Podcast appearances and mentions of dave munson

Explore how Saddleback Leather founder Dave Munson and BigCommerce's Melissa Dixon craft an authentic e-commerce experience that keeps customers coming back. From storytelling that builds brand loyalty to BigCommerce tools that simplify the customer journey, this episode dives into the strategies driving Saddleback Leather's online success. Discover trends like mobile optimization, seamless checkouts, and the future of digital retail—all in a conversation full of actionable insights for entrepreneurs and e-commerce enthusiasts. For more information please go here

n episode 262 of the Parker's Pensées Podcast, I'm joined by Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather to discuss the story of how he started Saddleback and we also get into some good theology, including dogs in heaven and leather in the new earth. I'm finally a Saddleback affiliate so if you like their stuff buy something from my link and you can also support my work!! Super grateful. Check out the catalog here: https://saddlebackleather.com/leather-moleskine-cover-medium/?ktk=d0pac01BLWJmZWY1MmZiYTFi Read Dave's research on pride here: https://saddlebackleather.com/signs-of-pride →Sponsors/Discounts Check out https://murdycreative.co/PARKERNOTES and use promo code PARKERNOTES at check out for 10% off your entire order!! Grab a Field Notes notebook or memo book wallet like the one from the video from my affiliate link here to support my work and use promo code PARKERNOTES for 10% off your entire order: https://fieldnotesbrand.com/products/daily-carry-leather-notebook-cover?aff=44 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYbTRurpFP5q4TpDD_P2JDA/join Join the Facebook group, Parker's Pensées Penseurs, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/960471494536285/ If you like this podcast, then support it on Patreon for $3, $5 or more a month. Any amount helps, and for $5 you get a Parker's Pensées sticker and instant access to all the episode as I record them instead of waiting for their release date. Check it out here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parkers_pensees If you want to give a one-time gift, you can give at my Paypal: https://paypal.me/ParkersPensees?locale.x=en_US Check out my merchandise at my Teespring store: https://teespring.com/stores/parkers-penses-merch Come talk with the Pensées community on Discord: dsc.gg/parkerspensees Sub to my Substack to read my thoughts on my episodes: https://parknotes.substack.com/

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What are some things you can do to create the most efficient and highest quality products and team? In this episode, we're hosting Dave Munson, Founder of Saddleback Leather Company, a premium leather product company run out of Azle, Texas.  Dave got his inspiration to work in leather when he was an English teacher in Southern Mexico. He told the leather worker in a local leather shop that he wanted a bag so durable he could pass it down to his grandkids to fight over. He loved that bag, and when he got back to the states, he found that a lot of other people did, too. People asked him all the time where he found it and where they could get one.  Although talented, the leather worker who crafted Dave's amazing first bag wasn't particularly trustworthy, so Dave went on to find another extremely talented craftsman in Mexico's leather town, Leon.  Thus started the long journey to becoming one of the most premium and prized leather companies in the Americas!  Join us today to hear Dave's amazing story and how he operates this wildly successful business! You'll hear: How Saddleback Leather can charge a higher price than competitors and thrive 3:46 Where Dave got the inspiration for his unique advertising approach 7:00 Size of the Saddleback team 15:00 How Dave establishes trust with his team members 18:21 Top things the Saddleback team does to increase productivity 31:12 How Dave ensures he has time for his family 37:35 How a Core Values Index (CVI) test helped Dave be a better leader 42:16 About the Guest: Dave and his black lab, Blue, started Saddleback Leather living in Juarez, Mexico sleeping on the floor of a $100 apartment with no hot water for three years. He fought a bull in a Mexican Bullfight and had a Federale sent to kill him while trying to get the company going. In 2006, he met his wife on Myspace and in 2008 they started a leather factory in central Mexico. They currently live in 2000 square feet of safari tents outside of Fort Worth, Texas with their two kids and 3 labs.  Resources: Website: www.saddlebackleather.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saddlebackleather  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saddlebackbags/  The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! At AgriGro, we know that in today's modern agriculture, our efforts can deplete life or add life. When you look for ways to add life, it's sustainable and makes everything work better. The result is enhanced plant and soil health for crops, gardens, and turf, as well as improved animal health and environment for livestock and wildlife. Our products are all-natural, easy to use, and friendly to the soil, the plant, as well as the grower. AgriGro's® formulations deliver essential plant nutrition along with an advanced prebiotic concentrate, which significantly increases the multitude of beneficial native microbial species already residing in the production environment. Through these environmentally sound technologies, we're adding life to crop production, livestock, home, turf, and wildlife markets. You don't have to be dependent on crop production efforts that deplete life… Just Add Life with AgriGro®.

On today's episode we have the usual political banter, but you need to listen to the end...Dave Munson from Saddlebackleather.com, the best manufacturer or fine leather goods, is our guest.  He talks about how he built his business as a true entrepreneur and continues good work for those with less options.  He employs hundreds, and continues to give back.  Please go to his website on onemoreandimouttahere.com and 41love.com and donate, or help someone in need.  Him and his wife are great and do good for others.  Thank you Dave for your time, and thank you for the incredible interview.  I want to see the "holy grail" of bags when I am in Texas.  His wife, like mine, must be a saint.  Download the podcast where you get your favorite podcasts.  Download, download, download!!!!  Subscribe at onemoreandimouttahere.com or admin@onemoreandimouttahere.com.  

Rob Crumrine joins us, and he is only gay for the stay today.  It is his wife's birthday.  We talk fantasy football, the first annual Onemoreandimouttahere.com beer olympics, and a Guy Wagner making a deliver.  Dan is 34%, like his phone, and we enjoy and look forward to the olympics and the draft this Thursday.  Get well soon Dan.Download the podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Iheartradio or you favorite podcasting platform.  Thank you for the support and stay tuned.  Dave Munson from Saddlebackleather.com is our next guest.   Great products will be discussed and the history of the company.  

Dave's journey started in Mexico where he found a little leather shop that could make a bag just the way he wanted. That bag turned into a dozen bags that Dave peddled from the back of his car which has now become the foundation for a multi-million dollar business. Today, Dave shares how his call to ministry combined with a call to business and why he truly believes that their bags are so good that if you own one, your children and your children's children will fight over it when you're dead...

Related Links, Downloadable Audio, and a Transcript for this Podcast Episode can be found at https://www.augforums.com/episode26

Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather Company shares his startup story, as well as branding, marketing, and leadership strategies he used to grow his company. 

Dave Munson, VP of Direct Sales at Axon — the law enforcement technology company known for its Taser brand — has closed many a quarter and knows just how intense of a time that can be. In this Hey Salespeople episode, you’ll find out why deals lost at the end of the quarter were actually doomed from the beginning, how inside sales teams are run, and what three characteristics make a job candidate attractive. Visit SalesLoft.com for show notes and insights from this episode. 

The phrase ‘purpose driven business' can all too often be thrown around as a marketing strategy, however, Saddleback Leather was born out of purpose. It is a brand with a presence, a personality, good people and a passion for outstanding quality.  This episode of Disruptive CEO Nation enjoys a conversation with company founder Dave Munson. He tells of the unlikely journey of how an appreciation for a well-made bag led to years of figuring out how to make it work, selling products out of his truck, selling on eBay, and ultimately building a robust ecommerce platform. This episode also covers the challenges that can come when building a factory and production line in Mexico and operating an operations and sales team out of the US all while trying to maintain as much of a virtual workforce as possible.  Dave Munson leads with the belief that ‘competing on price is a race to the bottom'. Saddleback focuses on nothing less than top quality and products have a 100-year warranty – it's why their tagline is whose tagline is,“They'll fight over it when you're dead”. But Dave is always quick to say, they are a people business cleverly disguised as leather bag business. Today, Saddleback is a wonderful success story where true brand fans, word of mouth marketing and some interesting videos allow Saddleback to support over 200 workers at their factory in Mexico (where daycare is free and a school has been started).  Find out why Saddleback Leather is one of the Newsweek Best Online Shops of 2020 at www.saddlebackleather.com or follow on Twitter @Saddlebackbags. Connect with Dave at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-munson-736600141/.  #Saddlebackleather #leather #quality #fashion #DisruptiveCEONation #business #businessowners #founder #entrepreneur #CEO #leather #BusinessinMexico #ecommerce #leatherbag #ecofriendly #corporategifts #somethingdifferent #backpack #leatherpackback #Texasbusiness #Fortworth #Fortworthbusiness #100yearwarrenty  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather Co. spent several years journeying across North America with his dog to create bags and other products made to outlast their owners. Their slogan is: They'll fight over it when you're dead. His founding story is one of legend. He spent three years living in a $100 a month apartment in Mexico with his dog Blue, and dodged a crooked Mexican federale who was sent to kill him, all while trying to start his business. Saddleback Leather Co. currently has over 250 employees in the US and Mexico, where they have built their own leather factories. In this conversation we discuss the importance of being principled in life and business, hiring business coaches, and sticking with it long enough to succeed. Now, let's hack! Dave Munson.

“Where should the focus be for my upcoming keynote?” “How do I avoid spamming my database?” “Can I start another business in my 50s?” "Should I run an online survey?” "Can I have your podcast workflow?” These are just some of the questions you've been sending me over the past few months, and today I finally get around to answering them.   Question - Rhys Donovan of the Animal Rehab Klinik Hey Timbo, I'm having a debate with my business partner about an upcoming presentation that we're doing, and we've got very different opinions on how we should structure it...so I figured I'd ask you for your opinion, because I can't think of anyone more qualified to answer it! The business I am in is animal allied healthcare/rehabilitation - just like when us humans are sore we might see a physio, chiro or massage therapist, but we provide that service for the family pet. We've scored a gig presenting to a room full of veterinarians (our main source of referrals), right after the main presentation which is on hip replacements in animals. Our goal is to get every vet in that room sending us at least one case in the next 3 months. This will be the best platform that we've had so far to get our message across, so it's important we nail it. I'm of the opinion that we should focus our presentation on how strengthening & rehabilitation can help their patients with hip problems, because that's what the Vets came there for. However, my business partner doesn't want to be pigeon-holed as just the ‘hip rehab' place because we can (and do) a lot more than that. So, he wants to talk about a range of things that we can help their patients with.  I think both points are valid, I just don't know what is the better option ¯_(?)_/¯ How would a seasoned marketing guru and presenter like yourself handle this one? Kindest of regards, Rhys. Relevant Small Business Big Marketing episodes to Rhy's question: Episode 417 - This simple (yet scary) conference-speaking strategy generated $150K in new revenue Episode 303 - How to become a professional public speaker   Question - Scott Burns of CleanrCrates Hey Timbo, Great show mate. I'm looking for some advice on better ways to market my small business. I launched a year ago and growth has been quite slow. I have a basic email setup regarding autoresponder as I hate spam and have trouble getting my head around spamming the few customers I have (150 contacts with about 100 purchasing within that number.)  I have been sending out free products to ‘up and coming' Instagram influencers for a post and a story pointing out the positive points in our bundles. This is fantastic for exposure and IG profile views and al that BUT! Hardly any of them convert. If I got a small percentage of them converting I doubt I'd be writing to you.  Stay sustainable! Scott Burns. Relevant episodes to Scott's question: Episode 412 - Sports Illustrated was the inspiration for this clever email marketing strategy says Dan Fagella Episode 131 - Email marketing tips from email marketing guru Chris Tilley Episode 376 - How to start an eCommerce business and turnover $1.8M in your first 10-months with Power Planter's Brian Chapman Episode 451 - Snotty Nose's Laura Klein on how to build an eCommerce empire Episode 468 - How to slow down and build an online empire selling hats   Question - Dean Zellman of Mr. Stitch Hey TImbo, I've been running an embroidery business for about 20 years now. We specialize in custom logos for TV/Movie and marketing companies as well as small to medium size businesses.  Our work is very custom but I just haven't seen any good out of the box marketing tips. Are there any shows of your that might relate to my business? Thanks Dean Relevant Small Business Big Marketing episodes to Dean's question: Episode 388 - Will It Blend's Tom Dickson on turning an everyday product in to a YouTube sensation Episode 270 - A masterclass in remarkable marketing with Chick-Fil_A's Arthur Greeno Episode 75 - Phil McKinney on how to use killer questions to think differently   Question - Amera Eid of Ameras Palace Belly Dance Boutique HI Tim ! Im re emailing you my message I sent you on Facebook ……. I just want to let you know that I have just started listening to your podcasts whilst driving back and forth to work  , You make my dreary drive worth it ! I don't know how yet , but I know you will be mentoring me in my next venture . 8 years ago I sold my business Ameras Palace Belly Dance Boutique , that is now in its 32nd year ( pretty good for a small business ) I opened it in 1987 and its still going - granted didn't make big dollars , but I created great pathways for like minded dancers around Australia - and I guarantee every Belly Dancer in Australia bought at least one product from there Im now working full time as I moved to Caves Beach  NSW 18 months ago . I am itching to get back into my own business - and have come up with an idea , Cave Woman ( IN Caves Beach) I can just see this area as the Byron Bay of 20 years ago. I just know my mindset needs to change from what it was from Ameras Palace ( which I opened with nothing ) to this project that needs to make money this time ( as I have a mortgage up here ) how do I start again in my fifties with no start up funds ? Amera x   Question - Sam Krief of Stay Kinetic Hey Timbo, I'm a new business owner and I have set up a small podiatry supplies business (medical supplies)  I just have a couple of questions and hoping for some of your wisdom.  I have gone back to the very start of your podcast And in the process of making my way through all of your episodes. First question is around my email. You have just listened to an episode where it talks about an unprofessional email.  I have set mine up as staykinetic(at)outlook(dot)com And I thought that sounded reasonably professional. And I didn't want to spend extra money on securing a different email when I thought this one was ok? My second question is I don't really know where to start with marketing the launch of my business to podiatrists.  I have already done a bit of a soft launch with people in my direct network, but am in the process of trying to think of ideas to reach podiatry clinic owners outside my personal network. For reference I am a young (27) Podiatrist myself.  Anyway I would love any help you could give me  Cheers Sam Relevant Small Business Big Marketing episodes to Sam's question: Episode 326 - How to make more money by working less with Daniel Gibbs from Posture Podiatry Episode 387 - How to create a happy business that thrives with dentist Paddi Lund   Question - Would-be student Troy Heinz Hi Tim, Love what you do, just wanted to ask a question around studying marketing. Would it be wise to go off to university and waste 4-5 years of your life, when in today's world social media is producing 100's of videos around “marketing” that helps educate people? Does the qualifications really matter? Or would you suggest starting in sales then work your way into marketing as a career? Cheers, Look forward to hearing from you.   Question - Roger Harrower of The Modern Butcher Hey timbo. I own a small retail butcher shop but am also pursuing other ventures. i hear a lot about market research but i don't really know much about it. where do you start to run an online survey or is there companies that sell this sort of data. any info would be great or reference to a past podcast if you have covered this before. love the show it's very helpful and more importantly motivating kind regards Roger Relevant Small Business Big Marketing episodes to Roger's question: Episode 435 - Sam Canning runs six fancy butcher's shops through Melbourne's leafy suburbs Episode 422 - A $1,500 online survey lead to a 34% increase in sales for this craft beer retailer   Question - Jonathon Painting of Jono's Jerky Gday Timbo!  First of all, I love the show.  I've listened to other business podcasts before but nothing provides as much value as yours. Pure Marketing G.O.L.D as you say!  My wife and I run a business called Jono's Jerky where we focus on creating a range of premium, full flavoured beef jerky. Currently we're getting ready to launch a new product which has the potential to totally transform our business and take it to the next level. The product I'm talking about is a flavour of jerky that no one has done before... A Cheeseburger flavour! (I actually got the idea after listening to your interview with Phillip Kuoch, episode 441)  Anyway, I have been going through your back catalogue to pick up as many tips as I can to help this launch be successful.  Two of the best ones I found were the interviews with Kara from the Kader Boot Co and Tom Maclean from Sofi Spritz.  I'm emailing to see what other episodes you can think of that are specific to new product launches or line extensions that might be useful for me?   Also I'd like to finish with a tip for your listeners that has worked wonders for me!  Every time I listen to an episode of SMBM I think of other business owners in my network who might enjoy and get good value out of that particular episode. For example customers, distributors, suppliers, friends or just someone who I'd like to connect with! It's a simple thing and people really appreciate that I'm thinking about them, after all we can all get stuck in our own business bubble a lot of the time!  I look forward to hearing from you! Jono. Relevant Small Business Big Marketing episodes to Jono's question: Episode 468 - How to slow down and build an empire with Loz and Will from Will & Bear Episode 424 - Storytelling is Dave Munson's secret weapon Episode 396 - 15 year-old Will Deeth made $70,000 selling toys last Xmas   Monster Prize Draw winner The winner of this week's Monster Prize Draw is Matthew Harris of The Pedal Empire who wins over $1,000 worth of goodies thanks to the generosity of past guests.   Episode Transcription Let's get into your wonderful marketing questions that have been emailed to me over the last few months and that I have been sitting on. The first one is from Emily Harris who simply demands I mean asks in a short tweet. Very short tweet that I hand over my podcast workflow. Click Here To Download Full Transcription Please support the following businesses who make this show possible:   American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   Yellow Partner with Australia's #1 online business directory for all your digital marketing needs.   Switchnode Australia's Internet isn't great. That's why Switchnode exist. The solution is here and it's wireless.   If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing. [ For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing ] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Bright Ideas podcast, host Trent Dyrsmid from BrightIdeas.co shares the story of how he's building his eCommerce business (on Amazon as well as his own site), interviews other successful eCommerce entrepreneurs, and answers questions from his audience. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking to build a real business that can one day replace your job and give you the lifestyle of your dreams, eCommerce is an excellent choice and on this podcast, you will learn the exact formula to follow directly from Trent and his guests.

Ben is hosting solo. Dave Munson is the founder of Saddleback Leather a company that creates the most intriguing leather goods we’ve ever seen. On top of that, Saddleback and CrossFit, have a connection at the highest level…

Saddleback Leather's Dave Munson uses storytelling to sell his leather bags. Leather bags he thinks even Indiana Jones would love! He tells stories in his website copy, his videos, his product descriptions … even his voicemail! He believes great storytelling has the power to convert idle prospects into raving fans. So sit back and listen in as Dave explains exactly how storytelling has been his business's secret marketing weapon.   “You know, people really value authenticity in marketing because it's rare. Sadly we just don't get it very often. So, it's a breath of fresh air to hear someone tell a story. And it doesn't have to be some crazy adventurous story. It could be something as simple as “So, I was arguing with my wife the other day and ….” Just something that has your prospects get interested in what you gave to say and sell.” -Dave Munson, Saddleback Leather   There's loads more tips and insights just like this that will help you build that beautiful business of yours into the empire it deserves to be. Hit the PLAY button above to listen now, or subscribe free to hear the full interview.   If you have questions about how to identify and tell interesting and compelling stories in your business then you'll get this answers in this interview, including: What is storytelling in business? Why is storytelling in business so important? How can telling stories about your business convert prospects into customers? What stories does Saddleback Leather tell? How do I identify stories to tell in my business? Do I need to be a great writer to tell stories in my business? And plenty more ...   A little more about today's guest, Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather: Dave Munson owns Saddleback Leather. A US-based business that makes and sells leather bags Indiana Jones would love. They're Dave's words, not mine. You see, the guy is a master storyteller. Everywhere you go in his marketing, there's a story being told. Throughout his website, his videos, his product descriptions. Even his voicemail message, as you heard at the top of the show. The guy loves and respects the power words have when convincing someone to buy from him. Even his tagline evokes story - “Saddleback Leather. They'll fight over it when you're dead!” Now I know everyone is banging on about how effective storytelling can be in marketing your business. We've covered it a lot on this show. Remember that episode with author Valerie Khoo in which she shared the 8 power stories every business owner must tell? The fact is, we all love a good story. We lean in and we listen when ones being told. So take a listen to what Dave has to say, then start implementing it in your business.   Here's what caught my attention from my chat with Dave Munson from Saddleback Leather: In business, people buy from people they have a relationship with. Storytelling helps you build that relationship. Don't always look for the sales angle … instead, be on the lookout for stories to tell in your business. People become less price sensitive when you educate them about quality. They become even less price sensitive when you help them.   But the marketing gold doesn't stop there, in this episode: This week's Monster Prize Draw winner is: Jackie Silverman from Black Velvet Coffee   Resources mentioned: Saddleback Leather's official website Interview with Valerie Khoo on the 8 power stories every business must tell   Please support American Express who make this show possible: American Express Business Explorer Credit Card Let your business expenses reward you. Every year.   If something in this episode of Australia's favourite marketing podcast peaked your interest, then let me know by leaving a comment below. May your marketing be the best marketing.   For more interviews with successful business owners visit Small Business Big Marketing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could you win by telling your competitors how to beat you? As a leader and an organization you, your company, and your product have got to stand out.However, the moment you do, someone is going to try and copy you or even rip you off. So what can you do to not only stand out but give back?Well you are about to find out: Our guest on this episode is Dave Munson, CEO Saddleback Leather Co.In 1999, while working as a volunteer English teacher near Mexico City, Dave Munson discovered that he needed a sturdy bag to carry his books. He found a leather shop and asked the owner to make a bag he had designed. When he returned to the United States, he started receiving compliments on the bag. People wanted to know where they could get one.Saddleback Leather which is now a highly successful multimillion-dollar global retailer of luxury leather goods and high-end leather handbag and accessories that started out with very humble beginnings in a $100 a month, no hot water apartment, in Juarez Mexico.More on Dave Munson: www.saddelbackleather.comTo find out more about hiring Dov Baron as a speaker or strategist for your organization: http://fullmontyleadership.com/consulting or http://fullmontyleadership.com/speakingRemember you can now also find us on iTunes, Spotify, iHeart Radio, or wherever you tune into podcastsAnd on traditional radio stations across the US every Monday and Thursday on: 99.5 FM & 1520 AM Las Vegas102.1 FM & 1640 AM Lancaster, Philadelphia87.9 FM & 810 AM Macon, Gorgia 92.1 FM & 1630 AM Tampa, Florida97.7 The Villages, Florida96.3 FM Boulder ,Colorado90.3 FM Milwaukee, Wisconsin 94.7 FM Pittsburg, Philadelphia87.9 FM Colorado Springs, ColoradoAlso look for us on ROKU TV where there’s 100K subscribers. If you are a regular listener, then a big thank you to you for making us the #1 podcast Globally for Fortune 500 listeners! And with a potential reach of 2.5 to 3 million listeners for every show, we’re honoured and grateful to be cited in INC.com as The #1 Podcast To Make You a Better Leader. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We chat with Dave Muson the founder of Saddleback Leather. Learn how Dave turned a service trip to Mexico to building a company that makes leather bags people will fight over when they die. Saddleback makes amazing leather goods that includes: bags, briefcases, backpack, wallets and more. In addition to an awesome product, they also have one of the best tag-lines out there...They will fight over it when you are dead. The best part about Saddleback for me isn't their bags (even they are great) but it's the back story. As many of us are starting to set goals and dream about what 2018 can hold, you might be thinking. Shownotes: http://bit.ly/2hYVzbS★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dave Munson is the founder and owner of Saddleback Leather, a business he started out of the back of his beat up truck in Mexico back in 2003. Saddleback now does over $15 million a year in sales...all online. He is an adventurer, a man with a huge heart, and a natural story teller. Resources: * http://www.saddlebackleather.com/ – Website * @saddlebackbags – Instagram * @saddlebackbags – Twitter * @saddlebackleather – Facebook Page Sponsored by: * LEADx.org – subscribe to become 1% better every single day Subscribe on iTunes to join our Ambassadors Club: Please click here to subscribe on iTunes, and leave a quick rating. Nothing matters more for bringing the podcast to the attention of others. After you subscribe and leave a review, send an email to info at leadx dot org to let us know, and we'll invite you into the private LEADx Ambassadors Group on Facebook. Group members are eligible for ridiculously good prizes each month, have special access to me and LEADx guests, discounts on live events, and of course it's a great forum for peer-learning and support. Share: And, by all means, if you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons below. — What is LEADx and The LEADx Show with Kevin Kruse? Imagine if you could have the world's best executive coaches and leadership mentors whispering into your ear every morning on your way to work. Every weekday, there will be a new episode of The LEADx Leadership Show with an interview from a different thought leadership or business expert. Many of these guests are thought leaders, famous authors or high-profile CEOs from innovative startup companies. Others are creatives, artists, entrepreneurs or corporate career leaders. They have all achieved extreme success and they are willing to share practical advice on how to advance your career and develop your leadership and management skills by offering daily career tips on time management, productivity, marketing, personal branding, communication, sales, leadership, team building, talent management and other personal development and career development topics. There will be a new episode waiting for you every day just in time for your morning commute, morning treadmill session or whatever else it is you do to start your day. LEADx isn't just the name of this new podcast, it's the name of a digital media and online learning company that is re-imagining professional development for millennials and career driven professionals looking to break into manager roles or excel in current leadership and management roles. If you're looking for management training or professional development that is delivered in a fun and engaging way, sign up for our daily newsletter at LEADx.org. It's packed with life hacks, daily career tips and leadership challenges that will turn you into a high potential leader in no time. What does LEADx stand for? We are exploring leadership. We are about NEXT GENERATION leadership. We believe that professional training and workplace education has not kept up with advances in digital media. Today's emerging leaders and management professionals just don't find 5 day workshops or eLearning modules to be very compelling. Today's talent is mobile and social. LEADx wants to help those that want to make an impact. Leadership is not a choice.

Today I’m thrilled to have Dave Munson on the show. Dave is the founder of Saddleback Leather which is a company that sells indestructible leather bags. I’m actually quite familiar with the Saddleback Leather story. In fact, I even used his company as a case study in my create a profitable online store course on how to create a great unique value proposition for your products. Even though Dave’s company sells leather bags which is a commodity product that is highly competitive, Dave has created an incredibly profitable business selling bags by standing out in a competitive niche. What You’ll […] The post 181: How Dave Munson Started Saddleback Leather By Leveraging The Power Of Storytelling appeared first on MyWifeQuitHerJob.com.

Saddleback Leather CEO Dave Munson

Saddleback Leather CEO Dave Munson The post Chris Voss Podcast 123 Saddleback Leather CEO Dave Munson @Saddlebackbags appeared first on Chris Voss Official Website.

How does a volunteer english teacher from Oregon end up starting one of the world's most premium leather bag companies, in Mexico of all places? It all starts with the spirit of adventure and optimism that was instilled in our guest, Dave Munson, CEO of Saddleback Leather Co., at a young age. You'll notice throughout this conversation that Dave raises his hand and says “Yes!” a lot. Dave's first introduction to tough leather was on the back of a bull, during a bullfight… while he was fighting the bull. Then he relocated to be closer to his fledgling bag business, and soon found himself in an encounter with a corrupt Federale, who quickly became a friendly (but still corrupt) Federale. At every step of his incredible journey, Dave's confidence and willingness to accept new challenges led him to new opportunities. He believes that trying new and unfamiliar things is one of the keys to success in every area of life. “It's kinda weird when I see someone being self-centered. You're really missing out, buddy!” Saddleback Leather started as just Dave and his dad fulfilling orders together, but now it's a thriving company with 70 employees and a factory in Mexico. Of course, he can't pilot that ship alone. Dave understands the value of keeping wise counsel, asking great questions, and letting the sailors sail the ship. Following his passion for producing the perfect leather bag did come at a cost – he had to stop working directly with youths, and he felt like helping children was his mission in life. As it turns out, Saddleback Leather supports a much larger ministry than Dave was ever able to alone. Instead of Dave around a campfire with 30 kids, he can financially support dozens of campfires surrounded by kids. On top of that, he's able to provide free daycare for employees in his factory, offer classes to employees internationally, and support a vocational training program in Rwanda. “The more you step out and try things, the easier it is to say yes.” -- Resources: Learn more: SaddlebackLeather.com | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram -- We are brought to you by the Lawton Marketing Group, a full service advertising and design agency serving companies and entrepreneurs at all levels. The are your one stop shop for all your website, logo, social media, print, app design and reputable management needs. Visit LawtonMG.com for more info. -- Production & Development for The Impact Entrepreneur Show by Podcast Masters

Visit EOFire.com for complete show notes of every Podcast episode. In 1999, while working as an English teacher near Mexico City, Dave discovered he needed a sturdy bag to carry his books. He found a leather shop and asked the owner to make a bag he had designed. He peddled the bags from the back of his car in Mexico and three years later Saddleback Leather was born. Sponsors: DesignCrowd: Post your design project on DesignCrowd today and get a special $100 VIP offer! Visit DesignCrowd.com/fire and enter the discount code FIRE when posting your project! HP: When you visit HP.com/fire and enter code FIRE at checkout you'll get 15% off select HP workstations with Intel® Core™ i5 processor! This special discount is valid through July 31, 2017.

My guest today is the founder of Saddleback. Saddleback is the result of several years he journeying across North America with his dog to create bags and other products made to outlast their owners. Their slogan is: They’ll fight over it when you’re dead. His founding story is one of legend. He spent three years living in a $100 a month apartment in Mexico with his dog Blue and dodged a crooked Mexican Federale who was sent to kill him, all while trying to start his business. Saddleback currently has over 250 employees in the US and Mexico, where they have built their own leather factories. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of being principled in life and business, hiring business coaches, and sticking with it long enough to succeed. Now, let’s hack… Dave Munson.

It can be tricky to write copy that's both funny and effective. I thought I'd ask Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather, who's a pro at striking this particular balance, for his tips. Dave also talks about how he harnesses video in his business, and what he's learned from running an eCommerce business.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rtgaVV 

If you own a tablet or iPad, you've probably shopped for a case for it. And if you bought a case for it, did you ever run across beautiful leather cases that looked like books? If so, you and I have the same taste. Pad & Quill makes those luxurious cases. Our guest today is Brian Holmes, President, and owner of Pad & Quill. He started the business in 2010 with his wife, Kari. It was a desire to create exceptionally crafted luxury accessories (rather than profits) that motivated Holmes when he chose to start the business with a budget of just over $1,000. Pad and Quill is the tale of a shop formed with bookbinders, carpenters, a painter and a working mom coming together to create beautiful handmade iPad/iPhone cases, leather bags, and other dry goods. In this episode, we dive into his seven-year journey in ecommerce and discover what he's learned along the way. — Subscribe to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast via Email Subscribe to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast on iTunes Subscribe to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast on Stitcher Subscribe to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast via RSS Join The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Facebook Group Work with Kurt — Learn: How Pad & Quill got started Their direct approach to launching the brand Why you should embrace your passion The advantage of lifetime warranties How to Brian pitches the press The golden rule that governs Brian's marketing Why he moved from Magento to Shopify Plus And his advice for entrepreneurs Links Mentioned: PadAndQuill - Use coupon code BHAPPY10 to get 10% off any product Shopify Plus Free Guide I want to send you a sample chapter of Ecommerce Bootcamp, absolutely free. Tell me where to send your sample at ecommerce-bootcamp.com Transcript Kurt: Hello, and welcome back to The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. I'm your host, Kurt Elster, recording from Ethercycle headquarters; about 10 minutes from O'Hare Airport, if you're familiar. And today I'm talking to a wonderful, seven year-old eCommerce store owner. Well, the store is seven years old. The owner is not seven years old, I should say, I should be specific. But we've got this app called Crowdfunder, and it's not the easiest thing to install if you're not familiar with HTML. So people ask me, "Hey Kurt, can you install this thing for me?" And I say, "Yes, of course." And in doing that, I always get to check out some interesting stores. And in this case, I said, gee this seems ... I was looking at a store, it was called Pad & Quill, and I thought, this seems awfully familiar. So I went and I searched through my email, and sure enough, I had bought an iPad case from Pad & Quill in 2011. So I reached out, and I acted like, this seemed familiar because it is familiar; I used to have your case on my first gen iPad, and I would love to hear your story. This looks like a fascinating brand, they were in the process of moving to Shopify Plus. So I wanted to hear that story. So joining me today, is Brian Holmes, who is the President/Owner of Pad & Quill. He started in 2010 with his wife, Kari. Prior to running Pad & Quill, he's a Tradesman for over 16 years; we'll find out in what. He and Kari have been married for almost 27 years. Congratulations! It is so much easier to do this with a supportive family, and doing it with family helps. But Brian, thank you for joining us. Brian: Kurt, thank you for having us on. I appreciate it, having me on. My only question is, you've only boughten one case since 2011, Kurt. What's goin on? Kurt: (laughs) Let's see, I had- Brian: (laughs) Kurt: So for the longest time I just had the standard iPad case on there. And then one of my kids dropped it on the kitchen tile floor like two or three years ago, and we have not had an iPad since. Someday. Brian: Ah. Kurt: Someday I'll get around to buying another iPad. Brian: Yes. Well, you're right I'm not seven years old, I'm almost 50, but I've been doing this for seven years. That is correct. Kurt: Very good. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: For our listeners, what is Pad & Quill? Brian: So, Pad & Quill is a, we are a luxury accessory maker. So we design and craft luxury goods for tech and play. That's kinda what we like to say. They're durable goods. They're artisan made. Those four words are very important to us. We don't wanna make anything that is going to fade away within a year and breakdown, et cetera. So all of our products come with longer warranties, and we want them to be very well made, as far as what we call good art. So when we make a product, to us, it should be both beautiful and functional. Cause you can have a lot of products out there that are really nice to look at, but they don't last, or they're really, really functional, but they're just ugly. So what we're trying to do is create these kind of beautiful leather bags, iPad cases, MacBook cases, things like that, that are unique, but also provide a function, provide a utility and are durable. They last a long time. So that's kinda been our focus. We're a typical company, that when we started, we started one place, and ended up somewhere else. That's very common in startup stories, that the products you started with aren't always the products you end up making five years later. Kurt: So somewhere along your line you had to pivot. Going back to the beginning, how did you start Pad & Quill? Brian: Yeah. Kurt: And what was your first product? Brian: Yeah. So we started with $1,200, and I- Kurt: Very good. Brian: I painted my web designer's deck. Kurt: (laughs) Brian: She painted it ... She still works with us, she's still a consultant, Kathy. She made our website. She coded it on ... I can't even remember where it was coded, what platform; think it was WordPress. And we started an original ... She built it all, all I knew is that I had seen a product out in San Francisco by a company called DODOcase. Kurt: DODOcase, another Shopify store. Brian: Yeah, they made a wood and book case, and I saw what they were doing. And I thought, my word, we could do this, but we could more than what they're doing. We could do, like, MacBook cases, and iPhone cases, and all kinds of stuff. So that kinda was the inspiration. So we took the $1,200, I paid a photographer far less than he deserved; he still works with me today. Now he's making money, but he knew we didn't have a lot so he gave me a deal. We built four prototypes, and we put up the site, it was in late June of 2010, and just started reaching out to the press saying, "Hey, we've got these products. They're on pre-order, they'll deliver in six weeks." You know, basically, help us fund this, in many ways. Reached out to everyone you could think of. Some Wired, I was talking to Walt Mossberg at The Wall Street Journal, who turned me down, of course. Kurt: (laughs) Brian: But what happened was, we got picked up by a couple people. So Gadget Lab picked us up at Wired, and then someone at Gizmodo wrote about us; and it started to pick up. Sales started coming in, and what had happened is, it was really born of not an idea that I had been thinking about. It was born out of a passion of a product I already saw, that I liked, which was the iPad and then the book bindery style case. And it just, kinda like, came together one evening. I was just like, "Wait a minute, we could do this. And we could do this better." You know, cause typical entrepreneurs think they can always do it better. So I was thinking, we can do this better, or different. Kurt: So when you saw that original DODOcase- Brian: Yeah. Kurt: You saw an iPad, [inaudible 00:05:50] and you saw ... And at that time, that was very early; I don't know if that was the first gen or second gen iPad at that point. Brian: First gen, first gen. Kurt: First gen, okay. So very early on. When you first held an iPad, it did have kind of a magical quality to it, where it's like, it's just this big, solid glass display that I can poke at. Brian: Right. Kurt: And at that time, apps had really ... Like, a lot of them had these very novel interfaces; it was pretty exciting. Brian: It was. Kurt: Back six years ago, it seems like forever ago, and now we don't think twice about it. But it was exciting. And then you had seen, you're right, DODOcase in San Francisco who was using traditional book ... Really, I mean, they were making cases using just traditional book binding- Brian: Techniques, yeah. Kurt: Techniques. Brian: Yep. Kurt: And you're right, in the typical, the entrepreneurial mindset, you said, "I love both of these. Why can't I do this? Why not me?" Brian: Yeah. Kurt: That's often how businesses start. Why not me? Brian: Yeah, and it didn't have, necessarily, a logic behind it. It had an opportunity, is what was seen. But here's the interesting thing, what happened was, is that as Kari and I started working on these products, all of a sudden there was something that connected for both of us; which was, these devices by Apple are beautifully designed, made of aluminum and glass, steel, gorgeous, gorgeous finishes, but they lacked warmth. Kurt: Yeah, they're ultra modern, which- Brian: Yeah, they're ultra modern Kurt: Can often make them feel cold. Brian: Which is fine, but we love, and that's a huge passion of ours, is that we love traditional materials. So it wasn't just book bindery, and that's why after the first two years of selling I ... I mean, we shipped about 3,000 iPad cases out of my basement window- Kurt: Hmm Brian: In the first nine months of the business. So what we were doing is we were having a bindery in Minneapolis make the books. And we were having a CNC Maker make the wood, and they were putting it together for us. And then we would take it to our basement and do some finishing touches, and ship them. So, we continued our press push. We constantly were reaching out to the press, coming out with new products. So we were in a never-ending cycle of creating new things. So we created a book-style case for a MacBook Air, which was very unique to the market, and that got us a lot of pickup. We just kept working through all these different products. We did stuff for the Kindle, at that time. This again, back in 2010 when the Kindle was pretty popular. Yeah, and then after about 3,000 or 4,000 products, my wife was like, "I want the basement back." Kurt: (laughs) Brian: So that's pretty much what happened. So we found a spot in Northeast Minneapolis, which is kind of an arts community area of Minneapolis, in downtown. We found a little spot there, and that's where we've been since. So, we've been there since I think May of 2011. Kurt: Did you, at all, have a background in business, entrepreneurship, manufacturing? Did you have any unfair advantage or skills that you think played a part in the success? Or at least, did you just have so much hubris you said, "You know, I think I could do this and then figure it out." Brian: Yeah, it's interesting you said unfair, cause that's an interesting term; that it's unfair. I mean, I know what you mean, like did I have something that I could leverage, that other people wouldn't typically have. Here's the thing, I had been a painting contractor. So I had done wall painting, like, house painting. I'd done that for 16 years. We had four kids. I didn't wanna be a painter for the rest of my life. And then the last five years of my trades work, and this was my own company, and I had a couple guys working for me, we were pretty small. In the last five years, I got into more artistic designs. So I was doing a lot of artisan finishes on walls and design work. Kurt: Like French plaster, and that kinda thing. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: Okay. Brian: Exactly. Kurt: Cool. Brian: And Venetian plasters, all that stuff. And what was interesting was, I really enjoyed that part of it. I, then, got my four year degree. In those last five years, I got my four year degree at night, in Psychology, ironically. I had never finished my four year. I went and got it, never used it. Think I decided at the end of my Psychology degree that I couldn't listen to people that long. Kurt: (laughs) Brian: So I ended up not doing anything with that, but I took a job with a small tech startup; cause I wanted to get out of painting. I didn't feel like I was using my skills the way I wanted to. So I took a risk and jumped into a small startup, which failed. It failed in about 18 months. It was a tech startup with a guy here locally, he was an inventor. It went poorly. What happened was, is that, the idea for Pad & Quill, the idea for me ... Like, I didn't have any manufacturing background. But my time, those 18 months in that startup, taught me almost a Master's level about here's how you'd operationalize a product; here's all the things you would need to make a product happen. And so, I think Pad & Quill was kinda like, a culmination of multiple life experience; running a painting company, being part of a small startup. It just kinda all came together, and I thought I could do this, and here's how I'd do it. And as I've moved further away, I'm realizing I love design. You know, I have no background in actual design. I have no background in product design. It was very much self-taught, but it's following ... I'm good at reading what people want to see in the markets, and then kind of taking it and putting my own flavor to it. Kurt: Okay. So early on you started with, it starts with your passion, and it sounds like you have a passion for product design, which is great. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: It's so much easier to run a business when it's exciting to you, versus I'm just going to do this because it will sell. That's such a struggle; and some people have the discipline to do it. I think it just makes life harder. Brian: It does. Kurt: Certainly easier if you enjoy the product. So you created this ... How many products did you launch with, like, within the first 12 months? Brian: Two. Oh, in 12 months, probably- Kurt: So you started with two. Brian: Started with two, and then we added some Kindle, and then some MacBook products. So they- Kurt: And they're all variations on ... They're essentially the same product in different form factors. Brian: Exactly. It was the same product on the same theme. So then, in 2011, the iPad 2 came out, so that was a big lift for us; and we became a competitor to DODOcase. And there was another company, I believe called Portenzo, out there at the time; and Treegloo. There was a few other competitors doing what we were doing. But here's what happened, and this was a huge shift for us, in 2012, so I'm a good two years in, I was noticing that these books were falling apart. So what was happening is, these books were made in traditional book bindery techniques, using really good book material; but they were falling apart. And I was like, they look beautiful, but they don't last. And I was realizing this is a ... You know, people love our product, they love our design, but I don't love that they don't last. And if you're cynical you could say, well that just means people will come back and buy another one. And my comment to that is, no, it means people will be disaffected by your brand. Kurt: I agree. Brian: They'll say your stuff isn't gonna last. Kurt: The brands I've seen where the product is incredibly durable, where they're comfortable in giving, like, really outlandish warranties on it because it's so durable; those are the brands where people, they don't have to worry about it falling apart and someone buying another one because people like it so much, they recommend it and they often will buy multiples. Brian: Right. Kurt: A good example would be, oh there's a Reddit group, I think, called Buy It For Life, where people just recommend products that they think will last a lifetime. Brian: Oh, funny. Kurt: Yeah. Off the top of my head ... And some are leather goods. But often times we see Saddleback Leather's bags mentioned, Beltman leather gun belts, which a gun belt- Brian: Okay. Kurt: Just turns out, it's a very stiff belt. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: I'm wearing one right now; it's a client. Brian: (laughs) Kurt: Yeah, those are great. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: What's the other one? Another good example. Oh, we use Everest bands as an example; they make watch straps for Rolex, but out of this unreal durable rubber. We had a review where someone said that they run it through an autoclave on a weekly basis, and the thing's fine. Brian: Yeah, yeah. Kurt: And it doesn't hurt their sales, people buy multiple products. So, no, I'm with you. Brian: And so what happened is, in 2011, I said that's it. It was late 2011, I said we have gotta shift to leather. We've just gotta shift, cause this is not a sustainable ... We're doing the eCommerce thing well. You know, by the way, we're not buying any ads from Google for the first three years. We are existing purely on reaching out to the press with new products. Any press that'll listen to us, and you know, if you have something kind of sexy, they'll write about it. Kurt: So that's a- Brian: And that would bring in sales. Kurt: Alright, that is an excellent point. But it's so difficult. Brian: Mm-hmm (affirmative) Kurt: Early on, the only marketing you were doing were two things, PR and these continuous launch cycles. Brian: Yep. Kurt: So you're coming out. You end up, kinda trapped in a thing where you're always launching new products; and that could be good, or it can be a struggle. Brian: Yeah, it's a little of both. Kurt: It's a little of both. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: But it gives you a reason to keep reaching out to the press. And once, I think, you've gotten over that initial hurdle where they're interested in you, and you start developing relationships, it helps. Brian: Right. Kurt: But what do you think goes into, like, what makes a good press pitch? Cause this is so difficult. Brian: Yeah. This is a good question. This is a good question. Two things, be real. You know, don't sit there and try to ... Don't talk to a press person like you're not pitching them; you are pitching them. But, with that said, be brief. Okay. Brevity is the soul of wit, is a famous saying. I love that saying; it's very true. Be very brief in your communication. Send a big fat image to the press. Make sure you're taking some photography of your product that looks nice. Pay a photographer friend, if you're just starting out, to maybe give you a hand. Because good imagery goes a long ways in a writer's mind, because in the end, what they're looking for is, are you offering me something my readers would care about? Is this interesting to my readers? Cause if it's interesting, yeah I'll write about it. I'll mention it. I'll tweet about it. So, be brief, be very real, just be open. Say, "Hey we're just starting out. We're a family business." That's what we used to say. Our pitch was, "Hey this is Brian from Pad & Quill. We're a small family business here, in Minneapolis. We've got these beautiful new iPad cases we're just releasing. Here's some images. Thanks for any considerations, if you'd cover us." I still say that same email, what I just said to you just now, today. Kurt: Hmm. Brian: I still email that exact same way, today, when I'm emailing Wired. Kurt: I'm sure it works. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: I am on the receiving end of so many awful pitch emails, and outreach emails. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: That when one comes through where it's like, alright, it's not a giant wall of text. It's concise, it's to the point, it tells me what the advantage to me and my audience is, and it's not trying to trick me, or in any way mislead me. It's saying, hey, this is who I am, this is what I can offer you or your audience, and if you wanna know more information, here's next ups. Brian: Right. Kurt: And it's genuine and real. Brian: It is, and I think that, that has a huge benefit. Again, it's that whole idea of, are you serving people? So I come from the place of serving my customers. I serve my customers, then I'll be able to create an income for myself and my family. If I serve my vendors by creating a customer base, then my vendors will be loyal to me, and continue to make products on time; because they know that I have a loyal customer base. If I'm going to the press, am I operating from a place of service? How am I serving the press person? Not using, serving. There's a huge difference between those two. Because in serving someone, you're saying, how can I help your column to be more interesting? Would this be a way to do it? And the press person may say, "No, this is not of interest to me right now," and that's fine. But it's better to come from that perspective, more of humility, than to come from, "You know, you should cover this. We have a lot of customers. You should cover our products, they last forever." Kurt: (laughs) Brian: That doesn't go very far with the press. It's funny, I wanna finish that pivot because you brought up a company I wanna kinda tie you into. So, in 2012, we wanted to move to leather goods. I wanted to get into more leather cases. I wanted to make an iPhone case. We were making them, at the time, out of traditional book bindery material. They'd last, honestly, about nine months. We were charging, like, $50, and I'm thinking, that's too much money for somethin that falls apart. You know? How do we do this? So I started reaching out to leather manufacturing companies, and I came across a company called Saddleback Leather Company. Kurt: Very good. Brian: And I hit up their PR guy, and I said, "Hey, I wanna do manufacturing." And they said no. And on the third time, I kept coming back, they gave in. So, all of our, the majority, I shouldn't say all, but the majority of our leather goods are made by Saddleback's manufacturing. So, Dave Munson's a good friend of mine, that developed over the last four years from all this. So it's funny you brought up Saddleback, cause I was like, "Yep, that's our people." Kurt: Right. Brian: And that's the thing is that, what I knew I needed, I don't wanna make just a beautiful item, I have to make something that lasts and is durable. And we have been so thrilled to be working with Saddleback's team. They have a plant in Mexico that we use, and it's just phenomenal, they treat their people really well. I've been there, I've seen what they do. It's just a fantastic company to work with. Yeah, so that's who we use for all our leather. So that happened in 2012, and we launched this little leather wallet case with them; and it was partly made here, actually. Some of it was made here, some of it was made in Mexico. It was all brought to St. Paul and assembled, and that took off in 2012. We had a huge, huge sales cycle, our biggest year ever in 2012; at that time. Kurt: This is just a leather wallet? This was your- Brian: Yeah, it was basically, like, a leather wallet case with our wood frame. We had our unique wood frame attached to all leather, so it was really durable. And that started in 2012, it was featured in the New York Times in 2013. We had a big year in 2013 and 14 because of it. Yeah, iPhone cases were real good to us in the first three years. And then, in 2013, 14 is when we started developing our lifestyle line. That's when we started bringing in bags, we started creating ... Our first bag launch was in late 2013. Kurt: I'm admiring your Classic Journeyman leather wallet on your website. I gotta- Brian: Oh yeah. Kurt: Pick up one of these. Oh, and it even comes in different colors. Brian: Oh yeah. Kurt: Oh that chest- Brian: Yeah, if that Chestnut looks familiar, you've seen it at Saddleback Leather. And I have no problem promoting Saddleback, cause honestly, it's a great company. Dave and I are different designer styles, definitely, but he makes great bags. He makes great bags. Kurt: Yeah, I see right on here. It says, "30 day, money back promise, and 10 year leather guarantee." Brian: Yeah. Kurt: So tell me, was it scary to offer this kind of warranty? Brian: Yeah. Yeah, it always is. It was funny cause I had a guy from inc.com, I was doing an interview two years ago, and he asked me, "Why not lifetime warranty? Why 25?" And I thought, it was a good question, and I thought, because lifetime is so cliched; everyone says lifetime. But by putting 25 years, what I'm trying to say is, it's gonna last two and half decades. You're gonna get a lot of use out of it. And by the time they last two and half decades, you're probably gonna want another one anyhow. You know, we'll have new stuff by then. Kurt: Right. Brian: I think we put a year around it because it gives it a definitive, like, wow this is built to really last. Yes, it's built to last. Is it scary? Yeah, it is, because you do have things break. Hardware breaks, stitching fails; it happens from time to time. We repair it and take care of it, but yeah. Put it this way, I don't feel nervous about the quality we're putting out, though. Does that make sense? We got a lot of confidence behind what we're doing. Kurt: Right, if you're confident in it, it shouldn't be scary. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: If you believe in your product, you shouldn't be afraid of it. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: I mean, really, your only fear is will people abuse it? And you're always gonna get someone who does. Brian: Yeah. I mean, we started coming out with ... We found a book bindery material that lasts more than six months. We found one that lasts for years. Now, we put a one year warranty on it, but it'll last. We tell customers, it's a one year warranty, but you'll have it for years. Because we found this really tough buckram, that's really beautiful; it's used in the library of Congress. That's what we wrap our iPad cases in. Kurt: Hmm. Brian: So for us, it's all about the materials. Will they last? So I guess I'm ... No, to answer the question, I'm not too worried because we're trying to use the materials that will last. Kurt: Right. Brian: Yeah. Kurt: So you've got, you're in the process ... Well, probably by the time this airs, maybe, your Shopify store will have launched. Brian: Hard to say. Kurt: Hard to say. Maybe it has, maybe it hasn't. Brian: We actually see a delay coming because of, and you can edit this out if you want, or keep it in, I don't care. We may be unable to switch for at least a month or two because of a new iPad coming out in a few weeks. Kurt: (laughs) Cool. Brian: Because of that, we're gonna have so much lift on the site, we are very hesitant to shift platforms until the sales calm down. Kurt: So what platform are you on now? Brian: Magento. Kurt: And you're switching to Shopify Plus. Tell me- Brian: Thank God. Kurt: (laughs) Alright, so what happened? Why are you doing that? Brian: We were told early on, I had talked to a consulting group, and they said, "Oh, you should be on Magento, it's scalable, you can customize." All true, all true. I call Magento, kinda like, the PC, and Shopify is kinda like a Mac. Kurt: Hmm. Brian: That's how I see the two. I mean, you can do a lot of customization on Shopify, but it's very plug and play friendly. And for the entrepreneur who wants to start a company, the last thing you want, is to be figuring out how many hours you can pay a $150 an hour developer. Because if you have a Magento site, that's what you're doing all the time. You're paying a developer, constantly, for the smallest changes. Kurt: Right. Brian: Whereas, on Shopify, you have app store, you have plugins. We're, of course, with what we're doing, we're paying developers to help us with small projects here and there. But for the most part, it's really a lot easier to assemble a Shopify site. Magento is definitely customizable, but boy, you better have Magento Pro engineers, who are doing all your coding. They have to do all your maintenance, manage all your plugins. If you have conflicts with your plugins, that's up to you to figure it out. Shopify does all that for you. They do that thinking for you. Kurt: Right. Brian: That's something that is a huge benefit to us. We were debating Magento 2.0, last year, or Shopify, and came down on Shopify. Kurt: What was the straw that broke the camel's back, where you said, alright it's time to make the switch? Cause it is not an easy task to change platforms when you've got an existing, running business. Brian: It's not. I think, a couple things. One, we designed this site about three to four years ago, it was starting to feel three to four years old. The current site at padandquill.com if you go there right now, it's three to four years old design. And we're kinda, you know what, we need to make this a little cleaner. We've moved more into a luxury lifestyle brand. We wanna even display more large imagery about our lifestyle and what we do, and what we love. So, that was kinda the impetus to go, okay, what platform do we want it? We were thinking, originally, Magento 2.0, and then we started considering just how much technical work was required; and that's when we reached out to Shopify, and it was a pretty easy sale. Cause we were like, "Sounds good!" I mean, we'd pay a certain fee. We're on Shopify, what's it called? Shopify Plus? Kurt: Shopify Plus. Brian: Yeah, so we're paying a fee, but that's like, I already pay that fee with a developer right now to guarantee 99.9% uptime. Kurt: Right, yeah. Brian: I have to pay someone that right now. Kurt: Yeah. The thing you're trading ... It's interesting to sell, trying to explain the benefits and the value proposition of Shopify Plus to an existing Shopify store owner. They're like, "Alright." You have to figure out, like, what's the problem you're facing, and the Shopify Plus will solve it. Versus when someone is on Magento and they're looking at switching and you go, well you don't worry about, you know, for one flat fee, someone else is gonna manage and you never worry about hosting uptime, updates, security, all of that goes away, and support. Brian: Right. Kurt: And it just becomes a no brainer. Brian: And we've had security issues, just being open with you. We've had some security issues pop up because of outdated plugins. Kurt: Right, and those- Brian: And all kinds of stuff. And it was, like, an outdated plugin in a blog. Kurt: Yeah. Brian: On our Magento site. And someone had gotten in through the back door, and we caught it, fixed it. But it was one of these things where we're like, okay Shopify does all that for us. Kurt: Yeah. I have, literally, never seen a security vulnerability like that happen on Shopify. Whereas, previously we did a lot of WordPress development work, and that was like a constant, constant battle trying to keep those things locked down. Brian: Right. That's the last thing you need to be worrying about. Right? Kurt: Yeah, that's just such an unnecessary- Brian: I mean, that's the last thing. When you're designing products, you're trying to ... Cause what am I? I'm a designer. I'm a salesman. I'm a community developer. Like, we have a family of customers, that's where our focus needs to be. You know? Not on security issues on the site. Cause 98% of our revenue comes from eCommerce, our store. Kurt: Hmm. That's excellent. Brian: Yeah, we are not in wholesale. We're very much like Saddleback; we're eCommerce only. Kurt: So, we're coming to the end of our time together. You have had a long, successful, and wonderful journey over the last seven years. What are some of the things you've learned, that you would go back tell yourself when you were starting out? Brian: Oh, that's a great question. Did I tell you to ask me that question? That's a good one. Kurt: (laughs) No, no. You said what three things have you learned building a brand? Brian: Yeah. I would say this, if you have a product you're making that's starting to sell, and it's selling pretty well and you love making that product, and other products like it ... Whatever the field is, whatever you do, be very careful to not listen to consultants too much. There is wisdom in a host of counselors, there really is. But in the end, your passion has to be from you about what you wanna sell and bring to your customers. So be careful how much you listen to consult ... I did a lot of consultant listening early on, that I wouldn't do now. I would just be who I am. And the more that Kari and I have just been who we are as a couple in this business, the more success we've seen. The more we have followed what other people have told us, "Well, you're getting big now. You really need to think about strategic changes." Those are big disasters. Not disasters, that's a heavy word. Those have not been fruitful. So, be who you are. To the degree that you can do something you love, is a huge blessing, it really is. Not everyone gets that opportunity. Like I said, I was painting for 17 years. I was thankful I was able to bring in an income, but I didn't really enjoy painting. So, where you can match a passion or a desire to income, it's awesome. But it's not ... I don't think it's something you can always do. Does that make sense? Kurt: No, absolutely. Brian: I'm not trying to paint a rosy picture here, because it's pretty hard to do that. Kurt: I think it comes down to having an authentic voice, being true to yourself, being true to your brand. Brian: Yep. Kurt: The hard part is figuring out what that voice and brand are, and then letting that show through. Every time I've been scared to include more of my personality in my marketing and my work, it has always paid off. You know, people like having that authentic voice; and that's what part of the podcast is. Brian: Right. Kurt: I'm myself on the show, and then by the time someone says, "Hey Kurt, could we work together on this?" And we get on the phone, they go, "I feel like I already know you." Yeah, because the whole time, I've been myself, and that's so important. Brian: Right. That is so important. It is so important. Plus, you'll just be happier with yourself, at the end of the day. Cause you've been true to yourself, even if the business doesn't work out. You just don't guarantee that any of these businesses will succeed, right? Kurt: No, absolutely not. It's always a risk. Brian: But in the end of day, if they fail, were you yourself? Were you trying to be yourself? Yeah. Kurt: So, Brian- Brian: A good entrepreneur gets back up and says, "Okay, what can I do next?" Kurt: Yeah, you learn from it, you move on. Brian: Yep. Kurt: And try the next thing. Brian: Yep. Kurt: So Brian, where can people go to learn more about you? Brian: Yeah, so, the best place to learn about us is at www.padandquill.com. So that's our website, click on About Us if you wanna see our story in more detail; that's at the bottom of the page, About Us. You'll see a picture of Kari and I, and there's kind of our story, and kinda what drives us, our passion is very interesting as well. Also, coupon code. We have a coupon code for your listeners. Kurt: Wonderful. Brian: So bhappy. So the letter B, and then happy, H-A-P-P-Y, number 10, just one zero. That's 10% off anything, any product, including bags, leather bags as well. Kurt: And they are beautiful bags. 10%. Brian: Thank you! Thank you. Kurt: Alright, I wrote that down, I will include it in the show notes for folks. Brian: Cool. Kurt: Brian, thank you for everything. I appreciate it. Brian: Yeah, Kurt, thanks so much for having us on, and wish you best with your success on your podcast. Kurt: Thank you. That's all for us today at The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. So please, join our Facebook group, The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Insiders, and let me know. Or sign up for my newsletter, kurtelster.com, shoot me an email. Either way, you'll be notified whenever a new episode goes live. And of course, if you'd like to work with me on your next Shopify project, you can apply at Ethercycle. Com. As always, thanks for listening, and we'll be back next week.

Dave Munson shares how, through his company's workmanship and employee care programs, he aims to reflect the character of God through the business. Dave is the founder and owner of Saddleback Leather, a high-end leather goods business he started out of his truck while he was doing missionary work in Mexico. Because people love these products so much, the company's tagline is “They’ll fight over it when you’re dead.” The company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas but has 230 employees working at the factory in León, Guanajuato Mexico where they are producing world-class leather products. His company provides free Christian child care for the employees' children, marriage classes, English classes (taught by people who are trained in evangelism), and much more. Dave and his wife direct a large portion of the profits to supporting missionaries around the world.  www.SaddlebackLeather.com  Viral video about Saddleback Leather products: https://youtu.be/a11wlngpuSY  Christianity in Business is the show that helps Christian business leaders to integrate biblical values into business. | Entrepreneurship | Marketing | Nonprofit | Church | Author | Startups | Marketplace | Ministry | Business as Mission | Faith and Work | Faith | Success | Leadership | www.ChristianityInBusiness.com

In this episode I sit down with Mr. Dave Munson the founder of Saddleback leather Co.  Here how this multimillion-dollar global; retailer of luxury leather goods got started.  Dave does some amazing things for the people that work for him and in this interview he challenges other companies to do the same.  Dave will also give you some tips on how to recognize quality goods.   Don't miss this interview, Dave sets several examples of what we all could be doing to be not only successful but how we can make this world a better place.  Check out both of his companies...  www.saddelbackleather.com www.Love41.com

Sam Reid is the co-founder of cider brand Willie Smiths. I meet Sam at the recent Telstra Business Awards in Tasmania. Now, one of my jobs as the emcee was to announce the finalists for each category and read out a short bio about their business. Each business always got a round of applause … although some got a bigger applause than others. Willie Smith's Cider got the biggest by far …. Quite heartfelt, it was! So, in kicked my marketing brain. What are they doing that other businesses aren't? What makes them so special? Basically … Why all the love?! At the end of the night I suggested he come on the show and reveal his secret sauce. “Hell yeah!” was his measured response. So, here's Sam Reid, co-founder of Willie Smith's Cider. Also in this episode of your favourite marketing podcast, I share my top 10 ice-breaker questions that I use during pre-interview chats, and in general when meeting people for the first time. They get past the surface and fast-track getting to know someone at a much deeper level. And I even give you my answers to each of the questions. Yep … it gets personal! Let's do this!  EPISODE TIMELINE 02:12  Welcome & overview 04:36  Today's guest introduction - Sam Reid of Willie Smiths 05:53  Interview with Sam Reid of Willie Smiths 46:07 Insights in to WebCentral & Designcrowd 48:02  My Top 3 Attention Grabbers from my chat with Sam Reid of Willie Smiths 50:50  My Top 10 Ice-Breaker Questions 57:40  Wrap-up and insights in to next week's guest  EPISODE SPONSORS WebCentral - Exclusive listener offers Get your online marketing sorted with these exclusive listener offers. Designcrowd - Save up to $100 on your first design. The world's #1 custom design marketplace - beautifully simple & cheap. We love cheap!RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED Willie Smith's official website Joshua Nichols on how to create an amazing customer experience Arthur Greeno on why a business should break Guinness World Records Dave Munson on how to create engaging business stories that sell My Top 10 Ice-Breaker Questions blog post (add your own questions here) How to outsource to The Philippines Cornerstone Business Solutions official website   MY TOP 3 MARKETING ATTENTION GRABBERS Sam's tip on how to attract and retain great staff - Let people add themselves and their personality to your culture. Have them solves problems in their own way, in their own style. It's incredibly empowering for them. The bottomline - stop trying to micro manage everyone. Free yourself up so you can create new things - I love Sam's passion for creativity and innovation. The Festival wouldn't have happened if he hadn't created space between the day-to-day running of the business, and time to think. Who's guilty of not doing this? I am. But when I do find time to sit and think; or walk and think; it's bloody beautiful. So … here's a couple of ways to create that time - 1. Be less controlling, and trust that your staff will solve problems in their own way; 2. Offshore process-driven tasks - Identify all those tasks that are taking up your precious time and money, and send them to places like The Philippines. We've covered this at length in past episodes - but if you want to cut to the chase, check out Cornerstone Business Solutions - an off-shoring business that I have an interest in, I believe in it so much. “We're all about being memorable” - Are you? If not, why not? I'm guessing as a listener of this show you are constantly looking for ways to stay on your customers' shopping list. Whether it be through offering an amazing customer experience (like past guest Joshua Nichols of Platinum Electrics); or breaking Guinness World Records like past guest Arthur Greeno of Chick Filay; or creating amazing stories that emotionally engage your customers like Dave Munson does of Saddleback Leather. There's no shortage of ways to do it, so just choose one and get on with it!  OVER TO YOU … What was your biggest marketing learning or ah-ha moment from this episode? Leave your comment below. My guest and I respond to each and every comment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we interview El Presidente of saddlebackleather.com Dave talks about how he started the company, living in a $100/m apartment with no hot water for 3 years in Juarez, Mexico, raising a family, meeting his wife on myspace, traveling, volunteering, teaching english, experiencing the 3rd world, mocking 1st world problems, ministry, business, missions and giving. Find out more about the ministry Dave talked about at: africanewlife.org Ask us questions over at: thewayfam.tumblr.com If you enjoy and value the podcast feel free to support us at: patreon.com/thewayfam Support the show (https://www.buymeacoff.ee/thewayfam)

Dave shares why he trusts his customers to drive Saddleback’s branding (any ad agency would KILL for this level of customer loyalty!) and how Saddleback gets fiery Social Media play without fake contests, auto-following or “chasing likes.” (Plus, the four social media platforms producing results now)

Dave Munson founder of Saddleback leather joins us to discuss the rather humble beginnings of building a successful retail business.HighlightsWhy we are not always aware how we're impacting peopleExpecting something wonderful to happen when we're inconveniencedCultivating a constant state of wonder Why our impact starts to happen later in lifeThe importance of asking for help Experience joy outside of our need for moneyDave Munson is the founder of Saddleback Leather, a people business cleverly disguised as a leather goods company. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do you do when competitors are knocking off your product? Today's guest, Dave Munson (founder and CEO of Saddleback Leather), decided to create a video to show them how to do it better. In today's episode, Dave shares how to build your business around an ethic, why showing your values is critical, and the importance of seeking wisdom and establishing a vision.

Dave Munson, founder of Saddleback Leather, talked with us about the importance of having a purpose behind whatever it is that you do. Finding a way to leverage your business into a means to achieve something more meaningful and impactful is something we Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you enjoy this episode? Click here to get the exclusive bonus material. Are you a leather aficionado? Do you enjoy and appreciate well-made leather goods? Then you'll enjoy hearing from Dave Munson, CEO and founder of Saddleback Leather. Dave is an expert in all things leather. Through his online retail site Dave sells all types of goods including bags, décor and even leather pine cones! In this episode, Dave shares how he became interested in working with leather, why he decided to pursue it as a career, and how he came to be so successful in such a specific niche. Listen in to hear all of that and so much more on today’s edition of How Did You Get Into That? THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW How your location can affect your creativity. Why does Dave like leather so much? When Dave decided to make leather his career. How Dave built his leather-making business from scratch. How “bouncing around” from job to job can help you. What can you do to discover your talents and passion? How can you create a business or job based on your interests? And much, much more! BONUS MATERIAL: How to create your very own leather bag. Why it’s important to get exactly what you want from leather. Can other people's opinions help you? If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear a few additional minutes of the interview, Click here to get the exclusive bonus material.   EPISODE RESOURCES Saddleback Leather website Saddleback Leather on Twitter Saddleback Leather on Facebook Saddleback Leather on Instagram Tandy Leather website Get Started as a Speaker Submit feedback on the show for a chance to win an Amazon gift card! Subscribe to the show on iTunes Subscribe to the show on Stitcher Email me with any questions, comments or guest suggestions at Grant@GrantBaldwin.com  

Dave Munson is a great story-teller. Oh, and he happens to own a small business - Saddleback Leather. They make and sell leather bags that Indiana Jones would be happy to carry. Integrating his amazing story-telling skills in to his website copy, marketing video scripts, and even his voice-mail, Dave has managed to create a highly engaging and emotional brand in an industry that isn't known for its charm. Join me around the campfire as Dave let's us know how he does it. The post 264 – How to use storytelling to create a strong brand with Dave Munson of Saddleback Leather appeared first on Small Business Big Marketing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Strategy Session we'll be talking about buyer psychology, the three types of buyers, and how to sell to them. Here are the three main types of buyers identified by neuroeconomics experts: 15% - Spendthrifts 24% - Tightwads 61% - Average Spenders The psychology behind each type is fascinating, and understanding each one's "buying mindset" will help you get closer to your customers, speak their language, and make more sales. 40% of people fall into wildly “irrational” categories, i.e. the spendthrifts and tightwads, which also means you're potentially missing out on a lot of sales because most ecommerce sites focus on selling to the average buyer. Understanding these three types of buyers and how to sell to them, along with a few tweaks to your site and copy, you'll be able to capitalize on many more sales that might have otherwise been lost. In this episode we break it all down for you so you can begin recapturing those buyers today.   Topics Discussed Throughout the Interview Breaking down the three types of buyers and how to sell to them. Why evaluating what buyer you are can help you sell better on your website. When to use negative emotion messaging vs positive. How Dave Munson at Saddleback Leather redesigned his website for analytical buyers and the results he achieved. When should focus 100% on one buyer personality vs generalizing.   Links & Resources 3 Types of Buyers - Neuro Marketing Tightwads and Spendthrifts 10 Ways to Convert More Customers Using Psychology  Episode 19 with Dave Munson   Subscribe & Review To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can easily subscribe by clicking here. Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes. Cheers, Austin & Chad!   Follow on Twitter: Follow @chadvanags Follow @a_brawn

Dave Munson is founder and CEO of Saddleback Leather where his number one priority is creating the most authentic brand experience for his site's visitors and customers. Saddleback leather is an ecommerce company that designs and produces the perfect leather bag and other full grain leather goods, products that won't tear, has zippers or buttons wouldn’t break, and products that could withstand a beating or two. The idea for his product and company came to him while he participated in a real Mexican bullfight, and he began to build his company while living in a drab $100 a month Juarez, Mexico apartment. He’s so confident in his products that he provides a 100-year warranty, and guarantees that your family will fight over who gets it long after you’re dead. Today he’s going to tell us his story on how he took his small practical idea and turned into an ecommerce machine through his relentless focus on creating an authentic brand experience (just watch some of his videos!).   Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview: How his participation in a Mexican Bullfight inspired his company His Journey from bootstrapped business to a wildly successful online store Creating a truly authentic brand experience for your site's visitors and customers How David defines his brand and what that means for him and his employees on a daily basis Why his site provides links to his top competitors and what that means for his business The balance between an emotional and logical feel to a website and what it means for his conversions What generosity has done for his company and his life and why you should do it to Topics Discussed Throughout This Interview: How his participation in a Mexican Bullfight inspired his company His Journey from bootstrapped business to a wildly successful online store Creating a truly authentic brand experience for your site's visitors and customers How David defines his brand and what that means for him and his employees on a daily basis Why his site provides links to his top competitors and what that means for his business The balance between an emotional and logical feel to a website and what it means for his conversions What generosity has done for his company and his life and why you should do it to   Links and Resources Mentioned: SaddlebackLeather.com Connect with Dave - dave [at] saddlebackleather.com   Thank You For Listening & A Simple Request To get more awesome Ecommerce Influence content sent directly to your device and into your ears as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher! Also, ratings and reviews on iTunes (hopefully 5-stars!) help us tremendously a we’re very grateful for them. We do read all of the reviews and we’ll answer your questions or comments on future episodes. Cheers, Austin & Chad!