Celebrating 20 Years!

Bumbleride is 20! 

2024 marks 20 years of design and manufacturing.  The founders, Matt and Emily Reichardt wonder, where did the time go?!?  It has been said “time flies when you’re having fun" and that’s definitely the case here.  Not only designing products for other families, but busy raising their own.  Parents of 3 children, they spend their free time together near the ocean, traveling to interesting places and being fueled by nature, culture, and the environment. Their adventures and experiences are at the heart of Bumbleride. 

I’m Jill, a longtime employee of Bumbleride. I had the chance to catch up with Matt and Emily at their home in Point Loma, a coastal neighborhood in San Diego, CA.

Jill

Tell us a little bit about your family life and how you were inspired to start Bumbleride?

Matt

Our first child Ella was a huge reason why Bumbleride came about. In doing thorough research as new parents do for baby gear, we saw a void in the industry.  We were looking for high quality products that were modern and well-designed. Bumbleride was born out of our desire to see more high-quality and responsibly produced strollers. 

Emily

We wanted to see less plastic and more color!  With Matt’s background in business, our love for design, and our desire to create what modern parents were looking for, we decided to go for it.

Jill

There’s definitely been a consistent theme of fun pops of color and playful patterns over the years. When you decided to “go for it,” how did the name Bumbleride come about?

Emily

We wanted a name that evoked fun and forward movement.  I recall Matt with his love for surf/snow and everything play wanted to include “ride.”  So, it was at the kitchen table with a long list of names that Bumbleride stuck and fit the youthful mood for what we envisioned the company being.  

Jill

The Bumbleride culture is very rooted in the outdoors and play. We have employees that ride their bike to work every day, others who surf or ski daily depending on season and location with lots of hiking, camping and wilderness in between. Reflecting back to the first years, what has remained the same and what has motivated you to keep innovating and growing?

Matt

We’ve always focused on creating gear to help families get outside and do what they love. Living in California has definitely influenced us to want to encourage that healthy and happy lifestyle.  We also believe less is more. Quality over quantity is really an anchor for Bumbleride and drives our design and manufacturing decisions.  Through the years we have grown in making strollers safer for baby and less harmful to the environment. This has helped us get creative, using natural materials that are non-toxic, and recycled alternatives that are more sustainable.  We see more and more brands moving in this direction and continue to be inspired to lead the industry forward.    

Jill

So, …

What is your vision for the future of Bumbleride? 

Emily

We want to continue to enjoy what we do and so much of that comes from having good relationships with the people all around us. That includes our factory, our partners, our team and the parents who use our products. We recognize what a privilege it is to make strollers that families choose and trust to put their precious children in.  

Matt

We also want to continue to create responsibly. Looking for ways to continuously improve our process and materials while, at the same time staying curious about what’s next.  With that said, we have some new projects in the pipeline and look forward to sharing what’s coming for 2024.

Jill

Thank you so much! I know your time is precious.

It goes without saying that everyone is happy Bumbleride continues to thrive 20 years later, helping to keep the spirit of outdoor adventure alive. As we say, it’s the Ride of Your Life.

Cheers to celebrating 20 years.