User Success Story | Rugged Material
Tell us about the spirit behind Rugged Material.
We are patriots, we are a little rebellious, we obsess over quality craftsmanship and we have fun doing it. I started Rugged Material because I wholeheartedly believe that the world would be a better place if products lasted longer and worked better. I also believe that the traditional retail sales model is no longer worth the expense to the customer.
We deliver exceptional value to our customer by making top notch products that are sold direct to the consumer with no middle man jacking up the prices. Before the internet came along, people needed a middle man to get things distributed but at Rugged Material, we have found a better way by leveraging the tools and reach of the web to cut costs, elevate quality and personally interact with our customers.
Rugged Material is proudly Made in America. What pushed you in that direction?
There are 3 main reasons for our US manufacturing.
1. I think small businesses have more power to do good in the world than people realize. I love the community we live in and want to give back. When one manufacturing job is created, 3 more jobs are created in the local community due to the added cash flow in the economy and need for support to the manufacturer. That multiplies fast!
2. The 2nd reason for making our products in the same building as the rest of our departments is quality control and progress. I can’t imagine trusting other people to consistently produce things at the level that we do. Also, if we find a problem, it can be changed immediately instead of us finding out about the issue months after the entire production run is completed.
3. We are here to prove to people in all industries that it doesn’t cost too much to make things in America if you sell direct to consumer.
With such beautiful products—from messenger & dopp bags to wallets and roll top backpacks—is it possible to have a favorite?
The Classic Leather Messenger bag is my favorite. It is our toughest and prettiest product. It represents a lot of design/production progress to me and I love how when we finish a batch of them the entire building is enveloped by the smell of top shelf leather!
How has ShipStation helped you with your business?
ShipStation was a game changer for Rugged Material because it allowed us to bring our website, Etsy, Amazon, and private label orders all to one place. The time we save with ShipStation translated immediately into increased profits and more efficient processes. I have turned a lot of people onto ShipStation and it never disappoints.
What’s your favorite ShipStation feature?
We love the integration with our website and Amazon that allows us to control all our shipments from one place and fulfill website orders with inventory held at Amazon.
