Today we’d like to introduce you to Ritchey Robin.
Hi Ritchey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
A native of Sunset, Louisiana, my dream of being an entrepreneur started early. I have always enjoyed welding, fabrication, and design. As a high school student, I focused a lot of time on becoming a skilled welder and fabricator. I spent 4 years in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. I designed and manufactured my first barbeque pit at the young age of 14.
After graduating from high school, I joined the Army National Guard. While in the Army National Guard, I attended and graduated from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Engineering School. I later completed my bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. While pursuing various careers and designing barbeque pits, I quickly realized that my only true passion was in barbeque pit design and manufacturing. In 1996, with much thought and planning, I decided to open my own custom pit shop entitled GATOR PIT. Staying true to my native State of Louisiana (alligators are known to live) and because one of my most unique and popular pit designs attach on the back of trucks for TAIL-GATING barbeque is how the name Gator Pit originated.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a business from nothing was not easy. Especially one that requires a lot of fabrication equipment. I worked multiple jobs. My wife, Melissa, was very supportive of me and helped me, as well. I started in my garage. Then, built a small shop behind our house. As we grew in sales and employees, we moved into a one-bay shop in a business park near our home. As we kept expanding, in 2002, we moved to our current location. A 5,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Growing pains are real. It is always gamble with each step forward. You have to learn about taxes, insurance, supply and demand, production costs, costs of goods, finding suppliers, handling customer support, managing employees, payroll, shipping processes, product marketing, and so much more. You don’t learn this in school. Not real-life business operations, at least. Even after 30 years in business, I am still learning.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to think I am an artist when it comes to what I do. I take raw steel and turn it into a finished product that folks can enjoy both in appearance and function. My products are unique to our customers’ wants and needs. I design custom BBQ Smokers, Grills, Burners, Trailers to fulfill their dreams. I take what my clients dream about in their personal Smoker or Grill, and I make it reality. My designs are unique and have been recognized worldwide by TV networks and magazines. I have been aired on Discovery Channel, Destination America, History Channel, VICE TV networks. Dubbed “King of the Grill.” Voted “Best Mobile BBQ Pits.” And, voted “Top Ten Cookers” in the world. My BBQ Pits have won countless BBQ Competition trophies globally and are used by restaurants and caterers in about every continent if not all. With all the recognition I have obtained in the BBQ industry, I am most proud of making customers happy with their Gator Pit. Seeing the smiles and satisfaction they have when the pickup their dream cooker. Getting emails stating the Gator was the best thing their ever did for their business or family. That makes me feel really great and proud to do what I do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has a lot to do with some people’s success. I feel it is luck and bad luck that makes one successful. Yes, you can be in the right place at the right time, as the saying goes. But if you have to fail in order to succeed. It is those failures or “bad luck” that make you stronger and keep stepping forward, fighting to advance. Owning a small business, you will get thrown curve balls daily. Some you expect are coming. Some, you never see. Hit or miss, you keep swinging at the ball. You learn to hit the curve ball. Luck can happen. But my experience all these years is you make your own. And that means you take risks. If owning your own business was easy, everyone would own one. It takes a risk-taker to start a business from nothing, make it successful, and keep it successful. There are good and bad times. Try to make your own luck as much as possible, and you will get often find luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gatorpit.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorpitbbqpits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatorpitbbqsmokersandgrills/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritchey-robin-57181b87/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gatorpitoftexas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GatorPitofTexas
Image Credits
David West
Kirk Draut
