a friend who has to pay $1,000 a year to have three kids play high school sports, and he's the wrestling coach at that school!" according to Gillis.
"I'm trying to give a market correction regarding pricing for athletic gear, including wrestling gear. Too much of it is overpriced."
Giving athletes a piece of the action
In addition to being sensitive to the price of some brands of performance gear, Jason Gillis is very aware of how difficult it is for amateur wrestlers to make it financially.
"Amateur wrestling is the one sport where athletes don't get much in the way of financial compensation, unless they win medals at the Worlds or Olympics, or go into professional MMA," said Gillis.
Cradle Gear Jon Reader Signature SeriesCradle Gear has signed up a number of wrestlers for its Signature Series program, including Angel Escobedo, Coleman Scott, Trent and Travis Paulson, Jon Reader, Justin (Harry) Lester, Spenser Mango, Adeline Grey, and Kelsey Campbell.
What's more, each Signature Series wrestler gets to participate in the design of his or her gear, choosing colors, logos and other design elements that reflect his or her personality and interests.
Customization for everyone
The ability to personalize and customize performance gear isn't limited to wrestlers in Cradle Gear's Signature Series program. Any individual athlete, wrestling program or club, or MMA facility can use Cradle Gear's in-house design capabilities.
Cael Sanderson and Jason Gillis"A school or individual can put in a design request, and, within 24-48 hours, we can get back to them with designs at no charge," said Gillis.
Fast turn-around isn't limited to the design phase, according to Gillis. "Place an order, and we'll the merchandise to you in 4-6 weeks."
More and more wrestling programs are moving away from the traditional warm-ups towards fight shorts, shirts and jackets for wrestlers to wear before and after matches.
Cradle Gear Kent State Wrestling ShortsWhat's more, Cradle Gear will be supplying custom fight shorts for all 28 finalists at the second-annual InterMat JJ Classic, a premier preseason high school wrestling tournament to be held this Saturday (Oct. 22) at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn.
"I always donate to cancer causes," said Gillis, referring to the inspiration of the InterMat JJ Classic, Justin "JJ" Kukowski, an athlete and avid sports fan who lost his battle with brain cancer days after his 27th birthday in 2007. "I lost my mother to cancer one year ago."
To learn more about Cradle Gear, visit their website at CradleGear.com.
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