# Osprey Packs: Mike Pfotenhauer

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-02-20
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer

## Summary

Mike Pfotenhauer, founder of Osprey Packs, explains how he grew a bespoke backpack business in Santa Cruz into a global brand, eventually selling to Helen of Troy for over $400 million. He details the critical decision to move manufacturing from Santa Cruz to Dolores, Colorado, to access skilled Navajo sewers, and later to Asia to meet scale. Pfotenhauer emphasizes his focus on anatomic design and the strategic choice to keep prototyping and design in-house to maintain product identity while leveraging offshore production.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=0) Introduction: Mike Pfotenhauer and Osprey Packs
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=271) Early Life, Art, and Custom Backpacks in Santa Cruz
- [18:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=1129) Transition to Wholesale and the Colorado Move
- [26:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=1600) Manufacturing in Dolores, Colorado with Navajo Craftsmen
- [39:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=2344) Moving Production to Korea and Vietnam
- [46:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=2775) Scaling with REI and Maintaining Design Control
- [51:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=3067) Intellectual Property Strategy and Product Focus
- [55:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-20-osprey-packs-mike-pfotenhauer#t=3304) Sale to Helen of Troy and Retirement

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Osprey Packs (product)
- Helen of Troy (company)
- Hydroflask (product)
- Oxo Kitchen Tools (product)
- Patagonia (company)
- North Face (company)
- Columbia (company)
- REI (company)
- Time magazine (other)

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- [240 - The Mark Howley/Flex Pack Show!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-01-19-240-the-mark-howley-flex-pack-show) (People of Packaging)
- [180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-09-180-made-in-missouri-live-from-the-2024-midwest-manufacturers-trade-show-confere) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-14-044-turning-customizable-jackets-into-a-multi-million-dollar-business-elyse-dani) (Product Startup)
- [339 - Beyond the Dieline ep 1 with Tom Seymour and Jessica Kwon from Moka Energy!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-02-05-339-beyond-the-dieline-ep-1-with-tom-seymour-and-jessica-kwon-from-moka-energy) (People of Packaging)

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