Hey friends, Malcolm here.
I’m back to work after an epic three week trip to New Zealand to kick off the new year (for more on that and how we packed, skip to the PS). I wanted to share my excitement around what’s to come –– I haven’t felt this excited about the future of Pakt since our crowdfunding launch 6 years ago.
The pandemic travel and supply chain disruption hit us hard for a couple years, but 2023 will now be known as the year we got back on our feet, and back in our groove.
In 2022, the team and I decided it was time to shake things up with a plan for a big regrouping that we termed ‘Pakt 2.0’. It’s still underway, but we managed to implement a lot of the updated vision in 2023:
- We updated every product in our line for a more cohesive aesthetic, and expanded our core travel-centered offering to everyday uses.
- Environmental and social responsibility efforts are our North Star. We pulled back from 3rd party organizations that had spread us too thin, and doubled down on internal efforts like launching new programs to keep Pakt bags traveling longer – including repairs and a used gear marketplace.
- We also made a big push to return to our roots as a community-lead company – we originally launched by request, so we owe everything to you. Two-way communication and using your input to guide what we do has always been our MO.
Any big change comes with a sizable dose of anxiety, and when you find it was the right move, that anxiety turns to relief and then celebration. That’s how we entered this new year. Your support, messages, and product reviews gave this little 7 person Pakt team the validation that a year and a half of work on Pakt 2.0 was all worth it.
Normally ‘more of the same’ isn’t a positive thing, but in this case I think it is. A lot of our 2.0 efforts were about applying the ‘less is more’ mantra, to focus all our energy on the few things that felt true to us and the brand. Now we have validation that it was the right move, and I’m very excited to pour more energy into this narrowed focus to give you more of what you come to Pakt for.
Expect some new products that help you get the most out of your travels. Expect more invitations to share your thoughts and give input, or connect with other like-minded travelers in the Pakt community. Expect more improvements to our supply chain to further reduce our impact, produce less waste, and keep more stuff out of landfills. Expect more Pakt.
2024, here we come!
Thanks for joining the adventure,
– Malcolm and the Pakt Team
