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Apr 2025
20m 30s

#294 Brandon Kim From Brevite: Building ...

Daniel Budai
About this episode

Welcome back to The Ecom Show, Budai Nation! Your go-to podcast for all things e-commerce—where we bring you actionable strategies, inspiring founder stories, and fresh insights to grow your DTC brand. I’m your host, Daniel Budai, and as always, I want to remind you to subscribe to the show and share it with at least one friend if you enjoy what you hear. We don’t run ads—our growth is 100% organic, and your support means the world. 🌱


In this episode, I’m joined by Brandon Kim, one of the co-founders of Brevite, a New York-based backpack brand that’s redefining functional, stylish, and surprisingly affordable carry gear. Started as a dorm room project in 2015 with his two brothers, Brevite has grown into a beloved DTC brand with the largest online following of any backpack brand—and it’s still bootstrapped!


Tune in to hear more about:


👉The Kickstarter launch that raised $38K and helped kick off the brand

👉How Brevite found product-market fit and grew organically through reinvested cash flow

👉The shift from side hustle to full-time business and the importance of staying “close to the problem”

👉Insights on Meta and Google ads, organic marketing, and why influencer marketing didn’t scale for them

👉Brandon’s thoughts on expanding into traditional retail and corporate gifting with clients like Apple and Red Bull

👉Their approach to email and SMS marketing—and why many brands are still under-utilizing it

👉The process behind creating award-winning products, including their time spent in Vietnam learning directly from factory craftsmen

👉A lean, creative-first team structure and the pros and cons of agencies vs. in-house talent

👉Brandon’s #1 piece of advice for new founders: stay close to the problem


🛒 Check out Brevite’s backpacks and accessories at https://brevite.co/


Before you go, we've got a special resource for you – the ‘Top 100 High-Converting Emails of Budai Media.’ This guide is a goldmine for anyone looking to boost their e-commerce marketing game. Click the link in the description to download it!


https://www.thebudaimedia.com/top100-emails


Find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/budaidaney/


Find me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKtHC2ojO_7mhMHXQ-qZcHQ


Subscribe to my weekly newsletter packed with the latest e-commerce buzz: https://www.thebudaimedia.com/weekly-newsletter-signup


Click on the link below to learn more about us:


https://www.thebudaimedia.com/


Check out some previous episodes: https://www.thebudaimedia.com/podcast


Thanks for tuning in!


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