Freitag from Switzerland has developed some good sustainable ideas. They take old vinyl truck tarps and make handbags and computer bags. This year their estimated sales are $32 million (in US currency.)
Freitag is a good example of safety through quality.
It is interesting from an historical standpoint that from the outset they were focused on getting the job done not on the methods used. They washed the tarps in their bathtubs at home. Anything capital intensive was approached from actual labor savings and not from some kind of best practices that required large initial funding. Management grew not from a business plan hierarchy but from actual need when it was needed. Too often businesses build a management team before building product.
1. No advertising. Word of mouth.
2. No lifestyle change as business grows. Modest salaries for owners.
3. Minimal loans. They started with $2,500 from savings for an industrial sewing machine.
4. Niche market. Urban professionals in the creative industry.
5. Experience marketed: "People seem to appreciate the patina of wear and feel good about buying something recycled."
6. Old rented facility
7. The market allows labor-intensive products with high cost Swiss labor.
8. They do not own most of their retail distribution though they do have nine stores.
9. Biggest barrier: access to raw material. They have three people always looking that includes hanging around truck stops.
10. The two owners are also the Board.
11. One owner focused on business;the other on concept.
David Sneed
Freitag is a good example of safety through quality.
It is interesting from an historical standpoint that from the outset they were focused on getting the job done not on the methods used. They washed the tarps in their bathtubs at home. Anything capital intensive was approached from actual labor savings and not from some kind of best practices that required large initial funding. Management grew not from a business plan hierarchy but from actual need when it was needed. Too often businesses build a management team before building product.
1. No advertising. Word of mouth.
2. No lifestyle change as business grows. Modest salaries for owners.
3. Minimal loans. They started with $2,500 from savings for an industrial sewing machine.
4. Niche market. Urban professionals in the creative industry.
5. Experience marketed: "People seem to appreciate the patina of wear and feel good about buying something recycled."
6. Old rented facility
7. The market allows labor-intensive products with high cost Swiss labor.
8. They do not own most of their retail distribution though they do have nine stores.
9. Biggest barrier: access to raw material. They have three people always looking that includes hanging around truck stops.
10. The two owners are also the Board.
11. One owner focused on business;the other on concept.
David Sneed
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