Saddleback Leather Co. - Dave Munson

Saddleback Leather Co. - Dave Munson

From Starting Small by Cameron Nagle

February 23, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 264

About this episode

Dave Munson shares the story of how he founded Saddleback Leather Co. from a simple idea to a globally recognized brand.

Dave Munson didn’t launch Saddleback Leather with a business plan. He was living in Mexico, burned out from ministry work, when he designed a leather bag he couldn’t find anywhere — simple, rugged, built to last. A local craftsman made it. Strangers kept stopping him to ask where they could get one. He went back, had a small batch made, and started selling them one by one. That small run turned into Saddleback Leather Co., now known worldwide for overbuilt bags backed by a 100-year warranty and a philosophy that products should be strong enough to be fought over when you’re gone. Dave went from selling on eBay to owning his own factory, collaborating with brands like Toyota and Major League Baseball, and building a loyal following of more than 250,000 customers who value durability over trends. Make sure to check them out at: https://saddlebackleather.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails…

People in this episode

Host: Cameron Nagle

Guest: Dave Munson

Topics covered

  • entrepreneurship
  • business growth
  • product design
  • durability
  • customer loyalty

Keywords

  • Saddleback Leather
  • entrepreneurship
  • leather bags
  • business journey
  • durability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Saddleback Leather Co., Toyota, Major League Baseball

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