Pete Mogck

I ask good campfire questions. Founder of Paddle North.

We make getting on the water easy.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

Last fall we shut down two of our three retail stores (Duluth MN & Grand Rapids Mi).

Both were profitable.

Which made it weird.

Usually when something is working, you keep doing it.

But we were spread too thin.

Too many locations.
Too much management.
Too many little fires.

The thought was pretty simple:

Focus on one strong store, and take some of the overhead savings and put it into online ads.

So far, it’s worked. Revenue growth in both physical retail and online are ⬆️

And honestly, it’s just easier to run.

Focus sounds obvious until it means cutting something that’s making money.

…what’s something you’ve stopped doing, even though it may have been working, because it was distracting you from something better?

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

Can’t feel your face in the winter.
Can’t breathe the air in the summer.

Surprised @davidgoggins hasn’t moved here yet.

[KSTP @KSTP]

Minnesota now has some of the worst air pollution in the world according to real-time air quality readings by AQI, surpassing historically polluted global cities Delhi, India. https://t.co/AY25lfkgdP

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@KurtisHanni few small businesses are passionate about collections, unless there is a cash flow problem.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@RustyPrince It can get out of hand. Balance is key 💪

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

My son has had baseball games scheduled in the middle of the workday for two weeks in a row.

Friday at 10, Friday at 2. Normalized.

Parents of younger kids: if youth sports are in your future, start building work flexibility now.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@coachOdom4 Let’s go!

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

I got out of the Army 20 years ago and have intentionally resisted making anything camo pattern. I had enough time spent wearing army green.

Finally warmed back up to the idea.

We're about to drop this Camo Loon PN hat next week 👀

What do you think?

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@persoective26 That was a good one!

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@JenKingJohnson …like a chef? Is that what you mean by baker?

Don’t worry though, we got others incoming if this isn’t your jam :-)

Thx for the feedback and enjoy your float!! 💪

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@MarkShaug I feel that. It can be really tough to make it all fit. We’ve seen the team rally and help with rides etc and somehow almost every game has live video now? So if you do miss, there’s some options.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@RustyPrince I figured someone may suggest that.

To be clear— it’s not complaining. it’s planning ahead for an incredible future. Get to watch your kids compete in something they love on a Friday. It’s the best.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@trentjhughes This is the way.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@persoective26 Haha. It is fun.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@Kathyh_72 Yes, it also continues all weekend 😏

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@chrishume_ Those forehead points may be too much to overcome.

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@dklineii My son’s baseball coach just said a similar thing as his pre-game talk:

“if you need a coach to bring the motivation and pump you up before a game, that’s a problem. You got to come with that already.”

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@CheyCab Let’s go! Nice kayak too 😉

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@nahuelhilal 🔥 Going to wrap it?

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@dklineii Thanks Dave, wasn’t easy! But feels good to be on this side of it. Nice to connect 🤝

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

Last fall we shut down two of our three retail stores (Duluth MN & Grand Rapids Mi).

Both were profitable.

Which made it weird.

Usually when something is working, you keep doing it.

But we were spread too thin.

Too many locations.
Too much management.
Too many little fires.

The thought was pretty simple:

Focus on one strong store, and take some of the overhead savings and put it into online ads.

So far, it’s worked. Revenue growth in both physical retail and online are ⬆️

And honestly, it’s just easier to run.

Focus sounds obvious until it means cutting something that’s making money.

…what’s something you’ve stopped doing, even though it may have been working, because it was distracting you from something better?

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

@NoahSabich @AnheuserBusch @KonaBigWave Starting to think about how that could look? But yes…

[Pete Mogck @peteyboardman]

Big partnerships don’t always have a big pitch.

In 2021, a Minnesota-based @AnheuserBusch brand manager bought a paddle board from us.

A few years later, he bought a few more products for local distributors.

Then he introduced us to some people at AB corporate.

Now we’re making a totally custom @KonaBigWave collection that’s nearly sold out, and AB placed a large order for promotional displays across the Midwest.

It turned out to be the largest single order in Paddle North’s 12-year history.

That escalated quickly.

For a company the size of AB, it was one fun promotion among many. For our small team, it was a pretty big moment.

What surprised me most was how approachable the entire process felt. Our team learned how to navigate a bunch of unfamiliar corporate requirements, supported a major account, and got the job done. The AB team made it fun, kept things clear, and helped us figure it all out.

It started with one customer having a good experience five years ago.