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