“The biggest thanks are the simplicity and the peace of mind knowing it’s being taken care of.”
– Sam Woodcock
Article Contents
The Highlight Reel
- Discover how Core Energy scaled into Major League Baseball (MLB), college, and elite youth sports markets.
- See how streamlined financial operations provide peace of mind and freed up more time to focus on growth strategy
- Learn how the Core Energy team managed cross-border complexities and manufacturing challenges between Japan and the US, including inventory tracking and multi-tier pricing.
From humble beginnings
When Kenshin Kawakami struggled with back pain, he wore a compression wrap under his belt for relief, but it hindered his pitching. So, he teamed up with his cofounder, Taka Yokoi, and the duo developed the Core Energy Belt.
Since launch, the belt has taken off. 20 of 24 players on Japan’s gold medal-winning team at the 2020 Olympics wore it, and over 80% of Japanese pro players now rely on it.
Core Energy Belt gained a ton of visibility during the World Baseball Classic when a star player wore the product in the game where Japan beat the US.
With 100,000+ belts sold and growing demand, Core Energy Belt quickly cemented itself as a go-to product for elite athletes, with plans to push further into new sports and retail markets.
Expanding to the US
They’ve since expanded to the larger US market. However, unlike many brands, they’ve grown through a top-down approach largely through word-of-mouth marketing and starting at the most elite level: Major League Baseball (MLB).
In fact, their first two customers came from two MLB teams: the LA Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
“Major league players wear our product,” says Sam Woodcock. “Our growth really needs to come from selling into baseball programs that value high-quality products… and expanding our product into other sports.”
This approach has trickled down to universities, elite high schools, and youth teams, working its way down from professional athletes to amateur levels.
Getting peace of mind with simplified financial processes
Expanding and continuing to scale into the US market meant that the team needed to have a firm grasp on their finances. So, they turned to Bean Ninjas for help.
Sam’s prior experience with inventory management and financial reporting revealed the need for an e-commerce specialist partner like Bean Ninjas.
He values Bean Ninjas’ proactive communication and simplified financial processes, including attention to detail supporting their monthly reconciliations.
“Basically, the biggest thing is the simplicity and the peace of mind knowing it’s being taken care of.”
This means he can focus on core business tasks and solving scaling challenges, like juggling manufacturing capabilities alongside balancing growing demand from MLB and college baseball teams, without worrying about day-to-day financial operations.
“Every month, the simple communications with simple answers means that I can focus on the larger scaling challenges—like meeting demand from college baseball teams—without worrying about the day-to-day financial operations,” he says.
Bean Ninjas as a partner
With 100,000+ belts sold globally and growing demand from MLB, universities, and youth teams, Core Energy Belt needed reliable financial systems to keep scaling. Thanks to Bean Ninjas’ simplified processes, proactive communication, and ability to manage financial complexities across borders, the team now have the peace of mind to focus on expansion and solving manufacturing challenges.
This strategic partnership allows Core Energy to stay focused on what matters most: serving elite athletes and building a brand that lasts.
“It’s going to come down to this simplified process. For me, I don’t want to think about bookkeeping. It’s not where we want to spend our time. Being able to outsource that is huge to us. he less time I can think about, the better.”
About Core Energy
Core Energy Belts optimize intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), enhancing stability and improving long-term athletic performance. Worn by 700+ professional baseball players worldwide, including 2 former MBPs, 5 silver sluggers, and 2 Rookies of the Year.
- Company Founded: 2021
- Industry: Baseball
- Location: Irvine, California
- Headcount: 1-10
- Sales Channels: Shopify, Wholesale, Retail
