In episode 518 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-In-Chief Joe Keenan Interviews Bear Mayer, founder and CEO of BRUCE BOLT, a family-owned sports equipment brand based in Austin, Texas. Mayer looks back on his entrepreneurial beginnings, touching on the valuable business lessons his father imparted on him (00:55). He discusses the rapid growth of BRUCE BOLT in the sporting world as it expands into football (3:10), lessons learned from establishing a presence in baseball that can apply to new product verticals (5:50), and different customer demographics for each sport (8:00).

In addition, Mayer emphasizes BRUCE BOLT's focus on customer service (10:21), how its product designs balance fashion and functionality (12:45), and the role of DTC vs. wholesale as the business scales (15:30). Lastly, he discusses driving customer loyalty, especially among consumers playing multiple sports (17:50), as well as his vision for the future of BRUCE BOLT (20:00).

Bear Mayer is the founder and CEO of BRUCE BOLT, a performance-driven, multisport glove company redefining what was once an afterthought piece of equipment into an essential, game-changing asset that’s trusted by competitive amateurs and professional athletes alike. Mayer launched BRUCE BOLT at just 16 years old after growing frustrated with the poor quality and durability of batting gloves on the market. After explosive success in baseball where the brand redefined expectations of how batting gloves should look and feel, BRUCE BOLT expanded into golf. 

Mayer named BRUCE BOLT after his grandfather, Bruce, a living legend who was struck by lightning twice. His grit, determination, and perseverance embody everything the brand stands for. That story continues to fuel BRUCE BOLT’s growth: staying true to its roots while constantly pushing forward. What began as a passion project has grown into a family-driven company trusted and worn by some of the best athletes in the world. The company remains a family business to this day, with both Mayer’s sister and father being deeply involved in the day-to-day operations.

Outside of BRUCE BOLT, Mayer is an avid sports fan with a particular devotion to Ohio State football and college athletics as a whole. A proud Texan, he grew up just outside Austin and now resides in the city. He credits his work ethic to his upbringing, his love of his mother’s cooking, and
the close relationships that keep him grounded, including frequent trips to Tennessee, where he spends time with his longtime girlfriend.