Risky Business: Alligator Hunting, A Fortune-Teller & Getting the Girl with Bryan McGehee

Bryan McGeHee is my guest. Together with his brother, Mitch, they started GATR Coolers in 2017, selling coolers with only three available sizes to mostly family & friends. Four years later business is booming—they’ve expanded to drinkware, apparel, accessories, and replacement parts in addition to various coolers!

In this episode, we discuss GATR’s explosive growth—from conception till now. First, Bryan tells me why they named the company after alligators. Answer: trapping [alligators] has been a huge part of their life. He loves the culture around the swamps, and wanted the company’s spelling to be a play on the word “gator.” Makes sense to me.

Before Gatr, Bryan and his wife, Emily, had been traveling the country, living in a camper down by the river. They bounced between campgrounds and hotel rooms for seven years. Then his big break.

Brother (Mitch) contacted he and the otha brothas via group text saying that he’s been thinking about starting a cooler company. Bryan replied and offered to help, loaning him $50K.

And the rest, as they say, is “all to the good pop” (where “they” is me). Had a great afternoon recording with Bryan in NOLA—hope you enjoy!

Questions asked:

What is it about alligators that captures our hearts so much?
Why did you name your company GATR Coolers?
What does trapping mean? Is that something your dad was doing when you were a kid?
Why alligators? Are you eating them?
You ever hear any crazy stories or anything happened to you as it pertains to alligators?
How do you put your kids in for a bath, knowing the possibility exists that there could be a gator under the surface?
Why is your company name spelled that way?
Is there any truth to the story of you throwing low 90s in high school?
Do you ever feel like missing out on big success in sports kind of fueled you to become successful in business?
Why is it that you wish you paid more attention in school? Is it because of the Accounting classes that would have benefited you now?
How old were you when you started the company?
What does your wife think about you putting $50K into this [Gatr Coolers] idea?
Is your marketing at this point all word-of-mouth?
From Carson Lee on Instagram: how did you get your first products in peoples’ hands—marketable and desirable—when you were already competing against much larger brand name companies?
What’s the life expectancy of a cooler? When would you buy another one?
When did you decide to call it quits on your full-time job?
How much does a camper like yours cost?
With the advent of social media, did y’all think about being an “influencer” couple and traveling the country in an RV?
Can you talk about getting courted by investors around the country?
Is it possible for you guys to do a TV show of some sort?
Any desire to be on a show like Shark Tank?
Do you have a favorite Shark?
How much does it cost to manufacture one of your coolers?
Are you intending to fill your massive warehouse with inventory?
Why should I buy GATR Coolers rather than Yeti Coolers?
How much would it cost to have a logo laser-engraved?
How does it work when you want to put a trademarked logo on one of those cups?
Have you ever turned someone down because of the high-cost associated with acquiring a trademark?
How did you choose Upside Downs as your company’s supported charity?
What gets you out of bed? Are you excited about the growth of the business?
Any plans of hiring additional help this year?
How often are you dealing with banks?
In adding “human resources,” are you going to approach the bank that you’ve built a relationship with previously or do you go to outside investors?
Do you have a household budget?
Do you invest any of your money outside of your own business now?
Are you raising your kids in a Catholic school?

Fun questions:

Social media – net positive or net negative for society?
Will you let your kids use social media once they reach a certain age?
What’s the best donut you’ve ever had?
If you had a kegerator at your warehouse, which brand of beer would you fill it with?
What is the one piece of travel equipment that you would recommend to someone if they only had $100 to spend?
Do you have a favorite book?
Do you think Jeffrey Toobin of CNN should’ve been fired for accidentally exposing himself on a Zoom call?
Was the election stolen?
Do you think not wanting something is just as good as having it?
If you could organize a dinner party of 6 guests and have either: everyone you’ve ever hurt or everyone that’s ever hurt you, which would you choose?
Is the customer always right?
If someone offered you $100,000 worth of one of these stocks, which would you take – Spotify, Tesla, or Amazon?
Do you think COVID was deliberate?
If China were at war with us, do you think we’d know it?
If LSU could sign Ed Orgeron to a 10-year deal or Nick Saban to a 3-year deal, which would you choose?