EP 483: Velocity Wins: How Curtis Matsko Scaled Portland Leather Goods to 9 Figures by Moving Faster Than Everyone Else

9 snips

Feb 17, 2025

Curtis Matsko, Founder and CEO of Portland Leather Goods, shares his journey of scaling a DTC leather brand to 9 figures. He emphasizes that 'velocity wins,' highlighting the importance of rapid decision-making over perfection. Curtis explains his hiring framework that promotes continuous team development and reveals that 92% of his ad spend is on Meta and Google, ignoring TikTok. He also discusses vertical integration as a growth strategy and the truth about luxury leather products, showcasing how authenticity gives his brand a competitive edge.

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ANECDOTE

Portland Leather Goods Origin Story

Curtis Matsko started Portland Leather Goods after making a leather journal in his garage.
They became a top Etsy seller, then transitioned to Shopify and grew rapidly.

INSIGHT

Real Leather Advantage

Real leather's unique qualities (smell, feel, look) create a strong product-market fit.
Many "leather" bags use plastic, giving Portland Leather Goods a competitive edge.

ANECDOTE

The Lord of the Rings Inspiration

Curtis's fifth-grade teacher inspired his love for leather journals by reading "The Lord of the Rings."
His disappointment with a pink plastic diary fueled his desire to create authentic leather goods.

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📢 What does it really take to scale a 9-figure DTC brand? Relentless speed, constant reinvention, and never playing defense.

In this episode of the DTC Podcast, we sit down with Curtis Matsko, founder and CEO of Portland Leather Goods, to break down how he built one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer brands by outpacing the competition at every turn.

Curtis doesn't hesitate—he makes decisions fast, learns fast, and scales fast. While most brands overanalyze, he moves forward, makes adjustments in real time, and never stops evolving.✅

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why "velocity wins"—and how moving fast (not perfection) is the key to DTC success
The 3-6-9 hiring framework Curtis uses to keep his team leveling up every year
Why 92% of Portland Leather Goods’ ad spend goes to Meta & Google (and why TikTok isn’t even on his radar)
How vertical integration in Mexico became their ultimate growth hack—ensuring inventory never kills scaling
The truth about luxury brands: Why most "leather" bags aren’t real leather—and why that’s Portland Leather Goods’ biggest advantage
How to know when it's time to reinvent your brand—so you don’t end up like the five competitors that went bankrupt

This episode is a must-listen for any brand owner looking to scale fast, break through growth ceilings, and build a brand that actually lasts.

🎧00:00 – Curtis Matsko on embracing change in business

02:30 – The origin story of Portland Leather Goods

06:00 – The importance of real leather and craftsmanship

10:15 – Scaling a brand through rapid decision-making

15:40 – The power of customer experience and brand trust

20:20 – How vertical integration fuels growth

25:10 – Hiring, leadership, and internal team development

30:50 – The role of Meta and Google in scaling DTC brands

35:45 – Why customer retention is key in DTC success

40:30 – The future of Portland Leather and business expansion

#DTC #Ecommerce #LeatherGoods #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #MetaAds #GoogleAds #MarketingStrategy #CustomerExperience #ScalingBusiness #FounderStory #DirectToConsumer #BrandBuilding #RetailSuccess #Shopify

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