With a unique bag system for photographers, the Sundsvall-based company CRDBAG has achieved great success in a short time. With stylish design and the right marketing, the company has managed to turn its customers into fans. Now CRDBAG is looking to break new ground.
- "Maybe next year our bags will say 'wrench' or 'screwdrivers' instead of 'camera'," says co-founder Mathias Näslund with a laugh.
CRDBAG, pronounced cordbag, was founded three years ago with a clear idea: the need for better storage and organization of camera gear. The founders themselves have a background in film, and had a clear vision right from the start.
- "The most surprising thing is probably that the business plan we set up has actually held up," says CEO Mathias Näslund, who, together with partners Andreas Näslund and Rasmus Åhrberg, has seen turnover grow from SEK 2.7 million in 2022 to around SEK 10 million in 2023.
So what's the secret? Mathias Näslund believes that the company's close contact with customers, who follow CRDBAG mainly via Instagram, has contributed greatly to creating interest and loyalty. An important detail in this context is the Velcro tags in bright colors that CRDBAG offers to mark the contents of the bags. People love them, as evidenced by the fact that CRDBAG has also launched a cap where the tags can be attached.
But customers don't become fans without a great product. Through rapid product development and attendance at international trade fairs, CRDBAG has gained customers all over the world, and in the last year the company has gone from just selling online to working with retailers.
- It's the retailers who have contacted us after seeing the demand. For example, we have started selling through B&H Photo Video, one of the world's largest photo chains, and we recently got a reseller in Japan," says Mathias.
Now more industries are taking notice of the CRDBAGS storage system, which consists of a whole family of bags and pouches for keeping things organized. In the New Business area, CRDBAG is working to develop this business.
- Government agencies and industrial companies, among others, use the bag and accessories. They have exactly the same challenges - too many gadgets in a single large bag, a need to sort and label the stuff. We see a huge potential there," says Mathias.
In parallel with the physical products, an app is also being developed that, with the help of NFC chips, will be able to scan the contents of a bag and allow the user to tick off a checklist that everything is included. The idea is to launch the app in early 2024.
CRDBAG became part of BizMaker's incubator program, which supports early-stage companies from Västernorrland with business development. There, Mathias and the co-founders received help with, among other things, their business plan and legal aspects of starting a company together.
- BizMaker helped us a lot with things that you may not think are very fun when you are in the middle of product development and want to start selling. "Make sure you manage this right away, and you'll have a lot of free stuff later on", was the message, and that's really been the case", Mathias concludes.
Contact
Mathias Näslund, CEO
mathias(@)crdbag.com, 070 779 45 48
