Meet Jeff Stout | Manufacturer

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

Hi Jeff, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
From the time I finished college I knew I wanted to start my own business. I had dozens of ideas but none of them were all that good. In 2010 I needed a birthday present for my brother who had 10 snowboards. I thought it would be cool to make him a wall rack to hold all of his boards. That was the first snowboard rack we ever made. He loved it and his friends started asking me to make them racks. Next thing I knew I was registering as an LLC and creating a website. We have now sold over 70,000 racks worldwide and we are constantly adding new rack and display styles to our product catalogue.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I started Pro Board Racks in 2010 we didn’t have any competitors. There wasn’t a single company focused on making storage and display racks for outdoor gear. We had the industry to ourselves! Over the years so many competitors have popped up and that has created challenges for us. We set ourselves apart by making the highest quality racks at the best price.

I think the key to beating our competitors is that our company is so lean. We keep overhead to a minimum, we hire only the best and most qualified employees, we keep a fun and engaging atmosphere in the shop and that has led to minimal turnover.

The first few years were difficult, but our revenue grew at 20% per year for the first 10 years. When the pandemic hit our sales sky rocketed. Because everyone was staying home we had so many orders we could hardly keep up. We had to hire at a faster pace than normal and we had to expand into a second shop. In 2022 when life returned to normal and spending on home goods slowed so did our sales. We are now dealing with the challenges of the current economy. However, keeping our company lean has allowed us to pivot to deal with inflation, high interest rates, and slower consumer spending.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the last few years is that consumer spending goes in cycles. It is critical to react accordingly but to not overreact. A good business owner sticks to the core principles that made them successful in the first place. As long as you continue to make the best products at an affordable price and provide excellent customer service good things will happen. You really can weather most storms if you stick to your values.

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.
I would tell them to get up to one of the classic mountain towns. Crested Butte is a favorite of mine for all the mountain biking, skiing, and fly fishing. If the friend was staying in Denver I’d suggest a show at Red Rocks, go tubing on clear creek through Golden, and then enjoy a beer at one of the many breweries in town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents deserve so much credit. When I launched Pro Board Racks in 2010 my friends thought I was crazy. Some even laughed at my idea, saying there’s no way I could have a full time job making racks for outdoor gear. My parents, on the other hand, gave me their full support and told me to go for it. They told me that as long as I commit to it one hundred percent that it would somehow work out. They were right!

Website: www.proboardracks.com

Instagram: @proboardracks