Meet Declan Lawlor of Declan’s Paddles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Declan Lawlor

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2023 I left my job at a financial technology company in Nashville to enroll in IYRS School of Technology and Trades in
Newport, RI. I had been working my job in Nashville since I graduated college and felt I was spending too much of my time inside, in front of a screen. I wanted a change of environment, to learn something new, and to challenge myself. When I found IYRS, I knew it would be the perfect fit.

IYRS teaches students a wide range of skills to succeed in the marine trades industry. You can learn anything from building a wooden boat, to fixing a diesel engine, to laying up a fiberglass catapult. The school is full of creative, motivated people at varying stages in their careers. It is the perfect place to brainstorm new ideas, develop new products, and learn how to build 1000 different things in a 1000 different ways.

Ultimately, my time in the workshop at IYRS led to the creation of my business – Declan’s Paddles. At Declan’s Paddles we manufacture high performance carbon fiber pickleball paddles with a dual “sustainability and craftsmanship” focus. It is our mission to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions in the pickleball industry by making a higher quality, longer-lasting, locally manufactured product. Furthermore, every paddle is made to-order, eliminating the industry problem of mass overproduction.

Today, Declan’s Paddles is represented by happy customers on pickleball courts all over Nashville and across the USA. Our paddles have won local tournaments, been wedding gifts, acted as employee appreciation prizes, and have consistently improved players’ game. In 2025, we will be releasing the “Impact Series,” which aims to give back directly to charitable causes with each paddle purchased.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. Manufacturing a high performance sports product is not a simple task. It becomes even more difficult when you place sustainability at the core of your business, and when you are competing with huge, experienced Chinese factories. It took me more than a year and hundreds of iterations of design elements to finally create a repeatable product that I am proud to sell. Only after that stage was I able to tackle the additional challenges of website design, content creation, marketing, and supply chain and inventory management. Needless to say, I expected things to go much more smoothly before starting this journey. However, each bump in the road has been a lesson. Starting a business has been the most educational endeavor of my life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Declan’s Paddles?
At Declan’s Paddles we manufacture high performance carbon fiber pickleball paddles with a dual “sustainability and craftsmanship” focus. It is our mission to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions in the pickleball industry by making a higher quality, longer-lasting, locally manufactured product. Furthermore, every paddle is made to-order, eliminating the industry problem of mass overproduction.

Today, Declan’s Paddles is represented by happy customers on pickleball courts all over Nashville and across the USA. Our paddles have won local tournaments, been wedding gifts, acted as employee appreciation prizes, and have consistently improved players’ game. In 2025, we will be releasing the “Impact Series,” which aims to give back directly to charitable causes with each paddle purchased.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite app is Libby. Libby allows anyone free access to their local library via their device. I listen to an audiobook everyday, and have connected Libby to my kindle to read on there, too. Anyone can get an online library card and get started for free today!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.declanspaddles.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declanspaddles/