In this episode of “What have I missed?”, Lina and Andy excitedly delve into Bellroy’s expansion of its travel offering, with the launch of a wheeled luggage line. 

The conversation kicks off with an exploration of Bellroy's journey, highlighting the brand's roots in designing slim wallets and evolving the range to include carry solutions of all kinds. They share insights of how Bellroy's design philosophies (around improving the way we carry) translate to travel, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly, durable, and contextually versatile bags that enhance the travel experience.

As the discussion unfolds, Lina and Andy articulate the challenges they have overcome in transitioning to luggage manufacturing, from ensuring product durability to designing for diverse travel environments. They reveal Bellroy's strategy of making user-replaceable components a key feature to prolong product life and promote sustainability.

The episode also takes a deeper look into the emotional aspects of travel and how Bellroy's design philosophy seeks to instill confidence and ease in travelers. Lina and Andy wrap up by highlighting the coordinated effort across teams to ensure a seamless launch, hinting at the anticipation of consumer feedback and learning outcomes from the product rollout.

• Bellroy's expansion into wheeled luggage is a strategic move to bring more comprehensive travel solutions to its renowned carry line, focusing on longevity and user experience.

• Two styles of luggage are being introduced: a hard-shell spinner and a soft-shell tipper, each designed for different travel needs.

• The brand emphasizes sustainability by ensuring major components are user-replaceable, minimizing the risk of the entire piece ending up in a landfill before its time.

• Bellroy aims to create a travel experience that maintains a balance of utility, security, and aesthetics, ensuring users feel confident and at ease.

• The launch of Bellroy’s luggage involved a new program-based management approach with multiple coordinated sub-projects across various teams to optimize the go-to-market strategy.

Stay tuned for updates on this exciting expansion and follow along as Bellroy continues to innovate in the travel and carry space. Listen to the full episode for a comprehensive breakdown of their strategic approach and the anticipated impacts on the market.

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In this episode, co-founders Lina and Andy explore the intricate theme of resilience within a business and its culture. They discuss the metaphor of ‘taking the stairs versus the elevator’ as a means to build strength within a business. The episode also revisits their foundational pillars of growth, profit and impact, and how these relate to the complexities of running a modern business such as Bellroy – in order to balance the significance of short-term profits, medium-term growth, and long-term impact.

The episode expands on strategic diversification across product categories, sales channels, and geographic markets to bolster resilience. They offer insights into prioritizing team dynamics, the importance of individuals within a collective environment, and maintaining agility in beliefs while anchoring fundamental values. 

Resources:

Related Episode: "Stairs vs. Elevator"

Have thoughts? We’d love your feedback – share it with us via [email protected]

Resonate with the way we do things? We’re always looking to recruit amazing people – check out our current openings.

In this episode, Andy and Lina explore consumer-product relationships, and how these have evolved over time. They discuss Bellroy's history of product design, reflecting on how the expectations and interactions with its products has shifted or changed over the years. 

It starts in the depths of historical context – discussing the evolution of product relationships from the Stone Age to the industrial revolution, and the existence of icons such as the Sony Walkman and the Hermes Kelly bag. Andy and Lina compare these examples to highlight the changing functional, personal, and social roles that products can play in our lives. They emphasise how important it is for us to understand these shifts in order to create products that resonate deeply with consumers.

As they move into the contemporary landscape, the discussion shifts to how Bellroy has addressed these shifts. They examine the impact of platforms like Kickstarter and trends such as fast fashion, exploring the benefits and pitfalls of these approaches. A significant portion of the conversation is devoted to the concept of fostering a dialogue rather than a monologue with consumers, encouraging a more dynamic and interactive relationship between consumer and product.

Have thoughts? We’d love your feedback – share it with us via [email protected]

Resonate with the way we do things? We’re always looking to recruit amazing people – check out our current openings.

Andy Fallshaw and Lina Calabria discuss the three elements that make up the culture at Bellroy: smart* people, good intentions, and getting shit done.

They explain that being smart* at Bellroy is not about IQ, but about how individuals process information and make decisions. Good intentions involve caring about things beyond oneself and finding goal alignment with the company's vision. Getting shit done means focusing on effectiveness over efficiency and making tangible progress towards meaningful goals together.

The hosts also emphasize the importance of creating an environment that nurtures and supports employees to thrive.

We are always looking to recruit amazing people - check out our careers page.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw discuss the concept of System One and System Two thinking, as introduced by Daniel Kahneman in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

They explain that System One thinking is fast, intuitive, and instinctive, while System Two is slow, deliberate, and analytical.

They emphasize the importance of using both modes of thinking and how they apply this concept in their company, Bellroy. They share examples of how they navigate decision-making and problem-solving using a blend of System One and System Two thinking.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Andy Fallshaw and Lina Calabria co founders of Bellroy, discuss the concept of quality and how it relates to their brand. They explain that while 'quality' is a word their customers use to describe their products, they never use it in marketing.

They believe that quality is a complex concept that is difficult to define and can be easily misunderstood. Instead, they focus on creating products that are fit for purpose and meet the needs of their customers. They also discuss the importance of considering the functional, social, and emotional aspects of a product when assessing its quality.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

In this episode of "What Have I Missed?" Andy Fallshaw and Lina Calabria discuss the importance of mental representations and frameworks in understanding and navigating the world.

They start by reading a quote from Anders Ericsson, a researcher in deliberate practice, who emphasizes the role of mental representations in achieving mastery in a field.

They explore the concept of a map vs territory, using the example of the London Underground map to illustrate how maps simplify and abstract reality. They also introduce the idea of "carry worlds," a model they have developed at Bellroy to understand different contexts of carrying and designing products accordingly. The conversation highlights the need for multiple mental models and the importance of knowing their limitations.

A few of the resources that were mentioned in this episode:

Anders Ericsson quote:

"What sets expert performers apart from everyone else is the quality and quantity of their mental representations. Through years of practice, they develop highly complex and sophisticated representations of the various situations they are likely to encounter in their fields. These representations allow them to make faster, more accurate decisions and respond more quickly and effectively in a given situation." - Anders Ericsson

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw discuss the concept of "dancing with tension" and the importance of holding discomfort, uncertainty, and opposing ideas. They use the analogy of a roofline to explain the value of staying on top and seeing both sides of an idea.

They also explore the idea of unifying goodness, where it's possible to find balance and harmony between contrasting elements. They emphasize the importance of time in understanding and navigating tension and how it can lead to transcending paradigms and finding new ways of thinking.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Andy Fallshaw and Lina Calabria discuss the analogy of "taking the stairs" versus "taking the elevator" when achieving success. They explain that while many people are drawn to quick and easy success, they believe in taking a slower, more deliberate approach.

They compare the elevator to the idea of instant success, where you simply press a button and arrive at your desired destination without much effort or control. In contrast, taking the stairs represents a more intentional and gradual journey towards success, where each step builds strength and understanding. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the process and controlling your path.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Lina Calabria and Andy Fallshaw, Co Founders of Bellroy, introduce their new podcast, "What Have I Missed?", which aims to recreate the experience of sitting around a lunch table and conversing about ideas and insights. They discuss their motivation behind starting the podcast, the need for more unpolished and raw discussions, and the desire to involve the Bellroy team and listeners in exploring various topics. 

Lina and Andy emphasize the importance of working on thinking, not just things, and express their intention to share half-formed ideas and engage in conversations that lead to clarity and action. They also mention the possibility of inviting guests and exploring different formats in the future.

We'd love your feedback, please get in touch with us at [email protected]