With its first holiday catalog due out next week, eBags Inc.’s eBags.com expects this year to far surpass last year’s holiday sales, Peter Cobb, co-founder and vice president of marketing, tells InternetRetailer.com. He credits an increase in travel over last year and eBags’ broader range of available products for the expected growth.
“July through September was the largest quarter we’ve ever had in sales and profits, and we’ll erase that record this fourth quarter due to holiday sales,” Cobb says.
Travel is expected to be higher this year following last year’s post-9/11 lull, reaching its highest level in six years, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. That will give eBags an opportunity to further leverage its marketing alliances with several airlines and hotel chains, Cobb says.
Meantime, eBags has become far better equipped to serve customers, Cobb says. “Maybe a year ago, they didn’t see the backpack or luggage they wanted, but now we have 170 brands and 7,000 products,” he says. He adds that eBags has also improved its customer base in the past year, resulting in higher conversion rates.
Ironically, its expanded product range is partly due to the 9/11 aftermath. While adding to its line of travel accessories, such as toiletry kits and travel pillows, it has also introduced products specifically designed for the tightened restrictions travelers face at airports. For example: packing cases designed with several small compartments, so that airport inspectors don’t have to empty everything out of a bag at once to search for illegal items; and new I.D. holders that can be worn around the neck and designed to carry driver’s licenses and tickets to make it easier to pass through airport checkpoints.
Back...
