No luggage rack in your hotel room? With its patent-pending leg system, PROPS is the perfect stand-in.
Industry First Has Legs
A case that can stand in as a work surface, luggage rack or dining tray? Meet PROPS® the first carry-on with folding legs. The sturdy patent-pending leg system opens to keep the bag up off the floor in a hotel room or provide a place to balance a laptop or coffee cup. Lightweight and durable, with a polycarbonate hardshell, the case also features smooth dual-spinner wheels with ball bearings; a unique, top-lid opening that maximizes packing space; a powerful interior compression packing system; adjustable 3-stage telescopic handle; and top, side and bottom carry handles. Additionally, the case offers an expansion zipper for increased space, TSA-accepted integrated combination lock and YKK zippers. It is available in midnight, graphite, ice and ivory. MSRP: $350. For more information and to watch a descriptive animation, visit www.propsluggage.com. Sales contact: Maggie Gerth, mdgerth@propsluggage.com.
TUCCI Italy’s LA GITA Spinner Hard Side Rolling Suitcase Collection lets adventurers travel the world in style.Posted on May 30, 2023
Convo-Starter Collection
Showing off modern, contemporary lines, the three-piece LA GITA Spinner Hard Side Rolling Suitcase Collection by TUCCI Italy shines in ABS hardshell. Designed in Italy, the expandable cases are flexible, durable and lightweight, and feature a deep brushed, anti-scratch texture, deluxe interior and built-in combination lock. The soft wheels and detachable handle make it easy to haul. MSRP: $339.98/20”; $399.98/26”; $479.98/30”; $1,200/set. For more information, visit www.tucci-italy.com. Sales contact: Jessica Oviedo, jessica.o@titaniotech.com, 289-326-4511.
Posted on May 10, 2023
GOpure’s easy-to-use Pods are fast-acting, too, taking only two minutes to fully activate inside water and help keep your reusable water bottle clean.
Bye-Bye Nasties. Hello Pure Water.
GOpure water purifiers are highly porous ceramic Pods made from diatomaceous earth, aka “nature’s filter,” and elemental silver. Tiny but mighty, the portable Pods act as a magnet to adsorb impurities and release valuable trace minerals, eliminating harmful contaminants like chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, bacteria and lead from tap water. Just drop in, fill up, drink up and refill again and again. With the GOpure Pod, travelers can enjoy safe, pure and delicious tap water anywhere they go. Each Pod keeps two thousand plastic bottles from harming the Earth and each has a life span of six months. Green-minded travelers can send back their Pod to GOpure for recycling. MSRP: $56.95 (includes two Pods). For more information, visit www.gopurepod.com. Sales contact: Jim Smith, jim@blocenterprises.com, 914-672-7991.
Posted on May 9, 2023
The Ries Essential just may be the only travel-size bottle you’ll ever need.
Break Up with Single-Use Plastics
Bring all your beauty and grooming favorites and breeze through TSA when they’re contained in a RiesEssential Travel Bottle. Available in two sizes — the original 3.4-oz bottle that gives travelers the freedom to travel like a pro on longer journeys and a 1.7-oz Weekender, perfect for shorter trips or to maximize bag space — the silicone-free containers have a generous opening for easy refill and rinsing and a leak-tight dual locking system. Choose from seven pre-labeled options for filling bottles with lotions, creams, gels and soaps. The washable and dishwasher-safe bottles are TSA accepted. MSRP: $18. For more information, visit www.ries-ries.com. Sales contact: Megan Graham, megan@ries-ries.com.
Pelican’s 1595 Air case keeps valued possessions safe, while remaining portable and easier to transport.
Posted on May 4, 2023
Not Too Small. Not Too Large. Just Right.
Pelican™ launches the 1595 Air case in a new size (larger than the 1535 Air carry-on case and smaller than the 1615 Air check-in case) that is ideal for when travelers need larger-than-carry-on, but without the unnecessary weight. Measuring 28” x 18” x 9.5”, the 1595 is superlight in proprietary HPX²™ Polymer as well as waterproof, crushproof and dustproof. It features an automatic pressure equalization valve, Press & Pull™ latches, a retractable extension trolley handle, fold-down over-molded handle, quiet stainless-steel ball bearing wheels and business card holder. It is available with and without foam and with Pelican’s exclusive TrekPak™ divider system. MSRP: $340-$537. For more information, visit www.pelican.com. Sales contact: Gary Maupus, gary.maupas@pelican.com, 508-533-6245.
Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Carry-On Rolling Garment Bag has been sizer bin-tested to accommodate overhead bin space on most major U.S. airlines.
Posted on April 25, 2023
Arrive Looking Polished and Freshly Pressed
Travelpro’s® Platinum® Elite Carry-On Rolling Garment Bag is designed for wrinkle-free garment packing with a fold-out extension panel and padded roll bar to accommodate hanging suits, dresses and shirts. Featuring a well-appointed interior with built-in pockets for organized storage of folded clothes, undergarments, accessories and more, the bag is crafted for durability with premium fabric accented with leather trim and chrome touches. Inline ball bearing wheels glide smoothly along and the patented adjustable PowerScope handle accommodates different heights. MSRP: $379.99. For more information, visit www.travelpro.com. Sales contact: Brooke Guldin, bguldin@Travelpro.com.
Make sure your lifeline is protected as you explore nature’s playground with Pelican’s Marine Waterproof Floating Pouch.
Posted on April 25, 2023
Must-Have Excursion Accessory
The Pelican™ Marine Waterproof Floating Pouch is built to get your phone and valuables through whatever you get into. Rated for underwater submersion, the pouch features built-in air cushions to provide buoyancy and for easier phone retrieval. A clear window allows the phone to be used while inside the pouch and a detachable lanyard helps keep the phone secure. In black/hi-vis yellow, the pouch is easy to use and compatible with most smartphones. MSRP: from $24.99. For more information, visit www.pelicanoutdoor.com. Sales contact: Gary Maupas, gary.maupas@pelican.com.
Posted on April 25, 2023
Looking for something special to treat yourself? The blog, Consumer Queen, puts the spotlight on MOOV®’s Makeup Pouch Organizer Bag.
MOOV Bag a Recommended Spring Product
MOOV®’s Makeup Pouch Organizer Bag was a recommended product in the roundup article, “Spring Must Haves — The Best Gifts for Every Budget,” published March 31, 2023, on Melissa Garcia’s blog, Consumer Queen. Calling the item “the perfect addition to MOOV’s Balance Convertible Bag, your travel bag or any tote, purse or backpack,” the article gives a shout-out to the bag’s indestructible clear plastic sheet that allows users to see the contents within and its quick-change versatility from organizer bag to stand-alone clutch. For more information, visit www.moovforward.com.
For travelers seeking more luggage space but don’t want to go too big, Monos’ Check-In Medium is the perfect midsize case.
Posted on April 25, 2023
Smartly Dressed Luggage/Secure Belongings
Slick and sturdy in aerospace-grade, water-resistant German polycarbonate hardshell, Monos’Check-In Mediumis outfitted with high performance, whisper-soft 360° spinner wheels and an adjustable telescopic handle with four height settings. It offers luxuriously soft 350D anti-microbial interior fabric, ultra-microfiber vegan leather details and color-coordinated YKK reverse coil zippers. An ideal companion to Monos’ award-winning Carry-On, which nests inside for easy storage, the case features an integrated TSA-accepted combination lock and dual Y-shaped compression straps and divider for interior organization and includes an antimicrobial laundry bag and two shoe bags. MSRP: $325. For more information, visit www.monos.com. Sales contact: hello@monos.com.
Posted on March 27, 2023
Handzies Soap + Water Wipes are squeaky clean goodness on the go.
Say Goodbye to Harsh Hand Sanitizers
Get a soap-and-water clean anytime, anywhere with Handzies™ Soap + Water Wipes. Individually packaged and perfect for on the go, the wipes give you fresh, clean hands using only natural castile soap, water and essential oils. Handzies do not contain alcohol, BZK, triclosan, artificial perfumes or dyes, and are a safe, simple and natural way to get cleaned on the go — and gentle for use by every member of the family. Stow some in carry-on, laptop bag, purse or backpack while traveling for a quick refresh or clean-up. MSRP: from $7.99. For more information, visit www.handzies.com. Sales contact: Karen Trenk, karen@handzies.com, 512-964-4474.
The TOPTOTE hat clip accessory by Lindsay Albanese is the best thing to happen to hats since the hatbox.
Posted on March 27, 2023
Haute Hat Clip
Travel hands free even when packing along a hat. TOPTOTE by Lindsay Albanese is a patented hat holder that easily clips to tote, luggage, carry-on — you name it — and securely holds a hat in place with two high-powered magnets. Fun, fashionable and functional, this accessory comes in a variety of styles, colors and fabrics, including leather, faux leather and denim — from the original Luggage Tag to the raffia-trimmed Fray for the beach vacay to the bestselling classic Drop, designed for the everyday hat wearer. MSRP: $48-$79. For more information, visit www.fileist.com. Sales contact: Michelle, wholesale@LindsayAlbanese.com.
Travelers can be lint free wherever and whenever they travel with the award-winning Flint Travel Lint Roller.Posted on March 17, 2023
One Cool Roll
Finished with “soft touch” for a super smooth feel, Flint’sClassic Travel Lint Rollers effortlessly combine function and style with bright pop colors. Each Flint comes with a refillable 30-sheet Flint refill. Sized a slim and compact 5.25” x 1.5”, the retractable, refillable cases come in navy, light blue, purple, pink, yellow and green. Easy-to-use rollers simply twist to extend the roller to twice its length and close by pushing down on the cap. MSRP: $9.99. Anthology and Metallic Collections featuring designer colors and patterns are also available. MSRP: $10.99/roller. For more information, visit www.meetflint.com. Sales contact: support@meetflint.com, 800-270-6394.
Company News
Handcrafted in the USA, MOOV’s Balance-X Convertible Bag in Vegan Leather is versatile and chic.
Posted on May 4, 2023
MOOV Grabs Some High-Profile Ink
Is it possible for small companies to catch the attention of big media? MOOV® just learned that it definitely is. Forbes Magazine featured MOOV and its Balance-X Convertible Bag in Vegan Leather in its 2023 Mother’s Day Gift Guide, “The Top Vegan Backpacks For Travelers,” by Robin Raven. Raven extolled the bag’s virtues for empowering traveling moms, calling out the bag’s built-in checklist and labeling system that helps keep moms organized. The bag is equally at home as a stylish alternative to diaper bags for moms and a business bag for Lady Boss. Read Forbes’ coverage here. For more information, visit www.moovforward.com.
Posted on April 28, 2023
Ricardo’s Rodeo Drive 2.0 Collection is crafted with a premium travel experience in mind.
‘So, We Never Travel Light’
Ten wheeled cases from Ricardo Beverly Hills’ sleek new Rodeo Drive 2.0 Collection in silver lilac traveled to Europe this month with celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart. Stewart, whose Insta tag is “red carpet stylist with too many suitcases living in Los Angeles,” counts Julia Roberts and Cate Blanchett among her clients. She had filled the cases to the brim with designer clothing and shoes for her actress clients to wear in Europe — with no worries of going over the airline’s weight limit. “We used all matching luggage so we can keep track of it easily,” Stewart posted, “And the most important point is we choose suitcases that are very LIGHT.”
Collection cases feature an extra-generous packing area and well-organized interior, plus a nearly indestructible Makrolon® by Covestro polycarbonate exterior and a Travel Sentry®-recognized combination lock — so important when transporting celebrity couture. Watch the cases being uploaded in this Insta video, which garnered more than 800 views and comments.
Posted on March 17, 2023
YKK Awarded CDP’s Highest Rating
Solving complex fastening and attaching challenges and now leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: This is YKK’s “solutions-first” approach. Shown is YKK’s NATULON® Ocean Sourced® zipper.
YKK® Corporation has been selected as a “Supplier Engagement Leader,” the highest score on the 2022 Supplier Engagement Report (SER), from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), considered the gold standard of environmental reporting. This is the first time YKK has received this recognition.
CDP’s annual Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) assesses how effectively companies engage with their suppliers on climate change issues, covering governance, targets, value chain (scope 3) emissions and supplier engagement strategies, and factors in the company’s climate score.
This recognition places YKK in the top eight percent of companies evaluated for supplier outreach on climate change. It demonstrates that YKK’s governance, targets, and initiatives to collaborate with suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the YKK supply chain, constitute efforts befitting a global leader.
YKK Corporation’s sustainability goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. YKK is working on five themes — climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management, respect for people — and 10 SDGs goals related to each of these, and each year reports on its state of progress in the YKK Integrated Report, “This is YKK.”
Posted on March 17, 2023
Luggage Innovator Marks the Big 3-0
Briggs & Riley celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023 with new product launches and celebratory offers, including the introduction of a limited-edition Plum color as part of the company’s Baseline Collection in April and a refreshed blue color — ocean — for its ZDX Collection in June.
“Innovation has always been the heart of our company,” said CEO Richard Krulik. “We have continued to lead the way since our parent company, United States Luggage, introduced the world’s first wheeled bag in 1971, and we remain dedicated to crafting innovative, performance-driven travel products.”
Some highlights from Briggs & Riley’s three decades:
Patented innovations including the CX expansion-compression® system and Outsider® handle
The only luggage company to offer an unconditional lifetime guarantee
First of its kind to partner with JetBlue Travel Products to launch the first retail offering on Paisly® that allows customers to earn TrueBlue Points on luggage purchases
A Case for Giving annual luggage trade-in program with owners receiving credit toward their next Briggs & Riley purchase and local charities receiving the luggage (and keeping it out of landfills)
30 Days of Giving campaign honoring the 30th anniversary in partnership with Comfort Cases, a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire communities to bring dignity and hope to youth entering foster care
Throughout the year, Briggs & Riley will continue to celebrate its anniversary with web-based consumer events, buzz-worthy industry events and additional new product launches. For more information, visit www.briggs-riley.com.
Milestones
Posted on March 17, 2023
Industry Loses ‘Legend’
Harold Bauer
Harold Joe Bauer, founder of the ROYCE brand, passed away on March 13, 2023, in Neptune, NJ, following a long battle with many challenging health issues. He was 75 years old.
Born in Manhattan, NY, on July 30, 1947, to Holocaust survivors Eugene and Gusti Bauer, Harold was a record-holding track star at both Forest Hills High School and St. John’s University. He was an entrepreneur from an early age, including scaling his father’s gifting business to unprecedented heights. To his family, he was always known as Harry; in his later years, he earned the nickname, “The Legend.”
He founded the ROYCE brand in 1974 and, for 50 years, devoted his life to growing the ROYCE brand, mentoring employees and ultimately partnering with his wife, Kathy, and sons, Billy and Andy, in the business. Known for his knack for “styling,” many of Harold’s signature wallets, bags and travel accessories continue to be bestsellers in luxury department stores across the world.
Harold is survived by his wife, Kathy; his children, Andy; Billy and his wife, Joanna; Celine and her husband, Steven; his grandchildren, Brandon and Brianna; and his loyal guardian and protector, his labradoodle named Royce.
In addition to establishing an enduring leather tradition, Harold leaves a legacy of generosity of time and philanthropy.
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