Launching Mullys: A Conversation with Co-Founder Chris Houghton
From late-night ideas to a real production run...a peak behind the curtain in how we started our brand and why its only the beginning.
This week, we’re joined by Chris Houghton—my longtime friend and now co-founder of Mullys—for a special episode of The Range. Together, we reflect on the journey of taking Mullys from an idea we kicked around for sometime to a brand-new golf-inspired beverage that just hit the market.
From early text messages and test samples to a production run in Chicago, we talk about the excitement, challenges, and lessons that come with launching a brand from scratch. This episode is also a milestone: the 9th of Season 2 and 27th overall, making it the perfect time to pause and celebrate.
🎙️ Episode Highlights:
🏌️♂️ From Idea to Reality: How Mullys went from casual conversations to thousands of bottles rolling off the production line.
🤝 Co-Founder Chemistry: Why 35 years of friendship became the foundation for trust, communication, and complementary skills.
📈 Market Validation (and Its Limits): What we’ve learned from sharing Mullys with friends and family—and why the real test comes from retail shelves.
⚖️ Balancing Life and Business: The realities of launching a side hustle while managing family, work, and everything in between.
⛳ Golf and Entrepreneurship: The surprising parallels: patience, perspective, and why the grind keeps us coming back.
🔑 Key Takeaway:
“It’s never as good as it seems, and it’s never as bad as it seems. The small wins…whether on the course or in business—are what keep you going.”
— Ari Ratner (me), Co-Founder of Mullys & Host of The Range
🌐 Visit: drinkmullys.com [Use code: therange for 25% off your first purchase]
ICYMI: Building Belonging on the Course
In Episode 8, we spoke with Abby Swenson, founder of Northern Greens Golf Collective, about how she turned her search for golf partners into a thriving women’s golf community in Minnesota. From sold-out tee times to travel weekends, Abby’s story is a masterclass in building belonging through golf.
🎧 Catch this must-listen episode here 🎧
See you on the course,
Ari
PS: Have a guest in mind? Just reply and let us know who you’d love to hear on The Range!