The luggage market - France (2024)

1.2 The renewed health of the global market

The global luggage market, estimated at $**.* billion in ****, is experiencing strong growth fueled by increasing national and international travel and rising disposable incomes. According to forecasts, this market will reach $*** billion by ****, with a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*% between **** and ****.

This dynamic is reinforced by changing consumer preferences in favor of durable, elegant and technologically advanced luggages, including lightweight materials and features such as GPS tracking, integrated recharging ports or remote locking systems.

Global luggage market size World, **** - ****, in $ billions Source: ****

The boom in international tourism, which had returned to **% of its pre-pandemic level by the end of ****, has boosted demand for luggage, particularly for specific segments such as business travellers and adventure seekers. The latter are looking for robust, functional luggage tailored to their specific needs. Product diversification, with innovations such as smart and connected luggage, is helping to meet these expectations, while creating new opportunities for manufacturers and distributors.

However, the market also faces challenges such as the proliferation of counterfeit goods, which undermines consumer confidence and reduces revenues for legitimate manufacturers. These counterfeit products, often of inferior quality, also threaten the safety of consumer goods and create unfair competition.

Despite these obstacles, the luggage market remains ...

1.3 In France, a bright outlook

Every year until ****, according to LSA, between *** and *** million euros worth of luggage was sold in France. This figure was sharply reduced by the health crisis, but thanks to the upturn in international tourism, it is rising again and is close to reaching its pre-**** level.

Luggage, depending on its material, function or range, comes from different sectors (***). What's more, there are many unbranded players on the market, accounting for approximately half of the volumes sold according to Les Echos, so it's difficult to estimate the size of this market.

Breakdown of French leather goods production France, ****, in Source: ****

Luggage doesn't account for much of French leather goods production, but its unit value is much higher than the average value of a piece of luggage from a Samsonite or Delsey Paris manufacturer, so we can't neglect the leather goods sector.

Market size:

In addition, INSEE has grouped togethertravel goods, leather goods and saddlery under NAF code **.**Z, which includes, among other things, trunks, suitcases, briefcases and travel bags in all materials, as long as the technology employed is similar to that used for leather. Thus, the luggage market is included in this broader market, which we shall now examine.

Based on ...

1.4 France's strong export performance

French imports and exports of luggage are difficult to assess, as the luggage market overlaps with other markets (***). So we're going to look at imports and exports of trunks, suitcases and briefcases, grouped under customs tariff number ****.

French imports of trunks, suitcases and briefcases France, **** - ****, in thousands of $ Source: ****

After a decline in **** (***) due to the health crisis, imports picked up again and exceeded pre-Covid levels by **** with a value of $*.* billion.

French imports of trunks, suitcases and carrying cases by volume France, **** - ****, in thousands of kg Source: UN Comtrade We see the same trend in volume as in value: the sanitary crisis has caused a drop in imports similar to that seen in value: -**% in **** compared to ****. However, the pre-Covid level has been exceeded as early as ****, thanks to growth of almost **% in one year.

French exports of trunks, suitcases and carrying cases by value France, **** - ****, in thousands of $ Source: UN Comtrade French exports of trunks, suitcases and briefcases have been only marginally affected by the health crisis in terms of value. Indeed, the decrease in value in **** was less than *% compared to ****. Moreover, the pre-Covid level had been reached and exceeded by ****, reaching $**.* billion in ...

2.1 Trends driven by tourism

The state of the luggage market is strongly correlated to that of the tourism market, and France is very well positioned in this sector:

Top * countries welcoming the most non-resident tourists, annual average over the period UNWTO member countries, ****-****, in millions of arrivals Source: ****

The chart highlights the top three countries in terms of non-resident tourist arrivals over the ****-**** period, with France in the lead, recording an average of **.* million international arrivals per year. Spain follows with **.* million tourists, while the United States ranks third with **.* million. France thus confirms its position as the world's leading tourist destination, benefiting from its cultural, historical and gastronomic appeal.

However, despite this leadership in terms of arrivals, it still lags behind Spain and the United States in terms of revenue generated by foreign tourist spending. In fact, France accumulated an average of over $** billion in annual revenues, a figure comparable to that of Spain, but far behind the United States, which recorded revenues more than twice as high. This discrepancy can be explained by differences in average spending per tourist, with the United States attracting tourism that is more focused on upscale stays and high spending.

Number of tourist arrivals in France France, ...

2.2 Highly periodic demand

Demand is highly periodic. Indeed, every year, the leather goods and travel goods trade sees its sales index rise sharply around the festive season, a sign of strong sales.

Periodicity of the sales index for the leather goods and travel goods trade France, **** - ****, in Source: ****

These data perfectly illustrate demand in France over the course of the year. We frequently see a drop in demand in April, followed by November, just before the holiday season. Demand is highest in December, and annual maxima increase over time.

We can also assess the demand, or at least the interest, of the French for this market thanks to Google Trends, which gives us the frequency of searches for the desired word on any given date. The search frequencies for the words "bagages" and "valises" over the last * years are shown below.

Search frequency for the word "bagage" on Google France, **** - ****, in frequency Source: ****

Search frequency for the word "valises" on Google France, **** - ****, in % Source: Google Trends There's a strong interest in luggage and suitcases in the summer months (***), with smaller peaks during the festive season, confirming the trend shown in the first graph.

2.3 The popularity of manufacturers in France

Luggage manufacturers are not all equally popular in France. In fact, there are wide differences in appreciation between the different brands.

France's favorite brands France, March ****, in Source: ****

Unsurprisingly, Samsonite is the most popular manufacturer in France, while Lipault suffers from very low brand awareness.

Comparison of * brand ratings by age category France, March ****, in Source: Opinionway Marque préférée des Français survey conducted in March **** - Base: representative sample of *,*** French Internet users aged ** and over Older demographics appreciate Samsonite and Delsey Paris more than younger ones. This is probably due to the fact that the prices charged by these brands are very high and not necessarily affordable for the younger populations, cf. *.*. Comparison of the appreciation level of the * brands according to SPC France, March ****, in Source: Opinionway French Favourite Brand survey conducted in March **** - Base: representative sample of *,*** French Internet users aged ** and over There's a clear difference in appreciation between CSP- and CSP+, which isn't surprising. Indeed, as mentioned above, the prices charged by Samsonite and Delsey Paris are rather high. In addition, as the luggage sector is highly correlated with the aviation sector, categories of the population who often fly are more ...

2.4 Increasingly high-end demand

Consumers are looking for quality, and prefer items that are easy to repair and long-lasting. Indeed, the sale of quality after-sales service is a major asset for manufacturers. French manufacturer Jump, for example, relies on outstanding after-sales service and plans to sell spare parts so that users can repair their luggage themselves and keep it longer, according to C+ Accessoires.

What's more, consumers want luggage that is increasingly connected, equipped with GPS trackers or USB ports, forcing brands to reinvent themselves and continually offer new ranges. For example, Delsey Paris, which had canvassed its customers in **** via a website to target their expectations, had identified consumers' desire for connected luggage and was the first luggage manufacturer to launch its range of connected suitcases in Europe, according to Les Echos.

In addition, the very strict standards imposed by airlines on luggage dimensions and different types of travel force consumers to own several different sizes of luggage, which naturally contributes to increasing demand.

3.1 Value chain

Source: ****

Specialized leather goods groups employ numerous subcontractors, sometimes subsidiaries of the same groups, to manufacture luggage. The luggage is then sold through exclusive points of sale, which are either the stores of these large groups, or brand stands in department stores.

Companies such as Samsonite or Delsey Paris usually call on external partners to manufacture their luggage. They then buy the products from them, and use different types of sales outlets, as explained in section *.*.

3.2 A fragmented market that is becoming increasingly concentrated

In France, the luggage market is extremely fragmented, involving many different players. As we explained earlier, luggage manufacturers can be leather goods specialists, companies specializing in suitcases such as Samsonite or Delsey Paris, or companies making bags of all kinds, including luggage, such as Eastpak or Kipling.

Number of establishments in the travel goods, leather goods and saddlery production sector France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

In France, the number of producers in the sector has been rising steadily since ****, as has the number of their employees.

Number of employees in the travel goods, leather goods and saddlery production sector France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

By contrast, leather goods and travel goods retailing has been losing establishments since ****.

Number of establishments in leather goods and travel goods retailing France, **** - ****, in units Source : Urssaf While the number of employees remains fairly stable, there will be a drop in **** and **** due to the health crisis. Number of employees in the leather goods and travel goods retail sector France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

This decline in the number of establishments is due to the increasingly fierce competitive context between the various players. Smaller brands are disappearing or being bought up by larger ones, while ...

3.3 Focus on the leather goods sector

Sector presentation:

Leather goods refers to the industry of fine leathers used to manufacture or upholster high-end articles. Suitcases, trunks, briefcases, bags and briefcases are all leather goods, as are wallets, watch straps, belts, horse saddles...

The leather goods sector in France maintained its momentum in **** despite economic and geopolitical challenges. According to data from the Conseil National du Cuir (***), exports from the Filière Française du Cuir grew by **% in the first eight months of the year, reaching almost ** billion euros. Leather goods, in particular, saw a notable increase, up **% on the previous year, demonstrating the strength of this market segment. By ****, the sector had already recorded **% growth in export sales, consolidating France's position as the world's *th largest leather exporter. [***]

Leather industry exports France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

The graph shows leather industry exports in France in ****, broken down by category in millions of euros. It is striking to note that leather goods largely dominate exports, with **.*** billion euros, followed by footwear, with *.***.* billion euros. These two segments account for an overwhelming share of exports, underlining the importance of these products in the French leather industry. Other categories, such as raw hides and skins (***) are the least ...

3.4 Different distribution channels

Every year, * million pieces of luggage are sold in France, according to Travel Destination. The majority of these sales are made via e-commerce, and it is the American group Amazon that largely dominates these sales, with more than half of the world's online luggage sales. In France, the group has a **% market share in the "suitcase" category, followed by Veepee and Showroomprivé with **% of sales between them, according to Medium figures. Vinted, the platform for second-hand goods between private individuals, has achieved a *% market share after a fine progression. Other major players include Zalando and Asos.

As explained in *.*, there is a wide range of distribution players, with different types of manufacturer using different distribution channels.

Major French groups such as LVMH and Kering sell their products through exclusive outlets, i.e. in their own chains or in department stores after setting up a stand. On the other hand, other players in the luggage sector sell through different types of outlets. Manufacturers such as Samsonite or Delsey Paris sell their luggage :

in their own stores ; in specialist multi-brand luggage retailers, such as Bleu Cerise ; in hypermarkets, for "entry-level" luggage; in e-commerce on their own website or via third-party sites such as ...

4.1 Offer typology

The range of luggage on offer is very wide and varied, thanks to the diversity of manufacturers. There's luxury luggage - such as Louis Vuitton trunks - as well as premium, intermediate and entry-level luggage. In other words, luggage at virtually any price point.

given the importance of e-commerce in this sector, we have listed Amazon's top sellers in the "suitcases and travel bags" category in the table below. It's important to note that most items are on sale, so prices are lower than those on the manufacturer's website.

Source: ****

The most popular types of luggage are small suitcases and travel bags, which can be carried in the airplane cabin. The name of an airline - usually Ryanair or EasyJet - is often mentioned in the bag's description, a sign that luggage is becoming inseparable from the plane, and more particularly from low-cost airlines, which impose very strict dimensions on cabin or hold luggage, on pain of additional charges. New trends in the e-commerce luggage market can therefore be linked to the airline market, which is witnessing the rise of low-cost airlines. The advent of low-cost airlines has profoundly transformed the global airline industry, and France is no exception.

Since the ...

4.2 Varied trends

Diverse but converging expectations:

Consumer expectations vary from country to countrys. Americans want their luggage to be increasingly resistant, the Chinese emphasize security and tamper-proofing, while the Japanese prefer storage space and pockets. The French, for their part, place great emphasis on lightness, according to Les Echos. However, the trend transforming the suitcase into a fashion object is global. Manufacturers are betting on increasingly stylish, elegant and connected items.

Delsey Paris is continually looking to style its suitcases to make them more elegant, and Rimowa, owned by the LVMH group and a player in luxury luggage, is multiplying its collaborations with brands from the fashion industry, such as Dior in ****. Samsonite, for its part, has begun developing connected cabin luggage with USB ports.

Ethical and ecological awareness:

Ethical and ecological issues are also beginning to shake up the luggage sector. Indeed, brands are emphasizing the sustainable nature of their products and investing in the recycled materials and second-hand market, which is expected to reach * billion euros in **** in France, according to Entreprendre. Delsey Paris, for example, launched a second-hand platform for suitcases in ****. This service enables customers to return their luggage still in good condition, in exchange for a voucher. This ...

4.3 Price rises and counterfeiting

Rising prices:

The offer is characterized by a recent rise in prices, the result of high inflation. For example, Delsey Paris raised its prices by **% in **** compared to ****, according to Challenges, but consumers fell into line, a sign of a real desire to travel and treat themselves. Indeed, the French company recorded a solid rise in sales in **** after very low volumes sold in **** and ****, reaching *** million euros in sales, which corresponds to an increase of ***% compared to ****.

Counterfeiting:

Counterfeiting, in the legal context, refers to the unauthorized use of an individual's intellectual property right. This illegal practice generally involves the non-consensual reproduction of branded products, including but not limited to logos, designs and models. The quality of these copies may vary, but their production and distribution remains an infringement of intellectual property rights.

The luggage sector, especially luxury luggage, is particularly hard hit by counterfeiting. The rise of modern technologies and the growth of e-commerce make it easy for counterfeiters to manufacture and sell their products undetected.in ****, French Customs achieved a record seizure by removing over ** million items from the market, an unprecedented figure. This represents a significant increase on previous years, with * million items seized in **** and ** million ...

5.1 Main standards

The LNE (***) has defined the rules for certification so that travel goods can qualify for the NF mark, a guarantee of quality.

Manufacturers must comply with standard NF H *****, which specifies the various tests to be carried out on luggage before it can be sold. These tests make it possible to determine the luggage's volume and dimensions, and to test its resistance and rolling properties.

The **** ISO **** standard, re-examined in ****, concerns complete and full shipping packaging, and therefore applies to luggage. It enables the different parts of the luggage to be identified for testing purposes.

The **** ISO **** standard defines the criteria applicable to a quality management system. These include a strong customer focus, management motivation and commitment, a process approach and continuous improvement.

As far as product marking is concerned, the NF mark must be accompanied by the following specifications:

manufacturer's serial number assigned on notification of admission by LNE ; commercial designation of the product; codification to ensure product traceability.

European Parliament rule on baggage harmonization (***):

The new European Union rule passed in October **** aims to harmonize cabin baggage dimensions and weights for all airlines operating in the EU. This non-binding resolution aims to limit "hidden costs" linked to differences in ...

5.2 Penalties for counterfeiting

French regulations are very strict when it comes to counterfeiting: possession of counterfeit goods is illegal and punishable by customs and criminal penalties. According to the Customs Code, these penalties may include :

confiscation of counterfeit goods and objects used to conceal them; a fine of between one and two times the value of the counterfeit goods; a prison sentence of up to three years. In the case of organized gangs, the penalty can be increased to ten years.

Criminal penalties can amount to a fine of up to ***,*** euros and three years' imprisonment. However, customs may also decide to settle the dispute by means of a transaction, thus avoiding the penalties laid down in the Customs Code and the Criminal Code. Indeed, people arrested for possession of counterfeit goods are often unaware of their offence. The goods will nevertheless be confiscated and destroyed, and a fine proportional to the seriousness of the offence will be imposed. The counterfeiting brand may decide to sue the person arrested in possession of counterfeit goods for damages.

The number of customs seizures of counterfeit goods linked to internet purchases is on the increase, particularly those made via online auctions or dubious sites. It is therefore ...

6.1 Segmentation

[***]

• Samsonite
• Kipling (VF International)
• Herschel Supply Co.
• Delsey Paris
• Lipault (Samsonite)
• Jump- Alsacienne de Maroquinerie
• Longchamp
• Lancel (Piquadro)
• Eastpak
• LVMH Groupe
• Hermès International
• Rimowa
• Schneiders Bags
• Tumi
• Louis Vuitton Malletier
• Piquadro
• Tekmi Magic Stock
• Snowball AIC
• Savebag
• SOL'S