Travel Goods Association Releases State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market 2003-2015:
It Was a Good Year
(Princeton, NJ) Consumers bought more of some types of travel goods than others in 2015, but
no matter what they purchased they paid more, according to a new report released by the Travel
Goods Association (TGA). Travel goods include luggage, backpacks, travel/sports bags, business
cases/computer bags, handbags, totes/duffels, personal leather goods, and luggage locks. TGA
estimates that sales of travel goods hit a record in 2015 (an estimated $36.1 billion) with U.S.
consumers spending 13% more than the previous year.
“All-time low gas prices and an improving economy combined to create another great year for
the U.S. travel goods industry,” explains TGA President Michele Marini Pittenger. “Consumers
just felt better about buying travel goods in 2015 and we gave them good products to buy at
prices they were willing to pay.”
Rising supply chain costs continued to plague the industry in 2015, but the industry also
continued to demonstrate its resiliency by giving consumers the right product at the right price.
“In the face of rising costs,” continued Pittenger, “our industry employed innovation and supply
chain efficiencies to turn 2015 into another great year.”
Thanks to TGA’s success in pushing new trade legislation through Congress and advocating for
a strong trade deal, “the industry will have even more opportunities to reduce costs in 2016 and
beyond,” concluded Pittenger.
Here’s a quick look at how TGA estimates each of the major travel goods categories performed
in 2015.
Luggage
Record low gas prices propelled luggage sales in 2015. According to TGA estimates, 2015
luggage unit sales only grew 1.2% by volume, however they grew 2.4% by value. Consumers
were willing to pay more to get the right product as they traveled more often. As a result, 2015’s
average unit price for luggage increased 1.2%.
Backpacks
If sales of backpacks in 2015 are any indication, Americans continued to embrace the
casualization of the workplace, fashion and the great outdoors. Backpacks were the number one
choice of consumers to carry all of their gear, eating into sales of computer cases, business cases,
handbags, and personal leather goods. Unit sales of backpacks surged 22.3% by volume and
25.9% by value in 2015 as Americans bought a record-breaking 176.1 million backpacks
throughout the year. Reversing many years of price declines, the sales surge translated into
higher prices with unit prices growing 3.0% in 2015.
Page 1 of 2 Travel/Sports Bags
The travel/sports bag market grew 4.9% in 2015. Growth stemmed from an improving economy
as more and more companies returned to providing customers “freebies,” or promotional bags.
At the same time, consumers continued to gravitate towards the use of large totes and similar
bags for both work and pleasure. Sales by value rose 6.3% leading to a 1.3% increase in average
unit price in 2015.
Business Cases/Computer Bags
Unit sales of business cases and computer bags slid 12.3% in 2015 as consumers increasingly
looked to backpacks and other non-traditional travel goods for work. However, with the
economy continuing to improve, those who did buy chose utility and value over price. As a
result, the average unit price for business cases and computers bags increased 24.2% in 2015.
Handbags
Fashion backpack and large tote sales continued to eat away at handbag sales with those sales
falling 6.0% in 2015. However, unit sales by value surged 15.0%. Discerning consumers
increasingly chose better handbags that cost more, driving average unit prices 22.2% in 2015.
Despite stagnant sales, American women still bought 237.9 million handbags in 2015 or almost
two handbags, on average, for every female in the U.S. over the age of 14.
Personal Leather Goods
The slowdown in sales of smartphones and tablets, and the growth in sales of backpacks and
other items that have built-in protection for these items, translated into falling sales for the covers
that protect these expensive purchases. Sales by volume fell 4.3% in 2015. The saving grace was
not only the growing focus on these covers as the latest fashion accessory but also the growing
need of a quality cover that actually protects your purchase. These issues drove average unit
prices up 24.2% in 2015.
Luggage Locks
Luggage locks came back into vogue in 2015 and grew 31.1% by volume as personal security
concerns outweighed TSA security requirements. But, prices failed to keep pace driving average
unit prices down 27.1% in 2015.
For more information, go to TGA’s just released State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market 20032015 Graphs (PDF format) or contact TGA at 877-842-1938, x-702 to learn more about the
latest trends in the U.S. travel goods market.
Page 2 of 2 301 N. Harrison Street, #412 | Princeton, New Jersey 08540-3512 | PH 877-TGA-1938 | FAX 877-842-1938 | www.travel-goods.org
2015 State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market - In U.S. Dollars
U.S. Travel Goods Retail Sales in U.S. Dollars
$3,250,000,000
$3,000,000,000
$2,750,000,000
$2,500,000,000
$2,250,000,000
$2,000,000,000
$1,750,000,000
$1,500,000,000
$1,250,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$750,000,000
$500,000,000
$250,000,000
$0
2003
2004
2005
Luggage
2006
2007
2008
Personal Leather Goods
2009
2010
Backpacks
2011
2012
Business Cases
2013
2014
2015
2014
2015
Luggage Locks
U.S. Travel Goods Retail Sales in U.S. Dollars
$11,500,000,000
$11,000,000,000
$10,500,000,000
$10,000,000,000
$9,500,000,000
$9,000,000,000
$8,500,000,000
$8,000,000,000
$7,500,000,000
$7,000,000,000
$6,500,000,000
$6,000,000,000
$5,500,000,000
$5,000,000,000
$4,500,000,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Travel/Sports Bags
In US $s
Luggage
Business Cases/Computer Bags
Travel/Sports Bags
Handbags
Personal Leather Goods
Backpacks
Luggage Locks (Base Metal)
2003
$1,684,058,647
$828,506,562
$4,698,892,035
$5,360,684,167
$1,969,928,287
$1,133,930,534
$20,170,351
* All numbers are TGA estimates.
2004
$2,064,098,506
$869,229,641
$5,026,250,688
$6,819,588,546
$2,149,717,414
$1,164,208,759
$19,849,857
2005
$2,218,737,630
$815,116,676
$5,524,431,875
$7,762,062,327
$2,194,559,417
$1,180,428,393
$22,139,473
2006
$2,105,115,311
$1,025,225,747
$6,272,425,374
$8,038,461,677
$2,149,178,496
$1,363,557,832
$29,522,145
2007
$2,308,014,911
$976,472,104
$6,701,192,160
$8,971,739,494
$2,244,284,178
$1,435,749,328
$28,108,031
2008
$1,788,988,257
$879,680,455
$6,687,627,521
$7,915,172,693
$1,954,616,394
$1,246,343,607
$23,090,982
2011
2012
2013
Handbags
2009
$1,377,843,730
$682,602,419
$5,760,047,941
$6,581,294,969
$1,716,859,128
$1,234,976,364
$18,123,447
2010
$1,692,751,393
$798,579,513
$6,395,221,182
$6,248,002,086
$1,926,087,240
$1,419,542,559
$16,702,661
2011
$1,966,363,384
$965,638,016
$7,529,031,999
$6,604,059,138
$2,188,354,810
$1,749,820,049
$14,505,939
2012
2013
2014
2015
$2,223,502,838 $2,823,403,701 $3,194,475,894 $3,270,287,047
$1,049,726,138 $1,060,920,137 $1,160,927,879 $1,264,912,276
$9,755,032,752 $11,243,437,905 $11,950,778,820 $12,700,027,980
$7,750,669,625 $8,940,723,368 $9,894,372,920 $11,375,160,641
$2,614,760,685 $3,050,574,355 $3,207,951,951 $3,812,128,416
$1,915,525,290 $2,239,526,351 $2,926,886,113 $3,684,304,517
$15,518,061
$18,665,601
$29,383,570
$28,063,027
% Change
03-15
94.2%
52.7%
170.3%
112.2%
93.5%
224.9%
39.1%
% Change
14-15
2.4%
9.0%
6.3%
15.0%
18.8%
25.9%
-4.5%
301 N. Harrison Street, #412 | Princeton, New Jersey 08540-3512 | PH 877-TGA-1938 | FAX 877-842-1938 | www.travel-goods.org
2015 State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market in # of Units
U.S. Travel Goods Retail Sales (In # of Units)
1,500,000,000
1,400,000,000
1,300,000,000
1,200,000,000
1,100,000,000
1,000,000,000
900,000,000
800,000,000
700,000,000
600,000,000
500,000,000
400,000,000
300,000,000
200,000,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Travel/Sports Bags
2008
2009
2010
2011
Personal Leather Goods
2012
2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Handbags
U.S. Travel Goods Retail Sales (In # of Units)
140,000,000
130,000,000
120,000,000
110,000,000
100,000,000
90,000,000
80,000,000
70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000
40,000,000
30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
0
2003
2004
2005
Luggage
# of Pieces
Luggage
Business Cases/Computer Bags
Travel/Sports Bags
Handbags
Personal Leather Goods
Backpacks
Luggage Locks (Base Metal)
2003
82,579,792
54,066,786
841,662,621
325,526,649
585,679,011
76,487,939
11,418,013
* All numbers are TGA estimates.
2004
93,211,158
46,645,719
889,029,541
382,416,788
594,168,903
77,824,834
5,936,988
2005
100,085,961
41,860,254
955,339,159
402,438,103
593,328,736
85,562,998
8,023,880
2006
2007
Backpacks
2008
2009
2010
Business Cases
2011
2012
2015
Luggage Locks
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
87,975,169 104,065,302
78,593,480
56,096,826
52,101,535
64,808,514
61,977,530
61,653,438
59,153,461
59,845,413
46,158,068
45,510,662
52,266,522
51,494,523
45,686,298
52,235,550
56,278,792
54,000,510
52,582,964
46,111,380
978,996,272 1,055,103,863 1,160,656,196 1,053,009,864 1,075,718,180 1,204,081,692 1,281,517,745 1,384,154,008 1,352,384,616 1,418,689,074
356,898,919 373,600,280 331,867,990 252,006,233 237,176,900 253,031,558 241,992,531 252,806,655 252,916,386 237,858,896
568,138,704 544,070,958 458,496,513 385,862,206 350,931,695 429,172,660 471,772,183 480,573,838 459,218,410 439,323,550
97,007,601 106,251,746
95,691,717
89,184,853
76,778,584 119,960,501 131,827,414 131,625,824 144,031,109 176,106,830
8,103,735
7,766,792
6,339,390
7,133,915
8,193,527
4,680,776
5,196,061
5,292,606
5,156,121
6,758,655
% Change
03-15
-27.5%
-14.7%
68.6%
-26.9%
-25.0%
130.2%
-40.8%
% Change
14-15
1.2%
-12.3%
4.9%
-6.0%
-4.3%
22.3%
31.1%
301 N. Harrison Street, #412 | Princeton, New Jersey 08540-3512 | PH 877-TGA-1938 | FAX 877-842-1938 | www.travel-goods.org
2015 State of the U.S. Travel Goods Market
Notes, Definitions & Sources
Notes: The retail sales numbers are TGA estimates based on certain assumptions regarding the U.S. travel goods market. Those assumptions are:
- Most of the travel goods sold in the United States are imported. The % of the U.S. travel goods market supplied by imports varies depending on the type of product.
- Most imports of travel goods take 3-4 weeks to travel from the U.S. port of entry to retail store shelves and to consumers. Therefore, in order to develop a more accurate picture of the
U.S. retail market, TGA has based its retail sales estimates for each year based on the import data for the twelve month period ending November 30 of that year. For example, the
retail sales estimate for 2015 is based on U.S. import data for the period December 1, 2014 - November 30, 2015.
- Based on the data available for 2015, TGA estimates that imports currently account for 99% of the U.S. luggage market, 99% of the U.S. business case/computer bag market, 99% of the U.S.
travel & sports bag market, 99% of the U.S. handbags market, 92% of the U.S. personal leather goods market, 99% of the U.S. backpack market and 99% of the luggage lock market.
- Travel goods are typically imported one of three ways:
1) by a wholesaler, who then sells the product, at a mark-up, to a retailer, who then sells the product, at a mark-up, to the U.S. consumer;
2) directly by a retailer, who then sells the product, at a mark-up, to the U.S. consumer; or
3) by a wholesaler who sells the product, at a mark-up, to a customer who then provides the product for free or at low cost to its customers/clients for promotional purposes (duffel bags, etc.).
- In order to reflect the mix of different selling patterns and the estimated mark-up at each step in the process, TGA utilizes multipliers for 2015 of 2.75 for luggage, 3 for
business cases/computer bags, 2.2 for travel/sports bags, 2.8 for handbags, 2.5 for personal leather goods, 3.3 for backpacks and 3 for luggage locks to estimate the retail value of U.S.
travel goods sales.
- TGA then applies a similar type of formula to estimate the retail value of U.S. production.
- EXAMPLE (Size of the U.S. Luggage Market 2015):
U.S. imports (landed duty-paid value): $1,177,303,337 + wholesale/retail markup = $1,177,303,337 X 2.75 = $3,237,584,177 billion (Estimated Retail Value of Imports) + $32.7 million (Estima
Value of U.S. production, estimated at 1% of market) = $3.27 billion = Size of U.S. Luggage Market in 2015.
- Please note that the average unit price for luggage is based on the unit price for each individual piece of luggage , NOT the unit price for a set.
- Please note that, on July 5, 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau made revisions to all import data for the years 2010-2014. This report reflects the revised data.
Definitions:
- Luggage - Includes all types of luggage, including luggage sets.
- Business Cases/Computer Bags - Includes all types of brief and attache cases and computer bags as well as school satchels and occupational luggage.
- Travel/Sports Bags - Includes all types of duffel bags, totes, garment bags, and all other types of travel and sports bags. Does NOT include golf bags,
insulated food and beverage bags, or musical instrument cases.
- Handbags - Includes all types of women's purses and handbags, except for large tote bags.
- Personal Leather Goods - Sometimes described as flat goods or goods ordinarily carried in the pocket or in the handbag. Includes all types of wallets, PDA Cases, cell phone cases, glass cases,
business card holders, portfolios, calendar books, CD/DVD cases, cosmetics cases, MP3 player cases, etc, regardless of the material on the outer surface (leather, plastic, textile).
- Backpacks - Includes all types of backpacks (except leather backpacks and computer case backpacks) regardless of end use (i.e. school, travel, hiking, etc.).
- Luggage Locks (Base Metal) - Includes all metal-based locks specifically designed for use with luggage and other travel goods.
Sources:
- U.S. Production Estimates: Based on Investigation 332-480: Certain Textile Articles: Travel Goods of Textile Materials, U.S. International Trade Commission, Published October 31, 2007,
historical trends, and other anecdotal information.
- U.S. Landed/Duty-Paid Imports, U.S. International Trade Commission's Trade Dataweb from U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Census Bureau data, http://dataweb.usitc.gov.