How Dugout Mugs Scored $50M in Sales with Bold Branding & Social Proof: A Conversation with CEO Kris Dehnert

What does it take to turn a simple idea—like drinking out of a baseball bat—into a multi-million dollar brand? This week on The Brandinc PR Podcast, host Brandi Sims sits down with Kris Dehnert, the powerhouse CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, to talk strategy, sales, and staying grounded while scaling big.

With over $50 million in sales, partnerships with Major League Baseball, and a social media audience of over 3 million followers, Dugout Mugs is far more than a novelty—it’s a case study in brand credibility, social proof, and disruptive marketing done right.

But Kris doesn’t just drop numbers—he drops truth. In this candid conversation, he opens up about:

• Launching Dugout Mugs and the product-market fit that changed everything

• Why social proof (like 60K+ reviews) is more powerful than any pitch

• What he learned from burnout and how it changed his leadership style

• Balancing fatherhood and founder life in the middle of fast-paced growth

• The future of eComm branding and what’s next for his empire

Whether you’re a small business owner, startup founder, or brand strategist, this episode is packed with actionable insights on building trust, scaling smart, and staying human in the hustle.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream your shows.

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