So You Want to Sell… TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

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Global annual spending on travel accounts for 5-trillion dollars as of 2024. In the United States alone, approximately 100-billion dollars are spent with a surprising 17.6-billion spent just on travel related accessories such as neck pillows, luggage, luggage tags, luggage sorters and accessories and passport covers. For craft business owners in the sublimation, heat transfer, laser and embroidering industries – this means there is plenty of real estate to scoop up your slice of the revenue from. We emphasize the importance of niching your business because it helps you better understand your target customer and the types of products they will purchase. Let’s dive into what that can look like for the travel accessory niche.

WHO SHOULD SELL TRAVEL ACCESSORIES?

If you are passionate about travel then this product niche is right for you. As a maker business, success is contingent on your ability to market a product. Simply put – the more passionate you are about a product, the easier the marketing will be. If travel isn’t your vibe then these aren’t really the items to center your business around.

WHO IS THE CUSTOMER?

In many ways, most people can become a customer of travel accessories which is why this is such a profitable niche. When we think about travel, we often think of getting on a plane and heading somewhere fun. However, travel looks different for different people. Perhaps travel is to see family a few hours a way or it’s sending off a young adult to college or the military. Travel might be divided households with kids traveling back and forth – or it might be a family that takes regular trips out to the lake for the day.

There are many different reasons why someone might purchase travel accessories based on their lifestyle. The customers fall into three different categories:

  • People who travel out of necessity.
  • People who travel because they have opportunities.
  • People who travel because they have means.

Each of these types of people is going to have a different product collection, price point and aesthetic that attracts them to your business.

Most customers will purchase commonly used items such as luggage tags, travel organizers, chargers and travel pillows. These items are widely used no matter who you are and what kind of travel that you do. You can also push items like laptop cases or headphone cases as many people who travel out of necessity are doing so for work or take work with them.

People who have opportunities to travel are those that are posting about travel most often on social media. Whether they are strategic with the credit card points and reward programs, influencers or someone who knows all the best ways to get a travel deal – they are the ones who are going to buy the most non-essential items. These items can include water bottles, matching t-shirt sets, socks and hats, journals, passport covers, keychains, sunglass cases, towels and money holders. Basically these are people who are willing to splurge on items that make their travel extra memorable and love the aesthetic or vibe that comes from these non-essential items.

Lastly, people who travel because they have means are the luxury buyers. These are the types that will rarely buy from a handmade business because they are seeking out designer products. We are talking about those who vacation to Greece and Dubai – not Disney World and the Caribbean.

WHAT DESIGNS & ASTHETICS TO PURSUE?

Photo printing is one of the go-to defaults of the apparel and accessory decoration industry but I’m going to encourage you to skip that on travel related items. As we continue to become a more photographed/filmed and online society, people are actively seeking privacy. The great news is that because of the diversity of your audience, there is a lot of flexibility in the design collections you can create. Here is a list of the top design themes and aesthetics you can explore:

  • Abstract patterns and colors for popular teams, characters and entities: I.E. Not Disney, but Disney vibes. This is an excellent way to incorporate popular teams, characters and entities that people gravitate towards without violating trademark or copyright. Additionally, because it’s a neutral approach, the product has longer longevity not just with your customer but also if it is donated/re-sold later on.
  • Travel prints: Beachy digital papers, ocean creatures, colorful underwater scenes, map prints (vintage and modern), and really anything that is travel or location related.
  • Kid-friendly patterns: Animals, objects (tractors, trucks, cars), sports themes and cute characters.
  • Geometric prints
  • Monograms

BLANK SUPPLIES FOR SUBLIMATION

Sourcing blanks for heat transfer, laser and embroidering is easy thanks to the fact that many items readily available can be used. For sublimation, specialty blanks that are approved for sublimation are a requirement. We’ve rounded up these items which we have tested and/or completed tutorials on:

WHAT SHOULD MARKETING FOCUS ON?

Marketing anything around the travel accessory space needs to be focused on travel. The story you are creating is how your products show up throughout the travel experience. The feeling your customers will get from your products is IDENTITY/EXPRESSION. Travel themed marketing can include reviews of places and activities, roundup lists for different areas, highlights from your own travel and any adjacent life related stories and tips. If this is a product niche you wish to build your business around, don’t underestimate the power of travel within your immediate area. Whether that is heading to school, heading to the park, going out to dinner or enjoying community activities – there is so much to share and many ways to highlight your product and it’s use while providing value to your audience through informative and engaging content.

For an additional income stream, consider connecting with travel agents in your region and offering wholesale ordering on items they may wish to give to clients. Plus don’t overlook the value of secondary uses for items like MDF or Acrylic luggage tags as baby carrier tags and backpack tags for young children.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to your apparel and accessory decoration business. Exploring different product niches like travel accessories is an excellent way to showcase several products and scale a business that allows you to print, press and profit.

Posted in SELLING YOUR PRODUCTS.