Cameron Huber, a University of Oregon student and the founder of Bull and Stash, uses Kickstarter to see his idea for the perfect pocket journal become reality.
Huber came up with the idea when he read that if you wrote down all of your expenses in a journal it would keep you from spending money unnecessarily. After looking through journals like Moleskine he couldn’t find one that suited his needs. Thus, began the inception of a stylish and eco-friendly pocket journal — unlike others, the Bull and Stash notebooks can be re-used.
“I wanted to make a journal that people would be proud to carry around but could still function in an eco-friendly way,” said Huber.
The pages from the notebooks can be taken out and replaced with new ones so the paper can be recycled without throwing away the entire journal.
Huber wanted to focus on how wasteful notebooks are today. In order to get his idea off the ground, Huber turned to Kickstarter. In just 48 hours, the original goal of $11,000 was blown out of the water. Huber has been recognized globally, and the attention he gets from other designers pushes him to keep perfecting his work.
Bull and Stash is featured on the Chinese fashion blog Everydayobjects, which hopes to sell his product through its website. The blog mentions the tedious process of hoarding notebooks from years ago and claim Bull and Stash notebooks to be ideal. These shout-outs and reviews show just how high in demand Huber’s product is and how fast it is going.
Orders for journals have been coming in both from across the country and around the globe. Huber spoke to store owners in Portland and hopes to see his journals sold in stores like Powell’s and Hand Eye Supply.
“The great thing about raising money on Kickstarter is I will be able to buy the equipment I need to make the journals in my own studio,” Huber said.
This entrepreneur loves his product, but naturally wants to expand and make it better. He hopes to create an entity called “stash.” It would function as a place for the owner to keep his or her best or favorite notes. Instead of collecting multiple notebooks, the owner can continue to reuse one.
“It’s pretty great to think about people writing their ideas and thoughts in something that I created,” said Huber. “This journal is something that will last.”