Do you remember the thrill of back-to-school shopping? From folders to lunchboxes, notebooks to highlighters, we loved every second of it—especially picking out our new backpacks.
The choices were endless. Did we want a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack that looked like a turtle shell, a backpack with wheels, a mini-backpack or a messenger bag? Did we want an open compartment or dividers inside? Should we choose the ones with organized pockets for our lunch tickets, emergency house keys and pre-sharpened pencils?
Honestly, our decisions changed with each new backpack. But that’s to be expected—we didn’t need the same things in third grade that we did in high school (although the turtle shell backpack would’ve been a good fit for any age).
The same can be said for business and travel bags. The options are endless and often come down to the end-user’s needs. Business and travel bags work best when they allow the travelers to carry them comfortably and fit what they need inside. Read on to learn about four trends that will prove helpful when matching the right bag with the right client.
Backpacks
Over the past few years, the backpack has established itself as a major player in the business and travel scene—and 2015 continues the rise. “Of the top 10 business cases in 2015, seven are backpacks,” said Andrew Spellman, vice president of corporate channels for Victorinox Swiss Army, Monroe, Conn., explaining that one reason for this shift is the transition to a more casual work environment.
Another reason is functionality. “With the advent of smartphones and other tech accessories, a backpack allows hands-free access to these gadgets, making it a much more convenient solution,” Spellman said.
Campbell BrownKorbel, marketing manager at Sweda Company LLC, City of Industry, Calif., agreed, noting that business travel has seen steady growth since 2009. As a result, she predicted the backpack is a trend that is here to stay—continuing at least for the next five years. “No one travels without a laptop anymore, but a separate bag for tech doesn’t make sense for quick trips—especially when on-board space is at a premium,” she explained. “Backpacks for business travel are a great choice for convenient tech storage that don’t compromise on style or function.”
