Connection—to community and to the outdoors—drives Giddyup Glove founder Sherrise Erlandson’s entrepreneurial spirit. From her inventive beverage holder to her podcast that encourages young people and adults to embark on listening adventures while finding peaceful moments together, Erlandson has created a community filled with joy and wondrous spirit. As for the glove, what may seem like simply a quirky product is a functional one: a beverage holder that keeps hands toasty and drinks cold. But more than that, it encourages gathering outside in the months when Central Oregon weather might suggest otherwise. At fireside chats to mountainside meetings, this mitten beckons people to mingle and forget the cooler temperatures to forge connections.
What inspired you to create the Giddyup Glove, and how did the initial idea take shape?
It started with a simple winter observation: Good company, cold air and hands that tapped out too early. Someone looked at my early mitten mockups and said, “Why not take it up the wrist?” and that one line unlocked the whole concept. I wanted something cozy and clever that would let people stay outside longer without juggling between warmth and comfort. That’s how the Giddyup Glove was born—a mitten with a built-in drink holder that insulates both your hand and your drink.
What is one of the biggest challenges you faced in developing the glove?
Time: I’ve been developing everything myself—from design and sourcing to sewing, packaging, marketing and sales—so there’s never enough of it. Every improvement, every material test, every stitch has come from long nights and a lot of persistence. Balancing creativity, production and business strategy as a one-woman show has been my greatest challenge and, honestly, my greatest teacher. It’s forced me to stay adaptable and resourceful while building something that truly feels like mine. And coming out of the other side of that challenge, I’m now looking toward hiring my first employees. The persistence absolutely paid off.
How has the community responded to Giddyup Glove?
The response has been incredible. People try it on and immediately smile. The most common thing I hear is, “This is genius. I never knew I needed this—but here it is, and I do.” You’re going to be seeing them out and about more and more now that I’ve perfected the design for my flagship version. You’ll spot them at tailgates at Mt. Bachelor, food cart lots on cold nights, tucked into people’s RVs and camping gear. Look for them at RendezVan and other cool-night gatherings. The Giddyup Glove is a staple for anyone who loves staying outside a little longer.
Where do you see the Giddyup Glove brand heading next?
I’m slowly growing the line with new products and thoughtful iterations, always staying true to that blend of comfort, connection and clever design. Right now, I’m working on variations that help more people with grip challenges, cold sensitivities, Raynaud’s syndrome and other conditions that make winters less enjoyable. The goal is to keep creating gear that makes life outside easier, warmer and a little more joyful for everyone.
I’m also looking forward to creating clothing, beanies and ear warmers that pair with the gloves. And even farther on the horizon, but still in the works, are seasonal variations of the glove that might look a little different, but will help to get your giddyup on when floating the river and relaxing lakeside.
What excites you most about the future?
I can’t understand how people get bored. There’s always so much to do, discover and create. In the future, I’d love to tie together the Giddyup Glove with my podcast, “The Giddyup Guide to the Galaxy,” a meditation series for kids and their adults. I’ve started using some of the names of the gloves in the podcast, but the names are going to be applied to planets and realms within the galaxy I’m creating in the podcast. As I develop more gloves, I will introduce them into the galaxy.
Read more about Giddyup Glove here.
Tune in to the full interview with Sherrise Erlandson on the new “Birth of the Brands” podcast series. Bend Magazine’s “The Circling Podcast” with Adam Short can be found on all major podcast platforms.
