Tum boosts Samsonite. The group specialised in suitcases, which in addition to Samsonite and Tumi also controls American Tourists and eBags, closed 2017 at 3.49 billion dollars (over 2.83 billion euro), with an increase of 23.3% compared to 2016. Gross operating margin increased too, by 19.5% to 580.3 million dollars (471.2 million euro). The brand Tumi (producing high-range suitcases and accessories with leather goods in the foreground) contributed to revenues with 678.1 million dollars (550.6 million euro). In the period between August 1 – December 31 2017, its sales has grown by 17.2% compared to the same period last year, when the Samsonite management has officially begun. All product categories registered a good sales performance. “We recorded a very satisfactory growth in 2017, further supported by a strong performance of Tumi and eBags, following their integration into the group”. A satisfaction that could become the push for more, interesting, developments oriented towards “more fashion” accessories. Which, are explained by Timothy Charles Parker, president of Samsonite, to Bloomberg: “Strategically speaking, we are pretty interested in leather goods. We want to find a brand that fits the rest of our product portfolio” and that “has a concrete international dimension. We are not scared by the need to invest in a decisive way for a good deal…”
