Dugout Mugs are baseball Bat Mugs, created to give baseball fans and players a fun way to celebrate their favorite pastime. Born from the creative vision of former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Randall Thompson and the business savvy of entrepreneur Kris Dehnert, Dugout Mugs are the perfect gift for sports enthusiasts.
After being released from the MLB, Thompson began working as a college coach for his alma mater, Florida Tech. During a practice one fall afternoon, Thompson picked up a sawed-off barrel of a baseball bat and figured it was the right shape and size for a hand-friendly Bat Mug. He created the first-ever Bat Mug in his garage apartment using a chop saw, a vice and a wood-burning tool he bought from the local craft store. “It wasn’t good...but it was a start!” he remembers.
Since those first days of developing the idea of drinking beer out of a baseball bat in 2014, Dugout Mugs has stationed their home base in Winter Haven, Florida where they’ve stepped up to the plate and grown into a thriving multi-million dollar enterprise poised to double its revenue this year, even during the coronavirus pandemic.
While many businesses around the world have had to make cuts, Dugout Mugs has continued to experience exponential growth and continued hiring even while baseball was temporarily put on hold. Dehnert and Thompson credit their growth during COVID to the products’ unique nature as a gift, creative marketing and collaborations paired with their ability to keep customers engaged by paying it forward during these difficult times with numerous product giveaways.
In June alone Dugout Mugs added eight new people locally in their warehouse and distribution facility and two employees to help with external marketing. Primarily an e-commerce business, Dugout Mugs employees are located in multiple states, and now business deals are being made globally. The company has also added to its product line, including customized “Wined Up” baseball Bat Wine Mugs, “Knob Shot” shot glasses, “Shortstop” and “Season Opener” products as well.
Another key factor to their ongoing success is their MLB, MiLB, HOF and MLBPA licensing deals.
Dugout Mugs’ Officially Licensed MLB Collection offers options to customize merchandise with a name, message, team emblem or even a handwritten message. The bats-turned-drinkware are a huge hit, with 80,000 to 100,000 varieties of mugs sold yearly.
With more partnerships and collaborations in the works, the four-year-old company is on pace to have its best year of sales to date. Current and former major leaguers have also embraced Dugout Mugs, adding to their popularity, including Mariano Rivera, David Ortiz, Pete Rose and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.
Once baseball fans are able to safely return to the stands, they’ll see Dugout Mugs at all 30 major league stadiums across the country, as well as many minor league stadiums. Order now, before they sell out and treat yourself, buy a present or customize a special surprise come December for your friends and family.
Over the past few years Dugout Mugs has proved to be a unique, personal way to share your passion for baseball with your loved ones, especially during the holidays.
Whether you cheering for the American and National Leagues, your favorite minor league team or your rec league, all the fans at home can agree that there is no better way to propose a toast this holiday season than with custom drinkware from Dugout Mugs.
You can use code BAT30 at checkout to receive 30% off.
