Bailey Grossenbacher is not slowing down.
The Florida International University softball alum launched her swimwear brand, Dubs Swim, while still competing as a student athlete, and the brand has grown from fliers slipped under dorm room doors to a runway appearance at Miami Swim Week and placement in retail stores.
Grossenbacher said the idea came from an entrepreneurship class at FIU taught by David Grubman, who brought in successful business owners each week to share how they built their brands.
"It inspired me. And I've always loved art growing up, and I grew up near the water, just going out wakeboarding or surfing or whatever. I was like, why not combine my favorite things and start my own brand?" Grossenbacher said.
She built the early foundation of Dubs Swim out of her dorm room, personally distributing fliers to athletes across campus.
"I set up a whole, basically business in my dorm room, and I went around to each of the dorms and put fliers underneath every athletes dorm like buy dubs, you know, and I would try to get everyone involved," Grossenbacher said.
Grossenbacher said the experience of being a student athlete and a business owner required the same core skills.
"A lot of it is similar just with the work ethic and just having to perform well under pressure and just doing the extra thing, but also most importantly being your authentic self," Grossenbacher said.
Dubs Swim now carries both men's and women's swimwear, including matching styles, and is currently stocked at Barefoot Trader and Captain Hook's Marine in Marathon, Florida. The brand also appeared on the runway at Miami Swim Week.
Grossenbacher said her next goal is to exhibit at Surf Expo, a trade event where brands can connect with wholesalers and expand their retail footprint.
Her favorite piece from the current collection is the new Miami Swim design.
On top of growing Dubs Swim, Grossenbacher served as an assistant coach at the University of Florida and received a call in January to play for the Florida Breeze, a pro softball team based in the Tampa area.
"Pretty awesome. Very, very grateful for all of it," Grossenbacher said.
Dubs Swim can be found on Instagram and TikTok at @DubsSwim, and online at DubsSwim.com.
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