Bad Birdie: Jason Richardson

Jason offers valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of being a founder and provides tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Jason Richardson

Bad Birdie is the new golf brand on the scene, and they're changing the game. Players everywhere are taking notice of Bad Birdie's exciting polos, and the company is quickly gaining a reputation as the best in golf. So many top players now wear Bad Birdie, winning tournament after tournament.

When Richardson decided to create Bad Birdie, he wanted it to reflect golf's values - simplicity and traditionalism. As a result: solid colors with stripes became prominent elements in all aspects, from design down to production processes. As a result, they're easy for players with limited time on their hands but still want something classy looking without compromising quality or performance.

What motivated you to start your company?

I wanted to create a product for myself and my friends to wear on the course.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake when you first started?

Then, can you tell us what lesson you learned from that? I had no background in apparel, so I didn't understand the sample approval process. As a result, I made a couple of mistakes where I approved samples that went into production without realizing it.  

I learned from that mistake fast, worked with vendors on a better approval process in the future, and asked them to teach me the apparel industry along the way.

What do you have planned for the future?

We plan to continue to grow our product line and will be having a lot of new products coming in the next year:)

What did you want to be as a 12-year-old?

I wanted to be either a pro baseball player or a movie director at that age.

What is the most significant risk facing your company?

Any apparel company's most significant risk is inventory position - most companies have too much or too little. So we must be smart about planning and keeping the right product stock.

It's something we're always working on getting better at to make sure we have enough products to provide for our customers.

How do you deal with that failure?

Failure is part of the game if you're an entrepreneur - you must learn quickly, evolve, and not make the same mistake again. No excuses. Move on. Be better. It sounds somewhat harsh, but I think it's reality.

Who is your favorite entrepreneur?  

I don't have one specific entrepreneur that I love. I prefer to learn so many theories on running a business from various people. Right now, I'm listening to the All-In podcast, which features four entrepreneurs in the VC space. I highly recommend it.

What is missing for Arizona entrepreneurs to succeed?

We need more incentives from the state to move young companies here, ultimately bringing more resources and talent. Tax incentives for small businesses who move here, builders who develop new commercial spaces, or hosting big trade conferences like an SXSW could do a lot for us.

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