This summer, America’s fastest-growing sport continues to provide interactive fun and friendly competition to communities across the country. With over 36 million players in 2023, pickleball is a phenomenon that people cannot seem to get enough of.
Katy Luxem, CEO and founder of Big Dill Pickleball Co., grew up in Seattle and has played pickleball since childhood. As a native of pickleball’s founding city, this small business owner knows how addictive the sport can be.
Luxem’s Draper, Utah-based small business caters to all pickleball experience levels and was one of 70 top honorees for the U.S. Chamber’s 2023 America’s Top Small Business Awards.
For the Chamber's Brought to You by American Business series, Luxem discusses how her company brings summer adventures to life.
A Game—and Gear—for Everyone
Part of Luxem’s inspiration in starting Big Dill was her belief that pickleball should be accessible and affordable for all—and that mindset is reflected in the company’s gear and mission. Big Dill specializes in serving entry-level to intermediate pickleball players.
“Pickleball is a great summer activity because you can play with the whole family, and it doesn’t require a lot of fancy rules or complicated equipment. It’s easy to learn, fun to play, and incredibly addictive,” Luxem says.
During the pandemic, when many people were discovering pickleball for the first time, Katy noticed a lack of fun, high-quality gear on the market. She saw an opportunity to create a unique brand that provides quality gear to a variety of pickleball players with a creative and lively design.
At the time, other pickleball companies focused on selling highly priced gear to pro-level players. Big Dill’s mission is to help new players join the sport by making paddles, balls, and accessories that are affordable and have fun designs that appeal to lots of potential players.
Many of Big Dill’s distinct paddles display a cartoon pickle smiling and holding its own paddle and ball. As the company’s website says, “Pickleball is fun. Shouldn’t your gear be fun, too?”
Big Dill paddles are designed for use on neighborhood or community courts, parks, or even driveways—spots where anyone can get a quick game started.
Tips for Breaking into Summer’s Hottest Sport
Looking to get into pickleball this summer? Luxem has some tips. She encourages new players to check out their local community center or park, as many have introductory classes.
“Pickleball is an inclusive sport, and players are usually very welcoming and helpful to beginners,” Luxem says.
Big Dill Pickleball Co. also has a blog with various posts that give helpful tips about how to play and basic rules. Since the sport doesn’t have complicated rules or fancy equipment, it’s the perfect summer sport for all ages and athletic abilities.
For Luxem, Pickleball Is a Family Business
Luxem cares deeply about supporting small, women-owned businesses like her own and showing her daughters the opportunities that entrepreneurship affords.
“I genuinely care about our customers—it’s often me shipping orders and answering your emails—and our five-star reviews speak for themselves,” Luxem says.
“Choosing our products through our website or on Amazon supports my family and helps raise another generation of women-owned businesses, as my daughters are watching and helping with our family-run company.”
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About the authors
Lillian Chase
Lillian Chase is a communications intern at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
