Travis Makes Money Make Money by Selling Leather Bags
Dave Munson is the founder of Saddleback Leather Company, a brand known for building rugged, overbuilt leather bags designed to last 100 years. What started in a small Mexican leather shop grew into a globally recognized business with collaborations alongside Toyota and Martin Guitar. Beyond business, Dave and his wife Suzette also lead Love 41, a nonprofit supporting communities in Rwanda, Mexico, and Texas. His adventurous life has included escaping an assassin, surviving danger in Mexico, and building a family-owned business that became a worldwide success.
On this episode we talk about:
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How Dave turned a need for a durable book bag into Saddleback Leather
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His first scrappy sales tactics involving homemade signs on his Land Cruiser
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Moving to Mexico, surviving an assassin encounter, and navigating unexpected dangers
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How eBay became the platform that validated his business idea
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The importance of striving to be the best and building products that sell themselves
Top 3 Takeaways
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Sometimes a successful business starts with solving your own problem—in Dave’s case, creating a bag he couldn’t find anywhere else.
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Exceptional products don’t just sell; they create demand from day one by being designed to last and built with integrity.
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To stand out as an entrepreneur, choose to be the best at something—even in crowded markets—through expertise, quality, and relentless improvement.
Notable Quotes
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"I told the leatherworker, I want my grandchildren to fight over this when I’m dead."
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"My first marketing sign was just a sheet of paper taped to my Land Cruiser—‘Cool leather bags for sale.’"
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"If you’re going to do something, don’t blend in. Try to be the best at it."
Connect with Dave Munson:
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SaddlebackLeather.com
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