Whenever James and Amanda Daugherty attend a gathering, whether it's a park visit with their two young daughters, a float trip with friends, or a family gathering, it's common for someone to come up to them and ask, "Where did you get that cooler?"
The answer is, "We make them!"
Their company, AMPD Coolers, produces colorful coolers that stand out because they make music thanks to marine-grade, waterproof speakers that link via Bluetooth to a cellphone. The power comes from a Lithium-Ion battery system and can be customized to use battery packs from standard power tools made by DeWalt, Milwaukee, and other brands. Plus, each one can be custom wrapped to fit the customer's style or promote a business.
The company started in 2021. James came up with the idea for the coolers after seeing someone on an adult float trip use a home-made cooler fitted with a car audio system. The cooler wasn't functional and only lasted about an hour before it shorted out.
"I saw this problem of needing a cooler and a radio at the same time, and I was just like, I can make one that does both," James explains. "So we made our first cooler, and it was a hit. Everyone loved it. Everyone borrowed it. Then we just kept making better ones, making them lighter, louder, and easier to use. Essentially, right now we're at our fourth generation of cooler, and that's when AMPD Coolers was born."
Those early coolers were too heavy due to the car battery being used to power them and the cooler lost some of its capacity when fitting them with speaker. Since James worked in construction, he was accustomed to using battery packs meant for power tools. That’s where he got the idea to use them to lighten the weight on the coolers.
" We then ordered a 3d printer and made some custom parts to keep the original capacity of the coolers. I always wanted our coolers to be functional without compromising the useable space, and once we got the 18-volt battery talk to the 12-volt stereo we knew we had the right combination," he says.
Customers for the coolers range from businesses looking to gift them with their company's branding for community engagement to individuals for personal use. Clients take the coolers to their son's Little League games for walk-on music, into the dugout for music during adult softball games, tailgates, camping trips, and parties. AMPD customizes coolers produced by companies such as Yeti, RTIC and ROVR, and customers can custom-order a specific cooler brand. The ice retention time is typically five to seven days. Customers may also choose from a wide range of predesigned wraps or create a custom wrap with their own photos or company logo.
In AMPD's early days, James' uncle, Ron Daugherty, helped them get started. His company, Daugherty Business Solutions in St. Louis, purchased the first 20 coolers and then used them as business donations. He told James to make something that would capture the hearts and minds of the people attending a charity auction or gala, and then had him stand up in front of everyone to demonstrate the cooler.
James says, "I've gotten up in front of people ever since and hit play on the cooler so everyone could hear the music across the dining hall. Music like 'Pump Up the Jam' to get the crowd excited."
The coolers are a fundraising hit, bringing in thousands of dollars for organizations such as the American Heart Association and Children's Miracle Network, as well as funds for smaller groups like the local high school band, youth sports leagues, or FFA chapter. James says, "You know, these smaller groups were selling baked goods, with a team of mothers and fathers in the kitchen, the weekend before, to come up with all the pastries. We like being able to offer an alternative that takes the weight off of the parents and the main fundraiser supporters, and give them a cooler with graphics that fit the organization, or let the winner decide what they want on the cooler."
While James is the face of the company, Amanda handles all the background tasks, such as creating sales materials and managing the company's social media posts. James credits her with keeping him from drowning in the technical aspects of the products and knowing how best to communicate what they do to others.
Being a family business means their daughters, ages six and four, work as the in-house quality control inspectors. Each cooler undergoes a sound test, and the girls enjoy hooking up the microphone and ensuring everything works properly.
Amanda says, "We have dance parties with every cooler that goes out."
To get a view of what AMPD Coolers has to offer, visit their website at ampdcoolers.com.