US travel goods sales hit record high in 2006
According to a new report from the US Travel Goods Association (TGA), sales of travel goods—defined as luggage, backpacks, travel/sports bags, business cases/computer bags, handbags, personal leather goods and luggage locks—in the
The improved sales were said to be driven by both increased travel and by the fact that travel goods such as totes, backpacks, handbags and business cases are becoming a part of everyday life.
"Because consumers now buy travel goods because they 'need' them, they are focusing on new, functional, innovative and stylish products rather than simply comparing costs. This should lead to stabilising prices after years of deflation, and since it looks like the consumers' appetite for well-designed, original and fashionable travel goods shows no signs of abating, 2007 should be another great year for the industry," stated Michele Marini Pittenger, president of TGA.
In terms of individual categories, luggage sales faced new pressures as consumers continued to opt for less traditional travel goods such as business cases/computer bags, travel/sports bags and backpacks for travelling.
While TGA estimates that the unit volume of luggage sold in the
