Business Traveler, July/August 2020

J U LY A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m 3 3 T H E G O O D L I F E W ith global travel at an all time low luggage was bound to follow Brands such as Away and Samsonite continue to reel in the wake of the damage wrought by the novel coronavirus as travel bookings saw a near 90 percent plunge However those in the know also know that good luggage does not go out of fashion Well made travel accessories can outlast pandemics recessions shut downs and delays and will be ready to roll with stylish ease and inventive efficiency once the going gets going again At the 2020 Travel Goods conference held in the pre pandemic days of March the luggage innovations were out in force offering solutions to travelers who at the time were traveling more than ever and needing convenient answers from the luxury end as well as the everyday luggage lines Whereas in past years the conference was dominated by smart luggage embedded with trackers chargers and drivers that turned bags into handsfree rollies that follow owners around the airport and other bags that would morph into small transport vehicles with seats this years lot proved to be lower key The focus was one of usability and functionality rather than splash which proved to be a good move as the country state by state began to shut down We definitely have seen a hit in sales but luckily we offer everyday bags and goods and that has made it easier for us to stay afloat said Jacob Durham co founder and CEO of Nomatic a boutique line of smart looking travel packs camera bags and roll on luggage in the midpriced range Our mission since we launched in 2014 has been simple function innovation and quality and that has kept us going The company backs that up with a no questions asked exchange for any defects and also with an affordable three year extended warranty that allows easy exchanges for any damage a customer might do to a bag for what basically amounts to the cost of a scone and latte at Starbucks While the company is doing business online and partnering with such companies as Best Buy for distribution Durham says he sees a shift for this year although he remains confident that travel will return with force and with it the joy of upgrading ones luggage Pre COVID our customers were traveling at least every month if not more But now as people are not yet comfortable getting on planes travel is shifting to car trips so investing in bags is not so much on peoples minds This will change especially as business travel comes back Then people will be looking for the right bags with the right look feel and weight with all the smart pockets in the right place he says At the travel goods show several interesting and innovative luggage options stood out from the crowd and could be seen as solutions toward smoothing the discomforts of travel whatever route that travel might be taking 1 GETSET The Problem You arrive at the check in counter at the airport with luggage in tow and prepare to check that bag in when the check in attendant tells you your bag is eight ounces over and you owe an extra 100 on that ticket Solution GetSet offers lightweight luggage in three sizes that weighs the bag you are packing as you go No airport surprises no inaccurate bathroom scale readouts or chaotic repacking scenes at the check in desk The bags come with an embedded scale and LED readouts in pounds kilos that can be viewed while packing is in progress The key differentiator from other self weighing luggage is the readout appears as you pack rather than after the process no need to close zip lift and weigh the bag and then re pack The bags come in an assortment of colors in carry on mini and large sizes The hard shell polycarbonate suitcase is fixed with plenty of extras A removable battery charging station an affixed TSA approved combination lock durable wheels easy grip telescoping luggage handles and a zippable internal clothing divider with storage compartments As an extra convenience the bag comes with a portable coffee tray that fits onto the luggage grip to hold that Starbucks and scone while waiting to board The bag rolls with perfect balance and even manages to maintain that balance when you place a second bag on top of it 1 People will be looking for the right bags with the right look feel and weight with all the smart pockets in the right place