Meet Kim Pierpoint | Prickly Pear Sports Founder and Avid Sprint Triathlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Pierpoint and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Great question! The idea for my business didn’t just pop into my head one day, it took several years.  It started with a quest to solve an annoying personal problem (my bladder leaked during exercise) and grew from the realization that there weren’t any satisfactory products on the market that offered a reasonable solution – at least not in my experience, and believe me I tried them all.

Here’s why it mattered to me.  Like a lot of women, I had put my fitness on hold while I raised kids and established my career. When my then college-aged daughter invited me to do a sprint triathlon I jumped at the chance. I had always been athletic, and I had visions of a top 3 finish, proof that I still “had it.” I barely finished the course. Undaunted, I vowed to train for the following season. I started to feel like I could reclaim my athleticism – except for the leaky bladder problem. I experienced leaks that were so embarrassing I couldn’t make it around the local high school track without leaking through. I tried everything from disposable pads (a real non-starter) to absorbent underwear to clothing ostensibly designed to hide leaks (it didn’t.) I was discouraged but kept at it. Quitting wasn’t an option.

As I neared retirement, I started searching for something new to do. In the back of my mind, I’d been toying with the idea of designing a product that would solve the visible leak problem, not just for me but for the 50% of women in this country who deal with bladder leaks as well. The product had to be washable vs. disposable, effective at absorbing and hiding minor to moderate leaks, comfortable, stylish, functional, and affordable. Most importantly, it had to give active women a way to run, lift, jump and yes, even laugh, with confidence. As a career healthcare administrator, I saw this as a women’s public health issue.  We all know that being sedentary has negative health consequences. I was out to help women get back in the game.

How difficult could this be? At one time I knew how to sew. But after a bit of research, I discovered it would be very difficult indeed. So, I started working with someone who knew her way around a modern sewing machine. We produced leggings and running shorts that I thought were pretty awesome. I enlisted a dozen women to test these early prototypes (hydrate, exercise, repeat) and got some excellent feedback. Next, I attended a trade show in Las Vegas to generate interest in my great idea. There I met an industry consultant, someone with impeccable credentials and experience in launching a clothing line. She gently told me my prototypes were, well, pretty awful. Thankfully, she knew just how to fix them and referred me to a designer/manufacturer in LA.

I had a decision to make. Would I continue to approach this project in a do-it-yourself fashion, or would I get serious, formally incorporate my business, and enlist the expertise of industry professionals who truly know what they’re doing? It was an easy decision. I was all-in. I formally launched Prickly Pear Sports, LLC, in early 2020.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up in an era when the typical career advice for women was “learn to type, you can always fall back on it.” I had no intention of typing for a living, but in fact, my first job out of college was as a secretary in a doctor’s office. I found I loved working in the medical arena and went on to get a graduate degree in healthcare administration. I worked in various capacities in hospital settings, in the dialysis industry, and as an independent healthcare management consultant. But despite my success, I never truly felt invested in my career. All that changed when I became the administrator of an internationally-recognized pediatric center dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. I became part of a team whose mission was to help heal children and families and to foster a safe and healthy future. Wow. Now that was something I could get behind.

I’ve been driven by the desire to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Now that I’m “retired” (ha!) I’m turning that energy into solving a problem that a lot of women – up to 50% of us – face. About 20% of us give up exercising because of the embarrassment and I’m out to change that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friend comes to visit, we’re going to spend a lot of time hanging out in South Boulder. My favorite places to eat, grab a coffee, shop and schmooze are a half-mile easy walk from my house. We’ll start with breakfast at the Southside Walnut Cafe where they make awesome omelets. Then we’ll wander over to Neptune Mountaineering and check out the camping gear, or head over to Play-It-Again Sports for deals on used sporting equipment. Once we’re properly outfitted, we’ll do a long day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. RMNP is an hour’s drive from Boulder and boasts some of the most beautiful scenery and wildlife in the country. We might even stay overnight in one of the YMCA cabins in Estes Park or, if Trail Ridge Road is open, at Snow Mountain Ranch near Grandby. Either way, we’ll spend a lot of time in the great outdoors.

When we return to South Boulder, we’ll indulge in the best French Fries and microbrews on the planet at Southern Sun restaurant. For entertainment toward the end of the week, we’ll take in an evening of jazz at Caffe Sole. The next day, we’ll go for a run on the Bobolink Trail in the company of white-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, and an occasional coyote. To top off the week, if it’s baseball season we’ll cheer on the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the most fulfilling and at times unexpected aspects of my entrepreneurial journey has been the unsolicited support and encouragement of people I’ve met along the way. But the people who first encouraged me to get started and to keep going even when I couldn’t see a path forward are my daughter Lauren, son David and husband Paul. Lauren is the one who, after I complained of being bored in retirement and frustrated with bladder leaks said, “OK, Mom, then go do something about it!” She also suggested I read How I Built This by Guy Raz. In my opinion, it’s the best guide for aspiring entrepreneurs out there.

Website: https://pricklypearsports.com/

Instagram: @pricklypearsports

Facebook: @pricklypearsports