Ep 368 | Kim Vaccarella

Written By Yasmin Nouri

How This Founder Left a 26-Year Career, Used Her Kids’ College Fund & Built Bogg Bag Into a $100M Household Brand

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Kim Vaccarella is the founder and CEO of Bogg Bag, the durable, washable, and colorful tote designed to carry it all with ease, from beach days to everyday adventures.

Kim’s journey to building Bogg Bag was anything but linear. A mom of two with a full-time job, she sketched the idea for a sturdier beach tote after one too many sandy, soggy days at the shore. Turning that sketch into reality meant dipping into her children’s college savings, navigating failed prototypes, and surviving a shipment disaster that nearly sank the company. She pitched the concept to investors, auditioned for Shark Tank four times, and kept going even when the odds looked impossible. For nearly a decade, Kim built Bogg slowly and steadily on the side, determined to protect her vision and move at her own pace. That persistence paid off. Today, Bogg Bag is a thriving $100 million brand carried in major retailers like Nordstrom, Target, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, with millions of bags in the hands of customers across the country.

In this week’s episode, Kim gets super detailed about the many ups and downs on bringing this business to life - from the risks she took to place her first big order, the moments she nearly walked away, and the lessons she learned about patience, resilience, and staying true to her path. We talk about the turning points that defined her journey—from manufacturing challenges and early rejections to grassroots growth and viral moments, and the leap of faith she took when she left her 26-year career to focus on Bogg full time. Kim also shares why she ultimately turned down a massive nine figure acquisition offer and what it means to build a business on your own timeline. If you’ve ever doubted your pace or questioned your path, Kim’s story proves that slow growth can be just as powerful.

Show Notes:

  • Why slow and steady growth builds sustainable businesses. [02:27]

  • Kim’s childhood, early hustle, and drive for financial independence. [07:31]

  • How a beach day sparked the idea for Bogg Bag. [10:14]

  • Patent struggles, early prototypes, and industry rejections. [17:16]

  • Selling the first 300 bags and the validation that kept her going. [19:22]

  • Funding the first batches through savings and family support. [20:50]

  • Manufacturing disaster, Hurricane Sandy, and community support. [23:11] 

  • Factory challenges and key lessons. [29:15]

  • Finding the right long-term manufacturing partner. [32:57]

  • Auditioning for Shark Tank four times. [36:09]

  • Raising her first $120K from trusted connections. [37:15]

  • Trade shows, grassroots growth, and building relationships. [38:12]

  • Leaving her 26-year career to focus on Bogg Bag full-time. [41:20]

  • The million-dollar sales milestone and early COVID pivots. [42:12]

  • Going viral with Peloton moms and word-of-mouth. [44:25]

  • Breaking into major retailers. [49:26]

  • Why Kim turned down a $100M acquisition deal. [53:18]

  • Choosing the right partners and maintaining control. [54:07]

  • How Kim navigates imitators, copycats, and fierce competition. [59:25]

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Ep 367 | Dr. Stacy Sims