Meet Lori Manzer | CEO/Creative Director, Georgie & Lou

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

Hi Lori, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My mom was an avid pickleball player in Palm Desert. While visiting she took me along and I learned to play.

I noticed right away that everyone had adorable clothing, but people were using old grocery bags, cruise bags and their huge tennis bags. Water bottles were rolling everywhere and no one could find their keys at the end. I started looking for fashionable, function bags and the combination was just not available. I knew pretty quickly what I needed to do.
Design a bag!

My youngest was getting ready to leave for college and I knew I could do this. I was out to dinner with friends and asked them if anyone else was interested in joining me and Mimi stepped in. It has been a great fit and we enjoying working together. Business meetings are also very easy because we are now next door neighbors!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a female founded and run business that makes women’s pickleball bags. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States with 4.8 million players nationwide, an increase of nearly 40% over two years ago!

We believe that style does not have to be left off the court! We are here because we have a love for pickleball and believe style and function come together beautifully in our bags moving effortlessly from the court to the clubhouse and beyond.

We are proud of the high end products we produce with solid metal hardware, the best fabrics on the market and vegan leathers. We are excited to introduce our newest bag, The Traveler, by mid October.

We are fully enjoying being part of the pickleball community as female entrepreneurs. Creating new partnerships in an emerging market has given us opportunities to grow alongside our competitors, rather than competing against them. Building long-lasting relationships has helped the success of our business. We have been lucky enough to collaborate with other female owned companies, not just in pickleball, but throughout the retail segment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting Colorado I would take them to Red Rocks and for lunch at Switchback Smokehouse. It is a gorgeous drive up and back and you can sit next to the river and eat some amazing BBQ.

I would probably take them hiking to my favorite spots, which shall remain secret. I love Pearl Street for sushi and great consignment shopping at Common Threads.

In Littleton, Kate’s Wine Bar is a great spot or the views from the View House are beautiful in any season. Dirt Coffee is a favorite and Loop Consignment is the best!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandparents were a huge influence growing up, especially my grandfather.

I am forever grateful for his “never quit” attitude and his support. He was a successful entrepreneur who followed his dream “to marshal resources to unleash the creative and productive energies of his customers and employees”. He lived by the phrase, “Today Not Tomorrow” and the entire family has been raised hearing those words. He instilled in me the belief that everything is possible and I could make things happen if I put time and effort in.

So, here I am living the dream of owning a business, learning something new every day and “Hitching my wagon to a star and getting out and pushing”! Thanks Gramps, I hope you would be proud.

Website: https://www.georgieandlou.com

Instagram: georgieandlou

Facebook: georgieandlou

Image Credits
Blue Talon Photography, Littleton, CO