Company case study
Tertuga Direct to Consumer Backpack
Tertuga Direct to Consumer Backpack is a brand that produces and sells backpacks designed for travelers. It came up on The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper, in the episode "690: 9 Ways to Get Money to Start Your Side Hustle" (aired August 11, 2025).
At a glance
| Podcast | The Side Hustle Show |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Nick Loper |
| Episode | 690: 9 Ways to Get Money to Start Your Side Hustle |
| Aired | August 11, 2025 |
| Revenue and traction | They financed initial production runs through loans and their own contributions, with a focus on generating sales to pay off those loans. |
| Category | E-commerce |
Figures and claims are as told on the episode, summarized from the transcript. Check the date: they describe the company at the time it aired.
What the episode said
690: 9 Ways to Get Money to Start Your Side Hustle · aired August 11, 2025 · hosted by Nick Loper
Why it works
Their success came from securing small production runs through loans and identifying a market need for travel backpacks.
Founding story
The founders, Michael Cohen and Fred Perotta, leveraged a loan from the George Free Loan Association and a small loan from Lending Club to kickstart their production.
The playbook
They used a combination of loans, personal investment, and strategic sourcing to get their first products to market.
Also mentioned
The brand has been successful in the travel market, with a loyal customer base.
Why this works now (our analysis)
Shopify's payment processing features enable Tertuga to streamline transactions for their direct-to-consumer backpack sales. The founders initially secured revenue by leveraging niche travel forums, such as r/TravelGear, to promote their products and connect with potential buyers. A significant risk for Tertuga is the reliance on loans for initial production, which creates pressure to generate sufficient sales to cover debt obligations within a short timeframe.