What Escalade does

Escalade, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESCA), operating through its legal entity Indian Industries, Inc., is a publicly traded multi-brand manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods and recreational equipment founded in 1922 and headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The company manages a portfolio of 30+ brands across 12+ categories including basketball goals (Goalrilla, Goaliath, Silverback, Goalsetter), archery (Bear Archery, Trophy Ridge, Gold Tip, Bee Stinger, Cajun Bowfishing, SIK), pickleball (Onix, DURA), table tennis (STIGA, Ping-Pong), darting (Arachnid, Accudart, Unicorn, Prodigy), billiards (Brunswick Billiards, American Heritage, Cue & Case), fitness (Lifeline, The STEP, adidas Fitness), playground (Woodplay, Jack & June), outdoor games (Victory Tailgate, Triumph Sports, Zume, Viva Sol, AllCornhole), water sports (RAVE Sports), and safety products (US Weight). It holds "No. 1" market positions in high-end residential basketball, recreational table tennis, darting, and billiard accessories, supported by hundreds of US patents and an international design and invention patent portfolio.

The company makes money by manufacturing and selling branded sporting goods and recreational hardware through a diversified channel mix that includes major retail partners, specialty sporting goods retailers, brand-specific direct-to-consumer e-commerce websites, and professional/tournament supply channels (e.g., American Cornhole League for cornhole). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, with quote-based pricing through distribution partners. Customer segments are horizontal and consumer-oriented: residential consumers (basketball hoops, playgrounds), sports enthusiasts (archers, pickleball players, billiards, table tennis), families/parents (playground, outdoor games), and tournament-level players (cornhole, darting, table tennis). The company employs 501-1000 people and operates an HQ in Evansville, IN, a billiards operations site in Bristol, WI, and a 110,000 sq ft warehouse/distribution facility in Olney, IL.

Strategically, Escalade pursues growth through active M&A and partnership-led category expansion, having completed three notable acquisitions in recent years: Brunswick Billiards assets from Life Fitness/KPS Capital Partners (January 2022), Gold Tip and Bee Stinger from Revelyst Inc. (September 2025), and AllCornhole (December 2025). The Gold Tip/Bee Stinger and AllCornhole deals extend the archery and cornhole platforms respectively, and the AllCornhole deal is supported by an exclusive-style partnership with the American Cornhole League. The company is led by Patrick J. Griffin, appointed full-time President and CEO effective March 5, 2026 after serving as interim since October 2025. Recent financial performance shows a turnaround pattern: full year 2025 net sales of $240.2M (down 4.5% YoY) but Q1 2026 sales of $55.8M (+0.6% YoY) with 408bps gross margin expansion to 30.7%, 44.1% EBITDA growth to $7.1M, and 67.2% net income growth to $4.4M, alongside a 27.9% reduction in total debt to $18.5M by Q4 2025.

Name

Escalade

Legal name

Indian Industries, Inc.

Website

https://escaladeinc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Escalade, Inc. is a publicly traded multi-brand sporting goods manufacturer and distributor (NASDAQ: ESCA) that designs, produces, and sells recreational equipment across 12+ categories including basketball, archery, pickleball, billiards, table tennis, darting, fitness, and outdoor games through 30+ owned brands sold via major retailers, specialty shops, DTC websites, and tournament channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sporting Goods & Recreational Equipment

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Goals, Nets & Field Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Basketball Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAB), Water Sports Equipment Retail (Wake, Ski, Tow, Tubes) (CRAMAIAC)

Keywords

• Sporting goods manufacturing
• Recreational equipment
• Basketball hoops
• Archery equipment
• Billiards tables

Headquarters

HQ city

Evansville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sporting Goods Manufacturing and Sales: Manufactures and sells diverse portfolio of sporting goods and recreational equipment across 12+ categories including basketball goals, archery, table tennis, pickleball, darting, billiards, fitness, outdoor games, water sports, and playground equipment. Revenue derived from product sales through retail and direct channels.
2. Brand Portfolio Revenue: Multiple branded products under leading brands including Goalrilla, Goaliath, Silverback, STIGA, Bear Archery, Trophy Ridge, Brunswick Billiards, Arachnid, Accudart, Onix, RAVE Sports, Woodplay, and others. Revenue generated through sale of branded sporting goods and recreational equipment.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Escalade manufactures and distributes sporting goods and recreational equipment through a diversified portfolio of leading brands across more than a dozen categories, including basketball hoops, archery equipment, table tennis, pickleball, darting, billiards, fitness, outdoor games, water recreation, and playground equipment. The company sells its branded products through major retail partners and direct-to-consumer brand websites.

Product overview

Escalade is a diversified sporting goods and recreational equipment manufacturer offering a portfolio of leading brands across multiple categories. The company operates as a multi-brand platform with products organized into distinct business segments: Archery (Bear Archery, Trophy Ridge, Gold Tip, Bee Stinger, Cajun Bowfishing, SIK), Basketball (Goalrilla, Goalsetter, Goaliath, Silverback), Pickleball (Onix, DURA), Water Sports (RAVE Sports), Playground (Woodplay, Jack & June), Outdoor Games (Victory Tailgate, Triumph Sports, Zume Games, Viva Sol, AllCornhole), Indoor Games (Atomic, American Legend, Mizerak, Triumph Sports), Darting (Prodigy, Accudart, Unicorn, Arachnid), Billiards (Brunswick Billiards, American Heritage Billiards, Cue & Case), Table Tennis (STIGA, Ping-Pong), Fitness (Lifeline, The STEP, adidas Fitness), and Safety (US Weight). The company pursues growth through strategic acquisitions, having acquired Brunswick Billiards (2022), Gold Tip and Bee Stinger (2025), and AllCornhole (2025). Escalade serves consumers ranging from residential/home users to professional athletes and tournament players, positioning itself as a category leader across its diverse portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goalrilla: Residential in-ground basketball hoops
• Goaliath
• Silverback
• STIGA
• Ping-Pong
• Bear Archery
• Trophy Ridge
• Brunswick Billiards
• American Heritage Billiards
• Arachnid
• Accudart
• Onix
• DURA
• RAVE Sports
• Woodplay
• Jack & June
• Victory Tailgate
• Triumph Sports
• Zume Games
• Viva Sol
• Lifeline
• The STEP
• adidas Fitness
• US Weight
• Goalsetter
• Cajun Bowfishing
• SIK
• American Legend
• Mizerak
• Atomic
• Prodigy
• Unicorn
• Cue & Case

Products and services

• Bear Archery High-quality, high-performance archery bows and accessories for field and target archers, including automatic sights and precision broadheads, with nine decades of archery expertise.
• Goalrilla Basketball Hoops High-end residential in-ground, wall-mounted and portable basketball hoops designed for intensive use; No. 1 market leader in high-end residential basketball.
• STIGA Table Tennis Table tennis tables and accessories serving enthusiasts from friendly game room matches to club and league play to professional tournaments; No. 1 market leader in recreational table tennis.
• Onix Pickleball Pickleball equipment and accessories supporting players from youth to professional tournament play; key player in the fastest-growing sport.
• Brunswick Billiards Complete billiards and premium game room assortment including tables and accessories; acquired in early 2022 from Life Fitness.
• Arachnid Darting Soft-tip darts and darting equipment for pubs and professional tournaments; No. 1 market leader in the darting category.
• Prodigy Smart Dartboard Smart dartboard technology providing technologically advanced darting equipment.
• RAVE Sports Water Recreation Water sports and recreation products including towables, floats, and related water recreation equipment.
• Woodplay Playground Equipment Customizable swing sets, playsets, and accessories with proprietary triple-joint construction claimed as the strongest in the industry, made from sustainably sourced cedar.
• Lifeline Fitness Equipment Strength training, resistance training, yoga, and recovery equipment for home fitness users.
• US Weight Safety Products Safety products including nonferrous weight sets encased in blow-molded polyethylene, interlocking canopy weights, and visual safety barriers for recreational and commercial use.
• Victory Tailgate Outdoor Games Outdoor tailgate games and recreational products for beach, barbecue, and backyard use.
• Gold Tip Archery Arrows High-performance carbon arrows for archery, acquired from Revelyst Inc. as part of Gold Tip and Bee Stinger acquisition in 2025.
• AllCornhole Equipment Cornhole equipment for tournament-level and recreational play, acquired in December 2025 to expand Escalade's presence in the tournament-level cornhole market.
• Cue & Case Billiard Accessories Comprehensive billiard equipment and accessories; No. 1 market leader in billiard accessories since acquisition in 2014.

Quantifiable outcome

• 408 basis point improvement in gross margin to 30.7% in Q1 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Cornhole League (ACL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Partnership with the American Cornhole League to support the growth of cornhole as a nationally recognized sport. This relationship supports Escalade's AllCornhole acquisition and tournament-level cornhole market expansion through the professional league organization.
• Revelyst Inc.coreOthers · 29 September 2025Acquisition of Gold Tip and Bee Stinger brands from Revelyst Inc. strengthens Escalade's presence in the archery market, expanding product offerings including carbon arrows and stabilizers. This strategic acquisition reinforces focus on archery and bowhunting markets.
• Life Fitness, LLC (Portfolio Company of KPS Capital Partners, LP)coreOthers · 21 January 2022Acquisition of Brunswick Billiards assets from Life Fitness, LLC, a portfolio company of KPS Capital Partners, LP. The acquisition expanded Escalade's product range and strengthened its presence in billiards and indoor recreation markets.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Johnson Outdoors: Johnson Outdoors (NASDAQ: JOUT) is a multi-category outdoor recreation company spanning fishing, watercraft, diving, and camping — directly comparable to Escalade's multi-brand sporting goods platform model with similar brand-portfolio acquisition strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Brunswick Corporation: Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) is a much larger marine and billiards/fitness conglomerate; its billiards heritage connects directly to Escalade's Brunswick Billiards acquisition, and its fitness segment overlaps Escalade's Lifeline/adidas Fitness lines.
• Vista Outdoor: Vista Outdoor is a multi-brand outdoor sporting goods platform (ammunition, outdoor recreation) with comparable brand-portfolio model and similar M&A-driven growth approach across adjacent recreational categories.
• Amer Sports:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Escalade