Guide: Founding your own padel brand

Padel tennis has long been more than just a temporary trend. With player numbers growing every year, new facilities and a growing community, this dynamic sport offers an attractive opportunity for start-ups and companies. If you want to start your own padel brand now, you will find a comparatively young but rapidly growing market environment - with high demand for specialized products, brands and stores.

This blog article shows you how to set up your own padel brand - from market analysis to product selection.

What is Padel Tennis?

Padel tennis combines elements of tennis and squash, but is played on a smaller (20m x 10m) court with walls. It is usually played in doubles, which makes it a particularly social sport. Originally developed in Mexico, padel is now popular in Spain, Italy, Sweden and increasingly also in Germany. According to the International Padel Federation, Germany already has around 350,000 padel players - a clear sign of the enormous growth potential and increasing interest in this modern sport.

Padel as a growth market: why it's worthwhile for brands to get started

• Low entry barriers for players

• High community factor and return rate

• Demand for specialized products such as rackets, shoes and clothing

These developments are leading to a significant increase in demand for equipment, advice and specific padel brands - an ideal environment for founders and companies looking to establish a padel brand. In concrete terms, this means a high target group density, short innovation cycles and plenty of room for differentiation.

Market analysis: Opportunities in the German padel market

The market for sporting goods is highly competitive - but there are still many unfilled gaps in the padel segment. There are open niches, especially for accessories, specialized rackets and sportswear.

Current market trends:

• Increase in padel courts in Germany

• Increasing interest from tennis and fitness athletes

• High demand for accessories: rackets, bags, clothing, grip tapes

Opportunities in the padel market:

• Positioning via design, functionality or sustainability

• Expansion through B2B business (clubs, hotels, sports facilities)

A well-positioned padel brand has the potential to establish itself as the first port of call in a growing niche.

Target groups in padel: How to hit the bullseye

Before you set up your own sports brand, you should take a differentiated look at the target groups:

• Beginners are looking for affordable, easy-to-play racquets and sets.

• Ambitious players value precise control, weight and brand image.

• Padel clubs and coaches need equipment in larger quantities.

A well thought-out padel brand with its own branding can thus serve different target groups - provided the product range and positioning are right.

Competitor analysis: What to look out for?

• Which products are already well represented?

• Where are there gaps - e.g. in entry-level packages or premium designs?

• How do competitors communicate (social media, online store, customer service)?

Founding your own brand - first steps

Establishing your own brand starts with a clear foundation. In the padel market, authenticity and brand story are crucial.

Important questions to start with:

• What is the unique selling proposition (USP)?

• Who is the target group?

• How do you position yourself in comparison to existing brands?

The most important steps in brand building:

1. define brand identity: What is the core of the brand? (e.g. performance, lifestyle, sustainability)

2. target group-oriented naming: short, concise, internationally understandable, legally protectable.

3. secure trademark rights: Early registration with the DPMA or EUIPO protects against conflicts. Practical tip: Even at this early stage, it is worth securing domain availability and social media accounts.

4. develop a corporate design: Colors, fonts, logos, imagery - everything must be consistent and recognizable.

5. formulate mission & values: Why does the brand exist? What makes it different?

Clarity about the brand essence is crucial in order to prevail against international competitors in the long term.

Building a successful padel brand: strategy & procurement

Setting up your own padel product line requires well-founded decisions on product range, production and quality assurance. There are different approaches depending on budget and ambition:

Three common approaches to padel product sourcing:

a) Private label:

• Cooperation with experienced manufacturers, e.g. from Asia, Spain or Portugal

• Adaptation of existing products to own designs

• Good solution for a quick market entry

b) OEM production (customized):

• Development of own molds, materials and details

• Higher initial costs, but maximum control and distinctiveness

• Ideal when focusing on high-end or performance target groups

c) White label/dropshipping:

• Providing third-party products with your own branding

• Hardly any entry costs, but also few opportunities for differentiation

• More suitable for short-term or test market entries

What belongs in the padel product range?

• Padel Rackets: Different weight classes and playing styles

• Padel shoes: Non-slip soles, stabilizing elements

• Clothing: Functional, breathable, stylish

• Accessories: Balls, grip tapes, bags, caps

Important: Quality is a key differentiator. High-quality design and reliable performance create trust - especially in a sport where technology and precision play a major role.

Line Up as a strategic procurement partner

Particularly when it comes to sporting goods such as rackets, bags and clothing, procurement places high demands on quality, time management and transparency. It is helpful to rely on experienced partners who not only know the markets, but can also provide comprehensive support throughout the entire process, from production to delivery.

From the initial consultation to sampling, series production and quality control through to import processing and logistics, we are at your side as a central point of contact. Our digital supply chain dashboard provides real-time insight into your orders, giving you full control over your supply chain at all times.

This structured, transparent approach is particularly crucial for brands in the process of being established - because a reliable supply chain is not a “nice-to-have”, but a basic requirement for sustainable growth.

Build up your padel range: Bestsellers & branding potential

While padel rackets are often the “hero product”, accessories hold enormous potential for brand loyalty and additional sales.

Top products in the accessories segment:

• Performance accessories: anti-vibration systems, racket covers, overgrips

• Lifestyle articles: Hoodies, caps, bags in corporate design

• Bundles & sets: starter packages, gift boxes, club offers

Criteria for product selection:

• Functionality & performance

• Fit with the target group (beginners vs. advanced users)

• Design affinity of the community

Tip: Products with high branding potential (e.g. merchandising products such as caps with logo, bags with print) increase visibility at the point of sale and in social media.

Conclusion: With strategy to your own padel brand

Founding your own padel brand is more than just an entrepreneurial project - it is an opportunity to play an active role in shaping a new sports trend. Those who position themselves early on, tell a clear brand story and offer genuine product quality can establish themselves in the padel market in the long term.

The combination of a growing community, an open brand landscape and high demand makes this moment particularly attractive for founders and companies that lead the way with passion, structure and entrepreneurial clarity.

Collaboration with experienced partners pays off, especially in the early growth phase. Line Up offers comprehensive support here: from production-related consulting and international supplier selection to the digital management of supply chains. These processes not only give companies security, but also valuable time to build their brand, community and sales.

If you want to build your padel brand on a solid foundation, you not only need a passion for the sport, but also a network that reliably covers product development, procurement and logistics in equal measure.

You want to build your own padel brand and are looking for partners for your production or procurement? → Get in touch now without obligation.