The Backpack Blog

Have you ever wanted to get a hold of products you just can’t find in the US? Maybe it is that authentic Iranian spice you would love to cook with, or perhaps it is that hand-stitched Vietnamese formal gown you admired when you went to Hanoi. Maybe you want some hand carved Greek vases to class up your fraternity’s house, or you are looking for a microbrew beer only available in one region in China. Or maybe you want to make a little money by helping others obtain the things they want from overseas. Backpack can help you address any of these desires.

The world is a huge and diverse place, and the recent tech startup backpack lets you take advantage of that diversity by putting the global market directly at your fingertips – without a ridiculous cost increase. Members of Backpack’s global network can take one of two roles: buyers, who are people who want products from overseas, and travelers, who transport those products and make a bit of money out of the deal. By connecting with one of Backpack’s ever-growing network of international travelers, you can find someone to bring your favorite products from overseas to you. The traveler may charge you a small fee as a compensation for luggage space and the effort it took to find the product, but it is certainly worth having your favorite products from anywhere in the world.

In many cases, products are manufactured overseas and are available for less money in their country of origin than in the US. This is another reason to utilize Backpack’s network: you can get foreign-produced products for a lower price than they are sold for domestically. Once again, the traveler will charge a small fee, but it will definitely be less than the money you are saving by getting the product for the overseas price.

The fees received by travelers delivering backpack products provide the opportunity to make international travel more cost-feasible. By joining Backpack’s network of travelers and arranging to bring items overseas to people at your destination, one can earn some money to offset the cost of an international air ticket.

University of Miami’s extremely high percentage of students living off campus makes Backpack an especially useful tool, because easy and affordable access to products from all over the world means a greatly increased selection in interior decorating options. Ugandan tribal masks or Spanish tapestries to hang on your wall may be a great way for you to express your heritage, or simply create an interesting atmosphere, in your living space.