don't carry baggage

You need your baggage to move around. So here's all the dope on the Luggage Industry of India. The category is divided into hard luggage and soft luggage (now, don't ask me the difference). Soft luggage is slowly gaining grounds. Top branded players include VIP (Alpha and Aristocrat are part of VIP Industries), Safari, Samsonite (American Tourister is a part of Samsonite) and Witco. Hidesign is one Indian player who is giving a tough competition to other foreign luxury players like Giordano, Delsey, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. And they are all making a beeline to woe Indian consumers.

Factors that seem to push this industry are low cost air travel and multiple vacation in a year. Rise in business travel and frequent women fliers are setting new trends.

• The size of the organised luggage market in India is pegged at Rs. 800 crore
• The market is growing at 20% y-o-y
• The grey market is estimated to be another Rs. 800 crore
• The market is witnessing 70% offtake in soft luggage

With varied traveller needs, luggage companies are now providing toilet kit holders, garment hangers, laundry bags, shoe bags and expandable bags. Value addition huh. Well, this is indeed a growing market and companies are indeed adapting fast to keep up.

Source: The Economic Times.

Well, don't carry baggage, carry soft luggage. Call the porter...