ENTREPRENEUR feature: Maria Boustead of Po Campo
Maria Boustead founded Po Campo in 2009 when she couldn't find a stylish bag versatile enough to use for her biking commutes and carry with her throughout the day. Maria was clearly ahead of the curve, launching her business before protected bike lanes, and Citibike existed, and before social media and e-commerce were significant sales and marketing channels for her products. Nonetheless, she believed in her product and the future of biking as a major trend. Initially, Po Campo bags were primarily sold through small bike shops, and Maria diversified Po Campo's line adding yoga and travel bags to keep the business growing.
Po Campo's first chance to scale up came in 2015 when the bike-share systems swept the country. The demand for biking accessories grew, and Po Campo refocused the business on producing thoughtfully designed, thoroughly user-tested bike bags. The demand created the opportunity for Po Campo to move into bigger sportswear stores, including REI, the major player in the market. The company's online sales grew, and Maria created a community around the brand by starting an ambassador program. In 2019 Po Campo furthered its sustainability commitment by introducing a new fabric made out of 100% recycled water bottles.
Her perseverance has clearly paid off. Currently, nearly 2 million trips a day are taken by bike, up 25% from a year ago. Demand for Po Campo's products has surged. The company received a $50K investment at the beginning of this year, enabling Maria to build out her team and create her most versatile, sustainable line ever. The new 2020 collection features seven different, gender-neutral styles developed around the idea of "gear as mobile as you". This fall, the company has integrated reflectivity into its fabric for the Nightlights pattern, making it easier for drivers and pedestrians to see bikers in the dark.
Maria's story shows that belief in your mission and planning for the right moment can result in long-term results. When asked what the key to her success, Maria credits her team, finding a group of people who believe in their product and mission as much as she does. "A year ago, if you had asked me what Po Campo needed to grow to the next level, I would've said, "I need my dream team”. Yet I had no idea where they would come from; I couldn't offer a salary, let alone any benefits. But it turns out that a start-up with enough promise like Po Campo offers a different kind of compensation for the right person - the ability to have an early stake in building the category-defining brand for the micro-mobility movement".
her words:
“Being introduced to the amazing women of WEALF has been such a blessing! They have encouraged me every step of the way and have demonstrated their unwavering support in Po Campo through all its ups and downs. The team is always just a phone call away, at the ready to jump in with advising, encouragement, or funding ideas whenever you need them. Entrepreneurship can be an isolating experience, but much less so when you have WEALF on your side.”