First-time Exhibitor: Travel Sentry
Catching up with Travel Sentry’s CEO, Florent Perrichon to see why this is the perfect time to exhibit at BLE.
Who are you and how does your business fit into the licensing eco-system?
Travel Sentry operates a 100% pure licensing business model. Our IP is our logo, the Red Diamond, and our trademark, Travel Sentry®. Travel Sentry licenses its iconic trademarks to over 1,000 licensees worldwide in the luggage, leisure, and outdoor industries. Over the past 20 years, we have developed our brand to become a worldwide symbol of trust and quality. With its knowledge and expertise, Travel Sentry is launching a new range of products in the Travel Accessories segment.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the licensing industry right now?
Counterfeits and infringing logos are key issues for any successful brand, but this is manageable, provided you work with the right legal teams worldwide, including in China.
Why are you exhibiting and what can licensees and retailers expect to see on your stand?
We are exhibiting for two reasons. Firstly, for opportunities to further expand our product range, we are looking for potential licensees outside the Travel Goods sector. Secondly, we are looking for retailers for our new Travel Accessories range.
Are you launching new IP/showcasing exciting products at BLE?
We are launching our Travel Accessories range under the same IP on our locks and are excited to showcase them at this year’s BLE show.
If so, what is it, who is it aimed at, and why should licensees and retailers be excited by it?
Our Travel Accessories range combines the power of our brand with best-in-class sustainable design aimed at travel and leisure retailers worldwide. The new collection was carefully designed with quality and style, made primarily with RPET Nylon and RPET Polyester, which contain between 70-100% recycled material. All items are manufactured in factories with GRS certification, which sets high standards for recycled content, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. All the accessories were created to provide maximum comfort and functionality. For more information, contact accessories@travelsentry.org.
What brands have you worked with to date?
We currently work with most brands in the travel, outdoor and leisure industries, including Samsonite, Louis Vuitton, Eastpak, Victorinox, Eagle Creek, AWAY, IT Luggage, Go Travel, Tumi, Rimowa, American Tourister, Briggs & Riley, Hermes, Delsey, Antler, Osprey, Longchamp, and The North Face.
What brands would you like to work with?
We are seeking licensees outside the Travel Goods sector to expand our product range.
What trends are currently driving the licensing industry?
Trends driving the licensing industry are sustainability and brand authenticity. Sustainability continues to be the driving focus when it comes to consumers’ purchasing decisions, and this, combined with the cost of living crisis, brands are being tasked to consider making offerings of sustainable products and services a standard rather than a ‘premium’ option. Authentic brands are another trend at the forefront of the licensing industry. This can mean in many forms, including social responsibility and purpose internally through your supply chain and with consumers. For example, some people no longer trust brand sustainability markers and are beginning to feel gaslighted by brands that continue to impact the environment while negatively pedalling sustainability initiatives. One solution that brands can focus on is the degrowth movement, where individuals switch to a less materialistic approach to life. This can involve buying fewer consumer goods and instead seeking to ‘make do and mend’ the goods you already have. This approach could lead to collaborations with environmental partners and charities who are fighting against climate change and protecting the earth’s resources, helping to avoid consumer skepticism.
