With its eye on luxury brands, eBags says sales up 46% first half of April
Despite feeling a pinch from softness in the economy, eBags Inc.`s eBags.com is showing a 46% increase in sales through the first two weeks of this month compared to a year ago, and expects sales to grow even faster, the e-retailer tells InternetRetailer.com. "We would rather see it up 60-70%, and we`re confident we`ll get there," says Peter Cobb, vice president of business development.
Cobb notes that eBags`s growth rate has been impacted by a decrease in travel, since many of its products like suitcases and airline carry-ons are travel-related. But overall growth has continued, led by first-quarter increases of 74% in brief cases and laptop bags, and 71% in urban gear, such as messenger and lifestyle bags, over Q1 of last year.
Next month, eBags hopes to see a notable increase in sales of luxury items as it introduces sales of high-end luggage brands such as Timberland and Victorinox by Swiss Army.
He adds that it has been a challenge to persuade some brands to sell online. "We`ve been talking to them for three years, convincing them that the Internet has their shoppers online, and that we can offer good fulfillment and returns service. Some of them thought the `Net was just for discount sales."
In the past year, Cobb says, eBags has successfully tested sales of briefcases and other items under the high-end Jack Spade brand, which includes nylon brief cases that retail for $350.
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