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8

rawrr_monster t1_j7kz97n wrote

Is this just an ad? These backpacks have a 1 year warranty compared to the lifetime warranty of a Jansport. Price is pretty excessive as well for something manufactured in Vietnam.

366

Im_Jooms t1_j7kzoxp wrote

Hey, thanks for doing this.

More of a general startup question. I think one of the big things stopping more people from leaving salary and trying to go off on their own is just how stable salary seems.

How did you financially prepare to go out on your own? Did you all set aside months of savings before taking the plunge? Did you have something else that paid the bills?

Thanks for doing this AMA and I'm looking forward to your answer. :)

5

spityy t1_j7l0ls7 wrote

Replying to rawrr_monster (#1,744,408)

If you are interested in high quality backpacks for kids and sports I can recommend Camelbak made in Germany. They are pricey tho but they last very long, at least mine does, I don't even remember when I got mine. Must be like 14 years ago when I got my motorbike driver's license.

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flappytowel t1_j7l0vf7 wrote

With a backpack this expensive ($110 USD), I expect it to be fully bulletproof, be able to connect to my smart fridge, and include a full buffet lunch every school day.

Is this included?

85

bx8 t1_j7l1gun wrote

If you're fully funded, why are you still pushing the kickstarter on your website?

101

hoangmanager OP t1_j7l1gyx wrote

Replying to rawrr_monster (#1,744,408)

Thanks for the question. We always wanted to create a versatile product for kids, with a modular, lightweight and ergonomic design. Jansport does not have any ergonomic products to my knowledge. We are a new brand, we try our best to one day be as big as jansport and provide more value to our users.

−99

the-es t1_j7l1r56 wrote

What is salary management? How does one get into that field?

36

IAmAModBot t1_j7l1zf6 wrote

For more AMAs on this topic, subscribe to r/IAmA_Business, and check out our other topic-specific AMA subreddits here.

1

JaesopPop t1_j7l20dj wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,744,555)

> You're right I'm just making it up.

I mean I don’t know if you’re making it up, I just know that you’re wrong. Also this is a very funny overreaction to what I said.

5

juantxorena t1_j7l21vw wrote

Is your passion really backpack design? That's oddly specific.

141

BowzersMom t1_j7l2s8h wrote

Wow. The backpack market was really missing a $110 child’s bag so badly you had to quit your job to make one? What exactly makes this special and superior in a way that no other manufacturer compares? Lmao

127

ksgif2 t1_j7l37w4 wrote

I recently purchased a backpack that's also a beer cooler so when I get to my destination I can dump my junk out in the hotel and take cold beer to the beach. I believe backpack perfection has already been achieved, what's left to be done?

56

hoangmanager OP t1_j7l39cf wrote

Replying to Im_Jooms (#1,744,429)

I actually planned this before I quit my job completely. As mentioned, I have started to open stores selling backpacks of major brands in the world. When the income from there was enough for me to prepare for my project, I started switching to part-time work and gradually full-time before my office officially opened.

16

JaesopPop t1_j7l3kck wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,744,653)

> I'm trying to get an answer to a question and you want to interupt it with your personal opinion.

You didn’t ask a question, and I didn’t state an opinion.

>I called my kids school and told them some guy on reddit said we don't need clear backpacks, so I'm not going to buy one. Thanks for the help. Problem solved.

I didn’t say your kids school didn’t require a clear backpack lol. Maybe if you’d understood what I said you wouldn’t have gotten yourself so worked up?

5

230flathead t1_j7l4j1t wrote

$110 for a backpack? What are you smoking?

52

SaintPoost t1_j7l4xvs wrote

Replying to juantxorena (#1,744,571)

Nobody's passion is backpack design lol

Edit: okay, some of you Like backpacks and seek out good ones, but nobody's PASSION is backpack design. You're passionate about your partner, your family, your biggest hobbies (some of which I'll admit involve backpacks), etc., but that's not to be confused with finding beauty and functionality in a design.

92

mechabeast t1_j7l4zvs wrote

What niche does this fill that isn't saturated by the current market?

28

hoangmanager OP t1_j7l5iey wrote

Replying to juantxorena (#1,744,571)

Well, actually, before I opened a backpack store or designed my own, I had a collection of backpack brands from around the world. I really love the innovative designs and great experience that these products bring.

−37

mrescape t1_j7l6iui wrote

Replying to SaintPoost (#1,744,749)

There were a few weeks where I was interested in backpacks and I watched a lot of Packhacker videos. There is definitely a niche for backpack design! Fortunately I made it through that phase.

23

JaesopPop t1_j7l736k wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,744,869)

> Lol, so you didn't even read my question.

I read your comment, there was no question in it. Did you read mine? I’m wondering where the personal opinion is.

>Good luck to you.

Thanks buddy!

1

yieldbetter t1_j7l7ekd wrote

A 200$ kids bag ? I used to go through 3 a year. God damn it if you believe in this I can start believing in myself!

23

hoangmanager OP t1_j7l7g63 wrote

Replying to mechabeast (#1,744,753)

The major backpack brands in the world are literally like hundreds of years ahead of us. However, the improvement is continuous, with different purposes requiring different features on the product. While other big brands only focus on designing products for adults, a backpack for children that has to carry a lot of accessories on the shoulder is not much attention. And this is the direction we are headed.

−12

roguepawn t1_j7l7l79 wrote

Replying to hoangmanager (#1,744,790)

I was similarly fascinated when I saw my Army rucksack (circa 2007) for the first time. Comparing the weight distribution design of it vs the backpacking frames I had in Boy Scouts was very cool.

I could definitely see this being an intriguing field.

4

pres82 t1_j7l7nc3 wrote

Is this AMA going the way you hoped it would?

89

ottonomy t1_j7l7ro0 wrote

What is the Online Industry?

8

digitalpencil t1_j7l8w9a wrote

Replying to hoangmanager (#1,744,696)

tf are people mass downvoting this guy?

He clearly speaks English as a second language (quite well i might add). He's got a passion project he's trying to kickstart which is designing backpacks for kids, and yes this post is an ad for it. It's really clearly an ad. He's linked directly to the kickstarter. He's not trying to pull the wool over your eyes, this is an ad for his backpack.

I agree, it's overpriced but i'm guessing the economies of scale that larger competitors have to play with, don't apply here.

If you don't like the post, downvote it and move on, but mass downvoting this guys every comment because he had the audacity to make a kid's backpack when Jansport already exist, is bewilderingly shitty behaviour.

24

AMAprivacy t1_j7l9nmh wrote

You have a passion for backpack design? Interesting choice, my passion is for eating fried chicken, now if only I could find a job in that…

8

AlecNess t1_j7lb637 wrote

I’ll be honest with you… that backpack does not look good/cool/nice at all.. (I’m my opinion.) It’s also crazy expensive for what it is (and does.)

Do you really think this was needed in the current market? In my opinion this offers nothing new.

I wish you the best, succeeding in starting something new isn’t easy.

18

RegulatoryCapture t1_j7lcntf wrote

Replying to juantxorena (#1,744,571)

to be fair, that's not weird. Backpacks are fucking lit.

But most people with a passion for backpack design are typically more interested in technical outdoor gear or EDC, not designing an overly engineered child's backpack (like...is any kid really going to use all of those separate organizer pouches? really? nah, they are just going to cram shit in the bag).

15

RegulatoryCapture t1_j7lcy8r wrote

Replying to Kiruvi (#1,745,101)

Yeah. Maybe come do the AMA after you've shipped your backpacks and you have a huge following of parents/kids who love your product.

Then people will be interested in "how'd you do that"....this is just an ad. Ads get downvoted.

9

Heyhihello04 t1_j7ld5k0 wrote

Why are people tearing this guy a new one and downvoting everything? It's a kids backpack for christ sakes, calm down everyone.

7

irvmtb t1_j7lebmm wrote

Replying to AMAprivacy (#1,745,033)

Haha this made me laugh and reminisce about my old job :) I used to be a product manager at a big fried chicken chain restaurant, and developing fried chicken products was my main responsibility. Lots of fried chicken eating between trying different restaurants, checking what competitors had, and developing our own products with our R&D teams lol. There are jobs out there where you can eat lots of fried chicken haha. I even took leftovers (chicken I only took a bite or two from) and brought those home for our dogs so they ate a lot of fried chicken too during that time.

4

EnnWhyCee t1_j7leqls wrote

Serious question: how much do you regret this AMA?

16

bumsahoy t1_j7lf47h wrote

How did you find a manufacturer? Any advice on doing this?

5

lampposttt t1_j7lg4vn wrote

No idea why the comments here are so negative. This is an extremely well-designed backpack for kids. Is it expensive? Yes, but it's also new production and niche product. Sure, lifetime warranty would go a long way here, but it's a freaking startup guys, give the guy a break.

I'm also a backpack enthusiast (I've backpacked 10+ national parks and countless other weekend trips) and I own several high-end backpacks that cost $300+ from Osprey, Arcteryx, Jansport and others, and this has the same attention to detail and utility that I'd expect from those well-established brands, which is impressive.

Clearly this backpack isn't for EVERY family, but if you're middle or upper-middle income bracket and also value a very functional backpack for your kids, this is certainly one of the best options that I've personally ever seen.

8

GatsbyJunior t1_j7lgbs2 wrote

Does it come in clear so we can see their gun?

−1

Mad-farmer t1_j7lgk4h wrote

Is it bullet proof? Because if it isn’t, America doesn’t need another weak snowflake company.

−6

WorldlyCupcake5345 t1_j7lh6uq wrote

Replying to Kiruvi (#1,745,101)

Yes, this is basically a really niche product. I know there are expensive backpacks out there, but this is almost like Gucci for kids (I know, I am exaggerating, but it makes little sense). One can applaud their efforts at making it a go of it, but the pricing doesn't match market reality. This is like trying to be the Apple of kids' backpacks and even then...I am going to ask how many of you are parents here and how many would pay $110 for their kids' backpacks?

2

azninvasion2000 t1_j7lhngt wrote

While I admire the drive you have for creating a great backpack, IMO unfortunately you're a bit late for this, at least in my area.

Kids these days in the NYC and tri state area only carry around paper/pencil if they are into analog art, and that is dying out too. All they really need is a laptop, power supply, and lunch.

It really doesn't matter if their backpack can stand upright, or has all those compartments or fancy straps. A $60 fjallraven kanken backpack is lightweight, waterproof, ergonomic, and can hold a laptop, power supply, and food.

In any case I hope I'm wrong and wish you success.

5

syu425 t1_j7li2ld wrote

How much does each backpack cost to make?

2

dachaotic1 t1_j7ljc5t wrote

Replying to Heyhihello04 (#1,745,272)

I understand the outrage over the price and the lack of justification for such a high price but man why is everyone suck a dick online. We wouldn't talk to each other like this if we were standing next to each other.

5

HugeBrainsOnly t1_j7lkaou wrote

Why wouldn't I buy a Jansport with a better warranty?

This feels like one of those etsy flips.

0

olderaccount t1_j7lklak wrote

How do you define success?

Until you have sales, how do you know if your design is a success or not?

I have a hard time accepting that a $140 backpack for little kids will succeed. Maybe with the right endorsement from trendy influencers you might get a few of the Lululemon crowd to drop the kind of cash on a kids backpack. The mainstream market could never support that price point.

3

RoosterBrewster t1_j7ll807 wrote

Replying to BowzersMom (#1,744,615)

I just imagine this on Shark Tank:

Kevin O'Leary: What's stopping me from going to China and producing these for $5 each in one month and destroy you?

Robert: My kids don't care about optimized backpacks or long-lasting ones. They just like whatever is trendy like themed backpacks.

Damon: For $110, I would just get some Gucci ones.

13

olderaccount t1_j7ll9gk wrote

Replying to BowzersMom (#1,744,615)

Not to mention it is a tiny backpack. That is how they solved the problem of backpacks being heavy.

Want to bring your lunchbox or water bottle along? Don't worry, they will sell you matching accessories for those. Now you have something just as heavy as what they were replacing wit hshit dangling from all sides for the low, low price of $200.

6

PFunk224 t1_j7lla7p wrote

Replying to Heyhihello04 (#1,745,272)

Because it's a shitty advertisement disguised as an AMA. He's also only answering questions pertaining to his backpack, so it's not even an AMA, it's an "Ask me exclusively about this product I'm actively trying to sell to you".

0

shakestheclown t1_j7lmgz6 wrote

Replying to shakestheclown (#1,745,578)

Actually, let's see how it does. Asked ChatGPT to make a more interesting comment based on the AMA title:

"Hey Reddit community! I'm so excited to be here sharing my story with all of you. 3 years ago, I took a leap of faith and quit my corporate job to pursue my passion for backpack design. The journey was not without its challenges, as I faced a personal tragedy that changed my life forever. I lost my spouse, and it was a difficult time for me and my children.

But through it all, I never lost my determination to make my children's lives as easy and comfortable as possible. And that's what led me to pursue my passion for backpack design. I wanted to create a backpack that was not only functional and durable, but also a source of comfort for kids.

And after a lot of hard work and dedication, I'm proud to say that our first ever backpack for kids is finally here!

As a backpack designer, I understand the importance of functionality, durability, and style in a backpack, especially for kids. That's why we put so much effort into designing the perfect backpack for kids. Our backpack features adjustable straps, multiple compartments for organization, and a comfortable and breathable back panel.

I would love to hear your thoughts on our backpack and answer any questions you may have about my journey, including the personal hardship I faced and how it influenced my passion for making a better backpack for kids. AMA!"

9

bsmartww t1_j7lmy6q wrote

Just what we needed, another overpriced backpack disguised to help prevent spinal damage in children.

Give me a break. Not hating, it’s just people respect you a whole lot more when your real with them. I’m sure you’ll get plenty jobless soccer moms purchase these. Might wanna go back to your day job.

You didn’t really quit your job to pursue your passion of designing backpacks did you?

−1

feeltheglee t1_j7ln3lc wrote

Replying to WorldlyCupcake5345 (#1,745,528)

You can get kids' backpacks from Osprey for $40, currently on sale for $23, and they will repair or replace any backpack they've ever produced. They make more expensive ($100), more technical ones (hip belt with side pockets) as well, but I don't think you need that in a school bag.

Before I sound like an Osprey shill, there are plenty of other technical backpack companies (North Face, REI's in-house brand, Gregory, etc.) that make kids' packs as well, most with an offering in the $35-45 range.

4

kou_uraki t1_j7lrq78 wrote

Replying to pyrobuck (#1,745,590)

It's like kids are hard on stuff and people have multiple children to pass things on to. Buying 3-4 $30-$40 backpacks in the span of a few years is way less economical. Backpacks also adjust. It's not like they outgrow them at the age range the bags are intended for. Your arguments are unfounded and just uniformed. I guess you just want to be mad for no reason.

−4

Ez13zie t1_j7lrymn wrote

When you started this AmA, did you think you’d be successful in basically running an advertisement in r/IAmA?

Also, do you plan on selling on Amazon so they steal your design and undercut your pricing?

When making the choice to manufacture internationally, how did you decide upon Vietnam? Wages? Availability? Young work force? Efficiency?

0

azninvasion2000 t1_j7lt7hf wrote

Replying to iRAPErapists (#1,745,804)

I've had mine for about a decade, and although the color has faded, it still works perfectly.

I also like how if you go for a hike and it gets dirty you can just throw it in the wash.

Also it completely flattens when empty so when you are on a train you don't need to take it off and can sink right back into the seat.

Maybe I'm the wrong demographic for the type of backpack this guy is advertising, but even if gifted one, it would never ever get used, and would be hard to give away.

I think the only real thing going is the fashion and customizable bit to show off to friends, but around here, pulling a M2 Max out of the bag kinda fills that role.

1

shakestheclown t1_j7lxvq5 wrote

Replying to mrhelio (#1,746,525)

can you write me an exciting and engaging comment to engage users on my reddit "ask me anything" post regarding "I quit my salary management job in Online Industry to pursue my passion for backpack design and we finally succeeded with our first ever backpack for kids after 3 years of working. AMA!"

--- writes a comment from viewer perspective ---

can you write the comment from the perspective of the creator of the backpack trying to share interesting and engaging information with potential customers on reddit

--- response, kind of boring ---

can you include a sob story of a hardship overcome

--- generic "I faced many challenges and obstacles" response

can you give more details about the hardship, make it a death of a spouse and how it created passion for making my children's lives as easy as possible with a new backpack

--- response above ---

3

mrhelio t1_j7m0lj6 wrote

Replying to shakestheclown (#1,746,561)

I really like that it takes skill to prompt the AI to write what you want.

In many circumstances it's probably easier or faster, to just create what your looking for on your own.

I know a lot of people are very concerned about this tech being used by students at schools etc. But what I think most people are missing is that getting an acceptable response out of the AI requires a decent amount of problem solving: Learning is happening, it might not be what the teachers are aiming for, but it's still learning.

It reminds me of coming up with an elaborate way of cheating on a test, which required more work than just studying. Either way the test taker was being challenged mentally, the "cheater" just took a different path to solve the problem of passing the test.

3

Worldly76 t1_j7m1tem wrote

Replying to jorgeargento (#1,745,947)

I feel like if I bought him a good 1000d or maybe even 500d cordura backpack it would last significantly longer that the cheap nylon ones I always used in school is all. I'm sure there's options that don't totally break the bank but idk maybe I'm a backpackaholic but $100 is like an entry level backpack for what I usually look for. I'm sure you could find a Korean cordura equivalent product manufactured in china for like $40-50 even. Vietnam idk as much about because I've only worked with ISO9001 backpack companies out of that country.

0

Mooseylips t1_j7m2k38 wrote

Replying to hoangmanager (#1,744,527)

Oh God this poor guy. I for one wish you good luck but if you want to succeed as a niche small business, you better ditch that salesman routine and next time talk about how this started off as a hobby and how you got into it or something relatable. Nobody expects a small business to compete with bigger business- people will only buy local if they like the person who's pitching.

3

shakestheclown t1_j7m5uah wrote

Replying to mrhelio (#1,746,707)

Overall I agree, there's going to be a lot of fear that turns out to be overblown and in the end most things will adjust like with everyone having a calculator, cell phone, internet, etc. And it's still going to be obvious who took shortcuts through everything.

Really where I find the time savings is that it eliminates paralysis by analysis which is a big time waster for me. Let's say I need an article for my business for ten benefits of social media automation. The largest time investment for me is deciding on my ten points. Instead I can ask chatgpt, tweak the response, tell it to replace a couple I don't like, add some fluff, edits, and references and be done in 30 min instead of 2 hours trying to parse my thoughts and options.

Also midjourney and DALL-E are very exciting for vastly reducing stock photo needs.

2

4rch t1_j7mb1oh wrote

It's comments that I'm seeing in this thread that have made me realize this isn't the same reddit I came to when Digg 4.0 came out.

There's giving feedback, and then there's being an asshole. Many people have quit their jobs to do something that other people don't value. Who gives a fuck if it's for a backpack.

Old reddit would have provided feedback and the assholes would have been downvoted, but you all have become so jaded that none of you can even take a moment for some empathy and understand why this person is doing it.

My backpack as a kid weighed 20 pounds, that shit has real impacts on children for years to come, so fuck OP for wanting to create something that is designed for kids when other brands have essentially just taken an adult backpack and turned it into a miniature version?

OP, I'm sorry that people here who downvoted you are the same people upvoting AMAs by billionaires and other "fan favorites" that I've seen over the years (Bill Nye).

So on behalf of OP, I want to give everyone a kind gesture and let them all know that even though they might not care about backpacks, responses like this create a chilling effect for small operations who want to do an AMA.

The top comment is "get a marketing department" for Christ's sake! You all are complaining about reddit becoming corporate but in the same breath give a noncorporate OP shit for not having the bland decorum of a corporate PR department!

There are real people behind each of our posts and I'm ashamed of each and every one of you. There's karma to get upvotes, then there's the bullshit I'm witnessing today.

For anyone who disagrees with my sentiment, my only request is that you downvote me to a point where my comment karma reaches 0, because the people who used to upvote posts aren't the same one upvoting shit now and I do not want to be associated with the pervasive negativity that reddit has become in recent times.

6

hoangmanager OP t1_j7o64p8 wrote

Replying to olderaccount (#1,745,765)

Actually, before I decided to launch a global version of our backpack, we produced the local version and sold it to local customers and got good feedback from them. I know this product won't be for the masses, but there are parents who are willing to spend this amount of money to get their kids a good product. A great stepping stone makes me more believe that global customers will welcome our product too.

0